AYANEO Pocket S GBAtemp review
Hardware
Product Information:
- Official Store: https://www.ayaneo.com/product/AYANEO-Pocket-S.html
After launching their first Android handheld last year, the AYANEO Pocket Air Retro Edition, AYANEO is back with a new Android gaming device, this time it’s the powerful AYANEO Pocket S. Let’s take a look at what the handheld manufacturer calls the “benchmark for flagship Android handhelds”.
AYANEO Pocket S contents and specs
As with its other devices, AYANEO has opted for the crowdfunding route for initial sales of the AYANEO Pocket S. Caution is advised for such campaigns but AYANEO has a strong track record of delivering its crowdfunded products to backers. At the time of writing, the device is still available to preorder on the Indiegogo campaign page. Perks start at $509/€473 for the 12GB+128GB, 1440p model, which is 13% off the retail price. The unit provided to review is the latter model and comes with the following items:
Specs of the AYANEO Pocket S can be found below:
Sleek, premium Android gaming hardware
Lately, there have been quite a few Android gaming handhelds on the market. Among the powerful ones from popular brand, you have the AYN Odin 2 and the Anbernic RG556. While the latter models pack a decent price:performance ratio, the hardware isn’t as premium as the AYANEO Pocket S. The company has yet again pushed the limits to define hardware quality in this handheld segment.
This slim, rectangular slab of electronics makes a premium statement by sight alone. The fully integrated front glass panel, the unique borderless screen with high screen-to-body ratio, the middle metal frame and the sturdy back with a sleek matte finish attest to this device’s premium craftsmanship. It’s a pleasure to hold this device simply to look at it given how refined it looks and feels.
In the hands, the Pocket S is comfortable to hold. Even if it does not have integrated grips, I am fond of the rectangular design as it gives the device a sleeker, more minimalist look. The rounded edges also help with making the device comfortable to use while gaming. But this is mostly the case for short bursts of gaming. Integrated grips work better for longer sessions and luckily, AYANEO has the accessory for that (see below).
Each button is also easily accessible, without any awkward reach. They also deliver satisfying feedback on individual presses. AYANEO has also integrated Hall effect based joysticks and analogue triggers which enhance durability and are smooth to use.
While the Pocket S lacks back buttons, it does have two extra mappable buttons, RC and LC, which are next to RB and LB, respectively, This provides additional hardware controls to map based on your needs, without being restricted to traditional controller buttons.
One major feature that is missing on this handheld is a headphone jack. This is a commonly omitted port on modern smartphones and tablets but on a gaming device, it should be included. At the very least, AYANEO could have provided a USB-C to headphone jack adapter but this is not included.
Another missing feature is the lack of SIM card support. While the company’s first Android handheld did support SIM cards, the Pocket S does not. It would have been a welcome feature to play games that require an internet connection but you’ll have to rely on WiFi access.
AYANEO also has some accessories to accompany its new handheld. There’s a hard carry case which is something of a must-have for on-the-go gaming. They also have a comfort grip which acts as a bumper while also providing hand grips for extra comfort during extended gaming sessions. They are well designed and fit the Pocket S neatly. However, considering the starting cost of this handheld, I wish that the accessories were included to make for a more attractive offering.
Despite some missing features, the AYANEO Pocket S delivers a strong impression on the hardware front. It essentially sets the bar for premium Android gaming handhelds with its premium, attractive craftsmanship.
Android gaming on the AYANEO Pocket S
Powering the Pocket S is a Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 processor that was designed for Android gaming devices. The 12GB+128GB model’s GeekBench scores position it as an upper tier device, comparable to devices sporting the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip. Interestingly, you can toggle between different performance modes with the dedicated side button. It rotates between the following modes: Saving, Balanced, Game and Max. The latter gets the CPU and GPU to run at full speed, which deliver higher gaming performance as well as higher benchmark scores.
With its specs, the AYANEO Pocket S handles Android games flawlessly. Games like Zenless Zone Zero, Genshin Impact and Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds run at 60fps at the highest graphical settings (capped at 50fps for Ni no Kuni) under Max performance mode. Thanks to the integrated physical controls and WiFi 7 support, this handheld is also very appropriate for game streaming.
The model under review is the one with a 1440p display and images look gorgeous. Even if it’s not an OLED screen like the Pocket Air Retro Edition had, the IPS screen delivers vibrant and fluid visuals that enhance the gaming experience.
Crammed in the Pocket S is a 6000mAh battery which can provide around 6 hours of gaming. I found it to be ample time for more than a whole day’s on-and-off gaming but your mileage will vary. Also, by opting for higher performance modes, the battery will drain quicker so you might want to reach a compromise between visual fidelity and play time.
At Max performance mode, the fan gets quite noisy. It is effective at keeping the device from overheating but the noise is noticeable. Thankfully, you can adjust the fan speed settings from the AYASpace app.
With the app’s quick menu, you can actually monitor the device’s performance. It adopts a lot from the PC version found on AYANEO’s handheld gaming PCs and it’s very functional. With the dedicated AYA button, you can call the quick menu to view performance, map touch screen buttons to the physical controls, toggle WiFi, cycle through performance modes and more. All navigation and menu selection/interaction can be performed with the physical controls. It’s a handy and highly functional app that feels right at home on a gaming handheld.
I am particularly fond of the ability to map touchscreen controls to the Pocket S’s physical controls. This is because I prefer controlling games with physical controls over touch controls. The AYASpace app makes this possible and the experience of playing games without native controller support such as Genshin Impact and No no Kuni: Cross Worlds is really elevated.
The launcher is also neat, showing all your apps on the home screen. You can further customise the background of individual games and apps, making the device look and feel more personalised.
Emulation performance of the AYANEO Pocket S
As a dedicated Android gaming device, the Pocket S is also a very capable emulation device. While the 128GB storage might feel limiting to store your retro library and Android games on one device, the Pocket S does support expandable storage and there’s also a model with 1TB storage.
You can expect to play less demanding systems with no issues on this device. For Gamecube at 3x resolution, Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess run fluidly at 60fps and 30fps, respectively. For Wii emulation, The Last Story at 3x resolution runs at 30fps but experiences some occasional dips in performance. It does perform better at 2x resolution though.
PS2 games at 2x resolution also run smoothly. I played both Beyond Good and Evil and Shadow of the Colossus at 60fps. However, I did encounter some visual issues initially where models wouldn't render properly. This was fixed by changing GPU Renderer to Vulkan.
The Pocket S can also handle Switch games, but the experience will be title dependent. For example, both Cuphead and Untitled Goose Game play at a stable 60fps. But Super Mario Odyssey and Dragon Ball FighterZ would have no visuals past the selection screen, even at Max performance mode. This is due to the WIP state of available emulators, rather than the device itself.
As such, you can expect to play most retro games as well as some Switch games on the AYANEO Pocket S. However, the above performance is reflective of the Max mode, so lower performance modes will likely result in weaker performance, especially on more demanding systems. You can always tweak the emulator settings such as resolution to get a more playable experience.
AYANEO Pocket S: premium Android gaming experience at a price
With the Pocket S, AYANEO once again stands out with premium quality hardware. It sets the bar among Android gaming handhelds and it has the performance to show for it. However, such an experience does come at a considerable price. It’s a premium product through and through, despite some caveats. But at that price, you can get a more powerful device like the Steam Deck or a decent phone with Bluetooth controllers.
Ultimately, the Pocket S is a niche device, catering for Android, emulation and cloud gaming. If you want to experience such games on a premium device and can afford it, the Pocket S will deliver. But if you want a more budget friendly device, then you might be better off considering other devices.
Verdict
- Excellent premium hardware
- Flagship-level performance
- Borderless screen design
- Supports mapping touchscreen controls to physical buttons
- Useful AYASpace app features
- Pricey Android handheld
- Fan can get noisy
- No headphone jack
- Does not support SIM card for data connection
