Back in January of last year, Ayaneo embarked on a crowdfunding journey for their new clamshell handhelds powered by AMD Ryzen—specifically, the Ayaneo Flip DS and Flip KB models. We had the chance to share our initial thoughts on the Flip DS about a month later. Sadly, the production of these devices has hit an unexpected halt.
Initially, everything seemed to be going smoothly. Updates over time were promising, showcasing upgrades like the transition from the ROG Ally Z1 Extreme-equivalent AMD Ryzen 7 7840U to the even more formidable Ryzen 7 8840U. But, on February 25 of this year, Ayaneo dropped a bombshell: the production of the Ayaneo Flip devices would cease. Backers were given until March 27 to decide if they wanted a full refund or to trade their backing for another Ayaneo handheld. Those opting for a trade, though, would need to pay any price differences.
For those who had high hopes of owning one of these unique devices after the crowdfunding phase, this news is undoubtedly disappointing. Various media outlets have already received their Ayaneo Flip units for review, with some backers also getting theirs. However, Ayaneo seems unable to fulfill the complete demand from its supporters. Despite Ayaneo’s impressive history with crowdfunding projects, this serves as a reminder that supporting a crowdfunding campaign is more of an investment than a guaranteed purchase.
I find myself genuinely disappointed by this turn of events. In our earlier discussions, we highlighted how the Flip DS, in particular, stood out as an ideal modern successor to the much-loved Nintendo DS and 3DS.
With its dual-screen design and powerful internals capable of emulating the Nintendo Switch, alongside playing AAA PC games with second-screen support for multitasking or real-time system adjustments, the Ayaneo Flip DS was poised to be a game-changer. At a time when the handheld gaming market was saturated with “Steam Deck or ROG Ally” alternatives, this device promised something genuinely unique, apart from a few standout models with exceptional controller or display features.
Sadly, even the most exciting projects can fall victim to unfortunate circumstances. However, there’s a silver lining: the Ayaneo Flip DS and Flip KB units that did make it out to YouTubers and early supporters are likely to become rare collector’s items. But if you’re hoping to snag one, be prepared to pay a hefty price, as no more will be rolling off the production line.
