Ayaneo, a company that has built its reputation on creating beautifully crafted retro gaming handhelds, has now officially announced that it is preparing to enter a completely new arena: the smartphone market. This marks a major step forward for the brand, which is best recognized for designing portable devices that fuse nostalgic aesthetics with modern gaming technology. The confirmation comes after months of curiosity sparked by a brief teaser back in August, when Ayaneo subtly hinted that a phone was in development during the same event where it unveiled its dual-screen Pocket DS—an inventive handheld that captured the attention of retro gaming enthusiasts worldwide.
While the announcement itself was concise, it immediately set the gaming and tech communities abuzz. The idea of Ayaneo venturing into mobile hardware feels like a natural evolution of its existing expertise. Many of its handheld systems already run on specially tailored versions of Android, designed to maintain the essence of console-like gaming experiences while providing the flexibility of a mobile operating system. Given this foundation, the concept of incorporating a cellular modem—essentially transforming one of these handhelds into a fully functional phone—seems less like a radical innovation and more like the logical next step in the company’s ongoing pursuit of portable entertainment excellence.
Details about the new device remain scarce, but the initial preview video offers a fleeting glimpse at what appears to be a sleek, rectangular form factor that aligns closely with conventional smartphone design. The device seems to feature a pair of cameras positioned neatly in the top-left corner, suggesting that Ayaneo aims to maintain modern mobile photography standards alongside its gaming aspirations. Interestingly, faint outlines suggest the presence of shoulder buttons—an unusual inclusion for a phone, yet an element deeply rooted in Ayaneo’s design philosophy. These controls could provide more tactile gameplay experiences, signaling that the company intends to stay true to its heritage of physical interactivity.
Speculation has already begun within the tech press. Android Central, for example, has hinted that the device might adopt a sliding mechanism reminiscent of the Sony Xperia Play—an early attempt to merge phone and console functionalities. In such a design, the main display would glide upward to reveal hidden gaming controls underneath, preserving a clean, familiar smartphone appearance when closed. However, because the promotional footage is deliberately ambiguous, it remains impossible to verify whether Ayaneo will indeed pursue this nostalgic and mechanically intricate form.
If Ayaneo does proceed with such a concept, it would distinguish the company within a market increasingly dominated by gaming-oriented smartphones that favor touchscreens over physical input. While brands like ASUS and RedMagic have built high-performance devices equipped with sophisticated cooling systems and elite chipsets to handle demanding titles, they generally treat gaming enhancements as software-based or accessory-driven features rather than integral aspects of the device’s design. Ayaneo, on the other hand, appears poised to challenge that norm by reintroducing tangible buttons—something that many gaming purists deeply miss in today’s all-screen world.
Nevertheless, major questions remain unanswered. There is still no confirmation regarding key specifications, release timelines, or international availability, including whether the new Ayaneo phone will officially launch in the United States. These uncertainties temper the excitement, reminding enthusiasts that, while the concept holds tremendous potential, it may still be months before anyone can experience it firsthand. For now, fans of portable gaming will simply have to stay tuned, waiting to see whether Ayaneo’s first smartphone can truly redefine the intersection between nostalgia, mobility, and modern technology.
Sourse: https://www.theverge.com/news/812084/ayaneo-phone-confirmed-in-a-teaser-featuring-retro-remake-branding
