{"componentChunkName":"component---src-templates-editorial-js","path":"/editorial/konkr-pocket-block-review-a-little-handheld-with-big-personality/","result":{"data":{"wpgraphql":{"post":{"title":"KONKR Pocket Block Review: A Little Handheld with Big Personality","author":{"name":"Flavio Argemi","avatar":{"url":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/852e00ce30cbbca7af5428ed68087677?s=96&d=mm&r=g"}},"colourFeatureImage":"[75,71,73]","content":"\n

It looks like something from an 80s sci-fi movie, but AYANEO’s latest pocket-sized handheld has a lot more going for it than a cool design.

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AYANEO has been on a roll with their more affordable KONKR lineup, and the new Pocket Block might be my favorite release yet. This small vertical Android handheld combines a fun retro-futuristic design with capable hardware and a fantastic display, all for less than $100.

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I’ve tinkered with quite a few compact retro handhelds over the years, so I wasn’t necessarily expecting the Pocket Block to be anything groundbreaking. But the more time I spent with it, the more I enjoyed using this little device.

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What’s in the Box

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The packaging is simple but looks great, with just a few essentials inside. Alongside the Pocket Block, you’ll find a USB-C charging cable, a small card with a QR code linking to the digital user manual, and a quality control certificate.

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There are no other accessories included in the box, but optional extras including a neat little travel bag and a screen protector are available on AYANEO’s online store.

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Specs & Pricing

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The KONKR Pocket Block comes in two configurations, with the entry-level 2GB/32GB version priced at $79 and the 3GB/64GB model at $99 during the launch promotion. Regular pricing is set at $89 and $109 respectively.

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Both versions share the same hardware, apart from memory and storage, with a MediaTek Helio G85 processor providing more than enough power for the classic gaming systems this device is primarily designed to handle.

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Here’s a quick look at the specs:

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ProcessorMediaTek Helio G85
GPUMali-G52 MC2
Display3.33-inch LCD touchscreen, 960 x 720, 4:3 aspect ratio, 360 PPI
Memory2GB or 3GB LPDDR4X
Storage32GB or 64GB, expandable via microSD
Battery3,500mAh
ConnectivityWi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0
AudioStereo speakers, 3.5mm headphone jack
CoolingPassive cooling with heat spreader
Dimensions113.2 x 77.4 x 19.8 mm (4.46 x 3.05 x 0.78 in)
WeightApproximately 165 g (5.8 oz)
Operating SystemAndroid 12
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The Pocket Block is available in three colorways: Original Grey, a GameCube-inspired Cube Purple and the translucent Atoms White. The base configuration is limited to grey, while the higher-spec version offers all three options.

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Image: AYANEO
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For the relatively small price difference, I’d recommend going with the 3GB/64GB model. Android can be fairly demanding when it comes to memory, so the additional RAM and storage are worth having.

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Design & Build Quality

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The Pocket Block is one of those devices that looks good in promotional images but looks even better in person. AYANEO managed to give the familiar vertical format a personality of its own, with a design that wouldn’t look out of place in a retro sci-fi movie from the 70s or 80s. There’s also a slightly cyberpunk edge to the whole thing, with angular details, contrasting materials and some nice decorative touches.

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My gray review unit is a clear nod to the classic Game Boy, with a two-tone gray shell and dark maroon face buttons.

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Build quality is excellent. The plastic shell has a lovely matte texture, with a slightly grippier finish on the front and a smoother, softer surface around the back. Despite its size, the Pocket Block feels dense and solid, so you immediately get the sense that you’re holding a premium device. Yet at just 165g, it’s still lightweight and pocket-friendly.

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One of my favorite design decisions is the way AYANEO has handled the proportions. The upper section housing the display is quite thin, while the lower half is thicker, with a more substantial area to grip. This might be the reason why this handheld feels so nicely balanced in the hands and more comfortable than you might expect from such a compact vertical layout.

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In terms of size, the Pocket Block sits in a sweet spot between the Miyoo Mini Plus and Anbernic RG35XX Plus. It’s small enough to slip easily into a pocket, but not so tiny that it feels cramped in the hand like some of the smallest vertical handhelds do.

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The KONKR Pocket Block placed between the Miyoo Mini Plus (left) and the Anbernic RG35XX Plus (right).
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There are some clever little details, too. The letters on the ABXY buttons are positioned toward the left rather than perfectly centered, a subtle nod to the original Game Boy Color. They’re membrane-based, with a responsive, relatively quiet action.

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The D-pad is even better. It has a slightly concave center and a fantastic tactile response that feels great for everything from platformers to fighting games. Rolling feels smooth and precise, and I didn’t experience any unwanted diagonals during my testing.

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Around the back, you’ll find four inline shoulder buttons arranged at an angle. They feel clicky, snappy and satisfying to use. This stacked layout isn’t quite as comfortable as traditional full-size shoulder buttons and triggers, but it’s a familiar compromise on compact vertical handhelds like this one. That said, AYANEO’s angular design makes these controls work quite well. You can easily use your fingertips to activate R2 and L2, and the middle of your fingers to press R1 and L1, without having to adjust your grip. It all feels very natural.

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The front panel has a few more interesting details. Below the display, there’s a small grille on the left, a charging indicator on the right and the AYANEO button in the middle, which brings up their usual on-screen settings overlay. Along the bottom are rubberized Select and Start buttons, with a bright yellow Android Home button positioned right between them.

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On the left edge, you’ll find a customizable function button, an Android Back button and the microSD card slot. The right side houses the power button and volume controls.

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There’s also a sleek decorative metallic grille detail along the top, plus one that’s actually functional around the back, allowing some airflow for the fanless cooling system.

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Finally, the bottom edge houses the USB-C port, a 3.5mm headphone jack and the stereo speakers. These are downward-firing speakers, but they sound surprisingly good for such a tiny device, with more than enough volume and clarity.

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Display

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The screen is another highlight, and arguably one of the biggest reasons to consider the Pocket Block over other compact vertical handhelds. It’s a 3.33-inch, 960 x 720 LCD panel with a 4:3 aspect ratio. That translates to a high pixel density of roughly 360 PPI, so everything looks nice and crisp.

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Colors are vibrant, details are sharp, and classic games look fantastic on this display. It’s a resolution AYANEO has used on other handhelds, but seeing it on a device this compact is particularly impressive.

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The 4:3 aspect ratio is a natural fit for many older systems, and the high resolution gives you clean integer scaling for a variety of retro consoles. GBA games, for example, can be displayed at a perfect 4x scale, with small black bars above and below the image.

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The screen gets bright enough for playing outdoors or in well-lit rooms around the house, but what I appreciate just as much is how dim it can get, particularly for those late-night sessions in bed.

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For a handheld at this price, this is a fantastic display.

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Performance

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Under the hood, the Pocket Block uses MediaTek’s Helio G85 processor paired with a Mali-G52 MC2 GPU. It’s not exactly cutting-edge hardware, but it is impressively capable for a device so compact.

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For traditional retro gaming, the Pocket Block handles pretty much everything you’d expect without breaking a sweat. Classic 8-bit and 16-bit systems including the NES, SNES and Sega Genesis, and handhelds like the Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance all run flawlessly and look amazing here.

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But it pushes comfortably into 3D territory too. N64, Dreamcast, PlayStation, and PSP all run well. Lighter GameCube and PS2 titles are even playable with some tinkering, which is a little bit crazy for a handheld this small and this cheap. It’s not necessarily designed to run those systems, as it doesn’t have analog sticks, but the fact that they’re even an option is pretty remarkable.

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On the software side, the handheld runs Android 12 with AYANEO’s familiar AYASpace ecosystem, including their custom launcher and configuration utilities.

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As I’ve done with other AYANEO devices, I skipped the AYASpace launcher and went straight to my preferred setup, using RetroArch and ES-DE as the front-end. I just wish AYANEO would give their software the same care and attention to detail they clearly put into their hardware. If AYASpace ever evolves into a more polished, seamless experience, they could truly become the Apple of retro gaming. For now, though, I’ll stick with my familiar setup.

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That said, I still find AYANEO’s on-screen overlay incredibly useful. Pressing the dedicated button on the front brings up a handy menu where you can switch performance modes, adjust settings and access useful shortcuts without leaving your game.

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Battery Life

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The Pocket Block packs a 3,500mAh battery, which is pretty decent considering the size of the device.

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I didn’t run any scientific battery testing, but in day-to-day use I got between 7 and 8 hours of gameplay across a mix of classic systems. That’s a pretty solid result for something this portable.

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Of course, battery life depends on what you’re playing, your brightness settings and the performance profile you’re using. More demanding systems like PSP, Dreamcast or even PS2 (if you’re feeling brave enough) can bring that number down to less than 4 hours. Still, for the type of gaming the Pocket Block is primarily designed for, that’s a respectable amount of playtime.

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Pros & Cons

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Pros

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Cons

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Verdict

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AYANEO has been doing some fantastic work with their KONKR lineup, and the Pocket Block is another slam dunk.

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It has a distinctive design with enough personality to stand out in the increasingly crowded vertical handheld space. The build quality is excellent, the controls are precise and satisfying, and the 3.33-inch display is the best I’ve seen in this size category. For under $100, you also get great emulation performance and decent battery life, so it’s a very compelling little package.

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There are some compromises, of course. The lack of analog sticks limits what you can comfortably play, despite the performance on tap. The screen can feel a bit small when navigating certain menus, and Android always requires a little more setup than some of the simpler Linux-based alternatives.

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But these are relatively minor things when you look at what the Pocket Block brings to the table. It knows exactly what kind of handheld it wants to be, and executes that idea extremely well.

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I wasn’t initially expecting to like this device quite as much as I did, but it’s now my favorite handheld in the compact vertical retro category. And it isn’t just about the specs, the design or that beautiful screen. It’s also about how it feels to use. For some reason, I’ve connected with this little thing more than I have with other handhelds in recent memory.

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If you’re looking for a beautiful, affordable pocket-friendly retro handheld with great controls and more power than you might expect, the KONKR Pocket Block is as good as it gets right now.

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View at AYANEO
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Quick Answers

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\nIs the KONKR Pocket Block worth buying?\n
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Absolutely, particularly if you enjoy classic retro games and want something compact enough to carry anywhere. The combination of excellent controls, a high-resolution screen and solid performance makes it a great option under $100.

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\nShould I get the 2GB or 3GB KONKR Pocket Block?\n
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The 3GB/64GB model is the better buy if your budget allows, offering more headroom on Android plus two additional colorways, Cube Purple and Atoms White. The 2GB/32GB model comes in Original Grey only.

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\nHow long does the battery last?\n
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In my testing, I got roughly 7 to 8 hours of gameplay with classic systems like GBA and SNES. More demanding games can reduce that to under 4 hours, depending on the emulator and performance settings.

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\nCan the KONKR Pocket Block run GameCube and PS2 games?\n
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Some lighter GameCube and PlayStation 2 titles are playable with the right emulator settings, but performance varies considerably. The device is better suited to systems like Game Boy Advance, PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Dreamcast and PSP.

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\nHow big is the KONKR Pocket Block?\n
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It measures 113.2 x 77.4 x 19.8 mm (4.46 x 3.05 x 0.78 in) and weighs 165 g (5.8 oz), sitting right between the Miyoo Mini Plus and Anbernic RG35XX Plus in size.

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\nKONKR Pocket Block vs. KONKR Pocket Advance: which should I buy?\n
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The Pocket Block is the smaller, more pocketable vertical model with a 4:3 screen ideal for Game Boy and GBA integer scaling. The horizontal Pocket Advance has a more powerful Helio G90T and an active cooling fan, so it’s the better pick for more demanding systems.

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The product featured in this article was provided by the manufacturer for testing purposes. No payment was received for this feature, and the opinions expressed are entirely our own. All images © Inspiration Grid unless otherwise credited.

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