AYANEO Pocket VERT The Pocket VERT isn't a typical emulation handheld designed to play all your favorite retro systems. Instead, it does Game Boy and Game Boy Color emulation better than anything else you can buy.
I’ve said it before when testing modern handhelds, but I’m a sucker for anything related to the original Game Boy. I still have my old carts, as well as two copies of nearly every Game Boy handheld (for Pokémon trading, of course). So when AYANEO announced a fanciful Game Boy clone unlike anything I’ve ever seen, I was immediately intrigued.
Coming at it from the perspective of a Game Boy fan, this device is a dream come true. The CNC metal finish. The perfect 10x resolution. The scroll wheel on the side. The immaculate hand feel.
But from the perspective of someone who tests Android gaming handhelds, it’s very confusing. The strange combination of components and pricing makes it difficult to pin down exactly who this device is for. But after a week of testing, I think I finally have the answer.
No corners cut
Nick Fernandez / Android Authority
At first glance, it’s clear that the Pocket VERT is trying its hardest to do something different. It’s a very jarring break from the toy-like designs of OG Game Boys (which AYANEO adopted for the Pocket DMG), favoring a much more modern look that feels more at home alongside modern iPhones.
Taking it out of the box, the first thing that struck me was just how cold it is. Both in terms of physical temperature (it’s winter here, after all) and in terms of the design itself. The clicky microswitch buttons are unlabeled gems, the “diamond cut” shoulder buttons are all hard edges, and it has a minimal, all-glass front that’s completely free from blemishes (or character).
Even by AYANEO’s standards, the Pocket VERT feels excessively premium. It felt even more premium than the Pocket Micro Classic I reviewed in 2025, and it’s clear that the company didn’t pull any punches in its design.
The components are also largely among the best on the market, starting with a screen that offers perfect 10x resolution for Game Boy emulation. It’s likely the exact same panel as the Analogue Pocket, and despite being an LTPS LCD display, it makes games pop like with the right shaders applied.
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