According to Android Authority, AYANEO has confirmed its first gaming phone, the Pocket PLAY, will be powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 9300 chipset, a flagship processor from 2023. The company announced this via a post on X, clearing up a major performance question. The device retains its sliding design with physical controls, a 6.8-inch 165Hz OLED display, a bezel-mounted selfie camera, and a modest rear camera setup. The Pocket PLAY is still destined for a Kickstarter campaign, though the launch is delayed as AYANEO works on service improvements. This chip choice is a solid, if not cutting-edge, answer for the gaming-focused handheld phone hybrid.
The chip choice context
So, the Dimensity 9300. It’s not the newest, and it’s not a Snapdragon, which is what a lot of mobile gamers instinctively look for. Here’s the thing, though: this chip was a beast when it launched. In benchmarks, it went toe-to-toe with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, especially in CPU tasks. For a device like the Pocket PLAY, which is basically a dedicated gaming machine that also makes calls, raw CPU and GPU power is the priority. The fact that AYANEO is pairing it with an active cooling system is a huge plus—that means it should sustain that performance instead of throttling down after ten minutes of play. It’s a pragmatic choice, probably helping them hit a certain price point while still delivering flagship-tier performance.
The nostalgia play
Let’s be real, the main draw here isn’t just the specs—it’s the form factor. A sliding phone with physical game controls is a direct callback to the Sony Xperia Play, a cult classic. AYANEO is leaning hard into that nostalgia with the dual touchpads and shoulder triggers. It’s a niche within a niche, targeting the dedicated handheld gamer who’s tired of attaching a separate controller to their phone. But does that niche want a phone with a “deliberately modest” camera? For this crowd, maybe. If your primary goal is emulating PS2 games or playing Android ports, camera quality is probably the last thing on your mind.
The Kickstarter hurdle
Now, about that Kickstarter. The campaign was paused, and that’s never not a red flag. AYANEO says it was to improve customer service and shipping transparency, which, frankly, are two of the biggest pain points for crowdfunded hardware. Promising to fix that before taking people’s money is… actually responsible? But it also adds pressure. Backers will be watching closely for any slip-ups. Launching with a 2023 chip in late 2024 or early 2025 might feel a bit dated, but if the overall package—controls, cooling, software—is polished, it could still be a winner for its specific audience. They just have to deliver, and that’s the hardest part.
