Mangmi, the company that entered the handheld gaming space in 2025 with the budget-focused Air X and its larger sibling, the Pocket Max, is preparing to expand its lineup. After a period of quiet marked mainly by software updates for its horizontal devices, the brand has now confirmed its first vertical-form-factor handhelds.
A new vertical series emerges
The upcoming devices will be sold under the Air Y series banner, comprising two distinct models: the Mangmi Air Y and the Air Y Pro. Details remain sparse, but the company has shared preliminary design information and a first-look image through its social media channels.
The standard Mangmi Air Y features a black chassis with a cross-shaped D-pad, ABXY buttons arranged in the familiar Nintendo layout, and a single joystick positioned below the D-pad, accented by an RGB ring light. A speaker grille is located beneath the action buttons. On the left edge sits an orange button, likely serving as the power control, alongside a scroll wheel and an additional black button whose purpose remains undisclosed.
Design cues and control upgrades
The Air Y Pro adopts a similar silhouette but arrives in a white finish. While the display appears to share the same physical dimensions as the standard model, it is not yet clear whether the two units offer identical screen resolution or other panel specifications. The Pro variant differentiates itself visually with burgundy buttons, a colorway reminiscent of the Retro edition of the Air X. More significantly, it upgrades the control scheme to include two symmetrical thumbsticks, both featuring RGB ring lights. Unlike the standard Air Y, the Pro lacks a front-facing speaker grille, though it retains the same arrangement of two buttons and a scroll wheel on its left side.
Performance details and launch timing
Both handhelds will run Android and be driven by Qualcomm processors, but Mangmi is withholding the exact chipset identities for now. That information gap is expected to close soon; the company has indicated that full specifications, pricing, and the official release date for the Air Y series will be announced later this month. Industry reports further suggest that pre-orders could open as early as July 30.
The Air Y and Air Y Pro will enter a competitive segment, facing rivals that include the similarly styled TrimUI Brick Pro and the forthcoming Ayaneo Konkr Pocket Block.
Sources: discord.com, retrododo.com