Ayaneo Flip DS & KB Production Halted — Limited Units Available, Remaining Units Canceled

Back in January of last year, Ayaneo embarked on a crowdfunding journey for their two novel handheld gaming devices, known as the Ayaneo Flip DS and Flip KB. These clamshell designs, powered by AMD Ryzen, stirred excitement among gaming enthusiasts. Initially, we shared some early thoughts about the Flip DS, and now there’s an unexpected twist: the production of this device has suddenly been called off.

At first, things looked promising. Over time, we saw enhancements in the device’s specifications, upgrading from the ROG Ally Z1 Extreme-equivalent AMD Ryzen 7 7840U to the more robust Ryzen 7 8840U. However, in a surprising announcement on February 25th, Ayaneo declared that no additional Flip handhelds would be produced. Backers were given until March 27th to request a refund or opt for a trade with another Ayaneo product, although doing so might require additional payments for any price differences.

This news certainly dashed the hopes of many backers and fans eagerly awaiting the release. It’s particularly disheartening since several media outlets have already reviewed the Ayaneo Flip, and some backers managed to receive theirs. It seems Ayaneo, despite its solid track record with crowdfunding, couldn’t meet the full demand this time. It serves as a stark reminder of the risks inherent in backing crowdfunded projects—you’re investing in a vision, not guaranteeing a product landing at your doorstep.

The cancellation is a bitter pill, especially for those, like myself, who saw so much potential in the Flip DS. I previously touted it as a worthy successor to the beloved Nintendo DS and 3DS, given its dual-screen feature and capacity to run Switch emulations and AAA PC games with ease. This unique combination of features could have positioned the Ayaneo Flip DS as a standout in a market flooded with contenders merely competing with the Steam Deck or ROG Ally, often at higher costs and with lesser quality.

Not all dreams come to fruition, but here’s a twist: the Ayaneo Flip DS and Flip KB units that made it into the hands of YouTubers and early adopters have now become rare gems, potentially hot-ticket items for collectors. Getting hold of one might require you to dig deep into your pockets, as they’re part of a limited lineup that will never see further production.