2026-07-20

AYANEO Teases GBA-Style Device; Retroid Announces Price Adjustments and Hands-on Footage

In mid-July 2026, the portable gaming PC and retro handheld market is seeing increased activity as companies prepare for their next-generation devices. AYANEO has released a teaser for a new model reminiscent of a classic handheld, drawing fan attention. Meanwhile, Retroid has announced specification changes and price adjustments due to global semiconductor demand, highlighting shifts in the market environment.

AYANEO Teases New GBA-Style Device, the 'KONKR Pocket Advance'

Between July 16 and 17, AYANEO released teaser images for its new retro gaming handheld, the 'KONKR Pocket Advance.' The revealed silhouette and button layout confirm a horizontal design strongly inspired by the Nintendo Game Boy Advance (GBA).

Currently, the market includes GBA-style devices like Anbernic's 'RG34XX,' which uses the Allwinner H700 chip. However, given AYANEO's product history, it is widely expected that this device will be a premium model featuring a higher-performance chip.

At this time, detailed specifications, pricing, and release dates have not been announced. While the community is excited about the distinctive design, there are also cautious voices questioning how a high-priced GBA-style device will differentiate itself in a market filled with cheaper competitors. The focus now shifts to what internal specifications will be revealed in the official announcement.

Retroid Updates Specs and Adjusts Prices for 'Pocket 5' and 'Flip 2' Due to Memory Price Hikes from AI Demand

In early July, Retroid announced via its official Discord and other channels that it is changing the specifications and adjusting the prices for the 'Retroid Pocket 5' and 'Flip 2.' Both models are powered by the Snapdragon 865, and these changes are believed to be driven by rising RAM costs and supply shortages caused by the surge in demand for AI data centers.

Due to the difficulty in producing the previous '8GB RAM / 128GB storage' model, Retroid took the unusual step of offering a free upgrade to the 12GB model for customers who had already ordered the 8GB version. Furthermore, starting July 15, the 12GB model became the standard configuration, with prices increased by $10 each, bringing the Pocket 5 to $209 and the Flip 2 to $219.

This move indicates that hardware component shortages are beginning to directly impact the product strategies and pricing of retro gaming handheld manufacturers, rather than just being a single company's issue. While this represents a practical spec upgrade for consumers, there are concerns that this trend may spread to other companies' products.

Hands-on Footage and Color Variations Revealed for the 4:3 OLED 'Retroid Pocket Nova'

Following its global release at the end of June, numerous hands-on photos and unedited gameplay videos of the new 'Retroid Pocket Nova' were released between July 15 and 16.

This device features a 4.5-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1280x960 and a 120Hz refresh rate. Its primary feature is the fusion of a 4:3 aspect ratio—ideal for retro gaming—with a modern OLED panel. It is powered by the IoT-focused 'Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (QCS8550)' SoC, and the released footage shows PS2 and Sega Saturn titles running smoothly.

There are seven color variations available: '16Bit,' 'Black,' 'Clear Purple,' 'Crystal,' 'GC,' 'Ice Blue,' and 'Watermelon.' This release, which allows users to compare the actual device colors against promotional images, provides important information for potential buyers. It remains to be seen whether the combination of a high-performance chip and a 4:3 display will become a new standard in the market.