AYANEO has announced the Pocket AIR Mini, a handheld designed specifically with retro gamers in mind. Unlike most modern handhelds that stick to widescreen displays, this device introduces a 4.2-inch, 1280 × 960 screen in a 4:3 aspect ratio, making it ideal for classic games that were originally meant to be played this way.
The choice of resolution and aspect ratio is no accident. The Pocket AIR Mini is tailored for classic systems that originally ran in 4:3, ensuring no black borders and a fully immersive experience. With true pixel-perfect rendering, it offers 4x scaling for PlayStation and Nintendo 64 games, while Dreamcast runs at 2x scaling. Other systems like the NES, Mega Drive, Super Famicom, Saturn, Wii, PlayStation 2, Neo Geo, Atari, and PC Engine also benefit from clean, native-looking visuals without compromise.
AYANEO positions the Pocket AIR Mini as an entry-level device with a premium experience, making it more affordable than some of the company’s higher-end handhelds.
More details, including specs, pricing and release information, will be announced soon — but the promise of a compact, purpose-built handheld that nails the 4:3 experience is already generating excitement.