Ayaneo’s First Gaming Smartphone Brings Back the Xperia Play

Like British smartphone brand Nothing, Ayaneo is entering the phone market by deliberately not following the crowd.

Instead of chasing thinner bodies or bigger camera bumps, the Chinese handheld gaming specialist has revealed a device that looks back to the past for inspiration.

Ayaneo’s first smartphone, the Pocket Play, features a sliding display that reveals a built-in game controller underneath.

The design is an unmistakable callback to Sony Ericsson’s Xperia Play from 2011, a cult classic that attempted to merge smartphones and handheld consoles long before mobile gaming went mainstream.

Slide the screen up and the Pocket Play transforms from a chunky Android phone into a compact gaming handheld.

Beneath the display is a full physical control layout, including a traditional D-pad, ABXY buttons, four shoulder buttons and two circular touchpads that act as joystick replacements.

Ayaneo says the touchpads can be customised or mapped as virtual sticks, pushing the experience closer to that of a dedicated console.

While Ayaneo has yet to confirm key specs, pricing or battery capacity, the Pocket Play is expected to run Android and plug directly into existing mobile gaming ecosystems.

The hardware itself looks surprisingly refined, with stereo speakers, dual rear cameras, USB-C charging and minimalist black or white finishes.

There’s no sign of a headphone jack, suggesting Ayaneo is positioning this as a modern smartphone first, not just a novelty gaming device.

The Pocket Play arrives at a time when handheld gaming is enjoying a major resurgence, driven by devices like the Steam Deck, ROG Ally and Legion Go.

Ayaneo itself has built a strong reputation in that space, and the Pocket Play appears designed to sit between a phone and a compact console.

Ayaneo plans to launch the Pocket Play via Kickstarter, with the campaign currently listed as “coming soon.”

Pricing and a release date remain unconfirmed.