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| Ayaneo Pocket Vert flaunts a Game Boy layout with four buttons, dual touchpads, shoulder buttons, a fighting game-grade D-Pad, and powerful internals. |
For retro gaming enthusiasts, the announcement of a new vertical handheld is always exciting. But Ayaneo's Pocket Vert isn't just another emulation device—it's a deliberate and powerful challenge to the reigning champion, the Analogue Pocket. By combining a near-identical, pixel-perfect screen with modern smartphone power, the Pocket Vert blurs the line between faithful retro recreation and a do-it-all portable powerhouse.
After months of teases, details are finally coming into focus. YouTuber ETA Prime has gotten his hands on a unit, and Ayaneo has revealed its full specifications. The result is a device that asks a provocative question: in a Game Boy-shaped package, do you want perfect historical accuracy, or do you want the ability to play GameCube, PS2, and even modern Android games?
The Core Proposition: Familiar Form, Unfamiliar Power
At first glance, the Pocket Vert's mission is clear. It features a 3.5-inch LTPS LCD screen with a sharp 1600x1440 resolution—identical specs to the screen in the Analogue Pocket. This resolution is a deliberate choice for purists; it's exactly 10 times the resolution of the original Game Boy (160x144), allowing for flawless "integer scaling" that displays pixel art without blur.
Where the two devices dramatically diverge is what's inside. The Analogue Pocket uses a specialized FPGA chip to mimic original Game Boy hardware with incredible accuracy. The Ayaneo Pocket Vert, however, is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, the same chip that powered flagship Android phones in 2022. This modern mobile chipset is orders of magnitude more powerful, transforming the device's potential from a dedicated retro machine into a broad gaming handheld.
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| Ayaneo Pocket Vert (right) side-by-side with Analogue Pocket, an FPGA handheld supporting up to GBA with the same screen resolution. |
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| Ayaneo Pocket Vert GameCube benchmarks |
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| Ayaneo Pocket Vert GameCube benchmarks |
The table below highlights the key differences between these two approaches to the "premium vertical handheld":
More Than Just a Screen: Premium Design and Modern Controls
Ayaneo is positioning the Pocket Vert as a premium product, and its construction reflects that. The body is made from a full CNC-machined metal, giving it a substantial, high-end feel that differs from the Analogue Pocket's plastic shell. The front is a single seamless glass panel, and the physical buttons use a distinctive crystal-like transparent material.
The control scheme is where the Pocket Vert adapts the classic form for modern games. In addition to the standard D-pad and face buttons, it features four shoulder buttons (L1/R1, L2/R2), which are essential for PlayStation-era games and beyond. Perhaps most innovatively, it incorporates a hidden dual-mode smart touchpad beneath the front glass. This touchpad can be configured to act as virtual analog sticks, providing control for 3D games that the original Game Boy form factor was never designed for.
This approach to controls has been a point of discussion for Ayaneo's vertical handhelds. A review of the similar Pocket DMG noted that while the touchpad is a clever solution for adding right-stick functionality, it can feel less intuitive than a physical analog stick for games designed around dual-stick controls.
Performance That Redefines the Category
The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset is the engine that unlocks the Pocket Vert's true potential. While the Analogue Pocket excels at perfectly replicating 8-bit and 16-bit handheld consoles, the Pocket Vert aims much higher.
Early reports and performance metrics suggest it will comfortably handle demanding emulation for systems like the GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Dreamcast, often at resolutions higher than the original consoles could output. This means playing The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker or Shadow of the Colossus on a device that fits in your pocket.
Beyond emulation, running Android 14 opens up a vast library of native Android games from the Google Play Store. It also makes the device a capable client for Steam Link, Xbox Cloud Gaming, or GeForce Now, allowing you to stream your latest PC or console games to this compact handheld.
To see this potential in action, popular tech YouTuber ETA Prime's hands-on preview shows the device running a variety of these demanding systems smoothly. You can watch his early look here.
The Big Unknown: Price and Market Disruption
The most critical unanswered question is the final price. Ayaneo has begun accepting reservations in China with a deposit of CNY 1,699 (approximately $240), which includes free accessories like a hard case and dock. A full launch event is promised for late December.
This deposit price is already close to the Analogue Pocket's $219.99 retail cost. If the final price is competitive, it creates a major dilemma for buyers. As one analysis puts it, for people who "just want to play games and don't care for the difference between software emulation and FPGAs," the Pocket Vert's vastly broader capabilities could make the Analogue Pocket "a much harder sell".
Potential Hurdles and Competition
The Pocket Vert is not without its potential compromises. The touchpad-controlled "analog stick" may not satisfy players accustomed to physical thumbsticks for 3D games. Furthermore, the 4:3 aspect ratio screen, while perfect for classic games, is less ideal for widescreen Android titles or streaming modern games.
It also enters a crowded field. It must compete with Ayaneo's own Pocket DMG, which features a stunning OLED screen but a different control layout. Other powerful Android handhelds in different form factors, like the upcoming AYN Thor, offer alternative experiences. Even the simple and cheap option—using a game controller attachment with your existing smartphone—remains a compelling alternative for many.
Conclusion: A New Direction for Retro Handhelds
The Ayaneo Pocket Vert is more than just another emulation device. It represents a significant fork in the road for retro handheld design. Instead of focusing purely on historical accuracy, it asks how much modern performance can be infused into a beloved classic form.
By pairing the Analogue Pocket's legendary screen with smartphone-grade power and versatile controls, Ayaneo has created a hybrid device that caters to both nostalgia and practicality. When it launches, its success will ultimately hinge on its final price and how well its innovative touchpad controls are received. One thing is certain: the competition for your pocket just got a lot more interesting.