For the better part of the past two weeks, AYANEO has been teasing the launch of the Pocket Micro 2. Following a livestream this morning, the company surprised many by actually releasing its latest handheld, making it available from the AYANEO online storefront. Perhaps even more surprisingly, the Micro 2 sold out almost immediately in all configurations.
AYANEO Pocket Micro 2 Specs
Part of what makes the Pocket Micro 2 so enticing is that AYANEO opted against relying on a MediaTek chip this time around. Recently, the company has been using the Helio G99 in the Pocket AIR Mini, and even though it was also in the original Pocket Micro, we weren’t convinced it wouldn’t return again.
Thankfully, that’s not the case as the Pocket Micro 2 is powered by the tried-and-true Snapdragon 865, paired with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM. To go along with that, we have either 128GB or 256GB of storage that can be expanded courtesy of the microSD card slot.
In theory, the inclusion of the Snapdragon 865 should make it easier to enjoy Linux-based firmware such as ROCKNIX and Batocera, provided that developers can get their hands on it. Below, you’ll find the entire spec sheet for the Pocket Micro 2:
| Hardware | |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 |
|---|---|
| GPU | Qualcomm Adreno 650 |
| RAM | 6GB LPDDR4X, 8GB LPDDR4X |
| Cooling | Active Cooling Fan System |
| Display | |
| Screen Size | 3.5-inch |
| Resolution | 960 x 640 |
| Aspect Ratio | 3:2 |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz |
| PPI | 329.65 |
| Storage | |
| Internal Storage | 128GB, 256GB |
| External Storage | microSD |
| Battery | |
| Battery Capacity | 3950mAh |
| Additional Details | PD Charging |
| Connectivity | |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.1 |
| Ports | 3.5mm Audio Jack, microSD, USB-C |
| Controls | |
| Sticks | TMR |
| Triggers | Digital |
| Shoulder Layout | In-line |
| D-Pad | Top Left |
| Audio | |
| Speakers | Stereo |
| Speaker Location | Bottom-firing |
| Headphone Jack | Yes |
| Physical | |
| Dimensions | 162 x 67.8 x 18mm |
| Weight | 248g |
| Form Factor | Horizontal |
| Software | |
| Operating System | Android 13 |
In addition to the upgraded processor compared to the original, the Pocket Micro 2 is also equipped with a much larger 3,950mAh battery, complete with Power Delivery charging. Beyond that and the different color options, this is about as close as you get to a “spec bump” in a handheld. Especially considering that the Pocket Micro, Pocket Micro Classic, and Pocket Micro 2 all share the same 3.5-inch LCD display.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as the move to a Qualcomm chip is great for driver support in higher-end emulation. And keeping the LCD panel paired with the larger battery should make for much longer battery life than before.
As for pricing, the Pocket Micro 2 launched this morning, starting at just $239 for the 6GB/128GB model, bumping up to $279 if you wanted the 8GB/256GB variant. Oh, and that gorgeous Starlight Purple/GameCube colorway? It’s only available with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and is priced at $309. All three of those prices will increase by $30 when the retail units become available.
We aren’t sure when the Pocket Micro 2 will be back in stock, but rest assured, some of us will be keeping an eye out for that Starlight Purple colorway.
