On Friday, the Ayaneo Pocket Micro 2 got its official unveiling in a live stream, and it's anything but a complete redesign. I admittedly figured we'd get more of a physical retro handheld refresh, but instead, this new Game Boy Micro homage elevates the original device and makes a case for "candybar" portables with high specs.
Starting at $239, the Ayaneo Pocket Micro 2 looks almost like its predecessor, with only subtle tweaks like recessed TMR thumbsticks and extended curved shoulder buttons serving as differentiators. At a glance, you'll probably struggle to play Spot the Difference between these two 3.5-inch 960x640 IPS display-wielding portables, but make no mistake, the sequel is a different beast under the hood.
Accompanying the 3.5-inch screen this time around is a custom Snapdragon 865-Class chipset with Adreno 650 graphics, which apparently represents a 220% performance uplift over the original's MediaTek Helio G99 processor. It's got a beefier 3,950 mAh battery to keep things juiced up too, but while it's 52% larger, the extra capacity could be guzzled by the enhanced specs.
I've got mixed feelings about some of the Pocket Micro 2's tweaks, most notably the recessed joysticks. Embedding the sticks will help make the portable more pocket-friendly, but at the same time, I struggle to get on with similar setups included in the likes of the Ayaneo Flip DS.
I'm also worried that by sticking with the candy bar format of the OG Game Boy Micro, Ayaneo is about to fall into the same ergonomic trap as last time. Holding onto an angular rectangle will never be as comfortable as using something with grips, and I'm surprised the sequel doesn't use a slightly morphed design. Ideally, I would have enjoyed seeing something more like the OG GBA this time around, but I also respect keeping this specific niche genre of mid 2000s handheld alive.
One of the nice perks you may have missed is that, this time around, the Micro Pocket 2 is armed with a 3.5mm headphone jack. Android-powered MP3 players with integrated DACs are making a massive comeback, so you could say Ayaneo's new portable doubles up as an alternative to pricey DAP (Digital Audio Player) devices.
Circling back to price, the cheapest Pocket Micro 2 will set you back $239 with a $30 launch discount, and that's the version with 6GB VRAM and 128GB storage. There's also an 8GB + 256GB model for $279 that comes in the same Midnight Black and Frosty White flavors, but you'll have to pay $309 for the GameCube-inspired Stardust Purple portable (sigh).
Eventually, those prices will jump to $269, $309, and $339, respectively. That's the norm for Ayaneo handhelds, so if you do feel like the Pocket Micro 2 is destined to be your next portable, you're better off getting in there early.
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