The first slider gaming phone since 2011 arrives with modern ambitions and nostalgic appeal.
Dead controller batteries during mobile gaming sessions are annoying, but the Pocket Play eliminates that hassle entirely. Ayaneo just announced its first Android smartphone—a sliding gaming device that channels the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play’s cult appeal with decidedly modern hardware. The Pocket Play slides open to reveal a full gamepad underneath, complete with D-pad, ABXY buttons, and dual circular touchpads inspired by Valve’s original Steam Controller.
More Than Nostalgia Bait
Four shoulder buttons and active cooling suggest serious gaming intent beyond retro aesthetics.
While other gaming phones like ROG Phone and RedMagic rely on touch controls and ultrasonic triggers, the Pocket Play delivers comprehensive physical input. Four shoulder buttons join the controller deck—more than most dedicated handhelds offer. Visible cooling vents along the bottom hint at active thermal management, a rarity in smartphones but standard in Ayaneo’s Windows handheld lineup. The company’s signature AYASpace button promises the same performance tuning features that make their gaming PCs compelling.
Patent Freedom and Practical Compromises
Sony’s expired slider patent opened the floodgates, but design choices reveal inevitable trade-offs.
Sony’s sliding-phone patent expired in June 2025, legally clearing the path for devices like this—a significant milestone that opened up the mobile gaming market to innovative form factors. Yet the Pocket Play’s USB-C port sits on the bottom edge, potentially awkward when gaming while charging. Speaker grilles flanking that port might get partially blocked by your palms during landscape play. CEO Arthur Zhang has already confirmed the phone won’t pack flagship-tier silicon, suggesting performance takes a backseat to the integrated controller experience.
Niche Appeal in a Crowded Market
The Pocket Play launches via Kickstarter with pricing expected between budget handhelds and premium gaming phones.
This feels like iPhone meets Nintendo Switch Lite—ambitious but inherently compromised. The slider mechanism adds thickness and potential failure points that modern slab phones avoid. Still, carrying one device instead of a phone plus handheld appeals to anyone who’s fumbled with a Backbone controller on crowded transit. The Anbernic RG Slide proved demand exists for retro sliders, though that $189 device lacks cellular connectivity. Whether smartphone buyers will embrace extra bulk for gaming remains the billion-dollar question Ayaneo is betting on with this fascinating experiment in mobile gaming convergence.
