AYANEO must have the world record for the longest live stream about a retro handheld. They've been going live almost every day for a week, sharing new information and videos of the newly released KONKR Pocket Advance, which is now available to pre-order starting at $89, and it's shipping at the end of September, so a while to wait in comparison to the original colours.
It's their affordable GBA-focused handheld based on Android with enough power to emulate PS1, GBA, Dreamcast, PS1 and more, all in that nostalgic form-factor we all can't help but love.
Today, they held yet another livestream, mostly to announce that they've sold over 5,000 units already, and international orders have already begun to sell out of the first batch. So it seems like this device has been a huge success, because let's face it, it's a great-looking device at a very affordable price. Competitors in the space, such as Retroid and Mangmi are announced $180+ devices, but AYANEO has slid under the radar, launching something a little more hyper-focused.
In today's livestream, Arthur, the CEO, has officially revealed the all-new Peach KONKR Pocket Advance, with the same $89 price point for the 3GB version and $109 for the 4GB version. It's available to buy today, and shipping begins at the end of September.
This is the same internally as the original Pocket Advance; nothing is different apart from the new coloured shell. Transparent colours are not in the works, according to Arthur, but may be something they look at in the future, so don't expect any transparent shells sneaking up soon.
KONKR Pocket Advance Specifications
3.5" LCD display (960×640, 3:2)- MediaTek Helio G90T CPU
- 3GB or 4GB RAM
- 32 GB or 64 GB Storage
- 4,000MAH Battery
- Active cooling fan
- Android 12
- Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0
- USB-C, microSD card slot, 3.5 mm headphone jack
- Dual speakers and rotor vibration motor
- Gyroscope
- 3.5mm Headphone Jack
- Available in Navy, Coral, and Grey
- 151.3 × 82.4 × 22 mm
- Approx. 224 g
Overall, I think it's a refreshing colourway, but I am not keen on how AYANEO are prolonging announcements, because some customers may have ordered other colours, expecting no more announcements and then Arthur comes back with an uppercut to their wallets if they want this new colour. That said, more colours the better, especially if this is going to be a device that continues to sell over the coming months and years.
