At the beginning of last year, Ayaneo embarked on a crowdfunding journey with their innovative clamshell designs, introducing the AMD Ryzen-powered Ayaneo Flip handhelds—specifically the Flip DS and Flip KB. Within just a month, we offered our initial thoughts on the Flip DS. However, in an unexpected twist, the full-scale production of the device has now been halted.
Initial impressions and subsequent updates painted a promising future for the Flip DS, especially with the upgrade from its original AMD Ryzen 7 7840U to the Ryzen 7 8840U, matching the power of the ROG Ally Z1 Extreme. Despite this, Ayaneo announced on February 25 that they would cease production of the Ayaneo Flip lineup. Backers have until March 27 to either claim a full refund or opt for a trade, although opting for another device might still require covering any cost differences.
It’s undoubtedly a letdown for those who eagerly awaited the final product post-crowdfunding. Given that various media outlets already reviewed pre-release models and some backers managed to receive theirs, it’s a shame Ayaneo couldn’t meet the broad expectations of its supporters. Ayaneo is generally reliable when it comes to supporting crowdfunded projects, but this situation underscores the point that participating in crowdfunding is an investment with inherent risks—it’s not a guaranteed purchase.
Despite the setback, one can’t help but feel a sense of loss. The Flip DS showed tremendous potential as a credible modern successor to the Nintendo DS and 3DS, as highlighted in our previous articles.
Its dual-screen setup, coupled with sufficient power to run Nintendo Switch emulators and AAA PC games, offered an exceptional mix of multitasking and system tweaking on the fly. The Ayaneo Flip DS appeared to stand out in a crowded handheld gaming market often defined by iterations of the Steam Deck or ROG Ally, albeit more expensive and sometimes less impressive, barring those with extraordinary control or display features.
It’s a classic case of potential unrealized. The silver lining? Existing Ayaneo Flip DS and Flip KB models, now in the hands of content creators and early backers, are set to become prized collector’s items. But securing one will likely come with a hefty price tag, given their newfound rarity.
