AYANEO's Pocket PLAY smartphone features a slide-out controller, MediaTek Dimensity 9300 processor, and a notch-free screen, blending phone and console for gaming.
© AYANEO
AYANEO has released a fresh video showcasing gameplay tests of its first smartphone, the Pocket PLAY, demonstrating its hidden slide-out controller. The video appeared on the company's official Bilibili channel and focuses on launching the mobile game Zero Zone, where the device immediately transforms into a full hybrid of a phone and portable console.
The key feature of the Pocket PLAY is its concealed controller. The demonstration shows the sliding mechanism operating smoothly, reminiscent of the iconic Sony Xperia PLAY concept. This format revives the idea of a "gaming smartphone" in a modern guise, but now with an emphasis on more powerful hardware and the convenience of physical controls.
AYANEO also revealed the device's design from all angles. The back panel sports a minimalist style, and the dual camera module barely protrudes from the body—a rarity in today's smartphones. Up front, the Pocket PLAY uses a screen without notches or holes, an increasingly unusual choice amid the prevalence of front-facing cameras embedded in displays.
The smartphone is equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 processor, introduced in late 2023. The chip is built on TSMC's 4nm N4P process and includes four powerful Cortex-X4 cores clocked up to 3.25 GHz and four Cortex-A720 cores at 2.0 GHz, with graphics handled by an Immortalis-G720 GPU. This makes the Pocket PLAY one of the most powerful devices among gaming smartphones aimed at emulation and demanding mobile titles.
The Pocket PLAY has not yet received an official release date, but these demonstrations indicate that AYANEO is actively preparing the device for launch, betting on the nostalgic Xperia PLAY format combined with modern flagship-level performance.