I just received my KONKR Pocket Block this morning, and after playing with it for a little while, decided to share some of my initial first impressions with the community. This one has been a long time coming from AYANEO, with the device being revealed back in May of this year, so I’m excited to finally get my hands on this one.
Disclosure:
This product was purchased with our own money and was not sent to us by the company. Affiliate links might be present where applicable, and we may earn a commission on product purchases using those links at no extra cost to you.
KONKR Pocket Block Specs
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Hardware | |
| CPU | MediaTek Helio G85 |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MC2 |
| RAM | 2GB LPDDR4X, 3GB LPDDR4X |
| Cooling | Heat Spreader |
| Display | |
| Screen Size | 3.33-inch |
| Resolution | 960 x 720 |
| Aspect Ratio | 4:3 |
| PPI | 360.36 |
| Storage | |
| Internal Storage | 32GB, 64GB |
| External Storage | microSD |
| Battery | |
| Battery Capacity | 3500mAh |
| Connectivity | |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Ports | 3.5mm Audio Jack, microSD, USB-C |
| Controls | |
| Sticks | ❌ |
| Triggers | Digital |
| Shoulder Layout | Shelf |
| D-Pad | Top Left |
| Audio | |
| Speakers | Stereo |
| Speaker Location | Front-facing |
| Headphone Jack | Yes |
| Physical | |
| Dimensions | 113.2 x 77.4 x 19.8mm |
| Weight | 165g |
| Form Factor | Vertical |
| Software | |
| Operating System | Android 12 |
Small-Form Vertical Comparison
My immediate thought was to pull out my Miyoo Mini and TrimUI Brick Hammer and compare them to the KONKR Pocket Block. I’ve owned several of the small-form-factor vertical handhelds, and while I’ve held on to my whiteout Miyoo Mini for years at this point, most of them simply haven’t wowed me enough to stick around. The Pocket Block is bigger than both my Miyoo Mini and TrimUI Brick Hammer, and has some design choices that I appreciate over those two devices.
The Pocket Block is larger in size than both the Miyoo Mini and TrimUI Brick Hammer. While the screen resolution and PPI are slightly less than the Brick Hammer (960 x 720 and 360 vs. 1024 x 768 and 400), the Pocket Block does have an ever so slightly larger screen (3.33″ vs. 3.2″) and better ergonomics and balance. I actually prefer the hand feel of the Pocket Block over the Miyoo Mini, despite being much larger, and prefer the lighter weight and better balance compared to the TrimUI Brick Hammer.
The Pocket Block also has a 3,500 mAh battery, more RAM and storage, and a better chip in the MediaTek Helio G85, meaning you’re going to get better performance and battery life from this device than several of the small form factor vertical handhelds out there.
Where It Shines
I’ve really enjoyed the design aesthetic of the KONKR Pocket Block. The Pocket Block has some striking design choices, like the passive cooling vents on the front and top of the device, that feel like it gives the device more character than others in its category.
Secondly, this is the first small form factor vertical handheld I’ve owned that utilizes Android. My preference for Android on emulation handhelds has grown over the years, especially as functionality and configurability continues to increase and expand for Android devices. I no longer want a plug-and-play device, and desire to tinker and expand what my devices are capable of, which drew me to the Pocket Block when it was announced.
As mentioned above, the Pocket Block has a great balance to it despite its larger size. The top half of the device is basically just the screen, being incredibly thin and focusing all of the weight into your palms. The plastic also has a great texture, maintaining a specific design choice while feeling solid and high quality.
As mentioned previously, the Pocket Block utilizes the MediaTek Helio G85 CPU and the Mali-G52 MP2 GPU, the same ones found in the MagicX One 35. This means the Pocket Block not only comes in a small package, but packs a surprising amount of performance capabilities. For a device that costs roughly $100, and comes with the same quality materials AYANEO is known for, that’s pretty great.
Where It Stumbles
What is with the squishy buttons, AYANEO!? The KONKR Pocket Block has the same soft, overly mushy buttons that I disliked in the KONKR Pocket Advance. While I do believe the D-Pad and ABXY buttons have a better tactile feel to them than the Pocket Advance, those Start/Select and Function buttons are simply atrocious; because of how tall and wide they are, they feel extra mushy and have a ton of wiggle to them.
Staying on buttons, the L2 and R2 buttons are borderline unusable, as they’re situated towards the very middle-back of the device, and my finger tips are basically touching when I try to use them. This is especially noticeable because the slight curvature and location of the L1 and R1 buttons conversely make them a joy to use. Maybe raising them ever so slightly, like some of the button configurations on the TrimUI Brick or the Better Buttons for the Miyoo Mini, would’ve helped, but they’re not comfortable to use.
While I do like the design choice of the Pocket Block, at least on my Atoms White colorway, I wish the front plate was a more consistent color to the rest of the device. I initially opted out of the GameCube colorway because I didn’t like that only the front lower panel was that color, but the front lower panel on mine has a more opaque, off-white color compared to the rest of the device. It does make for a different look, but it also gives off “aged/yellowed console plastic” vibes.
What’s Next?
While this particular device felt oft delayed or sometimes completely forgotten by AYANEO, the KONKR Pocket Block arrived at my doorstep within about a month; order placed September 28, and arrived November 2. Considering some people still haven’t gotten their AYANEO Pocket Micro 2, this is fairly impressive for AYANEO. However, doing a victory lap for the bare minimum doesn’t feel like something to be celebrated, so we’ll see how the company does going forward.
More time spent testing and playing will shed some light on how the KONKR Pocket Block performs, but I’ve been really pleased with what I’ve seen and played so far. Considering V1carious Gaming was already able to get both Xbox emulation and Dusklight (Twilight Princess) working on the device, I’m pretty excited to see what I can squeeze out of this little handheld!
