AYANEO Pocket MICRO Classic Announced: A Joystick-less Trip Down Memory Lane

AYANEO has just dropped another addition to its retro handheld lineup, the AYANEO Pocket MICRO Classic.

If you’re familiar with the original Pocket MICRO, you’ll notice that this version doesn’t exactly introduce any significant new features. In fact, it goes in the opposite direction by completely ditching the analog sticks. This is something that many users have been asking for, particularly those who are more interested in emulating 8 and 16-bit consoles and classic handhelds.

It’s certainly a smart move by AYANEO, one that leans into nostalgia and simplicity to give gamers a more “pure” retro experience that prioritizes classic controls and precision over complexity. Plus, you no longer have to worry about the joysticks snagging when sliding the device into your pocket. 

The ABXY buttons and D-pad use high-quality conductive rubber, so they should deliver the same great feel of the original.

The absence of joysticks might sound limiting at first, but the device also supports other control methods with some clever design at work. A D-Pad button mapping mode allows you to simulate joystick functionality for titles that do need it, so you don’t have to sacrifice versatility.

The new version of the handheld keeps the same specs of its predecessor, with a MediaTek Helio G99 chipset and a stunning 3.5-inch borderless IPS display.

In our review of the Pocket Micro, we praised its stunning design and build quality, and the Pocket MICRO Classic looks just as good, if not better than the original. If anything, the removal of the analog sticks makes the device look even cleaner and sharper.

There are also some new retro colorways to choose from, like the limited-edition “Retro Gold” inspired by 20th Anniversary edition of the Game Boy Micro.

You can take a closer look at more images of the AYANEO Pocket Micro below. If you’re interested in learning more about this sleek retro handheld, head over to AYANEO’s website for all the details. You can also pre-order it here, starting at $179 for the base model, which comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.