After what felt like an eternity, the Ayaneo Pocket S was lastly launched, aiming to redefine the premium Android gaming house. A part of the issue was that it was introduced in December 2023, and also you could not even purchase one till April 2024. Quick ahead to now, and the Pocket S stays one of the crucial highly effective handhelds that cash can purchase.
It appears that only a few corners had been reduce with a view to maintain you gaming for hours and hours. From the borderless show to the commercial design and all the energy supplied by the Snapdragon G3x Gen 2, the Pocket S may very well be the whole lot you ever needed.Â
There’s so much to love about what this handheld has to supply, but it surely’s not the proper expertise, if there may be such a factor. So with out additional adieu, let’s dive into the Pocket S and see what it is actually product of.Â
Ayaneo Pocket S: Worth and availability
After being introduced in December 2023, the Ayaneo Pocket S launched on Indiegogo in April 2024 earlier than it started transport in June 2024. As of September 2024, the Pocket S can now be bought straight from Ayaneo.
There are three totally different RAM and storage configurations to select from, together with two colour choices. Pricing begins at $509 for the bottom mannequin with 12GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, whereas the “Unmarked Version” will set you again $749.
Ayaneo Pocket S: What I like
One thing I’ve come to understand as I’ve grown older is the sensation of a premium machine. Having used a number of Ayaneo merchandise previously, that is clearly an space of focus for the corporate, and it is instantly obvious with the Pocket S.
This Android handheld is made out of a mixture of aluminum, glass, and a smidge of plastic. In consequence, it gives a pleasant hefty feeling within the hand, letting me know that it will not break if I get annoyed whereas enjoying video games.
Whereas the all-glass entrance panel is definitely vulnerable to glare, it nonetheless seems to be extremely beautiful. A lot of that is helped by the borderless 6-inch display, out there in both 1080p or 1440p. Fortunately, my Pocket S is the latter, with my video games trying about pretty much as good because it will get from an IPS show.
It is fairly apparent that Ayaneo virtually went all-out with the Pocket S, because it’s full of bells and whistles. This factor has the whole lot from a microSD card slot to an influence button that doubles as a fingerprint scanner and nearly the whole lot in between. There’s even a {hardware} change on the aspect that permits you to rapidly activate the totally different efficiency modes.
Talking of efficiency, let’s speak about what the Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 has to supply. The configuration I’ve pairs the G3x Gen 2 with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, providing one of the crucial highly effective Android gadgets on the market. As a result of the G3x Gen 2 is principally a barely overclocked model of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, you may count on barely higher efficiency.
In relation to emulation, the Pocket S is just a beast. It is able to dealing with as much as Change-level video games and even some Home windows emulation by way of Winlator, principally with out breaking a sweat. Because of the reliance on a Snapdragon chip, there aren’t as many points with emulating extra highly effective techniques. Nonetheless, you may nonetheless wish to mess around with the settings and check out totally different drivers if you happen to’re working into any points.
As you’d suspect, the Pocket S performs extremely nicely, even if you happen to persist with the confines of the Google Play Retailer. There have been some hiccups at launch, as there have been stories that many could not play COD: Warzone Cellular for one motive or one other. Fortunately, that is now not an issue, however that is the one sport that the Pocket S struggled with.
Frames had been inconsistent and uneven and the picture high quality seemed prefer it was straight out of the early 2010s. So whereas I used to be blissful that I might soar right into a match, and did not must even remap the touchscreen controls, I do hope that that is only a symptom of a current replace.
Talking of mapping controls, there are some video games on the Play Retailer that merely do not wish to work with a controller. That is even the case if you happen to’re making an attempt to play a sport out of your telephone or pill with one thing like an Xbox or DualSense controller.
In some way, Ayaneo managed to workaround this with its implementation of “No Feeling” button mapping. All it is advisable do is slide out the AYASpace overlay from the fitting, then allow Key Mapping underneath the Controller part. Then, comply with the on-screen information to map the touchscreen controls to the bodily controls on the Pocket S. This ought to work for just about any sport that you just obtain, however your mileage might range.
Ayaneo Pocket S: What I do not like
One of many largest issues that I’ve with many handhelds and controllers is that a few of them are simply too uncomfortable. It may very well be essentially the most highly effective Android gaming handheld ever, with all the bells and whistles, however that have may very well be ruined inside minutes if my arms begin to cramp.
Sadly, it is one thing I needed to take care of when utilizing the Pocket S when it first arrived. Do not get me mistaken; it is a superbly designed handheld that’s as premium as may be, however the flat edges and lack of curves simply actually do not let me take pleasure in enjoying video games for greater than 30-45 minutes at a time.
Surprisingly sufficient, Ayaneo has a “repair” for this, but it surely’s one which you could’t really purchase from the corporate’s web site. When the Pocket S Indiegogo marketing campaign launched, Ayaneo additionally launched a line of equipment, which included each an “Ergonomic Case” and a “2-in-1 Ergonomic Case.” That is principally only a plastic shell with a matte end that attaches to the hand-held.
As an alternative of needing to take it out of a sleeve or bag, the Ergonomic Case is designed to stay connected to the Pocket S all the time. On the identical time, it makes it really feel extra such as you’re holding a controller, versus only a slab of glass and aluminum.Â
Fortunately, I acquired this a few days after the Pocket S arrived, and that is principally the place it is stayed. Nonetheless, others aren’t so fortunate, because it’s surprisingly not out there on the Ayaneo web site. You could find it on AliExpress, however I feel it could have been a greater transfer to only embrace it within the field.Â
It is not essentially the most excellent or elegant resolution, as you are not capable of entry the aforementioned efficiency change on the fitting aspect or the microSD card slot on the left. With the previous, you may nonetheless toggle between efficiency modes by way of the software program, and I might suggest simply tossing your microSD card in there first earlier than attaching the case.
One other subject that I’ve is the price. A beginning worth of a contact over $500 may very well be a tricky tablet to swallow for everybody. At this tier, the Pocket S contains 12GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, which could look like a lot, however there’s extra to it than that. For simply $40 extra, you may get a way more highly effective Steam Deck OLED or ROG Ally.
Whereas with the ability to play Home windows video games on an Android gaming handheld is nice, it does require a bit extra than simply tapping the “Obtain” button within the Play Retailer. In the meantime, the Steam Deck is well-optimized for enjoying nearly the whole lot, and the ROG Ally is only a moveable Home windows laptop. To not point out that the Steam Deck OLED has an OLED show with a quicker refresh price, together with the power to bodily improve the storage whereas additionally together with a microSD card slot.
It is an argument that I actually attempt to not suppose an excessive amount of about with the number of Android handhelds. Nonetheless, it is troublesome to not, particularly when you’ve got a handheld just like the Pocket S, which turns into dearer than the Steam Deck OLED simply by bumping as much as 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.
A few smaller gripes that I’ve with the Ayaneo Pocket S is that I actually would’ve appreciated to see both an OLED show or an IPS display with a quicker refresh price. Funnily sufficient, Ayaneo is already rectifying these complaints with one other handheld that is slated to reach later this 12 months with the Pocket EVO.
Ayaneo Pocket S: The competitors
Within the realm of Android gaming handhelds, it is actually simply been a two-horse race, as we have but to see a refresh of the Razer Edge. As an alternative, Ayaneo and AYN have been buying and selling blows, every providing one thing a bit totally different from the opposite.
AYN exploded onto the Android gaming scene with the Odin 2, which stays one of the crucial common handhelds in the marketplace. It is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and is far more ergonomic whereas additionally being extra inexpensive. The 16GB/512GB Odin 2 may be had for $459, whereas this identical configuration will value you greater than $600 with the Pocket S.
Earlier this 12 months, AYN shocked many because it launched an alternative choice within the Odin 2 lineup with the Odin 2 Mini. It trades the LCD panel from the Odin 2 for a miniLED show, whereas additionally trying like a PS Vita if it had been launched in 2024. Efficiency can be dealt with by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and it is priced much more affordably, coming in at both $339 or $399.
As I discussed beforehand, Ayaneo has already introduced a handheld that appears to unravel a number of of my considerations, because the Pocket EVO is slated to reach earlier than the top of the 12 months. It shares a lot of the inner DNA from the Pocket S, however in a way more ergonomic, and sports activities an OLED show with a 165Hz refresh price. The Indiegogo marketing campaign is presently ongoing, with the value beginning at $389 for 8GB/128GB and going as much as $645 if you need the “RetroPower” mannequin with 24GB of RAM and 1TB of inside storage.
To not be outdone, AYN lately introduced its newest handheld, the Odin 2 Portal, and the Indiegogo marketing campaign is formally underway. The Portal incorporates a 7-inch OLED show with a 120Hz refresh price and nonetheless depends on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for energy. Three configurations can be found, with Early Chook pricing beginning at $329 and topping out at $499.
Ayaneo Pocket S: Must you purchase it?
You should purchase this if…
You need essentially the most highly effective Android gaming handheld to-date.You are a fan of the premium design that Ayaneo continues to supply.You need a handheld that may deal with virtually your whole gaming wants.You want a gaming handheld that may simply remap touchscreen controls.
You should not purchase this if…
You are on a finances.You’d fairly simply pair a controller to your telephone.You solely wish to use this for cloud gaming companies.You need an OLED show and/or quicker refresh charges.
Though I’ve points and considerations with the Ayaneo Pocket S, I nonetheless cannot deny how implausible it has been to make use of. The larger drawback is managing to search out the time in order that I can soar right into a sport for extra than simply a few minutes.
If it weren’t for the Pocket EVO and Odin 2 Portal slated to reach inside the subsequent month or two, I might really feel fairly snug recommending the Pocket S. It is highly effective and glossy, and Ayaneo continues to enhance the software program expertise with helpful options. I’ll admit, nevertheless, that the launcher leaves so much to be desired, however that is remedied with the assistance of ES-DE for Android.
With that being stated, if you happen to do not wish to look ahead to the EVO or the Portal, then I might positively suggest grabbing the Pocket S. It is received nearly the whole lot you possibly can need from a devoted gaming Android handheld. Simply be ready to empty your pockets to get one.
The definition of premium Android gaming
Ayaneo’s Pocket S manages to pack an unimaginable punch in one of many sleekest designs that we have seen. It will set you again a reasonably penny, and so long as you do not need an x86 handheld, it is price each cent.