On November 26, 2025, the highly anticipated surprise pre-order for the AYANEO Pocket VERT officially opened. During a live stream, AYANEO CEO Arthur showcased the key highlights and real-game performance of the Pocket VERT. This premium vertical handheld, hailed as a collectible piece of handheld artistry, finally made its debut before players in a presentation resembling a work of art.

From the very beginning of its development, the mission of Pocket VERT was never just to create another handheld console. It was conceived as an emotional tribute to vertical handheld enthusiasts, an attempt to reinterpret pixel-era aesthetics with extreme craftsmanship, and a testament to AYANEO’s philosophy of “Real Gamers, Konow Gamers.”

A creation driven by passion, completed through pursuit of perfection

Pocket VERT was born from AYANEO’s deep affection for the pixel era. To satisfy players who adore the iconic 3.5-inch 1600×1440 “retro legendary display” AYANEO devoted itself to development with near-obsessive dedication, sculpting every detail as though crafting a piece of art. This is the emotional value unique to handheld enthusiasts—an unwavering commitment understood only by those who genuinely appreciate retro handhelds. And AYANEO is precisely the brand that understands both the players and the handhelds they love.

Minimalist design elevated into handheld artistry

AYANEO Pocket VERT continues the brand’s signature minimalist design language, presenting a highly unified visual identity through pure lines and refined proportions. Its slim and elegant 86.4mm × 143mm × 20.5mm body embodies a philosophy of artistic craftsmanship. Every curve, structural line, and subtle transition of light and shadow has been meticulously refined. It is not just a handheld device—it is a collectible piece of pocketable art.

Master-level craftsmanship: full CNC unibody construction and a seamless glass panel

Pocket VERT adopts a full CNC unibody design instead of traditional stamped manufacturing. Multi-pass machining creates near-perfect surfaces and a unified texture. Every cutout and edge is repeatedly verified to achieve a refined metallic feel in hand, reminiscent of a carefully crafted sculpture.

The front features a high-strength seamless glass panel that marks a new milestone for AYANEO in screen integration and aesthetic consistency. With smoother edge transitions and enhanced touch responsiveness, the panel blends flawlessly with the body—another breakthrough in AYANEO’s craftsmanship.

Artistic color finishes that give the handheld a unique soul

Pocket VERT introduces three artistically expressive colorways, each crafted to reflect the personal aesthetic of retro handheld collectors:

Midnight Black — deep and resolute, echoing the unwavering spirit of the golden handheld era.

Moon White — pure and serene like moonlight, elegant with a distinct personality.

Lava Red — the color of burning passion, embodying craftsmanship and energy.

A legendary high-resolution display, built for retro perfection

This screen—long regarded by players as the ultimate vertical retro display—finally shines within an AYANEO handheld. The 3.5-inch LCD delivers:

1600 × 1440 resolution

615 PPI pixel density

450 nits global peak brightness

Whether playing retro classics, Android titles, or indie gems, Pocket VERT renders visuals with exceptional clarity, vibrancy, and detail.

AYANEO’s first-ever “full unmarked button” design on a handheld

AYANEO introduces a full unmarked button layout for the first time, bringing minimalism and purity to the entire visual system.

Crystal-clear buttons with premium transparency and tactile finesse

The transparent crystal-like buttons integrate elegantly with the minimalist chassis, refracting unique visual charm under light. Each press offers both tactile precision and refined craftsmanship.

Classic Japanese control layout—retro precision revived

The D-pad and ABXY follow the classic Japanese-style layout, paired with deeply tuned micro-dome membrane switches for crisp, accurate input. Wherever your fingers rest, familiar gaming rhythm follows naturally.

Better functional keys: intuitive and clear handheld interaction

SE, ST, AYA, and customizable function buttons feature a clean, logical layout for effortless operation across different scenarios, enhancing usability and interaction efficiency.

Four unmarked side buttons for customizable, free-flowing controls

Four side-mounted unmarked buttons allow complete customization, empowering players to define their own ideal control schemes without compromise—perfect for games, utilities, or personal preferences.

Diamond-cut shoulder buttons: the harmony of ergonomics and aesthetics

The diamond-cut design blends transparency, texture, and geometric light-flow for a visually striking look. Ergonomically optimized angle and placement ensure smooth, comfortable operation even during extended gameplay.

MagicSwitch Scroll Wheel: AYANEO’s signature interactive innovation

The beloved MagicSwitch scroll wheel from Pocket DMG returns.

Press: instant mute

Scroll: adjust volume

Long press: open function menu

Fast, intuitive, and perfect for high-frequency use.

AYANEO MagicTouch: a hidden dual-mode touchpad beneath the panel

AYANEO’s newly developed dual-mode touchpad is seamlessly embedded beneath the one-piece glass panel. It supports mapping to left/right stick, dual-stick mode, or mouse control—clean in appearance, powerful in capability, expanding creative play for vertical handhelds.

6000mAh high-density battery: enduring power in an elegant body

Despite its compact size, Pocket VERT houses a 6000mAh high-density battery, delivering superior endurance for its class. Optimized power profiles ensure a fine balance between performance and longevity—play wherever, whenever.

Stereo dual speakers with depth and clarity

Deeply tuned stereo speakers provide a wider, more layered soundstage that enhances everything from retro BGM to modern mobile game audio.

Power button with integrated fingerprint unlock

The power button incorporates fingerprint recognition, letting players enter the game world instantly with a single touch.

Versatile I/O for all scenarios

Pocket VERT offers:

Full-featured USB Type-C

3.5mm audio jack

MicroSD slot

Fully equipped for storage, audio, and expansion needs.

AYANEO’s custom Android software ecosystem elevates the core experience

Pocket VERT’s excellence extends beyond hardware. AYANEO’s Android software suite continues evolving to enhance the handheld experience.

AYASpace upgraded with advanced retro game management: local import, multi-platform libraries, auto-scraping, and ever-improving resource management.

AYAHome, a customizable launcher offering flexible layout adjustments, wallpapers, icon sorting, and folders—making the handheld feel truly personal.

AYASetting, the centralized system configuration hub, supports custom key mapping, multiple performance modes, device spoofing, “no-sense” key mapping 1.5, and a new AI real-time translation feature—boosting performance and control efficiency.

Performance revealed: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1

After the real-world performance demo, the final mystery was unveiled: Pocket VERT is powered by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 mobile platform.

With TSMC 4nm process, 1+3+4 octa-core architecture, and Adreno™ 730 GPU, this compact device delivers powerful gaming performance. From retro titles to modern hits, Pocket VERT ensures stable and smooth gameplay—strong performance, excellent efficiency, and flagship-grade capability in a remarkably small form.

AYANEO Pocket VERT IGG Pre-launch is now live—players are invited to register for exclusive early-bird offers.

A premium vertical handheld, a collectible handheld artwork

Pocket VERT brings together minimalist aesthetics, artistic-grade craftsmanship, the long-awaited legendary display, innovative controls, rich hardware configuration, exceptional gaming performance, and AYANEO’s custom software ecosystem. It is AYANEO’s sincere tribute to vertical handheld culture—a device worthy of both owning and cherishing.

AYANEO will continue upholding the philosophy of “Real Gamers, Understand Gamers,” creating more premium handhelds and delivering dream-fulfilling experiences to players who truly love games.