Credit: Ayaneo
By
Andy Boxall
Published Feb 2, 2026, 9:11 AM EST
Andy is a seasoned technology journalist with more than 15 years experience in the mobile industry, writing for Digital Trends, Wired, and more. During that time he has reviewed hundreds of smartphones and tablets, dozens of smartwatches, and a host of smart rings and smartglasses too.
His daily mobile tech life includes Android and iOS devices, smart rings, and a smartwatch unless it's a special ocassion, when a traditional watch takes its place on his wrist. He has attended multiple CES, MWC, and IFA tradeshows, has a passion for photography and cars, listens to far too much K-pop, and always has a strong opinion on the state of the tech industry.
You can find Andy's portfolio of work on his Authory page.
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Gaming company Ayaneo has announced the availability of the Pocket S Mini, a handheld gaming device which runs Android, which is designed for retro game enthusiasts.
What makes the product notable is its immediate availability, something the company had recently promised to address following concerns from its fanbase.
Pocket S Mini
Credit: Ayaneo
Before getting into the price and availability, here’s what the Pocket S Mini is all about. It’s a traditional handheld with a central screen, a D-pad on the left, and a set of four buttons on the right.
These are joined by two joysticks, shoulder controls, and other buttons for different features. It’s 18.5mm thick and 305 grams, so twice that of a high-end smartphone, but the body is made of metal and an entire piece of glass stretches across the front.
It comes in two colors, Ice Soul White or Obsidian Black, or a Nintendo-inspired retro-themed finish. The 4.2-inch LCD screen is the star as it has a 4:3 aspect ratio, ensuring it works with classic games, and a 1280 x 960 pixel resolution.
Credit: Ayaneo
A Qualcomm Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 processor provides the power, with a 4,700mAh battery for energy, and other features including a MicroSD card slot, a fingerprint sensor, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 5.3.
The gaming handheld runs Ayaneo’s version of Android, with a custom launcher, game management features, different performance modes, and some AI features including translation.
Available to buy, no waiting
Credit: Ayaneo
The Ayaneo Pocket S Mini is notable not just for the hardware, but for its availability. Ayaneo had come under fire for its methods of announcing and crowdfunding a host of new products, which then suffered from delays, especially for international launches.
The company pledged to make changes, and purposely delayed new products including the anticipated Ayaneo phone, called the Pocket Play, and restructured its crowdfunding launches. The Pocket S Mini shows it’s already putting these changes into place.
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Curious how Ayaneo's new strategy will affect handheld gaming? Subscribing to our newsletter offers focused coverage: in-depth analysis, hands-on reviews, model comparisons, and follow-ups that clarify what matters for retro handheld enthusiasts. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.The Pocket S Mini is available to buy from the Ayaneo’s website, both in the US and China, right now, no waiting, and no need to commit to a crowdfunding campaign. It starts at $319 if you get in early, or $399 if you miss out on the first batch of devices.
Ayaneo Pocket S Mini
$399 at Ayaneo
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While Ayaneo makes it clear there may be some delays after the first models have been sold out, due to different circumstances, it seems it has turned over a new leaf.
The Ayaneo Phone, its first smartphone release, is coming soon, and the Pocket S Mini’s release strategy suggests Ayaneo’s old ways won’t impede its availability.
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