In an era where handheld gaming continues to evolve at a rapid pace, what truly lingers in players’ memories is not merely technological progress, but that instant, intuitive joy that awakens both instinct and nostalgia the moment a device is picked up. Guided by this belief, AYANEO presents its all-new gaming phone, AYANEO Pocket PLAY—a new form factor that truly fuses the soul of a handheld console into the world of smartphones.

AYANEO brings players back to the golden age of handheld design. Once, a classic side-sliding form left an indelible mark on generations of gamers. With a single slide, the game world unfolded—controls, visuals, and emotion converging in perfect harmony. It was more than a design choice; it became a shared cultural symbol for an entire generation. It is this enduring nostalgia that inspired AYANEO to reimagine and revive the classic.

Built around the philosophy of “REMAKE Retro, Redefining the Classic,” Pocket PLAY is not a simple reproduction of the past, but a reinterpretation for the present. AYANEO set out to answer mobile gamers’ desire for a true handheld gaming experience—creating a device that functions as a complete smartphone, yet transforms instantly into a gaming handheld without the need for external controllers. With Pocket PLAY, smartphone and handheld are no longer opposing identities, but two seamlessly integrated forms.

From a design perspective, Pocket PLAY pays tribute to the iconic side-sliding structure through a smooth, refined mechanical motion that restores the familiar ritual of handheld gaming. A full-featured controller is ingeniously concealed within the body—slide it open, and the device instantly enters game mode. 

Continuing AYANEO’s signature minimalist design language, Pocket PLAY follows the principle of “less is more.” Clean, restrained lines shape a visual aesthetic where retro spirit meets modern refinement. Solid yet elegant in feel, it is not only a gaming device, but an art-grade smartphone crafted for players. The four color options—Deep Space Black, Stellar Silver White, Origin Gray, and Crimson Red—each express a distinct personality, from mystery and elegance to retro homage and gaming passion, allowing every player to find their own emotional connection.

For visual performance, Pocket PLAY features a 6.8-inch hole-free high-refresh-rate OLED display with a resolution of 2400×1080 and a 20:9 aspect ratio, supporting 120Hz, 144Hz, and 165Hz refresh rates. Vivid colors, crystal clarity, and responsive touch performance ensure that every frame feels smooth and lifelike, delivering an immersive experience for both gaming and multimedia.

Control lies at the heart of Pocket PLAY. Once the slider is opened, a standard gamepad layout is fully revealed, with a D-pad and ABXY buttons delivering familiar, precise tactile feedback. Shoulder buttons are seamlessly integrated into the chassis, with L1/L2 and R1/R2 utilizing membrane micro-switch structures for fast, resilient response—ideal for high-frequency inputs. In addition, Pocket PLAY introduces the innovative TouchPADMagic dual-mode intelligent touchpad, allowing seamless switching between virtual joystick and touchpad modes. This design compensates for the limitations of traditional touch controls in action and shooter games, supports L3/R3 press functions, and offers players greater freedom to customize their control schemes.

Immersion goes beyond control—it is also about feedback. Pocket PLAY is equipped with a 0815 X-axis linear motor, supporting four vibration modes to deliver precise, layered haptic feedback across different scenarios. Professionally tuned stereo speakers further enhance immersion, producing balanced sound with rich spatial depth to elevate both gaming and entertainment experiences.

In terms of performance, Pocket PLAY is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 flagship SoC, built on TSMC’s third-generation 4nm process. Featuring an all-big-core octa-core CPU architecture and the Arm flagship Immortalis-G720 GPU, it ensures smooth and stable gameplay even in high-resolution, high-frame-rate scenarios. AYANEO developed a custom active air-cooling system maintaining comfortable handheld temperatures.

As a true gaming phone, Pocket PLAY also excels in everyday usability. It supports full communication capabilities, keeping players connected wherever they go. A full-featured USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port supports DP 1.4 video output, the power button integrates fingerprint recognition, and the combined SIM / microSD card slot offers flexible expansion. High-speed Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5 ensure stable, low-latency connectivity at all times.

On the software side, AYANEO delivers a complete self-developed Android ecosystem tailored specifically for Pocket PLAY. AYASpace provides retro game management, AYAHome serves as the custom launcher, AYASetting offers handheld-grade system controls, and AYAWindow enables quick-access floating windows. Together with flexible key mapping, multi-scenario performance modes, and deep system optimization, this ecosystem is built from the ground up for gaming—fully adapted to the smartphone form factor.

Centered around its REMAKE classic side-sliding design, Pocket PLAY transforms from phone to handheld in a single motion. Its 6.8-inch 2400×1080 OLED display delivers vibrant, fluid visuals, while the standard controller layout, D-pad, ABXY buttons, and dual-mode intelligent touchpad ensure intuitive control. The powerful Dimensity 9300 processor,  and AYANEO’s deeply optimized software ecosystem, Pocket PLAY becomes a device purpose-built for modern gaming—yet imbued with the complete soul of a classic handheld.

AYANEO Pocket PLAY is AYANEO’s latest tribute to retro gaming culture.It allows the classics to be reborn through modern design, carrying the spirit of handheld gaming forward into the smartphone era—made for players, and driven by dreams.