Anbernic unannounced device leaked, featuring a 'Motorola Flipout'-style rotating screen design
A leaked video of what appears to be an unannounced new Android gaming console from Anbernic has been posted on the major overseas community 'r/SBCGaming', sparking significant discussion. The device shown in the video appears at first glance to be a square touchscreen-only device, but it employs a highly unique mechanism where the screen slides horizontally and rotates to reveal a D-pad and ABXY buttons underneath.
This design is reminiscent of the 'Motorola Flipout' smartphone released in 2010, representing an experimental form factor that pushes the recent trend of nostalgia even further. L/R shoulder buttons and the Anbernic logo are visible on the back, and the home screen displays a Chrome browser icon, suggesting it runs an Android-based OS.
There has been no official announcement at this time, and the product name and detailed specifications remain unconfirmed. However, some view this unique shape as practical for vertical arcade games (TATE mode) or emulating early handheld consoles with near-square aspect ratios, leading to expectations that it may offer utility beyond just being a gimmick.
Retroid temporarily halts production of 'Pocket G2' and raises prices for 'Pocket Classic' due to rising memory costs
On March 16, Retroid announced via official social media the temporary production halt of the 'Retroid Pocket G2' and a price adjustment for the 'Retroid Pocket Classic'. The company had already discontinued the 12GB RAM model of the 'Retroid Pocket 6' earlier this month and raised the price of the 8GB model to $244; the rapid global surge in memory and storage prices continues to have a serious impact on the company's lineup.
Equipped with the Snapdragon G2 Gen 2 and released just last October, the 'Pocket G2' will be temporarily removed from production lines due to this deteriorating market environment. Additionally, the price of the vertical model, 'Pocket Classic', will be increased by $20, from $129 to $149, starting March 20.
On the other hand, it has been confirmed that the 'Retroid Pocket 5', which shares a nearly identical chassis design to the Pocket G2, will not be affected and will continue to be sold for $199. For users, this news serves as a strong reminder that the wave of rising component costs is impacting the entire retro gaming console market, which has traditionally been attractive for its affordable price points.
AYANEO 'Pocket DS' faces community backlash over reports of unauthorized screenshot saving and data transmission
Concerns are spreading in the community regarding the possibility of unintended background processing occurring on the Android-based 'Pocket DS' from AYANEO. According to a report by a user active on GitHub (user: ghostmanslow), an investigation into internal files after obtaining root access to the device revealed that screenshots were being saved without the user's knowledge, and traces of approximately 12.5GB of data being transmitted externally were discovered.
This report has been picked up by overseas media, drawing intense scrutiny from the perspective of privacy protection. At this time, the exact cause—whether AYANEO was intentionally collecting user data or if it was due to a system bug or forgotten debug features—has not been determined.
AYANEO is currently developing numerous new hardware products and smartphones, and a swift and transparent response is required to maintain brand trust. While the company is reportedly investigating the issue, the community is awaiting a detailed technical explanation and the release of a fix update from the manufacturer.