On this planet of gaming handhelds, Ayaneo is one thing of a rising star. Regardless of solely arriving on the scene in 2020, the model has launched numerous Android and Home windows handhelds in the previous few years, together with a private favourite of mine, the Nintendo-inspired Flip DS. Now it is again with the Ayaneo Pocket Micro Traditional, an Android-based handheld with a beautiful type issue and an excellent lovelier value, and the great folks at Ayaneo had been type sufficient to ship me one to take a look at.
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From the off, I’ve to say that the Ayaneo Pocket Micro Traditional is beautiful, combining nostalgic Sport Boy Advance Micro vibes with a glossy black metallic design. Whereas it is a fairly rectangular construct, I by no means seen the corners digging into my fingers. It feels premium, which might be as a result of quite a lot of the cheaper choices from our information to the perfect retro handhelds have plastic builds, however the metallic of the Micro Traditional makes it really feel extra upmarket, which is an enormous deal contemplating its value level.
The important thing distinction between the Micro Traditional and the unique Micro is that the Traditional would not have analog sticks. That is Ayaneo correctly committing to the nostalgia vibes, and to be trustworthy, I am a fan. Sure, it limits what you may play on the system, however most of my favourite retro video games haven’t got a use for analog sticks anyway, so it is no actual loss. The shortage of sticks additionally makes the entrance of the hand-held really feel much less congested, which is vitally essential in video games that require precision inputs. I am you, Tetris.
As regards to controls, the Micro Traditional’s buttons are all good and clickable, together with the triggers on the highest of the hand-held. Admittedly, they do not really feel fairly as top quality as the remainder of the construct, particularly the A, B, X, and Y buttons, however they get the job achieved, and you’ve got additionally acquired begin and choose buttons on the backside of the display, in addition to a particular Ayaneo button that brings up your all-important settings and efficiency particulars.
Not solely is the Micro Traditional’s type issue nice, nevertheless it has a beautiful show, too. The three.5-inch IPS display may not be an OLED, nevertheless it nonetheless affords very vivid colours, and the touchscreen response is extremely correct. There is a slight subject in that, because of the completely glass entrance, it is fairly simple to get smudges all around the system, nevertheless it’s nothing you may’t rectify by protecting a microfiber material at hand.
I am not going to get too in-depth concerning the Micro Traditional’s efficiency right here, nevertheless it’s simply value mentioning that this factor has 6GB of RAM, greater than the unique Swap, and its MediaTek Helio G99 is lots able to working even a few of the extra demanding Android video games. If something, this factor is perhaps barely overpowered for what you are planning on taking part in on it, however nonetheless, it is higher to have an excessive amount of energy than not sufficient.
As I’ve discovered with different Ayaneo gadgets, the software program expertise could be a little awkward, however as soon as you have adjusted, it is fairly simple to make use of. The Micro Traditional advantages from its Android working system, offered you first take the time to pick out the choice to power panorama mode within the settings. As soon as you have locked to panorama, you need not fear about any extra tinkering exterior of putting in your apps, which, mixed with the straightforward button format, makes for a really pleasant person expertise.
Whereas Ayaneo may need gone just a little overboard on efficiency, you sadly cannot say the identical factor for the Pocket Micro Traditional’s battery. The two,600 mAh cell inside this system is succesful sufficient for a few hours of gaming, nevertheless it persistently runs out of juice faster than I am anticipating. It is not an enormous deal, because the factor expenses comparatively rapidly, however for those who’re happening an extended journey with out a energy financial institution, it is more likely to run out of cost earlier than you even get to your vacation spot.
All in all, for those who’re on the lookout for a pleasant little handheld that feels correctly retro and extra particular to a sure period of gaming than nearly all the alternate options, the Ayaneo Pocket Micro Traditional is a good possibility. That proper there’s why it is my favourite handheld of 2025 up to now, although it is value mentioning that the Nintendo Swap 2 launch date is not too distant, so all that might change earlier than lengthy.
The Ayaneo Pocket Micro Traditional is offered to order from the official Ayaneo web site now, beginning at $179 for the 128GB model or $209 for the 256GB mannequin. There are additionally particular version Retro Gold and Retro Gray variations you may seize for $239, which look simply as beautiful as the unique Magic Black colorway, if no more so.
In the event you’re not bought on the Ayaneo Pocket Micro Traditional, make sure you try our guides to the perfect handheld consoles and the perfect Steam Deck alternate options when you’re right here, with each articles together with a bunch of top-tier choices for gaming on the go. Or, for those who’re on the lookout for one thing to play the perfect cellular video games on, see our record of the perfect gaming telephones.