Ayaneo Pocket Air: A Full Review

People, they did it at last. It was a little late, but Aya finally launched its first Android device. It's a Christmas miracle, but that's better left for the Ayn Odin 2 and our own Raven Mage's review. In actuality, Ayaneo arrived at last. The Android handheld is known as the "Air" It's robust, available, and costs the same as something far more potent. If timing isn't a problem in and of itself, they've already shifted their attention to new handhelds like the Pocket S in addition to their standard line of high-end Windows handhelds.

It was abandoned immediately but was desired, pleaded for, and released at a price billed as a "goodwill gesture due to expenses." The 1,200 Ayaneo Pocket Airs produced will be the last. Is this the most excellent handheld device available? Can it be saved with premium build quality, Ayaneo software, and an OLED display? Is it too late or too little?

Before we begin, I want to reveal that I bought the Ayaneo Pocket Air straight from their Indiegogo page.

Specs

You may purchase a Dimensity D1200, the chip last seen in the failed GPD XP+, for $279 to $459, depending on Indiegogo prices. In addition, you may choose between 6GB, 8GB, or 12GB of RAM and 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of storage, respectively. A good-sized 7,350mAh battery powers all of that. And every time I turn the gadget on, I am blown away by the truly stunning 1920x1080, 5.5" AMOLED display powered by all that.

The fingerprint sensor on the power button is one of the minor specifications that are worth noticing but are less noticeable. I never used it. This device's wi-fi six and Bluetooth 5.2 chips have contributed to a satisfying gaming streaming experience. The integrated 4G capability is something I didn't use, but it's still important to highlight. This implies that even when the Pocket Air is not connected to your home wi-fi network, it may still stream games. You must use a provider like Mint Mobile or Visible to provide a SIM card. It's not a horrible setup for the money, and I would be OK with it in a vacuum.

Inputs/Ergonomics

Besides their small buttons, Ayaneo got the inputs right. The analogue shoulder buttons and triggers are well-sized and provide a pleasant actuation feel. I haven't experienced any problems or incorrect inputs from the Hall-effect joysticks, and they move nicely. Even the d-pad and face buttons' tension was done beautifully! It's in this fantastic medium place that requires a little effort to press but doesn't require you to drop an anvil on to jump in Dead Cells. It's neither too stiff nor too sloppy and squishy.

My greatest input-related grievance is the size of the buttons. I have fewer concerns about the Pocket Air buttons than the regular Ayaneo Air Plus, although the face buttons might have been slightly more prominent.

Additionally, I prefer the ergonomics. The lighter weight is a huge game changer, even if it is somewhat thinner and narrower than the Air Plus. My typical mitts fit the Pocket Air well and feel fantastic. The fact that it's lighter makes me want to play Dadish 2 through to the end for hours on end.

Sizing up the Competition

How does the Pocket Air stack up against other high-end gadgets in size and ergonomics?

The Ayaneo Pocket Air is narrower and significantly thinner than its airy predecessor. It is nearly equal in height to the Air Plus. Regarding ergonomics, the Air Plus is my favourite, if only because of the slight increase in grip that comes with the thickness. In terms of weight, the Pocket Air is superior.

The Pocket Air is slightly shorter and thinner than its main rival, the Ayn Odin2, but it is roughly as wide elsewhere. It feels like a wash from an ergonomic standpoint. Although my thumb fits more comfortably on the Pocket Air's left stick, I prefer the Odin2's triggers' feel and grip. They are strikingly comparable in weight, and if you didn't have both at once, you wouldn't notice.

The Win600 is more significant than another x86 handheld priced similarly. It feels fantastic and is taller, thicker, heavier, and more expansive. In contrast, I truly enjoy how the Win600 feels in my hands—but only if I want to play games centred around the D-pad. If not, the Pocket Air is the clear winner. Of course, the x86 option has a higher weight.

The Retroid Pocket 3+ offers a different comparison. The RP3+ is smaller in every way in the opposite direction. Weight, height, width, thickness, etc. In terms of ergonomics, the Pocket Air naturally prevails. I would utilize it because it's more comfortable to hold. However, the RP3+ excels in mobility and pocketability. When researching handhelds, there's always something worth looking at.

Additionally, I'll have those listed here for you if you're interested in weight.

Retroid Pocket 3+ – 237 grams

Ayaneo Pocket Air – 391 grams

Ayn Odin2 – 437 grams

Anbernic Win600 – 515 grams

Ayaneo Pocket Air – 519 grams

Software/Battery Life

Let's start with the positive: software and battery. This device's battery life has been exceptional. The Pocket Air hasn't completely failed me yet. While visiting my family over the holidays, I used this device in bed, driving, and on the run. The Pocket Air is a battery sipper, if there is such a thing.

A good software experience is something that the Pocket Air does not offer. Ayaneo has incorporated its software, such as AyaHome and AyaSpace, even though it runs Android 12. The Pocket Air's launcher, AyaHome, is undoubtedly straightforward and user-friendly but has an oddly sluggish and jerky UI. Even though my app drawer was only one row down, it would need many button clicks to navigate between it and the main launcher screen. What about AyaSpace? Their settings menu is uncomplicated, visually appealing, and straightforward to use. No, Ayaneo. I will not sign in to your system or create an account. At least in this regard, that is a waste of money and needless.

All in all, the battery is excellent! The software is unfinished and resembles anything from the ABXYlute or the G Cloud. For the remainder of my Pocket Air experience, I used Console Launcher.

Gaming Experience

It's really simple in terms of gaming performance and experience. At a respectable speed, the Dimensity 1200 can do almost anything you want. This device's OLED display makes everything appear lovely and vibrant. However, as is the case with most systems, it struggles to run NES very effectively.

I was joking.

The Pocket Air, however, manages everything with ease. You can be confident that anything from Dreamcast will function flawlessly because it's an Android smartphone, and we don't currently have emulators for systems like the PS3 or Xbox.

Gamecube

GameCube. A system that offers a few options for Android emulation, such as the standard Dolphin Build or any MMJR builds you may encounter. Pushing the system to 2-3x performance on the Pocket Air shouldn't be too difficult. I usually leave it at 2x and not much more because I don't like to change settings too much after everything is set up. In my experience, Sonic Heroes and the original Burnout on the Gamecube operated almost perfectly. But if you want the real racing destruction experience, I still suggest Burnout 3.

PS2

Burnout 3 is unquestionably playable on the Pocket Air via the PS2. You have two options with this: utilize an older "pre-ads" version of AetherSX2, or, if you're feeling adventurous, try building NetherSX2. But because I'm "non-fiddly," I'd instead grab Aether. As my nature dictates, I prefer to keep the PS2 at about 2x resolution, which worked well for most of the games I played. For the PS2, Shadow the Hedgehog? Yes, it functions perfectly. Burnout 3: Dismantling? Runs... mostly alright. Some games, like Burnout, can stutter severely after "respawning" in the game, regardless of the resolution I set. Depending on what you're using or even the version, you might or might not experience that. But all in all, I had a pleasant experience with PS2.

3DS

3DS will function incredibly well on the Ayaneo Air Plus with Citra, as with other entries. However, depending on whether you want to play your dual-screened games on a single screen, "well" could mean various things to different individuals. Depending on the game, you can upgrade your 3DS by two to three times, sometimes more, sometimes less. However, remember that you could still get emulator stutters even with this powerful hardware. Compiling shaders is the main reason, and it will eventually go. You can play 3DS easily, but I'll limit myself to single-screen games or... could ultimately use a 3DS.

Switch

Regretfully, you won't have much success with Switch emulation on this site. This is mainly if you, like me, only purchased the 6GB model because you thought, "Well, who's going to emulate much Switch on this thing?" This device's Switch emulation would be ideal for those who prefer lower-end, sprite-based, 2D, or independent games! However, I would advise stepping up to something like the Odin2 for that power.

Android Gaming

This one actually shouldn't come as a surprise. Overall, Android gaming functioned almost perfectly. However, I will always take the time to criticize the Play Store. They should feel ashamed about their terrible search engine for new games. I'm annoyed when games in the app store are suddenly no longer supported; I should still be able to download previous programs that didn't require the internet to function. I could go on and on, but you should be aware of the limitations if you want to use the Pocket Air only as a handheld Android gaming device. Horizon Chase Turbo is one of my favourite games on this device. The OLED screen's colours shine, and the functional speakers add to the enjoyable experience. Even though there are other games to play, I kept returning to this one.

Another point of interest in Android gaming is the device's SIM card slot and streaming capabilities. It is really a big deal to be able to stream PC games from any location. Although I didn't get much opportunity to test the SIM card slot, using Fi Wi to stream Xbox Cloud was a really pleasant experience. I believe that playing Forza Horizon games on an OLED screen like this is something worth doing.

The Competition

What makes things more intriguing and clear why it might not be "the one" is the rivalry from the Ayaneo Pocket Air. The Ayn Odin 2 is available at the same price as the Pocket Air. The OLED screen and SIM card slot are swapped out with a slightly larger 6-inch screen and the much more potent Snapdragon 8 Gen2. a CPU that improves performance across the board, including Nintendo Switch.

The Pocket Air competes with the Steam Deck and the newly popular used LCD Decks in the x86 market. For native PC gaming, this might be the best option. However, the screen will be poorer, and the battery life will be significantly lower.

Other Android rivals, such as the Pimax Portal, Razer Edge, and Logitech G Cloud, are present in addition to the two primary rivals. Each of these has advantages. The G Cloud is more ergonomic to use. The Razer Edge has more power. The Pimax Portal has magnets! However, their offerings ultimately provide worse value than those of Ayaneo. But if any of those have what you're searching for, they might be the best option for you.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the Ayaneo Pocket Air ends up in a precarious situation. At the same price, other devices provide more value. Since it is a limited-edition device, its existence will be brief. Additionally, there can be a deal-maker or a deal-breaker based on your preferences. The Pocket Air's SIM slot might enhance the visual appeal of your games while you're on the go if you're looking for a streaming handheld. However, with under $200 before shipment, even the original Odin Lite could accomplish that, which is now the most significant advantage.

The other major worry is the duration of Ayaneo's support for the gadget. Given how fast they switch between handhelds, how long will this last? Will they even upgrade the operating system? Android 12 is already lagging. If you're not concerned about it, it's at least one less obstacle to overcome. It seems a little worrisome to me.

I was more inclined to compare the Pocket Air to the Retroid Pocket 3+ than the Ayn Odin2. The huge comparison was either a complement to the RP3+ or an insult to others. Currently, the Ayaneo Pocket Air is merely the "RP3+ Upgrade." Purchase it if the price is reasonable. Otherwise, you could only need the Ayn Odin2.

What I Liked:

  • The battery has a very long lifespan.
  • The screen looks fantastic.
  • Excellent Ergonomics and Performance

What I Didn't Like:

  • Work is needed on the AyaHome software.
  • The value is lacking.
  • It's Doubtful How Long Ayaneo Support Will Last