Ayaneo Revives the Spirit of Xperia Play with its First Android Phone

Ayaneo, renowned for its nostalgic gaming handhelds, has taken the wraps off its debut Android smartphone, echoing the design philosophy of the celebrated Sony Ericsson Xperia Play from 2011. This move has been eagerly anticipated since its first teaser emerged in August.

Introducing the Pocket Play, a device with a display that gracefully slides up to unveil an entire suite of integrated physical gaming controls. This includes a D-pad, ABXY face buttons, alongside a pair of circular touchpads. At the back, it boasts dual sets of shoulder buttons, though it notably lacks a traditional 3.5mm headphone jack.

At present, details are scarce. We only know that the Pocket Play will hit the market 'soon,' and its specifications remain a mystery, with nothing disclosed on its Kickstarter page.

A Nostalgic Design Choice

This marks not the first reinterpretation of the Xperia Play this year, but the Pocket Play offers a significantly more sophisticated look compared to the RG Slide. Unlike devices solely dedicated to gaming, Ayaneo's creation is designed to serve as a full-fledged smartphone as well. It is expected that this added versatility will come with a price exceeding the RG Slide's $189.