AYANEO launches the Pocket S Android handheld

Earlier this year, AYANEO announced its latest portable gaming device, the Pocket S, and now the device is ready for launch. The Pocket S is a flagship portable gaming device from the company that runs on Android. So unlike the ASUS ROG Ally, Steam Deck, Lenovo Legion GO or MSI Claw, it is mainly intended for mobile games. You can also use it to play games in the cloud with apps like Xbox Game Pass or GeForce NOW.

The device runs on the new Snapdragon G3x Gen2 chipset from Qualcomm. So it’s more than suitable for all Android games you can think of. When it was first revealed in February, AYANEO had no information on its price or exact availability. Now the company has announced both things. If you’re looking for a handheld dedicated to Android gaming, the AYANEO Pocket S serves that purpose and more.

AYANEO Pocket S launch is live, shipping will begin in May

If you’re new to AYANEO’s strategy of product launches, all of its devices, or at least most of them, are going through crowdfunding on Indiegogo. The company has already more than achieved its goal. That means the Pocket S will ship sometime next month. However, please note that AYANEO says May 2024 is the estimated shipping time. So there is a small chance that it can always be pushed away.

The device comes in both black and white color options and there are four models. This includes a device with 12 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, as well as three models with 16 GB of RAM. One of these will come with 512GB of storage, while the other two will include 1TB, and one of the two 1TB models will be the “Unmarked Edition,” which comes with minimalist, unmarked buttons.

Prices start at $439

Prices vary depending on the model you get, but start at a reasonable $439 if you get the early bird price. However, it can go up to $659. Also note that these are not full retail prices. Retail prices start at $589, then go up to $699, $759, and $799 for subsequent models. While the handheld looks very nice, you may want to consider what you get for the price.

The Pocket S does not play PC games by default. And chances are you have a phone that can play the same Android and cloud games just as well. You can even use a controller like the Razer Kishi Ultra for that next-level feel. There’s also the consideration that depending on what you want, you can easily get a ROG Ally for around the same price. A Steam Deck for even less. But if you want a dedicated Android handheld, you probably won’t find a better one than what AYANEO offers here. If you’re interested in picking one up, you can reserve yours at the official campaign page.