The AYANEO Pocket S, an eagerly anticipated Android gaming handheld, has finally made its appearance in an independent performance video, showcasing its ability to handle games at Nintendo Switch-level fidelity. Initially teased as ‘Project S’ in August, the device has been subject to numerous sneak peeks by AYANEO itself until recently.
Finally breaking its exclusive coverage, AYANEO has provided an ‘early prototype’ of the Pocket S to prominent YouTuber ETA Prime, revealing a first look into the handheld’s gaming capabilities in the video provided below. Despite being a prototype, the packaging suggests it’s nearing a final retail-ready form, highlighting the inclusion of a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset at its core.
The Pocket S, noted for its slim 14 mm profile (triggers excluded), boasts a competitive edge over many other Android gaming handhelds in terms of sleekness. Building upon its predecessor, the Pocket Air, the device also enhances the user experience with custom UI overlays through AYASpace and AYAHome software.
As for gaming performance, ETA Prime’s video demonstrates that the Pocket S seamlessly runs games like the Android adaptation of ‘Devil May Cry: Peak of Combat,’ ‘Genshin Impact,’ and ‘Real Racing 3’ on full settings at 60 FPS and 1440p resolution. The device is recognized by many Google Play Store games as an Xbox controller; however, it also includes a key mapper service for better compatibility.
Further testing shows the handheld’s proficiency with Gamecube and Wii titles at 1080p or higher resolutions using the OpenGL backend. It also impressively pushes 3.5x native resolution in PlayStation 2 games. There’s a caveat for Nintendo Switch enthusiasts, as GPU driver limitations seem to disrupt emulation performance on the YUZU emulator.
While the AYANEO Pocket S is suggested to hit the market in April 2024, details regarding the full pricing and availability remain undisclosed. Gaming enthusiasts eagerly awaiting this device may soon get their hands on this potent gaming handheld, promising top-tier performance in portable emulation gaming.
