AYANEO have been at the forefront of creating premium portable games consoles for many years now, some ranging as high as $2,000+ for a single device.
Their cheapest release has been the AYANEO Pocket Micro, coming in at $189, which pleased not only myself but many handheld gamers across the world. It seems AYANEO has seen the demand and the frequent community comments to make more affordable devices.
They have listened and have created a sub-brand and a separate company named KONKR, with the pure aim of making devices that are more accessible.
"The first wave of KONKR products is coming soon. Powerful handhelds - built for every gamer. The first will be an affordable, Android-based handheld named Pocket Fit, powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor"
Could this be AYANEO's answer to directly competing with GoRetroid, AYN and ANBERNIC? These are the "affordable" players in the Android space right now, ranging from $99 - $299, and each has its own pros & cons.
As of now, this is the only information provided by AYANEO, which was given in their recent sharing session live stream on YouTube, which showcased their upcoming release schedule, featuring the world's first Flip Dual Screen Android handheld and a tease of the upcoming AYANEO Pocket Vert.
Again, this sub-brand KONKR will focus on a more affordable market, but AYANEO will continue to target premium gamers who want the best specifications and the best build quality.
This tease of the Pocket Fit is an exciting move for AYANEO and one I believe many of us handheld enthusiasts will enjoy consuming because I am the same boat, as much as we receive samples to review of AYANEO products, there's no denying that they are not fit for everyone.
However, the new KONKR brand could give us handheld nerds a taste of supreme build quality without the latest internals, for an affordable price, paired with seamless Android gaming and emulation.
The Pocket Fit looks sleek, modern and very AYANEO-like, which is welcomed. It's about time we saw a new company enter the battlefield. GoRetroid and AYN should be very worried.
Not only are they releasing "affordable Android handheds" they are also launching a Windows based handheld in the exact same form factor called the "KONKR Fit". I know, it's already getting confusing, why can't Chinese handheld companies name their products better!? (I am looking at you too ANBERNIC!).
AYANEO mentions that it will feature a fast-charging 80w battery inside to keep gamers going for longer, similar to the ROG Ally X but in a smaller and slimmer form factor with a "7" compact fit".
It's likely we will see more reveals and information from KONKR over the coming months. It will also likely continue AYANEO's marketing strategy of creating crowdfunding campaigns instead of straight-up launching it, so perhaps these will be released officially later in the year.
