Hello players,

The long-awaited AYANEO Pocket MICRO 2 is finally coming.

It has been more than two years since the launch of the first-generation Pocket MICRO. During this time, AYANEO has created many retro handhelds in different form factors, and each one has found its own unique audience and identity. While exploring these different directions, Pocket MICRO has always remained a very special product in my mind. Because from the very beginning, it was never created to chase extreme specifications—it was more like our sincere answer to what an ideal mini retro handheld should be.

During this time, I’ve often seen players sharing photos and experiences with Pocket MICRO. Some carry it in their pocket every day, some play on their commute, and some leave it on their desk to pick up whenever they have a free moment. Many players also told me that it may not be the most expensive handheld they’ve bought, or the most powerful one, but it’s the handheld they’re most willing to keep with them.

These comments kept me thinking—what is it that people truly love about Pocket MICRO? Gradually, I became convinced that it’s not just because it’s compact and portable, and not only because of its classic retro design. It’s because everything about it feels just right. It never feels like a complicated electronic device. You pick it up and start playing immediately, and putting it down never feels like a burden. It feels effortless, pure, and very much like the original feeling we all had toward handheld gaming when we were younger.

So when we began thinking about the second generation, we actually spent a long time discussing internally. Should we make the screen larger? Should we pursue more features? Should we continue pushing specifications higher? All of these ideas had strong support because the overall trend of the industry today is becoming larger, more powerful, and increasingly all-in-one.

But in the end, I decided Pocket MICRO shouldn’t become that. If upgrading meant turning it into a completely different type of handheld, then what would be the point of continuing this series? I wanted Pocket MICRO 2 to remain instantly recognizable—the familiar mini horizontal retro handheld that you can truly carry around and pick up anytime. So rather than following the route of our Pocket ACE and moving toward a larger display, Pocket MICRO 2 continues to stay true to the unique charm of mini horizontal retro handheld gaming.

That’s right—the screen remains the same 3.5-inch 3:2 display as Pocket MICRO, so on Pocket MICRO 2 you can still enjoy your favorite GBA games with perfect full-screen native scaling.

Staying true to our direction doesn’t mean refusing to evolve. On the contrary, what we wanted this time was a truly comprehensive upgrade.

Let’s start with performance. Many players wanted Pocket MICRO to become more powerful, and we’ve always understood that request. That’s why Pocket MICRO 2 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. Performance improvement is naturally the most visible change, but to me, numbers are not the most important part—the experience is. Faster launch speeds, more stable performance, better compatibility, and smoother gameplay. Situations that once required compromise now feel effortless. We want players to stop thinking about whether something can run, and simply start enjoying games.

But once performance improved, a new challenge appeared. More power meant a more complicated internal structure, and the one thing Pocket MICRO could never lose was that compact and refined feeling. So this time, we redesigned the overall structure. You’ll notice that Pocket MICRO 2 feels noticeably fuller and more comfortable in hand. Long gaming sessions feel more relaxed and natural, while the device still remains compact and elegant without becoming bulky. Achieving that balance took a lot of time because we wanted it to feel familiar the moment you picked it up—and noticeably more comfortable once you started playing.

Beyond ergonomics, we also refined the control experience. Very often, what determines whether a handheld feels premium isn’t specifications—it’s the details. Does pressing a button feel satisfying? Is the feedback crisp? Does long-term play remain comfortable? These are the things players experience every day. That’s why Pocket MICRO 2’s buttons and overall control logic have been carefully refined. Button sizing feels more balanced, presses feel more natural, feedback is clearer, and the overall experience becomes more comfortable and precise. This isn’t necessarily something you notice at first glance—but once you hold it, the difference becomes obvious.

There’s another upgrade that I believe many players will be especially excited about—battery life. After the original Pocket MICRO launched, many players told us they hoped the next generation would last longer. So this time, we adopted a 3950mAh high-density battery, representing a 52% increase over the previous generation. This improvement isn’t just about numbers—the real-world difference feels even more obvious. You no longer need to constantly think about battery life before going out. You can comfortably enjoy a few rounds during lunch breaks or play longer during trips without frequent charging. Whenever you want to play, it’s ready.

For controls—one of the aspects players care about most—we spent a tremendous amount of time refining every detail. Because I’ve always believed that for a truly great retro handheld, the control experience is something that should never be compromised. That’s why on Pocket MICRO 2, we finally introduced the recessed dual TMR joysticks that many players have been waiting for. They offer greater precision and durability while creating a better balance between device thickness and grip comfort, allowing portability and handling to coexist. At the same time, we redesigned the shoulder buttons with a separated large-size layout and more refined tuning, making every press feel more comfortable and natural while reducing accidental input. We also upgraded the D-pad and ABXY buttons with larger sizing so that whether players are making precise movements in retro titles or executing rapid combos, every action feels more accurate, intuitive, and immersive.

Perhaps the best state for a handheld isn’t defined by specifications, but by whether you truly want to keep carrying it with you. That’s what Pocket MICRO 2 wants to become. It’s still small, but more powerful. Still refined, but more comfortable to control. Still nostalgic in spirit, but completely built for today. It isn’t here to replace anything, nor is it trying to follow market trends. It simply continues along the original path of Pocket MICRO and pushes our ideal mini retro handheld one step further—becoming a more complete mini powerhouse and ultimately a handheld that makes you want to keep playing every time you pick it up.

More details about Pocket MICRO 2 will be revealed at the product launch event on June 26. Stay tuned.