Alternate ARM-Based Handhelds

The Pocket Air is a retro Android handheld device that features a 5.5-inch OLED screen, a Hall joystick, a Hall trigger, an X-axis linear motor, a 7350 mAh battery, and an active cooling system. The device runs on a custom desktop launcher called AYAHome and has access to a cloud-based retro game database. The Pocket Air was originally announced with a MediaTek Dimensity 1200 chipset, but AYANEO has recently teased a second version that will use a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. It is speculated that the Qualcomm version may be equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 or a chip more powerful, which would give it a significant performance boost over the MediaTek version.

The pricing and availability of the Qualcomm version of the Pocket Air are not yet confirmed, but it is expected to be released in the near future. The MediaTek version of the Pocket Air is priced at 1,999 yuan (about US$308) for the standard edition and 2,199 yuan (about US$339) for the limited edition. The Qualcomm version may have a higher price tag due to its superior chipset and possible other upgrades. The Pocket Air will compete with other gaming handhelds such as the AYN Odin 2, which also uses a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon chip and will launch on Indiegogo tomorrow from US$299. The Pocket Air may have an advantage over the Odin2 in terms of battery life, screen quality, and software features.

Image Credit: AYANEO