What to know
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Pocket PLAY is positioned as AYANEO’s first smartphone built “with gaming at its core.”
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The device uses a classic side-slide mechanism that reveals a built-in, full-function controller.
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AYANEO highlights dual “smart/intelligent” touchpads for customizable mapping as joysticks or touch surfaces.
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The newly confirmed “core” platform is MediaTek Dimensity 9300, pitched for sustained high-frame-rate gaming.
Pocket PLAY’s “core” configuration has been unveiled, with AYANEO stating the device is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 mobile platform.
AYANEO describes that chip choice as key to merging a smartphone form with a handheld-style gaming experience, emphasizing both performance and efficiency.
Side-slide design and built-in controls
Pocket PLAY uses a side-slide mechanism; sliding the screen open reveals a hidden, full-featured game controller.
The company frames the sliding action as part of the product’s retro identity while also enabling a more traditional handheld grip and control layout than touch-only gaming.
Dual touchpads and customization angle
AYANEO says Pocket PLAY includes dual “smart/intelligent” touchpads designed to expand control options beyond standard phone inputs.
These touchpads are configurable—able to function as virtual joysticks or touchpads, with customizable mapping intended to suit different games and play styles.
Performance positioning with Dimensity 9300
AYANEO claims the Dimensity 9300 enables stable, sustained high-frame-rate output and smooth rendering even in complex scenes.
The announcement also positions Pocket PLAY as suitable for both casual titles and higher-load “blockbuster” games, with responsive control as a central part of the pitch.
Pricing, availability, and fine print
The dedicated product page currently indicates “Launching Soon on Kickstarter,” signaling crowdfunding-style availability rather than open retail sales at this stage.
No pricing, shipping dates, or full specifications (screen size, battery capacity, RAM/storage tiers, camera specs, or cellular bands) are provided in the announcement, so those details still need confirmation from AYANEO’s Kickstarter listing and final spec sheet.
Gaming-phone buyers rejoice!
Pocket PLAY is being framed as an attempt to revive a retro gaming-phone idea—physical controls built into a sliding smartphone—while pairing it with a current flagship mobile chipset.
The dual touchpad concept is the notable extra layer: it aims to bridge the gap between traditional controller inputs and touch-driven UI control that many mobile games still require.
