Back in January of last year, Ayaneo took to crowdfunding to bring life to their innovative clamshell handheld devices powered by AMD Ryzen—the Ayaneo Flip DS and Flip KB. Just a month later, we shared our initial thoughts on the Flip DS, but unfortunately, the production of these devices has hit an unexpected stop.
Despite the promising buzz around the device, and upgrades in its internals jumping from something akin to ROG Ally Z1 Extreme’s AMD Ryzen 7 7840U to the even more powerful Ryzen 7 8840U, Ayaneo announced on the 25th of February this year that they would cease all production of the Ayaneo Flip handhelds. They also mentioned that backers only have until March 27 to request either a full refund or opt for a product swap with another Ayaneo handheld, though this might involve some additional costs depending on the price differences.
This news is quite disappointing for those who were eagerly waiting to get their hands on the device post-crowdfunding. Especially since various outlets had already received units for review and shared their insights. Plus, some backers did receive their handhelds, which makes the situation even more frustrating for those left empty-handed. Historically, Ayaneo has done well in its crowdfunding efforts, but this incident serves as a reminder of the risks involved—highlighting that when you back a project, it’s more an investment gamble than a surefire product purchase.
It’s hard not to feel a bit downcast about this whole situation. Previously, we speculated that the Flip DS held potential as a modern successor to beloved gadgets like the Nintendo DS and 3DS—and rightfully so.
The Ayaneo Flip DS’s dual-screen configuration seemed perfect for the modern gamer, boasting the power to emulate the Nintendo Switch while also playing AAA PC games. Plus, with second-screen capabilities for multitasking or real-time system adjustments, it stood out in a market predominantly offering variations of “Steam Deck or ROG Ally, but more pricey and/or inferior.” Save for a few exceptions with standout control or display features, there wasn’t anything quite like the Flip DS.
Sadly, not every promising project comes to fruition. On a brighter note, this halt in production now means that the Ayaneo Flip DS and Flip KB units that did make it to YouTubers and early buyers could become unique collector’s items. But, snagging one of these tech rarities would likely require a hefty sum, as no more will ever roll off the production line.
