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:
- 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).
- 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.
