The mysterious Yoniq Duo handheld that was recently revealed and shown off at this year's Gamescom has now been officially listed on Yoniq's website with very little information, a couple of new images, an official price tag and no way to buy it as of yet.
This device comes from a new company on the scene called Yoniq, and we have been in contact with them for a few weeks now, asking many questions and even diving deep into Yoniq's history in manufacturing. Though they may seem "new", Yoniq has informed us that they have "access to some of the most experienced supply-chain and manufacturing resources in China, and our team has previously been involved in the development and production of a large number of handheld gaming devices on the market. This is the first time we are bringing products directly to consumers under our own brand", states our contact at Yoniq.
So, this isn't just a new company; this is a team with deep experience in the manufacturing and supply processes of retro handhelds, which is what makes this a little more exciting because it's actually real, it's in development, and according to their website, it's coming soon. Which is good timing, as the ANBERNIC RG DS Plus is now out, and the Retroid Pocket Duo Lite is also releasing this month. Let the dual-screen handheld battle begin!
Yoniq has had a history in neglecting the professional development of their website. It's often that we find new additions, things removed, inaccurate information and also AI-generated assets, so it was no surprise to see what looks like a possible accidental listing of the Yoniq Duo pop up on their website randomly. That said, it comes with a couple of new images and a price tag of £117.99, which is equivalent to $159.99.
Though this seems to be an early bird pricing, as the original retail pricing of £147/$199 has been crossed out, so perhaps they are prepping a discounted price for those that order early, which is very common in this field. The reason I said this could be a mistake is that it's using data from other older products on the page, such as the GamePatch, stating it needs "no charging" and "attach your GamePatch", so it could be that it's a placeholder that was made public.
Yoniq did previously mention to us that their marketing team "is still being built and is not yet as mature as our product and engineering side. There are definitely still many areas where we can improve, which is also one of the challenges for a team that has traditionally been very product-focused", which again could explain a lot of the mishaps on their website.
We have asked Yoniq for more information, but as stated before, their replies are sporadic, so we might not hear back from them for days/weeks. The image above is one of the first images we've seen of the back, showing the Yoniq logo, the shoulder buttons, dual USB-C ports and a look at where the stylus hides on the side, which is something the Retroid Pocket Duo doesn't have.
This is an interesting device, and as you know, I always look forward to seeing new brands enter the scene, as it always benefits the customer further down the line. It will be interesting to see if this company comes out of the gate punching, or it could be a complete flop; who knows, but we will be getting a review sample, so be sure to subscribe to our free newsletter to stay informed. Also check out the other handheld that they have teased, known as the Yoniq Portal, which we saw at Gamescom also.
