GoKawiilTL;DR Following weeks of speculation, the AYANEO Pocket Micro 2 is here with upgraded hardware and a steeper $269 starting price.
While the Pocket Micro 2 retains the 3.5-inch 960×640 LCD, it sports a larger battery and a new CPU that claims a 220% uptick in performance.
The Pocket Micro 2 also introduces upgrades to the shoulder buttons and D-Pad.
AYANEO’s Pocket Micro is among our favorite Android gaming handhelds, including its Classic iteration. We’ve known for a while that this critically-acclaimed Game Boy Micro-looking console is due for a successor, and that day has finally arrived.
In a blog post announcing the launch, AYANEO outlines a couple of key upgrades made to the Pocket Micro 2, though it retains some elements from the predecessor. We get a 3.5-inch, 960×640 LCD, and the handheld is now powered by a more capable Snapdragon 865 chipset, which the company claims is a 220% performance upgrade over the last-gen model.
The launch also confirms the Pocket Micro 2’s 3,950mAh battery, as revealed by recent leaks, offering a significant boost in battery life over the first-gen variant’s 2,600mAh unit.
With dimensions of 162×67.8x18mm and a weight of 248 grams, the Pocket Micro 2 is larger and heavier than the first-gen model’s 233-gram body and 156x63x18mm exterior dimensions. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, given the Pocket Micro 2’s upgraded battery.
Additionally, the new retro gaming handheld features a larger D-Pad and ABXY keys, as well as recessed dual TMR joysticks. The L1/L2 and R1/R2 keys have different heights, making them easier to find and also avoid accidental button presses.
The Pocket Micro 2 will be available in 6GB/128GB and 8GB/256GB versions in Midnight Black and Frosty White colorways. Meanwhile, AYANEO is also launching a limited-edition color, Stardust Purple, in the 8GB/256GB avatar.
The base model will retail for $269, whereas the version with 256GB of storage will sell for $309 in the US. Lastly, the limited-edition Pocket Micro 2 in Stardust Purple is priced at $339. AYANEO is running a $30 discount on all three variants as part of a launch offer.
... continue reading