Ayaneo Pocket S Review: Defining top rate Android gaming

After what felt like an eternity, the Ayaneo Pocket S used to be in the end launched, aiming to redefine the top rate Android gaming area. Part of the issue used to be that it used to be introduced in December 2023, and also you could not even purchase one till April 2024. Fast ahead to now, and the Pocket S stays one of the crucial robust handhelds that cash should buy.

It turns out that only a few corners have been reduce in an effort to stay you gaming for hours and hours. From the without borders show to the commercial design and the entire energy presented by way of the Snapdragon G3x Gen 2, the Pocket S may well be the whole lot you ever sought after. 

There’s so much to love about what this hand held has to provide, however it isn’t the easiest revel in, if there may be one of these factor. So with out additional adieu, let’s dive into the Pocket S and notice what it is truly product of. 

Ayaneo Pocket S: Price and availability

After being introduced in December 2023, the Ayaneo Pocket S introduced on Indiegogo in April 2024 prior to it all started delivery in June 2024. As of September 2024, the Pocket S can now be bought directly from Ayaneo.

There are 3 other RAM and garage configurations to choose between, at the side of two colour choices. Pricing begins at $509 for the bottom style with 12GB of RAM and 128GB of garage, whilst the “Unmarked Edition” will set you again $749.

Ayaneo Pocket S: What I love

Something I’ve come to realize as I’ve grown older is the sensation of a top rate software. Having used a number of Ayaneo merchandise up to now, that is obviously a space of focal point for the corporate, and it is right away obvious with the Pocket S.

This Android hand held is made out of a mix of aluminum, glass, and a smidge of plastic. As a outcome, it supplies a pleasant hefty feeling within the hand, letting me know that it may not spoil if I am getting annoyed whilst taking part in video games.

While the all-glass entrance panel is undoubtedly at risk of glare, it nonetheless appears extremely surprising. Much of that is helped by way of the without borders 6-inch display screen, to be had in both 1080p or 1440p. Luckily, my Pocket S is the latter, with my video games having a look about as just right because it will get from an IPS show.

It’s lovely glaring that Ayaneo almost went all-out with the Pocket S, as it is packed with 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 virtually the whole lot in between. There’s even a {hardware} transfer at the facet that allows you to temporarily turn on the other efficiency modes.

Speaking of efficiency, let’s speak about what the Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 has to provide. The configuration I’ve pairs the G3x Gen 2 with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of garage, providing one of the crucial robust Android gadgets available in the market. Because the G3x Gen 2 is mainly a relatively overclocked model of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, you’ll be expecting relatively higher efficiency.

When it involves emulation, the Pocket S is just a beast. It’s in a position to dealing with as much as Switch-level video games or even some Windows emulation by means of Winlator, most commonly with out breaking a sweat. Thanks to the reliance on a Snapdragon chip, there are not as many problems with emulating extra robust methods. However, you can nonetheless wish to mess around with the settings and check out out other drivers if you are working into any problems.

As you’ll suspect, the Pocket S plays extremely properly, despite the fact that you stick with the confines of the Google Play Store. There have been some hiccups at release, as there have been experiences that many could not play COD: Warzone Mobile for one explanation why or every other. Thankfully, that is now not an issue, however that is the only recreation that the Pocket S struggled with.

Frames have been inconsistent and uneven and the picture high quality appeared adore it used to be immediately out of the early 2010s. So whilst I used to be satisfied that I may soar right into a fit, and did not want to even remap the touchscreen controls, I do hope that that is only a symptom of a contemporary replace.

Speaking of mapping controls, there are some video games at the Play Store that merely do not wish to paintings with a controller. This is even the case if you are looking to play a recreation out of your telephone or pill with one thing like an Xbox or DualSense controller.

Somehow, Ayaneo controlled to workaround this with its implementation of “No Feeling” button mapping. All you want to do is slide out the AYASpace overlay from the suitable, then allow Key Mapping beneath the Controller phase. Then, practice the on-screen information to map the touchscreen controls to the bodily controls at the Pocket S. This must paintings for just about any recreation that you simply obtain, however your mileage would possibly range.

Ayaneo Pocket S: What I do not like

One of the largest issues that I’ve with many handhelds and controllers is that a few of them are simply too uncomfortable. It may well be essentially the most robust Android gaming hand held ever, with the entire bells and whistles, however that have may well be ruined inside mins if my arms begin to cramp.

Unfortunately, it is one thing I needed to take care of when the use of the Pocket S when it first arrived. Don’t get me flawed; it is a superbly designed hand held this is as top rate as will also be, however the flat edges and loss of curves simply truly do not let me experience taking part in video games for greater than 30-45 mins at a time.

Surprisingly sufficient, Ayaneo has a “repair” for this, however it is one who you’ll’t in reality purchase from the corporate’s website online. When the Pocket S Indiegogo campaign introduced, Ayaneo additionally presented a line of equipment, which integrated each an “Ergonomic Case” and a “2-in-1 Ergonomic Case.” This is mainly only a plastic shell with a matte end that attaches to the hand held.

Instead of wanting to take it out of a sleeve or bag, the Ergonomic Case is designed to stay connected to the Pocket S the entire time. At the similar time, it makes it really feel extra like you might be preserving a controller, versus only a slab of glass and aluminum. 

Thankfully, I gained this a few days after the Pocket S arrived, and that is the reason most commonly the place it is stayed. However, others are not so fortunate, as it is unusually now not to be had at the Ayaneo website online. You can in finding it on AliExpress, however I believe it will had been a greater transfer to only come with it within the field. 

Ayaneo’s Ergonomic Case could be a “must-have” when you have considerations about hand cramps.

It’s now not essentially the most best possible or chic answer, as you are not in a position to get right of entry to the aforementioned efficiency transfer at the proper facet or the microSD card slot at the left. With the previous, you’ll nonetheless toggle between efficiency modes by means of the instrument, and I’d counsel simply tossing your microSD card in there first prior to attaching the case.

Another factor that I’ve is the fee. A beginning worth of a slightly over $500 is usually a tricky tablet to swallow for everybody. At this tier, the Pocket S comprises 12GB of RAM and 128GB of garage, which would possibly appear to be lots, however there is extra to it than that. For simply $40 extra, you’ll get a a lot more robust Steam Deck OLED or ROG Ally.

While with the ability to play Windows video games on an Android gaming hand held is excellent, it does require somewhat extra than simply tapping the “Download” button within the Play Store. Meanwhile, the Steam Deck is well-optimized for enjoying virtually the whole lot, and the ROG Ally is only a moveable Windows pc. Not to say that the Steam Deck OLED has an OLED show with a quicker refresh charge, at the side of the power to bodily improve the garage whilst additionally together with a microSD card slot.

It’s a controversy that I truly take a look at to not suppose an excessive amount of about with the number of Android handhelds. Still, it is tough to not, particularly you probably have a hand held just like the Pocket S, which turns into costlier than the Steam Deck OLED simply by bumping as much as 16GB of RAM and 512GB of garage.

A few smaller gripes that I’ve with the Ayaneo Pocket S is that I truly would’ve favored to peer both an OLED show or an IPS display screen with a quicker refresh charge. Funnily sufficient, Ayaneo is already rectifying the ones lawsuits with every other hand held that is slated to reach later this yr with the Pocket EVO.

Ayaneo Pocket S: The pageant

In the world of Android gaming handhelds, it is truly simply been a two-horse race, as we have now but to peer a refresh of the Razer Edge. Instead, Ayaneo and AYN had been buying and selling blows, each and every providing one thing somewhat other from the opposite.

AYN exploded onto the Android gaming scene with the Odin 2, which stays one of the crucial well-liked handhelds available on the market. It’s powered by way of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and is a lot more ergonomic whilst additionally being extra reasonably priced. The 16GB/512GB Odin 2 will also be had for $459, while this similar configuration will value you greater than $600 with the Pocket S.

Earlier this yr, AYN stunned many because it presented 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, whilst additionally having a look like a PS Vita if it have been launched in 2024. Performance may be treated by way of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and it is priced much more cost effectively, coming in at both $339 or $399.

As I discussed in the past, Ayaneo has already introduced a hand held that appears to resolve a couple of of my considerations, because the Pocket EVO is slated to reach prior to the top of the yr. It stocks a lot of the interior DNA from the Pocket S, however in a a lot more ergonomic, and sports activities an OLED show with a 165Hz refresh charge. The Indiegogo marketing campaign is these days ongoing, with the fee beginning at $389 for 8GB/128GB and going as much as $645 if you need the “UnfashionablePower” style with 24GB of RAM and 1TB of interior garage.

Not to be outdone, AYN not too long ago introduced its newest hand held, the Odin 2 Portal, and the Indiegogo marketing campaign is formally underway. The Portal includes a 7-inch OLED show with a 120Hz refresh charge and nonetheless depends on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for energy. Three configurations are to be had, with Early Bird pricing beginning at $329 and topping out at $499.

Ayaneo Pocket S: Should you purchase it?

You must purchase this if…

• You need essentially the most robust Android gaming hand held to-date.
• You’re keen on the top rate design that Ayaneo continues to provide.
• You desire a hand held that may take care of almost your whole gaming wishes.
• You desire a gaming hand held that may simply remap touchscreen controls.

You should not purchase this if…

• You’re on the cheap.
• You’d moderately simply pair a controller in your telephone.
• You most effective wish to use this for cloud gaming products and services.
• You need an OLED show and/or quicker refresh charges.

Although I’ve problems and considerations with the Ayaneo Pocket S, I nonetheless cannot deny how implausible it is been to make use of. The larger drawback is managing to seek out the time in order that I will soar right into a recreation for extra than simply a few mins.

If it were not for the Pocket EVO and Odin 2 Portal slated to reach inside the subsequent month or two, I’d really feel lovely at ease recommending the Pocket S. It’s robust and graceful, and Ayaneo continues to support the instrument revel in with helpful options. I will be able to admit, then again, 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 do not need to look forward to the EVO or the Portal, then I’d for sure counsel grabbing the Pocket S. It’s were given virtually the whole lot it’s essential to need from a devoted gaming Android hand held. Just be ready to drain your pockets to get one.