AYANEO Pocket Vert: A Premium Game Boy Clone For The High-End Collector

AYANEO has never been one for subtlety. Where other manufacturers are content to churn out plastic rectangles that do the job for fifty quid, this company insists on machining its toys from aerospace-grade metal and stuffing them with smartphone-grade silicon. The newly revealed AYANEO Pocket Vert is no exception. Unveiled on December 27, this vertical handheld is clearly targeting the sort of person who remembers the Game Boy fondly but now has significantly more disposable income than they did in 1989.

According to the official specifications released by the company, the Pocket Vert is built around a 3.5-inch LCD screen. While the size mirrors the retro classics, the resolution certainly does not. The panel boasts a staggering 1600 x 1440 resolution, delivering a pixel density of 615 PPI and a peak brightness of 450 nits. For playing 8-bit titles that originally ran at 160 x 144, this is arguably overkill, but it ensures that scaling artefacts will be virtually non-existent.

📜 The Vertical Handheld LegacyThe vertical form factor was pioneered by Nintendo's Game Boy in 1989 and became the standard for 8-bit and 16-bit portable gaming. Other notable vertical handhelds include the Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance (in its original design), Sega Game Gear, and Atari Lynx. This layout prioritizes one-handed portrait play for puzzle and arcade-style games.

Under the hood, the device is powered by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 mobile platform. While this chip is technically a generation behind the G3x Gen 2 found in AYANEO’s own Pocket DMG, it remains a formidable processor for emulation. It is paired with an active air-cooling system, which is a rarity in a chassis measuring just 86.4mm by 143mm.

Pricing for the Indiegogo campaign will start at $269 for an 8GB RAM and 128GB storage model in black or white. A higher-tier 12GB/256GB configuration in Lava Red will cost $369. The company also plans to offer accessories including a screen protector, stand, and a leather carrying case.

For enthusiasts, the Pocket Vert's appeal lies in its potential as a dedicated, high-quality portal to classics like The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening or Pokémon Red & Blue. By prioritising a pixel-dense screen and a form factor that mirrors the Game Boy's iconic profile, AYANEO is catering to a niche that values authenticity in handling the games of that era. While capable of more, its specification sheet signals it's best suited for the libraries that defined portable gaming in the 1990s.Perhaps the most surprising inclusion is the battery. AYANEO has managed to squeeze a 6000mAh cell into the 20.5mm thick body. Given the screen size, this should offer a battery life that rivals the original Game Boy's four AA batteries, provided you aren't trying to emulate Switch games at full speed.

The control scheme is where the device makes its boldest design choices. In a bid to maintain a "minimalist aesthetic," the face buttons are unmarked and fashioned from a transparent, crystal-like material. There are no physical analogue sticks. Instead, the device relies on a "MagicTouch" hidden dual-mode touchpad and a "MagicSwitch" dial for menu navigation, features inherited from its sibling, the Pocket DMG. It is a decision that prioritises form over function, catering specifically to the library of 8-bit and 16-bit titles that require nothing more than a solid D-pad.

The device also includes a full suite of modern connectivity options, including a full-function USB-C port, a MicroSD card slot, and the increasingly rare 3.5mm headphone jack.

Pricing for the crowdfunding campaign is set to begin at $269 for the base model (8GB RAM / 128GB storage), available in "Eternal Night Black" or "Lunar White." A higher-spec 12GB/256GB variant will be available in "Lava Red" for $369.

It is an expensive proposition for a Game Boy emulator, certainly. However, for the enthusiast who values build quality above all else, the Pocket Vert appears to be the new gold standard.

You can view the full announcement and campaign details at the official AYANEO site.