We knew this was coming, but AYANEO released a statement today detailing limited availability and incoming price changes to their device lineup. With the rising costs of storage and memory components, it’s no surprise to see the cost of gaming hardware increase, but it doesn’t make the pill any easier to swallow.
At this rate, the saying “the best device is the one in your hand” is going to apply to a lot more people.
The Statement
In an email sent out to previous backers and customers, AYANEO detailed limited stock availability for several of their devices, including the Pocket VERT and Pocket S Mini. These devices will also increase in price in the near future, likely once the current stock has been depleted
AYANEO also mentioned in their statement that some devices have already increased in price across their website. Some astute members of the Retro Handhelds Discord noticed that the price of the KONKR Pocket Fit, for example, has increased by as much as $130 for the 16GB/1TB version. This now makes the device more expensive than the AYN Odin 3 Max at $489, which was a huge selling point for many people, and feels like it takes the device out of the “budget” brand that AYANEO stated that the KONKR line would be.
Looking Forward
2026 has been a tough year for those of us in the retro gaming community. The RAMpocalypse continues onward, and there’s a good chance we’re only going to see these devices get more expensive as the cost of components continues to rise. Other companies like AYN and Retroid have also increased the prices of their devices in response, and we may yet see others follow suit.
You can still find the Pocket S Mini and Pocket VERT on AYANEO’s website, starting at $319 and $269, respectively. As mentioned above, these devices are limited in supply and likely to increase in cost very soon. We don’t yet know how much the price will increase, but if the KONKR Pocket Fit is any indication, it will likely be by quite a bit. If you’ve been wanting one, now is the time.
