At this point, I think the only company that can attempt to keep up with Anbernic’s crazy release schedule is Ayaneo. Last week, the company began teasing another new handheld, dubbed the Ayaneo Pocket EVO.
Besides a darkened silhouette, Ayaneo didn’t offer much in the way of details. However, that’s all changed as the Pocket EVO was unveiled in (almost) its entirety today.
We wouldn’t blame you if you thought this was a new version of the Ayaneo 2S, with its ergonomic design and flat face. But the Pocket EVO is not another Windows handheld from Ayaneo, as this one is powered by Android. That’s right! The Pocket S is only just now shipping to backers, and Ayaneo is already moving on to something new and shiny.
Okay, so what makes the Pocket EVO so special? Well, besides the drastically different design, it’s sporting a 7-inch OLED display, complete with a 120Hz refresh rate. This is a huge upgrade over practically every other Android handheld, as the majority are using IPS LCD panels. Not to mention these are largely locked to a 60Hz refresh rate.
Coming as little surprise, the Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 is at the helm. This is the same chip found in the Ayaneo Pocket S, along with the forthcoming Pocket DMG. We aren’t sure how much RAM and storage the EVO will offer. However, it’s a pretty safe bet that there will be an 8GB/256GB combination.
Ayaneo seems to love trickling out bits of information, as it stopped short of sharing the actual battery capacity of the EVO. Instead, Ayaneo says it sets “a new benchmark for Android handheld batteries.” There’s an accompanying chart, comparing the display, cooling, and battery capacity of competing handhelds, including the Pocket S, Razer Edge, and others.
For now, it seems as though the Pocket EVO and Pocket S will stand side-by-side in Ayaneo’s lineup. The former is touted as being an “All-around flagship,” while the Pocket S is now the “compact flagship.”
As has been the case with many of Ayaneo’s recent launches, the Pocket EVO will first be available through Indiegogo. The company already has a landing page for the EVO, where you can register to be notified when this handset goes on sale.
Speaking of which, pricing is one of the remaining pieces of the puzzle. However, Ayaneo states those who join the Pocket EVO IGG Campaign pre-launch will “get an Early Bird price.”
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