AYANEO Pocket DS, the First Flip-Style, Dual-Screen Android Gaming Handheld, Starts at $400

AYANEO’s Pocket DS launched today, and this Android handheld, with its dual screen clamshell design, is basically a Nintendo DS that had its cartridges replaced with modern hardware.

Open the Pocket DS, and you’re greeted by a 7 inch OLED screen that’s sharp, vibrant and buttery smooth at 1080p with 165 Hz refresh rate. It’s the kind of screen that makes colours pop and motion feel effortless, hitting 800 nits for clear visuals even in bright rooms. Below it is a 5 inch LCD screen with 1024×768 resolution and 4:3 aspect ratio, a deliberate nod to classic handhelds. This smaller screen with 550 nits of brightness is for retro games and multitasking, a crisp nostalgic canvas for games that defined a generation. The clamshell design with CNC machined metal body feels solid and premium, with an infinitely adjustable hinge that lets you set the screens at any angle from 0 to 180 degrees.

AYANEO didn’t skimp on ergonomics and it shows in the Pocket DS’s curved grips that fit in your hands even during long sessions. The controls – standard cross keys, ABXY buttons, TMR electromagnetic joysticks and Hall linear triggers – are precise and drift free. Dual X-axis motors provide nuanced vibration feedback for games from fast paced shooters to immersive RPGs. Two front firing stereo speakers round out the package, delivering rich layered sound that pulls you in.Under the hood the Pocket DS runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 chipset, a step down from the G3 Gen 3 in the Pocket S2 and S2 Pro. Don’t be fooled, this processor built on 4nm with 15W TDP is a beast for a handheld.

The eight core CPU and Adreno A32 GPU can handle demanding Android games and Switch emulation with ease. Paired with up to 16 GB of LPDDR5x RAM and 1 TB of UFS 4.0 storage the Pocket DS feels snappy and responsive whether you’re juggling multiple apps or emulating retro games. For those on a budget the base model with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of UFS 3.1 storage keeps things affordable without sacrificing too much performance. A MicroSD slot means you can expand storage without worry.

AYANEO’s custom interface, based on Android, allows main and secondary screens to run different apps at the same time. Want to play a game on the top screen and check a walkthrough or stream music on the bottom? It’s seamless. 3-finger swipe to drag apps between screens and single-screen mode to save battery. Secondary screen also acts as a control hub to monitor performance, tweak controller settings or adjust Wi-Fi and Bluetooth without pause your game.

For retro gamers, the 4:3 secondary screen is a dream. It supports native dual-screen games and emulators for platforms like Nintendo DS and 3DS, with pixel perfect visuals without stretching or compression. AYANEO’s optimizations, including a “device disguise” feature, allow higher graphics settings for mainstream games and smooth performance for emulated games. Multiple performance modes (power saving to full throttle) to balance battery life and power and a Turbo key to one-tap to optimal settings.

Crowdfunding through Indiegogo comes with risks but AYANEO has a good track record with devices like Pocket S2 and Pocket DMG. A $1 reservation fee unlocks a $20 launch discount so it’s an even better deal for early backers. Shipping starts in October so not long to wait for those who want to get it.