The AYANEO KONKR Pocket Advance brings a nostalgic look to modern gaming, with its design clearly inspired by the classic Game Boy Advance. It combines the 3.5-inch 960x640 screen with the same 3:2 aspect ratio as the original GBA and a MediaTek Helio G90T chip, all powered by Android 12. The base model with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage starts at $89, while an upgraded 4GB/64GB version is available for $109 during the pre-order period.
Both models are discounted through pre-orders, and the final retail price will be $109 and $129, respectively. AYANEO has had issues with limited production before, as seen with the Pocket MICRO 2, which only produced about 100 units in the initial batch. This has left buyers waiting for the second run, raising questions about whether this new model will have enough production to meet demand. If all goes smoothly, shipments for the KONKR Pocket Advance should begin by the end of August.
The console has more than just a retro look and feel; it adds modern features like a 4,000 mAh battery for extended play, WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless connectivity, a USB 2.0 Type-C port, and a microSD card reader for expanded storage. It also has a 3.5mm headphone jack and a roto motor for haptic feedback. Unusual for a handheld of this size, it includes a gyroscope and an active cooling fan, which may help with extended use and performance.
AYANEO adds its own custom software suite, with tools like AYASpace, AYAHome, AYAWindow, and AYASetting. These software features are designed to create a more seamless user experience within the AYANEO ecosystem. The device’s dimensions are 151.3 x 82.4 x 22 mm, and it weighs 224 grams, making it relatively compact but not especially light. It balances portability with enough space to house the upgraded hardware and added components like the cooling fan.