Latest news with #KONKR
Android Authority
30-07-2025
- Android Authority
The most powerful gaming handheld chipset will soon ship in this 'budget' handheld
AYANEO TL;DR AYANEO has revealed specs for the first device from its new sub-brand, the KONKR Pocket FIT. It packs with the most modern and powerful chipset for handhelds and a 8,000mAh battery. Pricing and launch dates have not been revealed, but it might be the best intro to high-performance emulation on the market. AYANEO made waves in the retro gaming handheld community when it announced a cheaper sub-brand called KONKR earlier this week, but it wasn't immediately clear what pricing segment it would target. The parent company is still firmly in the ultra-premium category, but would the new KONKR Pocket Fit target the upper mid-range Retroid Flip 2 and ANBERNIC RG 577 or the more premium AYN Odin 2 lineup? In today's livestream, the company finally revealed full specs, and it seems to be the latter. The Pocket FIT will ship with the latest and most powerful chipset for gaming handhelds, the Snapdragon G3 Gen 3. This chipset has really impressed us in our testing of the Pocket S2 (review pending), and it's the polar opposite of what anyone would consider a 'budget' chipset. The G3 Gen 3 readily outperforms the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Odin 2 Portal, and AYANEO's partnership with Qualcomm to develop drivers for the new chips has clearly paid off. In fact, AYANEO even sent sample units to the team behind the Nintendo Switch emulator Eden, enhancing third-party driver support even further. If AYANEO can price this right, it will be the best entryway to high-performance emulation on the market. That chipset is actually more powerful than the company's new flagship handheld, the Pocket DS. With two screens and a lot of software issues to iron out before launch, AYANEO claims the Pocket DS has been in development for over a year, which explains the older chipset. Still, it's odd that the company didn't opt for a cheaper alternative, like the Snapdragon G2 Gen 2, which is expected to power the Retroid Pocket 6. Apart from that, it sports a 6-inch 144hz LCD panel, with mid-sized Hall effect sticks and all the premium trappings you'd expect from an AYANEO device. There are also front-facing stereo speakers and a headphone jack, as well as a sizeable 8,000mAh battery and fast charging. It comes in Phantom Black, Snow White, and Dragon Yellow. AYANEO did not reveal how much the KONKR Pocket FIT would cost during this livestream, but with these specs it's hard to imagine a pricepoint lower than $300. AYANEO's first device with this chipset, the Pocket S2, starts at $499 retail, or $439 during the crowdfunding campaign. The Pocket ACE, which had the previous generation G3 Gen 2 chipset, started at $459 retail, or $339 during the crowdfunding campaign. That said, if the Pocket FIT does manage to launch for less than $300, even if it's just the earlybird discount, it would be the best entryway into high-performance emulation on the market. For reference, the Odin 2 Portal starts at $329 before shipping. Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks, or sign up for updates on the Indiegogo page to receive a notification when it finally launches. Follow
Android Authority
28-07-2025
- Android Authority
AYANEO just launched a budget-focused sub-brand, and Retroid and ANBERNIC should be scared
AYANEO TL;DR AYANEO just launched a new, budget-focused sub-brand called KONKR. It's first device is the Pocket FIT, with more details coming soon. This is the first serious threat Retroid and ANBERNIC have faced in the budget/mid-range Android handheld space. Right at the end of its three-hour-plus livestream today where it revealed gorgeous dual-screened Pocket DS, AYANEO dropped yet another bombshell on the handheld gaming space. The brand is known for expensive, luxurious gaming devices that spare no expense, but now it's launching a budget-focused sub-brand to compete with the likes of Retroid and ANBERNIC. Called KONKR, the new sub-brand was initially going to be announced alongside the new Qualcomm gaming chips back in March. That all but ensures that its first device, the Pocket FIT, will be sporting one of these new chips. AYANEO only revealed that it will be a Qualcomm chip in today's announcement, but my money is on the Snapdragon G2 Gen 2. That's the same chip that will power the Retroid Pocket 6. AYANEO In terms of design, it looks strikingly similar to the ultra-premium AYANEO Pocket S2. The Pocket Fit has an all-glass front, with small sticks and stacked shoulder buttons. It's also almost exactly the same size. However, it has a far more rounded design, with ergonomic grips and buttons on the back. It will also have a 'high refresh rate display,' which rules out the 60hz panel used in the Pocket S2. It was shown off in white, black, and yellow/black colorways to match the rest of AYANEO's recent releases. The livestream also revealed that KONKR handhelds will be powered by the same software and have the same general design aesthetic as AYANEO's premium devices. Price is typically the main complaint consumers have about AYANEO products, so providing the same quality at a lower pricepoint might be a recipe for success. KONKR is set to put major pressure on competitors like Retroid and ANBERNIC. More details will be revealed in a separate livestream tomorrow, so hopefully we'll get a full look at specs and release windows then. The device itself will be on display at the Qualcomm booth at ChinaJoy 2025 starting August 1, alongside the newly-announced Pocket DS. Interestingly, AYANEO also revealed a budget-focused Windows handheld called the KONKR Fit. Unlike Windows devices from AYANEO, it's focused on endurance, with a massive 80Wh battery. The company claims the 7-inch device is significantly smaller than alternatives like the ROG Ally X, which is great news for portability. No word yet on pricing, specs, or release dates. The company also teased a new 'Code R' lineup of entry level devices. The first has the temporary moniker 'Code R-1' and promises to offer a truly affordable experience. It's not yet clear whether this will fall under the AYANEO or KONKR banners, nor if it will even run Android. It's entirely possible that it will be a line of cheap Linux handhelds to compete with Miyoo or TrimUI. In any case, this is the first major shakeup we've seen in the Android handheld gaming space in years. While a few new brands have popped up offering niche Android handhelds, this is the first time a company with real design sense has challenged the stranglehold that Retroid and ANBERNIC have on the mid-range gaming handheld market. It's too soon to say whether or not these devices will be successful, but AYANEO is one of the few companies pushing the boundaries of what's possible with Android gaming handhelds. If KONKR devices can hit the right pricepoint, they might quickly become some of the most desirable handhelds you can buy. Follow
