Ayaneo Pocket AIR Mini

AYANEO Pocket AIR Mini - A budget handheld with ‘Apple’-quality build

What do you get when you apply the typical premium quality of AYANEO handhelds to the budget segment? You end up with the AYANEO Pocket AIR Mini, a compact handheld that feels just like an old-school Nintendo or Sony handheld whilst you’re playing.

Read the comprehensive and independent review of this device on RetroReady.

Please note that we are now also selling the Limited Edition Arcade Home version!!!

Key features

The AYANEO Pocket AIR Mini has it all. A lovely compact 4:3 screen that really does justice to old-school Nintendo and Sega games, an ergonomic grip, a sturdy, pocket-sized design, active cooling and even joysticks featuring Hall effect technology. The latter is particularly noteworthy, as not many retro handhelds currently offer this sort of durable technology, which protects the sticks from wear and tear. Furthermore, this model features colourful LED lighting around the sticks and a battery with a capacity of no less than 4.500 mAh. This guarantees four to eight hours of playtime (depending on the games you choose to play on it).

Why this model is special

What makes this model special, however, is that it’s built entirely with retro gaming in mind. You can tell from the processor (MediaTek Helio G90T chipset), which allows us to keep the price nice and low. And thanks to the high resolution of 1280 by 960 pixels, you can, for example, upscaling your SNES and Mega Drive games perfectly by up to four times – what more could you want? Despite the 4:3 display, Game Boy – and Game Boy Advance games look crystal clear. And with Android as the operating system, you have complete control over which emulator to use for which system. You’re not restricted to pre-set options thanks to the Google Play Store. Finally, you can choose from three colour options, all of which perfectly showcase the design aesthetic. If there’s one thing AYANEO excels at, it’s design.

Just to be clear: the AYANEO Pocket AIR Mini is available in two versions. At RetroGear, we sell the models with 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage, and those with 3 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage.

Both versions emulate systems up to and including the Sony PlayStation 1, Sega Dreamcast and Nintendo 64.

If you opt for the ‘ 3 GB ’ + ‘ 64 GB ’ version, GameCube is also an option, albeit with some limitations.

64 GB It might not sound like a huge amount of storage, but in practice it’s often more than enough, especially for cartridge-based games. If you do need more space, you can easily expand the memory with a microSD card.

What you get

If you decide to go for this handheld, here’s what you can expect to find in the box.

• the AYANEO Pocket AIR Mini
• a USB-C cable for charging

A charging block is not included; you can simply use the one that came with your smartphone. Furthermore, AYANEO and RetroGear never supply illegal ROMs on an SD card. You are responsible for making your own backups of the games you own.

The Arcade Home Edition includes the following games:

Knights of Valour series:
Knights of Valour ver. 115
Knights of Valour v114 Hong Kong
Knights of Valour 2 V107 – 4P
Knights of Valour 2 V106 – 4P
Knights of Valour 2: Nine Dragons
Knights of Valour Plus v119 set 2
Knights of Valour: Super Heroes – 4P
Knights of Valour: Super Heroes Ver.101 – 4P
Knights of Valour: Super Heroes Ver.102 – 4P
Knights of Valour: Super Heroes Ver.103 – 4P

Oriental Legend series
Oriental Legend v126
Oriental Legend v111
Oriental Legend China, Set 1
Oriental Legend China, Set 2
Oriental Legend English, Set 1
Oriental Legend – 4P
Oriental Legend v105
Oriental Legend 2 – 4P
Oriental Legend SUPER
Oriental Legend: Chaos Rising

Demon Front
Demon Front V102
Demon Front V103

The Killing Blade
The Killing Blade Ver100
The Killing Blade SUPER

Dragon World
Dragon World 2001 China
Dragon World 2001 Hong Kong
Dragon World 3 SUPER

Other games
Martial Masters
Road of the Sword MV101
Alien Challenge
Happy 6 in 1
Photo Y2K v105

Specifications

• Processor: MediaTek Helio G90T
• Processor: Octa-core Cortex-A76 (up to 2.05 GHz)
• GPU: Mali-G76 MP4
• RAM: 2/3 GB LPDDR4X
• Storage: 32/64 GB s (expandable via microSD)
• Operating system: Android
• Screen: 4.2-inch LCD
• Resolution: 1280 × 960
• Aspect ratio: 4:3
• Refresh rate: 60 Hz
• Joysticks: Dual Hall-effect with RGB
• Triggers: Analogue L2 / R2 (and four shoulder buttons)
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0
• Battery: 4500 mAh
• Audio: Stereo speakers, headphone socket
• Dimensions: 165.9 × 82.5 × 18.7–27.6 mm
• Weight: 269 grams

Frequently Asked Questions

Which systems is AYANEO Pocket AIR Mini suitable for?
In principle, you can run some games on the AYANEO Pocket AIR Mini that are on a par with those for the GameCube and PlayStation 2. However, to make sure you aren’t disappointed, it’s better to bear in mind the PlayStation 1, Sega Dreamcast, Sony PSP and Nintendo 64 (and everything below that, of course).

Is this really a budget handheld?
If you’re just looking at the price, then definitely. But if you consider value for money, the Pocket AIR Mini really is a cut above most budget handhelds.

Are there any games on it?
Yes, if you choose the Arcade Home edition, it comes with games – see the list above.
If you’d prefer a different version, that’s fine, but you can still make use of our MIT Games collection. You can also download Android games or play your own collection of backups.

Can I expand the storage space?
Yes, and it’s very simple too: just use a microSD card. We therefore strongly recommend this if you’re looking for extra storage space or convenience.

Why buy from RetroGear?

• Fast delivery & reliability: we dispatch from the Netherlands and we do so quickly: orders placed before 14:00 are dispatched the same day.
• Expertise & support: our team consists of passionate, knowledgeable gamers and a customer service team that’s always on hand.
• Wide range: we sell so-called retro handhelds, but we also focus on modded Game Boys (and thus on preserving ‘slow tech’).
• Sustainability: we focus on the circular economy by refurbishing old appliances and offering trade-in schemes for old appliances.
• A Dutch company with a European warranty: you’re doing business with a Dutch company, which means you have access to warranty options set out at European level.