Ayaneo is doing it again. The company known for making retro gaming handhelds has gone back to the Game Boy-inspired design well, this time with a device that comes with artificial intelligence.
The handheld maker announced the Ayaneo Konkr Pocket Block, which it describes as an “extremely compact” gaming device. But what really stands out is the company’s claim that this will be “the world’s first AI handheld.” That said, Ayaneo hasn’t explained what the AI features will actually do. No details yet on how the technology works or what gamers can expect from it.
The announcement came during one of Ayaneo’s streaming sessions on YouTube. The company’s CEO, Arthur Zhang, showed off the Konkr Pocket Block next to some of Ayaneo’s older devices, including the Pocket Vert and Pocket DMG. Unlike those other vertical handhelds, which have a sleek and minimalist look, the Konkr Pocket Block goes for what Ayaneo calls “retro aesthetics.” Think old school Game Boy vibes in a design that can actually fit in your pocket.
As usual with Ayaneo’s reveals, the company only showed what the device looks like. They said more details will come later.
The biggest unknown right now is the price. But here’s some good news for anyone who doesn’t want to spend a fortune.
The Konkr Pocket Block is coming out under Ayaneo’s budget sub-brand. That means it should be more affordable than the Pocket Vert, which starts at $269. lt’s also almost certainly be much cheaper than Ayaneo’s premium handhelds.