The handheld gaming market is buzzing with excitement as AYANEO has officially announced and detailed its latest creation: the AYANEO Pocket DS. After nearly a year in development, this new Android gaming handheld is poised to capture the hearts of retro gaming enthusiasts and modern players alike. As the first flip dual-screen handheld powered by Android, the Pocket DS is a unique proposition, blending a nostalgic form factor with now-confirmed contemporary performance. With mass production already underway, it’s clear that AYANEO is serious about delivering a polished and powerful experience.
The most striking feature of the AYANEO Pocket DS is its classic clamshell or ‘flip’ form factor, a direct homage to iconic dual-screen consoles of the past. AYANEO has noted that both screens are well-proportioned, a crucial detail for authentic retro emulation. This physical design sets the stage for a truly unique gaming and multitasking Android gaming console.
We now have official specifications for the displays, and they are spectacular. The main top display is a stunning 7-inch, 1920×1080 OLED panel with a 16:9 aspect ratio. It boasts a variable high refresh rate up to 165Hz (with steps at 60, 90, 120, and 144Hz), HDR support, a peak brightness of 800 nits, and a vibrant 150% sRGB color gamut, making it a flagship-tier screen perfect for modern, fast-paced gaming. Complementing this is a thoughtfully designed 5-inch bottom LCD screen with a 1024×768 resolution and a 4:3 aspect ratio. This makes it the ideal canvas for retro gaming, displaying classic titles in their native format. It remains impressive with 550 nits of brightness, a sharp 256 PPI, and 100% sRGB coverage.
Powering this hardware is AYANEO’s custom software, featuring a Smart Dual Screen Mode. The default “Split View” allows one app to run on each screen, and a simple three-finger swipe intuitively moves applications between them. This opens up incredible multitasking possibilities: you could play a game on the top screen while watching a video, reading a gaming guide, or monitoring system stats on the bottom. It’s even powerful enough to run two games at once, such as an active title and a secondary ‘idle game’. For moments when you need to conserve power, a single-screen mode allows you to turn one display off.
Under the hood, AYANEO has now confirmed that the Pocket DS will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 Gaming Platform, featuring the Adreno A32 GPU. This is the same proven, high-performance chipset found in other acclaimed AYANEO handhelds like the AYANEO Pocket S, the AYANEO Pocket ACE, and the AYANEO Pocket DMG. Designed specifically for Android gaming devices, this platform strikes an excellent balance between raw power and energy efficiency. It provides more than enough horsepower to flawlessly emulate demanding retro consoles like the PlayStation 2 and GameCube, not to mention the dual-screen platforms it’s built to celebrate. Furthermore, it will enable users to play the latest native Android titles at high settings, taking full advantage of the stunning 165Hz OLED display.
To support this high-performance processor, we expect to see memory and storage configurations in line with other premium handhelds. Potential options will likely include 8GB, 12GB and 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM, ensuring smooth multitasking and gameplay. For storage, we anticipate a tiered approach, possibly starting with a 128GB UFS 3.1 storage, and higher-tier options of 256GB, 512GB and 1TB utilising the faster UFS 4.0 standard.
Keeping this dual-screen powerhouse running is a large 8000mAh battery. While official battery life will depend heavily on screen brightness and workload, we expect this capacity to provide solid longevity, likely offering up to 6 hours of gameplay on less demanding titles. Crucially, the gaming Android handheld supports PD fast charging, ensuring that when you do need to top up, you can get back into the action with minimal downtime.
In summary, the AYANEO Pocket DS is shaping up to be one of the most exciting handhelds for the retro community. It promises to merge a beloved, functional design with the raw power and thoughtful software needed for a premium experience. The wait for a complete picture is almost over, as the Android gaming console is set to be showcased at the upcoming ChinaJoy 2025 event, featured prominently at the Qualcomm booth. We will be watching closely for the final confirmation of RAM/storage configurations, pricing, and a firm release date. Stay tuned, and don’t forget to subscribe to out newsletter (top right of this page) to stay up to date on the latest news!
