Ayaneo Pocket Micro review: a tiny Android tablet ideal for emulation
Ayaneo Pocket Micro: One-minute review
The Ayaneo Pocket Micro really needs to be held in your hand to be believed. It’s a very small Android tablet, weighing less than 9 ounces / 250 grams and measuring just 6.1 x 2.5 x 0.71 inches / 156 x 63 x 18 mm, with a built-in thumbstick, D-pad, face buttons, and shoulder enter. It features a color 960 x 640 3.5-inch IPS touchscreen75 with a 3:2 aspect ratio, perfect for playing game boy advance game.
It’s no secret that it was designed as an emulation handheld device first and foremost, as it even comes with a custom Android launcher and Ayaneo app suite that can be used to import a variety of retro games – even if it’s a bit jagged and rough at times. Links to top emulators Google Play Storeplus an easily accessible microSD card slot, make getting a library full of games up and running incredibly simple.
Dive into Game Boy Advance classics like this The Legend of Zelda: A connection to the past and Pokémon Ruby It’s a joy, thanks in large part to the responsive controls. If you’ve ever tried mobile simulation, you know that touchscreen input doesn’t feel nearly as good as real input. The buttons and D-pad here are very soft, with a spongy feel that’s reminiscent of Nintendo 2DS. GBA games run flawlessly and look crystal clear. This even includes more demanding games that don’t have 3D visuals, such as open-world crime games Driver 3.
While Game Boy games take center stage due to the size of the display, the Ayaneo Pocket Micro is also capable of emulating a variety of other systems. However, if you try anything more advanced than the PSP, performance does start to suffer, which is to be expected considering the use of the more budget-focused Helio G99 chipset.
This is also the story of native Android games. Simple 2D experience, e.g. Stardew Valley or vampire survivor-like 20 minutes until dawn Works great, and complex 3D worlds like Genshin Impact or No Zen Zone Causes frame rate to drop. The quality of the speakers is also poor, which shouldn’t be ignored either. It’s reasonable to expect such cuts at this price point, but the muddy audio makes the headphones almost a necessity, even if you’re gaming at home.
Ayaneo Pocket Micro: price and availability
- Currently available for purchase via IndieGogo
- Early bird pricing starts at $189 (approximately £153)
- Retail prices start at $219 (approximately £177)
Ayaneo Pocket Micro is currently only available via Independent Gogo.
The base model with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage has an early bird price of $189 (about £153) and will retail for $219 (about £177). You can also buy a more premium version with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, with early bird pricing starting at $249 (approximately £202) and a retail price of $279 (approximately £226). IndieGogo will ship to a wide range of areas, but keep in mind that prices may change based on current exchange rates.
Each version is available in a variety of colors. The more affordable model comes in cute red or stylish black, while the higher-end models come in black or gold and maroon that are clearly inspired by gaming and watches.
This price is certainly not a huge amount for an Android tablet, let alone one as professionally designed as this one. It’s priced around the same as other modern Game Boy successors, such as the Premium Edition simulated pocket Prices start at $129.99 (approximately £174), making it a pretty good value proposition overall.
Ayaneo Pocket Micro: Specifications
| price | $189 / approx £153 (6GB + 128GB) / $219 / approx £177 (8GB + 256GB) |
| aspect | 6.1 x 2.5 x 0.71 inches/156 x 63 x 18 mm |
| weight | 8.21 oz/233 g |
| CPU | MediaTek Helio G99 |
| graphics processor | MediaTek Helio G99 |
| memory | 6GB/8GB |
| storage | 128GB/256GB |
| storage expansion | Micro SD card |
Ayaneo Pocket Micro: design and functionality
- Very sturdy metal housing
- Delightful buttons and d-pad
- Full Android functionality
The first thing you’ll probably notice when you take the Ayaneo Pocket Micro out of the box is that it’s built like a tank. I tested an early production sample, but you wouldn’t know it from the quality of the overall feel. It’s built with a CNC aluminum alloy frame, giving the tablet’s exterior an incredibly solid feel. It looks much sturdier than the likes of the Nintendo Switch Lite, and will probably go toe-to-toe with the brick-like original Game Boy in drop tests – although I’m not too keen on testing this for obvious reasons.
The back of the tablet is plastic, which helps keep the weight at a manageable 8.21 ounces/233 grams. My model comes in a black color scheme, so the front is clean black, with an edge-to-edge 3.5-inch screen. On the left side of the screen, you’ll find a decent-sized D-pad and left stick. On the right side are the front buttons (in a traditional Nintendo layout) and the right thumbstick. Both joysticks are very small, but still allow for enough movement for 3D gaming.
Underneath all of this, there are two sets of small rectangular buttons. The first set serves as the start and select buttons in the game, while the other buttons are the “Aya button” (which calls up the floating settings menu) and the button to return to the system’s home screen.
The top of the console has four shoulder buttons, a power button with an integrated fingerprint reader (a great feature that saves you from having to type in your password on the tiny screen), and a simple volume rocker. But that’s not all, as the flat right side of the console has a dedicated home button and a mappable “RC” button.
If you want to expand the storage, there’s a microSD card slot under the small rubber cover on the left side. A microSD card is not included, so you’ll need to purchase one yourself. I found it very difficult to insert the card on my model as the flap is difficult to open and the card itself doesn’t seem to snap into place properly. Thankfully, Ayaneo says this is a known issue with pre-production versions of the device and should be fixed by the time you get your hands on it.
As you’d expect, there’s the usual USB-C charging port on the bottom of the system.
In terms of overall functionality, the Ayaneo Pocket Micro is a full-fledged Android tablet. You can use the Google Play Store to download apps, but the small screen can make it difficult to perform tasks like messaging, document editing, and more. Gaming is definitely the highlight of this device, and the custom Ayaneo software is designed to ensure a simple gaming experience. Links to recommended emulators (both paid and free) are easily accessible from the AyaSpace app, and the system’s built-in controls were instantly recognizable with every emulator I tried.
Ayaneo Pocket Micro: Performance
- Great for Game Boy emulation
- Also play basic mobile games
- Speakers are poor
The Ayaneo Pocket Micro excels at Game Boy emulation. All GB, GBC and GBA games I’ve tested run just fine. Running at 4x the original Game Boy Advance resolution, the image is incredibly sharp. Although there is no organic light emitting diodeThe colors of the IPS screen are still very vivid, and the viewing angles are also very suitable for portable gaming. The screen is also bright enough to be used comfortably outdoors without any glare.
However, if you try more intensive simulations, you’ll start to run into some performance issues. Gaming on the PlayStation 2 was hit or miss, and I found that the screen size actually made it difficult to figure out what was going on in detailed environments like the open world. Grand Theft Auto:San Andreas. PSP games also run at an acceptable speed, but again the screen size makes reading tutorial text difficult, e.g. Mars: Chains of Olympus.
Trying to emulate newer games can lead to a stuttery, laggy mess, but that’s to be expected given the relatively modest chipset here. If you’re most passionate about playing Game Boy games, this is definitely one to buy.
Unlike traditional phones, the Ayaneo Pocket Micro has a built-in fan for active air cooling. It can be a little noisy when you turn it up to maximum power in the settings menu, but it seems to be very effective at keeping the device cool while you play games.
As an Android tablet, the Ayaneo Pocket Micro can also be used for native mobile gaming, but keep your expectations in check. This isn’t a high-spec gaming phone, so it’ll struggle if you don’t stick to the simplest of games. Throughout my testing, I was consistently able to achieve 5-6 hours of battery life, which is pretty solid considering the tablet’s small size. It should be able to be used comfortably during your commute, which is where its pocketable nature really comes into play.
That said, the rectangular shape really started to dig into my palms when I tried longer workouts. The corners are slightly rounded, which definitely helps, but your palms will still be sore after a few hours.
There’s a bigger problem with the Ayaneo Pocket Micro, though: its speakers. They are of very poor quality, producing a weak, muddy sound that lacks any bass or real clarity. The music in the game sounds weak and even a little hoarse at times.
This isn’t immediately obvious when you’re playing Game Boy games, since they had relatively limited audio capabilities to begin with, but it’s very noticeable when trying out more modern titles. Headphones are an absolute must, and the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack is a real shame. Bluetooth is an option, but having to fiddle with headset pairing every time you want to play a game is a hindrance.
Should I buy the Ayaneo Pocket Micro?
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Also considering…
Want a device like the Ayaneo Pocket Micro? Consider both options.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | Ayaneo Pocket Micro | Modre Vintage Chromatic Scale | Nintendo Switch Lite |
| price | $189 / approx £153 (6GB + 128GB) / $219 / approx £177 (8GB + 256GB) | $199/£159/AU$316 | US$199.99/£199.99/AU$329.95 |
| aspect | 6.1 x 2.5 x 0.71 inches/156 x 63 x 18 mm | 5.2 x 3 x 1.2 inches/132 x 76 x 30mm | 3.6 x 8.2 x 0.55 inches / 91.1 x 208 x 13.9 mm |
| weight | 8.21 oz/233 g | 6.2 oz/175 g | 9.76 oz/275 g |
| CPU | MediaTek Helio G99 | not applicable | Nvidia custom Tegra X1 |
| graphics processor | MediaTek Helio G99 | not applicable | Nvidia custom Tegra X1 |
| memory | 6GB/8GB | not applicable | 4GB |
| storage | 128GB/256GB | not applicable | 32GB |
| storage expansion | MicroSD card | not applicable | MicroSD card |
How I tested the Ayaneo Pocket Micro
- After three months of testing
- Played various Game Boy games
- Tried it at home and out
I tested the Ayaneo Pocket Micro for three months. I’m using the black 8GB + 256GB model with the manufacturer-supplied case. In addition to the built-in storage, I rely on the SanDisk Extreme microSD card to transfer game files from my PC.
I played a variety of Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games on the Ayaneo Pocket Micro. This includes “Tetris”, “Pokemon Red”, “The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening”, “Wario Land 3”, “Pokemon Ruby”, “Driver 3”, “Metroid Zero Mission”, etc. I also tested a handful of PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation Portable games, in addition to a few other platforms. I also carefully evaluated the performance of handheld devices in native mobile games, such as the popular call of Duty: mobile.
Throughout my time with this handheld, I constantly compared the gaming experience to my real-world testing of gaming smartphones and various gaming handhelds. For audio I rely on a pair Beats Solo Buds.
The first review will be in January 2024.
