Since 2020, Ayaneo has managed the feat of carving out a place among the portable gaming giants. Unlike many Chinese manufacturers who bet on low-cost products, this brand born in Shenzhen as a containment of COVVI-19 seduced players with high-end machines very well successful. After shining with its laptops and attempted the Android adventure with the Ayaneo Pocket Air, the Chinese manufacturer today revisits a timeless classic: the Game Boy Micro from Nintendo. The Ayaneo Pocket Micro takes up the ultra-compact format of the legendary Japanese console, but with modern components and a premium finish. Between nostalgia and innovation, has this little gem to seduce demanding players? Answer in this full test.
Sober and elegant design for the Ayaneo Pocket Micro
.Theyaneo Pocket Micro gives off the image of an object carefully thought out for players. THE Weight of 260 grams seems perfectly balanced for prolonged sessions. The texture of the reinforced plastic shell offers a secure grip without being abrasive. It breaks with the inconvenience of too smooth or too rubberous surfaces that we sometimes meet on other models. THE rounded edges naturally marry the palm of the hands and demonstrate an ergonomic work pushed although invisible at first glance. I also invite you to read: Lenovo Legion Go: What is this portable console is worth
The arrangement of orders deserves special attention. THE D-PAD presents an ideal resistance, neither too soft for the combat games requiring precise inputs, nor too rigid for long sessions. THE front buttons (A, B, X, Y) wear a sober but effective color, with a short enough race for instant answers. THE touch feedback remains satisfactory. L2/R2 analog triggers benefit from a particularly appreciable progressive race in racing games or FPS, while L1/R1 digital triggers offer a frank and net click. Then, the presence of a dedicated “home” button and a Multifunction “Options” button constitutes a real plus. A extraction fan Discreet but effective on the upper edge is also appreciable. This cooling activates automatically when the temperature of the SoC exceeds a certain threshold. It produces a breath comparable to that of a laptop in silent mode
A 4.7 -inch screen correctly effective
The screen 4.7 inch amoled undoubtedly constitutes one of the major arguments of this portable console. There resolution of 1334 × 750 pixels May seem modest on paper, but it is perfectly suited to the size of the screen. It offers a very satisfactory pixel density. The absolute blacks characteristic of AMOLED technology provide a striking contrast, particularly visible in games with dark atmospheres like ” Dead Cells ” Or ” Alien: insulation“.
There Calibration of colors seems extremely precise, without this excessive saturation that we sometimes meet on mobile screens. The maximum brightness allows good visibility even in external conditions. That said, a slight reflection persists under a direct sun. Besides, it is a limitation common to most non -matt screens. The Pocket Micro is also distinguished by its attention to details. The choice to include a tempered glass to protect the screen (rather than a simple plastic), the quality of haptics (certainly basic but well implemented), or the presence of a physical switch for the silent mode testify to a real desire to offer a premium product.
Rather convincing technical arguments
3GHz octa-core processor and 12 GB of on-board RAM
The power of the beast is based on the system on Mediatek Dimensity 1200 chip. It is a platform that has proven itself in the field of High -end smartphones. Coupled 12 GB of RAM LPDDR4Xthis configuration allows very remarkable performance in the world of Android portable consoles.
The Ayaneo Pocket Micro is clearly positioned at the top of the basket, but it is especially in the real use that the difference is felt. Take the example of ” GENSHIN IMPACT »: Where many portable consoles are struggling to maintain 30 fps stable in average parameters, this device displays a remarkable fluidity between 45 and 60 fps in high configuration. He barely presents a few rare performance drops in the most busy areas. “Call of Duty: Mobile” runs in Ultra at 60 FPS without any noticeable slowdown and lets you take full advantage of the 60Hz refreshment rate screen.
Android 13 and Google environment
The software interface, based on Android 13, has been significantly reworked by Ayaneo to offer an optimized experience for the game. The personalized launcher Allows you to quickly access all the installed games, classified by platform for emulators or by gender for native Android titles. The quick parameters give instant access to crucial options such as performance configuration (several predefined modes are available), screen brightness or network condition.
Ayaneo’s unified interface simplifies the management of Roma and Configurations. This is a real plus for players who do not want to get lost in technical settings. Unlike certain too restrictive owner interfaces, that of the Pocket Micro retains full access to the Play store and Google services. You can use the device as a classic Android tablet if necessary. The software updates have been regular since the launch. They correct minor bugs and gradually improve performance.
An immersive sound and sufficiently powerful
The audio experience deserves to be underlined. THE stereo speakersalthough small, offer a spatialization Surprisingly good and a very sufficient volume for indoor use. The quality of mediums and treble pleasantly surprises, even if the bass obviously remain limited by the laws of physics on a device of this size. The taking 3.5mm helmet Provides a clean and powerful signal, capable of without difficulty pilot the majority of headsets for the general public. Users ofBluetooth headphones will benefit from the support of high quality codecs such as theAptx HD. They minimize audio latency at least: a crucial point for reactive games.
Four long hours of battery life
The battery life of 5000 mAh varies considerably depending on the use. In an intensive game (peoplehin impact, PS2 emulation), we can hope for about 4 hours of use before having to recharge. Less gourmet tasks like theEmulation SNES or the video reading allow you to easily reach the 7-8 hours. There Rapid recharge 65W is a real asset: a 30 -minute session is enough to recover almost 70% battery. However, it is a shame that the console does not support wireless load. This feature could have added a significant plus in terms of convenience.
Connectivity, storage and compatible games
THE Wi-Fi 6 Ensures stable and fast connections, essential for online games or cloud streaming. The console maintains an excellent latency even several meters from the router, provided of course that the network infrastructure is of quality. THE Bluetooth 5.2 Allows you to connect external controllers, headphones or keyboards without difficulty, although the latency inherent in Bluetooth technology can be problematic for the most reactive games. The presence of a USB-C port Complete (with USB 3.2 support) opens interesting possibilities, such as connection to USB hubs or external screens via alternative DisplayPort. L’lack of HDMI output Native can disappoint certain users, but USB-C to HDMI at an inexpensive HDMI allow you to easily bypass this limitation.
Internal storage of 256 GB (UFS 3.1) offers excellent reading/writing performance. Users who need more space can easily extend the capacity via the slit microSD which supports the cards up to 1 TB, or by connecting a USB external storage. It should be noted that unlike certain competitors, the Pocket Micro does not (for the moment) offer version with more important storage. This could be problematic for players who wish to install a large library of AAA Gamesoften very greedy in disk space.
Ayaneo Pocket Micro is cut for online games
Compatibility with the services of cloud gaming is almost perfect. Xbox Cloud GamingGeForce now and PlayStation Remote Play operate without hanging, taking advantage of the integrated commands natively recognized as a Xbox controller. The low screen latency (estimated at around 15ms) combined with the responsiveness of the commands creates a surprisingly pleasant cloud gaming experience, provided of course has a sufficiently stable and fast internet connection. THE Stadia Games (always accessible via alternative methods) also benefit from excellent compatibility, as well as the various services of Video streaming.
The software ecosystem provided with the console includes several useful tools. We find in particular an optimized file manager, a screen capture and video tool (allowing to save your parts directly from the interface), as well as an advanced configuration panel for emulators. Purists will appreciate the possibility of accessing options generally reserved for developers, such as fine modification of CPU/GPU parameters or advanced calibration of the display. The community around the device is already active, offering optimal configurations for each emulator and tips for making the most of the equipment.
A large catalog of even wider games, thanks to emulation
Thanks to Dimensity 1200 and to a neat software optimization, it easily manages most consoles until PlayStation 2 and the Gamecube. Demanding games like God of War 2 (PS2) or The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (Gamecube) run at full speed, even with a slight upscaling. For older consoles (PS1, N64, Dreamcast), compatibility is perfect. We can even add graphic shaders To improve the rendering, without sacrificing performance.
What verdict for the Ayaneo Pocket Micro?
For demanding mobile players, perfectionist retrogaming enthusiasts or simply technology enthusiasts looking for the best Android portable experience, Ayaneo Pocket Micro is currently one of the most convincing choices on the market. Its high price probably reserve it to an informed audience. The 6 GB/128 GB model is offered from 176 €while the 8 GB/256 GB version costs 213 €. But those who will take the plunge will rarely be disappointed with the performance and the pleasure of use offered by this exceptional machine.
- Share the article:
Our blog is powered by readers. When you buy via links on our site, we can receive an affiliation commission.