The Pocket Advance nearly perfects my favorite Nintendo handheld
Although I count the original Game Boy as one of my first tech obsessions, I still consider Nintendo’s Game Boy Advance to be my favorite console of all time thanks to its more comfortable horizontal design (for my big hands) and its expansive catalog of excellent 32-bit and 16-bit games. Ayaneo isn’t the first company […]
The Ayaneo Konkr Pocket Advance aims to perfect the Game Boy Advance experience, combining authentic design with modern hardware enhancements. The handheld strikes a near-perfect balance between faithfully recreating the GBA's look while upgrading its internals with a MediaTek Helio G90T processor, a 4,000mAh battery, and Android 12. At a price point of $109, you can opt for the cheaper model with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, expandable via microSD card, or pay $129 for 4GB of RAM with 64GB of storage built-in.
The Pocket Advance introduces eight new action buttons and a larger D-pad compared to the original, although the buttons feel slightly soft and squishy. The 3.5-inch LCD touchscreen, offering a 960×640 resolution, provides an excellent upgrade over the original GBA's screen. However, its 3:2 aspect ratio may require some adjustments when playing games designed for different aspect ratios, potentially leading to letterboxing or pillarboxing.
Ayaneo's handheld runs Android instead of traditional GBA emulation software, offering a more familiar interface for smartphone users. It includes various emulators preinstalled, such as MinUI, and allows access to the Google Play Store. The Pocket Advance is particularly well-suited for retro gaming, with the processor capable of handling PS2 and GameCube titles, though it shines best with older systems like the Super Nintendo and Sega Dreamcast. However, performance and compatibility with native Android games and apps may vary.
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