Ayaneo’s Pocket S Mini Review: The “Endgame” 4:3 Handheld We’ve Been Waiting For?

Ayaneo has finally bridged that gap. With the official launch of the Ayaneo Pocket S Mini, the company is delivering what they call the “true 4:3 retro handheld endgame.” It pairs flagship-level power with the form factor purists have been demanding.

Here is everything you need to know about the device that might just retire your Anbernic RG405M.

The Screen: 4:3 Perfection

The defining feature of the Pocket S Mini is its display. While modern handhelds chase wider aspect ratios for cloud gaming, the Pocket S Mini commits to a 4.2-inch LCD panel with a 1280 x 960 resolution.

This is significant for two reasons:

1. Native Aspect Ratio: It offers a native 4:3 aspect ratio. This means systems like the NES, SNES, PS1, and GameCube will fill the entire screen naturally—no stretching, no distortion, and most importantly, no wasted screen real estate (letterboxing).
2. Integer Scaling: The 1280 x 960 resolution is high enough to offer sharp integer scaling for many retro systems (e.g., exactly 4x scale for SNES), resulting in crisp pixels that look fantastic on a screen this size.

Under the Hood: Flagship Power

Usually, “Mini” devices get “Mini” specs, but Ayaneo has bucked that trend. The Pocket S Mini houses the Qualcomm Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 chipset.

For context, this chip shares DNA with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 found in premium smartphones, but with GPU optimizations specifically for sustained gaming.

• Performance: It will crush everything up to the PS2 and GameCube era at significantly upscaled resolutions. It is also capable of handling Switch emulation and some modern Android titles with ease.
• Cooling: To keep that power in check, it uses an active cooling system with a “biomimetic fishbone” vent design, preventing the thermal throttling that plagues passive handhelds.
• Battery: Despite the small chassis, it packs a 6,000mAh battery with PD fast charging, which should offer marathon-level battery life for 8-bit and 16-bit titles.

Design & Build: Premium vs. Portable

The Pocket S Mini is built to feel expensive. It features a CNC-machined full metal frame and a seamless glass front panel. It measures 167.1 x 77.85 x 18.5 mm and weighs roughly 305g.

Comparison: Pocket S Mini vs. Original Pocket S

• Size: The Mini is significantly shorter than the original Pocket S (which was ~214mm long), making it truly pocketable.
• Thickness: Interestingly, the Mini is slightly thicker (18.5mm) than the razor-thin original Pocket S (14mm). This extra thickness likely helps with grip ergonomics and cooling in the smaller footprint.
• Screen: The original Pocket S used a 6-inch 16:9 screen (great for streaming/PSP), whereas the Mini’s 4.2-inch 4:3 screen is specialized for home console retro gaming.

Controls and Connectivity

Ayaneo hasn’t skimped on the inputs. You get Hall effect joysticks (drift-free) with RGB lighting and Hall effect linear triggers. The ABXY buttons feature a “crystal-textured” finish with conductive rubber internals, aiming for that classic retro feel rather than the clicky, mouse-like buttons found on some modern devices.

Ports & I/O:

• USB-C: It sports a fully featured USB 3.2 Gen 2 port, which supports DisplayPort 1.4 video out. You can dock this mini beast to a TV for a console-like experience.
• Storage: A MicroSD card slot allows for easy library expansion.
• Missing Feature: Notably, there is no mention of a 3.5mm headphone jack, a controversial omission that has become common in Ayaneo’s premium lineup. You will likely need USB-C headphones or Bluetooth buds.

Pricing and Availability

In a welcome change of pace, Ayaneo has skipped the crowdfunding route. The device is available for direct purchase now.

• Obsidian Black / Ice Soul White:
  • 8GB RAM / 128GB Storage: $319 (Early Bird)
  • 12GB RAM / 256GB Storage: $399
• Retro Power Edition:
  • This grey, nostalgic colorway is exclusive to the top-tier model.
  • 16GB RAM / 512GB Storage: $479 (Early Bird)

While the price is steep compared to budget emulators, the Pocket S Mini offers a build quality and performance ceiling that its cheaper competitors simply cannot match. If you’ve been waiting for a high-powered, metal-clad Game Boy replacement, this might finally be the one.