AYANEO has announced its newest handheld, the Pocket Air Mini, and this one’s aimed squarely at retro purists. Forget widescreen. Forget flagship specs. This Android-based handheld brings back the classic 4:3 display — that perfect old-school ratio for 8-bit and 16-bit gaming — while promising portability, nostalgia, and affordability in one slick little package.
I’ve never tried an Anbernic or an AYANEO handheld, so I’m interested to see how this one turns out for them. All the signs are that it is heading into production, and the classic Nintendo colour scheme of one of the three options really suits its 16-bit emulation chops.
Currently funding on Indiegogo, the Pocket Air Mini is AYANEO’s latest attempt to carve out a corner of the growing retro handheld market. Unlike the premium AYANEO Air or Air Pro, this one isn’t chasing PC-level emulation. It’s a dedicated, smaller, simpler console meant for classic console and arcade gaming — and it looks surprisingly polished.
Designed for retro gamers, not spec chasers
AYANEO’s higher-end devices often blur the line between handheld PCs and gaming laptops, but the Pocket Air Mini keeps things grounded. Its 4.2-inch, 1280×960 4:3 display is an intentional throwback to the CRT era — ideal for NES, SNES, Mega Drive, and arcade titles.
The three colour schemes are Aurora Black, Retro White, and Retro Power.
Under the hood, it’s powered by a MediaTek Helio G90T SoC, paired with up to 3GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, expandable via microSD. In short, it’s not built for Dolphin or PCSX2, but it’ll breeze through everything up to PlayStation, N64, and Dreamcast emulation.
More importantly, like the similarly affordable Mangmi Air X, it has hall effect analog sticks, along with USB-C, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, and active cooling — a rare feature in a sub-£100 handheld. It even supports magnetic accessories, like modular grips or stands, continuing AYANEO’s design experimentation.
Portable, affordable, pocket console
AYANEO’s handhelds have always leaned towards “premium,” but the Pocket Air Mini is intended to be both portable and affordable. During crowdfunding, prices started at around $70, with retail expected closer to $99. That’s dangerously close to Anbernic territory, putting it up against the RG35XX H — a device beloved for its simplicity and price.
But unlike most of its rivals, AYANEO’s device focuses on authenticity over specs. That 4:3 screen isn’t a gimmick; it’s a deliberate design choice to capture the proportions and feel of classic gaming. For players sick of stretched sprites or black borders, that’s a big deal.
Retro-first, not retro-lite
If AYANEO can deliver consistent performance and maintain its typical build quality, the Pocket Air Mini could be the go-to entry-level handheld for 2025. It’s not trying to be a Steam Deck clone, and that’s its strength — it’s a retro-first console that looks built for arcade hits, 16-bit classics, and handheld nostalgia.
The AYANEO Pocket Air Mini is available now on Indiegogo, with early backers expected to receive their units in 2025. Campaign closes on the 16th of November, 2025. I might back this one myself…
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Christian Cawley is the founder and editor of GamingRetro.co.uk, a website dedicated to classic and retro gaming. With over 20 years of experience writing for technology and gaming publications, he brings considerable expertise and a lifelong passion for interactive entertainment, particularly games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.
Christian has written for leading outlets including TechRadar, Computer Weekly, Linux Format, and MakeUseOf, where he also served as Deputy Editor.
When he’s not exploring vintage consoles or retro PCs, Christian enjoys building with LEGO, playing cigar box guitar, and experimenting in the kitchen.
