Ayaneo blames scalpers, policy changes as critics point to overpromising and poor communication trends
Ayaneo has built a reputation in the niche of retro gaming handhelds for its unique design and powerful portable consoles. However, in an unfortunate twist, the company’s cult following has turned against Ayaneo.
Ayaneo has crowdfunded most of its products on platforms such as Indiegogo. However, customers increasingly accuse the company of delaying shipments to international backers as its products pop up for sale on third-party retailers' sites.
This has led reviewers and consumers to speak out against Ayaneo, calling it a back-and-forth game of promises and excuses. Recently, YouTuber Zu Reviews from Retro Handhelds published a video on YouTube titled “I’m Done with Ayaneo – Here’s Why.”
In the video, he explained that Ayaneo's Pocket Fit and Pocket AIR Mini are being delayed. The controversy can be traced back to Ayaneo's release schedule for its lineup of retro-gaming handhelds. In 2025 alone, the company announced 20 new devices, touting its wealth of production capabilities.
Backers who funded these projects on Indiegogo expect to receive Ayaneo's handhelds as a priority. However, many early backers have reported waiting months longer than expected.
In the Pocket AIR Mini’s case, a 4:3 retro gaming handheld, Indiegogo campaign supporters took to Reddit, stating that the company had delayed their orders and that customer support was poor, prompting them to cancel. Interestingly, one can easily find the Pocket AIR Mini for sale on AliExpress.
Ayaneo, in its defense, blamed the holdup in international shipping on factors beyond its control, including recent changes in Indiegogo’s policies that caused shipping delays.
When Ayaneo was further pressed on why non-backers could get their hands on the devices sooner, Ayaneo blamed scalpers. Recently, Ayaneo issued an update on the delays in Pocket FIT, stating that the reasons were unauthorized resale by scalpers, limited stock shipped to authorized distributors, and miscellaneous logistical issues.
Ayaneo stated that the company prioritized Indiegogo orders. The company further noted that Indiegogo orders for the Pocket AIR Mini “have essentially been fulfilled,” with only 180 backers left in the backlog due to unconfirmed or missing shipping addresses.
Furthermore, the company reported that the PocketFit G3 Gen 3 had been delivered to 1,193 backers, and that the remaining 493 units would be delivered by the end of January 2026. However, fans allege that the company is trying to shift the blame away from itself, and name internal mismanagement as well as overpromising on the production and delivery schedule fronts.
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