Key Takeaways
1. Crowdfunding Frustrations: Ayaneo’s reliance on crowdfunding has led to discontent among backers due to delays in international shipments while products appear on retail sites.
2. Delays in Product Delivery: Many early supporters are facing significant delays in receiving their devices, particularly the Pocket Fit and Pocket AIR Mini, causing backlash and criticism.
3. Customer Service Issues: Complaints about inadequate customer service have emerged, with some backers canceling orders due to postponed deliveries and lack of communication.
4. Blame on External Factors: Ayaneo attributes shipping delays to external issues, such as changes in Indiegogo policies and the actions of scalpers, rather than internal mismanagement.
5. Contradictory Availability: Despite claims of prioritizing backers, non-backers are able to purchase devices sooner from unauthorized retailers, leading to further frustration among supporters.
Ayaneo has carved out a niche in the world of handheld retro gaming devices, known for its distinct designs and robust portable consoles. Yet, in a surprising turn of events, the brand’s devoted supporters have begun to voice their frustrations with Ayaneo.
Crowdfunding Concerns
Most of Ayaneo’s products have been financed through crowdfunding platforms like Indiegogo. Nonetheless, numerous reports indicate that backers are unhappy, claiming that international shipments are being delayed while the devices appear for sale on various third-party retail websites.
As a result, both reviewers and consumers have started to criticize Ayaneo, describing the situation as a cycle of promises and justifications. A notable video titled “I’m Done with Ayaneo – Here’s Why” was recently uploaded by YouTuber Zu Reviews from Retro Handhelds.
Delays and Backlash
In this video, he elaborated on the delays concerning the Pocket Fit and Pocket AIR Mini. This controversy appears to stem from Ayaneo’s ambitious release schedule, having announced 20 new gaming handhelds set to launch in 2025, showcasing its production capacity.
Those who supported these projects on Indiegogo had hoped for priority in receiving their devices. However, many early backers have complained of waiting much longer than originally planned.
Customer Complaints
Specifically, for the Pocket AIR Mini—a 4:3 retro gaming handheld—Indiegogo supporters have expressed their grievances on Reddit, revealing that their orders have been postponed and customer service is lacking, which has led some to cancel their orders. Strangely enough, the Pocket AIR Mini is readily available on AliExpress.
In response, Ayaneo attributed the international shipping delays to external factors, such as recent changes in Indiegogo’s policies that have contributed to shipping hold-ups.
Blame Game
When questioned about why non-backers could receive devices sooner, Ayaneo pointed fingers at scalpers. Recently, the company provided an update on the Pocket FIT delays, citing unauthorized resales by scalpers, limited stock sent to authorized distributors, and various logistical challenges as reasons.
Ayaneo emphasized that it prioritizes Indiegogo orders, adding that the orders for the Pocket AIR Mini “have essentially been fulfilled,” with only 180 backers remaining in the backlog due to unconfirmed or missing shipping addresses.
Additionally, the company claimed that 1,193 backers had received their PocketFit G3 Gen 3 units, with the remaining 493 units expected to be delivered by the end of January 2026. However, fans argue that Ayaneo is attempting to divert blame from itself, pointing to internal mismanagement and an overzealous announcement of products with clear delivery timelines.
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