Ayaneo is continuing its push into retro-inspired handhelds with the Pocket Vert, a vertically oriented gaming device that draws clear visual inspiration from the original Game Boy while aiming for a lower entry price than some of the company’s recent releases. After criticism over the $449 starting price of the Pocket DMG, Ayaneo is positioning the Pocket Vert as a more accessible option, with early bird pricing set at $269 through an upcoming Indiegogo campaign.
To reach that lower price point, Ayaneo has made several deliberate trade-offs. The Pocket Vert drops the OLED display and high-end memory and storage configurations found in the Pocket DMG, which could reach 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. Instead, the new model focuses on a simpler lineup and a more restrained feature set, while still retaining a premium feel through a fully metal CNC-machined body. The exterior design is notably minimalist, with plain, engraving-free buttons that echo the aesthetic popularized by devices like the Analogue Pocket.
The Pocket Vert features a 3.5-inch LCD panel with a 1,600 x 1,440 resolution, a relatively high pixel density for a screen of this size. Powering the device is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, which places it firmly in the category of Android-based handhelds capable of emulating systems up to the PlayStation 2 era and handling some Nintendo Switch titles, depending on software optimization. This choice suggests Ayaneo is targeting users who want flexibility beyond classic 8-bit and 16-bit games, without stepping into the price range of flagship handheld PCs.
To accommodate more modern games that rely on analog input, Ayaneo has added a concealed touchpad beneath the front buttons, which functions as a virtual joystick. Other hardware details include a fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button, a USB-C port for charging and data, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a microSD card slot for expandable storage. Color options include Lava Red, Eternal Night Black, and Lunar White, with the highest-spec version limited to the Lava Red finish.
The Indiegogo campaign will be the only way to purchase the Pocket Vert at its lowest pricing. After the campaign, the base model is expected to retail for $339. A higher-end configuration with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage will start at $369 during the early bird window and later increase to $439. As with most crowdfunding-based hardware launches, buyers are trading early access and lower prices for longer wait times and some degree of risk.
With the Pocket Vert, Ayaneo appears to be testing whether a more restrained approach to specs and pricing can broaden its appeal among retro handheld fans who were priced out of earlier models. Whether that strategy succeeds will likely depend on how well the device balances performance, build quality, and long-term software support once it reaches users’ hands.
