The AYANEO Pocket Air Mini has quickly become my most-used gaming handheld. I spoke about it in a previous comparison article earlier this year, and since then, I’ve played more games on the Pocket Air Mini than any other device I own, and I own a lot of devices. When AYANEO announced they were going to release a limited edition B. Duck model of their Pocket Air Mini, I knew I had to get in on the ground floor.
For those unaware, AYANEO likes to release B. Duck editions of their various handhelds, usually using the highest device configurations available, with fun colors and graphics of the eponymous B. Duck playfully strewn across the device (I still pine for the Pocket S2 Pro B. Duck Edition). Given that AYANEO devices are usually on the higher end price-wise, these B. Duck editions can be quite expensive, so getting one for ~$130 felt like a steal.
Note: The standard Pocket Air Mini 3GB/64GB configuration is exactly the same as the B. Duck edition, so the following information will apply to both models. Some of the pictures will include a comparison of the 3GB/64GB standard model and the B. Duck edition.
Packaging
What’s the fun in reviewing a Limited Edition device without talking about the fun box?! The Pocket Air Mini B. Duck comes in a bright yellow box, with graffiti-style text and B. Duck images throughout. As is pretty standard with AYANEO limited editions, the buttons on the pictured device on the box also have an embossed texture to them. It looks like the actual color of the device is described as “Sunny Pop”, which appears to be just a funny way of saying gradient yellow.
Inside we’ve got the Pocket Air Mini B. Duck itself, along with our standard USB-C charging cable, and a small piece of paper with a QR code linking to setup and instruction details. No stickers, no extras.
AYANEO Pocket Air Mini B. Duck Specs
The specs here are the same as the Pocket Air Mini 3GB/64GB configuration that’s been on AYANEO’s website for several months now:
| Display | |
| Screen Size | 4.2-inch |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 1920 x 960 |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz |
| Aspect Ratio | 4:3 |
| Hardware | |
| Processor | MediaTek Helio G90T |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MP4 |
| RAM | 3GB |
| Storage | |
| Internal | 64GB |
| External | microSD |
| Battery | |
| Battery Size | 4500mAh |
| Connectivity | |
| Ports | USB-C, microSD, 3.5mm Audio Jack |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Software | |
| OS | Android 11 |
| Physical | |
| Dimensions | 166 x 83 x 28mm |
| Weight | 274g |
AYANEO Pocket Air Mini (B.Duck)
Ergonomics
The Pocket Air Mini has nice little ergonomic bumps on the back for your fingers to wrap around, and the B. Duck edition is no exception. The main difference here is that you have some playful, embossed graphics running along the back of the device. Be aware, you can very slightly feel them as you run your fingers along the back of the device. Despite its size, there is some deceptive heft that gives a solid, premium feel that is well-balanced.
As you’ve likely seen others mention, the build quality here is great. The body of the device has a soft texture, with nice curves on the trigger buttons that make it easy to rest your fingers upon. It’s comfy to hold, though the small size does often lead me to rest my pinkies underneath the device itself when playing games.
Controls
The Pocket Air Mini has some of the best controls in a device of this size and price that I’ve ever had the pleasure of using. The ABXY buttons, Start/Select and Menu buttons, and the shoulder and trigger buttons are super quiet; it’s one of the only devices I will play in bed with my spouse lying nearby. The ABXY buttons can feel a bit “mushy” and loose, but they’re responsive and do not rattle. The D-Pad has the same kind of mushy feeling, but pivots well and doesn’t provide any false inputs.
The analog sticks are the only real drawback here, as they’re quite small and have some limited movement, being in a recessed cavity in the device. They’re serviceable, but not ideal. The additional function buttons next to R1 and L1 are also in a bit of a weird spot, so I find myself using L3 and R3 for additional inputs more often.
Screen
I’m going to go ahead and get this out of the way; there’s ghosting on these Pocket Air Mini screens. I’ve shown it before. Being that the B. Duck edition is using the same 1280×960 LCD screen, it too suffers from the same ghosting issue. However, while awful when navigating menu systems on the device, I haven’t noticed it when actually gaming. Your mileage may vary, as I was not susceptible to or did not have an AYN Odin 2 that showed signs of ghosting, but it’s worth mentioning.
This is an LCD screen, so you’re also likely to get some light bleed from the device. I did not think either of my Pocket Air Minis had anything egregious, but it’s present. Otherwise, we’ve got a pretty crisp screen at an optimal 4:3 resolution. All your standard retro systems like NES, N64, PlayStation, and Dreamcast are going to look great on this device, while systems like the 3:2 GBA and 16:9 PSP are going to have black bars on the top and bottom. Colors look great, leaning a bit more to the “warm” side.
Performance and Gameplay
Loaded with a Mediatek Helio G90T chip, the Pocket Air Mini can play anything PSP and under with no problem. As I talked about in my previous comparison article, the Pocket Air Mini does surprisingly well with systems like GameCube, PS2, and Wii, but don’t purchase this device thinking you’re going to be able to play those systems without some tinkering. Lowering resolution to Native 1x will get you a surprising amount right out of the box, but you’ll need to tweak some parameters here and there.
Worth noting – there’s a debloat program that’s been shared around the Retro Handheld’s Discord that apparently allows an increase in some performance by optimizing programs and removing unnecessary ones. I haven’t personally gone through this process (maybe an article for another day), but something to consider if you’re looking to squeeze a little extra juice out of your Pocket Air Mini.
Conclusion
The AYANEO Pocket Air Mini B. Duck is more of the same greatness that can be found in the standard Pocket Air Mini, this time with cute graphics and a bright gradient-yellow color. Even at roughly $20 more for the B. Duck edition, the Pocket Air Mini is still an insane value for the quality and performance. Something like the Mangmi Air X is comparable, and for an equally affordable price, with a better screen, but otherwise, the Pocket Air Mini is superior. It’s hard to find a device in this price range that performs as well and has the same outstanding build quality and controls.
If you liked the original Pocket Air Mini and you want the device in a fun color, then it’s hard to go wrong with the Pocket Air Mini B. Duck. Just be aware that you’re paying a premium for the privilege. If you’re not interested in the yellow color and graphics, I can still wholeheartedly recommend grabbing the standard edition for slightly less. The recommendation is to go with the 3GB/64GB configuration also found in the B. Duck edition, as 2GB of RAM is not a fun experience on an Android handheld.
The B. Duck edition is available on both AKNES and AYANEO’s website, and with AYANEO recently announcing that they’re going to be raising the prices of their devices and suspending others, there is no better time to grab one of these excellent handhelds!
