Ayaneo confirms MediaTek Dimensity 9300 chipset for Pocket Play gaming phone with slide-out controls, aiming for launch in 2026. Learn specs and features.
© Ayaneo
Ayaneo has revealed a key technical detail about its unusual gaming smartphone, the Pocket Play, which draws inspiration from the legendary Xperia Play. The device was first shown back in December 2025, but at that time the company only hinted at its design. Now, the processor that will power the new device has been confirmed, indicating the project is gradually moving toward a full launch.
The Pocket Play will be part of the Remake series and feature slide-out gaming controls that recall the iconic smartphone-gamepad format of the past. Ayaneo is betting on physical ABXY buttons, a D-pad, and a special touchpad that can function as a virtual joystick, promising high-precision control for mobile games.
The main news is the confirmed chipset: the Ayaneo Pocket Play will run on the MediaTek Dimensity 9300, a flagship processor from 2023. This choice may raise questions for some of the audience, as many were expecting the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which is often considered more suitable for emulation and gaming due to better GPU driver support. Nevertheless, Ayaneo assures that the emulation situation has improved significantly in recent months.
Ayaneo has not yet announced an exact release date for the Pocket Play. Moreover, the company has reported a delay in the crowdfunding stage, explaining this is due to internal restructuring and a desire to strengthen customer support. However, given that the main specifications are now known, the device's launch is likely to occur in the first half of 2026.
The Pocket Play looks like an attempt to revive the format of a "gaming phone with physical controls," which was once niche but iconic. If Ayaneo can execute this idea with modern hardware and a comfortable design, the Pocket Play could become one of the most unusual mobile gaming devices of the coming year.