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Ayaneo is stepping into the smartphone arena with a bold throwback: the Pocket Play, a handset that revives the slide-out gamepad concept made famous by the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play. Early images and a Kickstarter teaser suggest a premium build and a design clearly geared toward handheld gamers.
A modern take on a cult-classic design
From the photos, the Pocket Play looks polished — clean lines, two-tone finishes in black and white, and a robust slide mechanism hiding a full gaming controller. The reveal immediately sparks nostalgia for the Xperia Play, but Ayaneo’s version adds contemporary touches like dual rear cameras and stereo speakers.
What the controls reveal
When the controller slides out, it exposes a familiar layout: a D-pad, ABXY face buttons and two touchpads that appear intended to act as thumbsticks. Physical shoulder buttons (L1, L2 and R1, R2) are present too, suggesting the phone is built with serious mobile gaming in mind rather than casual play.
- Slide-out controller with D-pad and ABXY buttons
- Dual touchpads designed as analog inputs
- L1/L2 and R1/R2 shoulder triggers
- Stereo speakers, dual rear cameras, and a USB-C port
- Available in black and white; likely runs Android
Specs, price and availability: what we know
Ayaneo hasn’t published full specifications, pricing, or a release date yet — the Pocket Play listing on Ayaneo’s Kickstarter simply reads “coming soon.” That means core questions like chipset, battery, display size and storage remain unanswered. Still, the emphasis on dedicated gaming controls and a premium exterior points to a device aimed squarely at gamers who want a portable, console-like experience.
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Imagine sliding the controller out to play a cloud-streamed title or a native Android port with tactile buttons and real shoulder triggers — a niche that’s grown since the days of the Xperia Play. Whether Ayaneo can hit the sweet spot of performance, battery life and price will determine if the Pocket Play becomes a modern classic or a nostalgic curiosity.
Why this matters for mobile gaming
Hardware like the Pocket Play could reinvigorate interest in purpose-built gaming phones by offering better ergonomics and controls than touchscreen-only devices. For cloud gaming services and emulation fans, physical inputs make a big difference. Ayaneo’s entry is also a reminder that mobile gaming hardware still has room for experimentation beyond the usual slab with RGB lights.
Keep an eye on Ayaneo’s Kickstarter and official channels for full specs and launch details — and for anyone who remembers the Xperia Play, the Pocket Play is a welcome blast from the past with a modern twist.
Source: gsmarena
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