A no-nonsense Android handheld with solid performance, great controls, and just the right size for retro gaming.
We’ve tested a bunch of Android-based AYANEO handhelds over the years, and each one tried a slightly different idea. The Pocket S is pure performance, but it’s hard to recommend unless you already know why you need it. The DMG is a beautiful showpiece, powered like a beast, but the screen size limits what types of games you’ll want to play. The Micro is surprisingly capable for its size, but comfort is secondary.
The Pocket ACE, though? It doesn’t try to reinvent anything. It just borrows the best parts of each of AYANEOs prior efforts and turns them into a handheld that’s actually nice to use.
Not too big, not too small
The Pocket ACE hits that rarely-sweet middle ground. The 3:2 4.5” screen is big enough to not feel cramped but small enough to stay portable. The device uses plastic, unlike the metal used in the Micro, but it’s still a sturdy device.
The buttons of the version I reviewed lean into the retro look without going full gimmick. And they are actually good:
The D-pad is one of the best AYANEO’s made. The hall-effect sticks are small but usable. The triggers are satisfying. Start and Select are finally back on top, which is where they belong. There’s still no headphone jack, which continues to be dumb, and I still blame Apple for this stupid trend. Also, the device has a fingerprint sensor, and a microSD slot.
The IPS screen is sharp and colorful, but unfortunately light bleed is real. It’s mostly visible on black scenes, and from checking with other reviewers, it’s something shared across different devices. That’s an issue, especially at this price, but more about price soon.
It just plays
Performance is great. The Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 SoC handles retro emulation up to PS2 and GameCube without breaking a sweat. Older platforms like PSP, GBA, SNES, N64 all run well. Basically, it can emulate what Android can emulate. That’s the ceiling, and the ACE hits it cleanly. (Yes, including most Switch games.)
Battery life is solid. If you stick to older systems and lower power modes, you can hit 12–15 hours. The battery is actually beefy AF.
Charging is fast, assuming you have a 40W PD charger already (you’ll need to, the box doesn’t include one; again, thanks Apple).
Finally, thermals are fine. The top gets warm under load, but not in a way that affects play. The fan does get loud at full speed, though.
AYANEO Pocket ACE Specifications
| Category | Specification |
|---|---|
| Display Configuration | 4.5″ IPS Original Color Borderless Full Screen |
| Screen Parameters | 1620 × 1080 · 433 PPI · 130% sRGB Color Gamut · 550 nits |
| SoC | Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 Gaming Platform |
| Performance | Up to 15W |
| Storage Options | 8GB+128GB · 12GB+256GB · 16GB+512GB · 16GB+1TB |
| Memory Type | LPDDR5X 8533 Mbps |
| Flash Memory | UFS 4.0 (Only 128GB version uses UFS 3.1) |
| Color Schemes | ShadowDance Black · Lightblade White · Retro Power |
| Controller | Master Controller |
| Joystick | Medium Hall Joystick |
| Trigger | Linear Hall Trigger |
| Vibration Motor | Surge Linear Motor |
| Gyroscope | Six-axis gyroscope |
| Interface | 1 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (10Gbps) · 1 × Micro SD card slot (100MB/s) |
| Biometric Function | Fingerprint Recognition in Power Button |
| Battery Capacity | 6000mAh |
| Charging Power | 40W PD (no charger included) |
| Size | 176 × 82.5 × 18.4 mm |
| Weight | 310g |
| Connection | WiFi / Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Software System | AYASpace System · AYAHome Launcher |
| Operating System | Android 13 |
Software, still messy
AYASpace has improved a lot since the first time I tested.
Setup is faster now, and you can get a working config out of the box. But it’s still not smooth. Box art scraping is missing. ROM management is manual. You’re expected to tweak and tinker if you want a polished frontend. If you’re used to EmuDeck or Steam ROM Manager, this feels half-baked. So, I suggest you stick to ES-DE anyway. Here is a great guide by Russ.
The Pocket Ace runs Android 13, so you get access to all Android games, emulators, and cloud gaming apps. Compatibility is better than it used to be. There’s also screen mapping for touch-only games, and it works well.
Pricing and perspective
The ACE isn’t cheap. It starts at $459 for the base config, and goes up to $699 for the full 1TB Retro Power edition (the one I reviewed). That puts it in a weird place. It’s more expensive and more powerful than a Retroid Pocket, but as expensive yet less versatile than a Steam Deck.
So, it’s difficult to recommend this, except to a very specific type of gamer:
If you want something that just plays, with no desire to tweak settings or emulate the Switch at 4K, this isn’t it. But if you want a retro-focused handheld that feels nice, runs everything up to PS2 cleanly, and doesn’t take up space in your bag, this might be the one. I think for exactly that use-case it’s a better fit than any other handheld, including the Steam Deck.
For me, the ACE is the most sensible device AYANEO has made in a while. It’s a retro powerhouse. It’s probably the best retro-handheld out there right now.
AYANEO Pocket ACE
A no-nonsense Android handheld with solid performance, great controls, and just the right size for retro gaming. But it’s an expensive one!
So, AYANEO ain’t overselling features it can’t quite deliver. This just works. And that we should appreciate.
