The main difference between the AYANEO Pocket Micro and the Retroid Pocket Mini is power.
The Retroid Pocket Mini plays everything up to PS2 well, while the AYANEO Pocket Micro tops out at Wii.
Other differences
- The AYANEO Pocket Micro has a 3:2 screen and the Retroid Pocket Mini a 4:3 one, so different systems fill each.
- The Retroid Pocket Mini has an AMOLED screen with true blacks; the AYANEO Pocket Micro uses an IPS panel.
- The Retroid Pocket Mini carries a 4,000 mAh battery, the AYANEO Pocket Micro 2,600 mAh.
- The AYANEO Pocket Micro runs Android, the Retroid Pocket Mini runs Android or Linux.
Which is better
Which fits in a pocket better?
AYANEO Pocket MicroThe AYANEO Pocket Micro (156 x 63 x 18 mm, 233 g). The Retroid Pocket Mini is 165.28 x 77.62 x 16.5 - 29.3 mm, 215 g. Only the AYANEO Pocket Micro fits a jeans pocket.
Which is better for PS2 games, the AYANEO Pocket Micro or the Retroid Pocket Mini?
Retroid Pocket MiniThe Retroid Pocket Mini. It scores 88 out of 100 for PS2 against 50.
Which costs less?
TieThey launched at about the same price: $190 and $189.
Which is better for GBA games?
AYANEO Pocket MicroThe AYANEO Pocket Micro. GBA games fill 100% of the AYANEO Pocket Micro's screen at 4x, a perfect fit with even pixels, against 78% of the Retroid Pocket Mini's screen at 5x.
Which has the bigger battery?
Retroid Pocket MiniThe Retroid Pocket Mini, at 4,000 mAh against 2,600 mAh. That is capacity only: the chips differ, and the heavier the system you play, the faster either one drains.
Side by side
| AYANEO Pocket Micro | Retroid Pocket Mini | |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $190 | $189 |
| Released | Sep 2024 | Sep 2024 |
| Plays well up to | Wii | PS2 |
| Shape | Horizontal | Horizontal |
| Software | Android | Android or Linux |
| Chip | MediaTek Helio G99 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 |
| Memory | 6 GB | 6 GB |
| Screen | 3.5 inch IPS 3:2 | 3.7 inch AMOLED 4:3 |
| Resolution | 960 x 640 | 1280 x 960 |
| Battery | 2,600 mAh | 4,000 mAh |
| Weight | 233 g | 215 g |
| Size | 156 x 63 x 18 mm | 165.28 x 77.62 x 16.5 - 29.3 mm |
| Analog sticks | Double, symmetrical | Double, symmetrical |
| Hall effect sticks | Yes | Yes |
| L2 and R2 | Yes, side by side | Yes, stacked |
| Analog triggers | ? | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| Video out | No | Yes |
| Headphone jack | No | Yes |
Green marks the better value where one is clearly better. Prices are launch prices.
Emulation
- AYANEO Pocket MicroRetroid Pocket Mini
- Game Boy
- NES
- Genesis
- GBA
- SNES
- PS1
- DS
- N64
- Dreamcast
- PSP
- Saturn
- GameCube
- 3DS
- Wii
- PS2
- Switch
- Wii U
- PS3
100 means the system runs at full speed with no known issues.
What owners report
- AYANEO Pocket MicroPeople point to it as a premium GBA handheld: the 3:2 screen shows GBA games at exactly 4x, with no black bars.180 comments mention the 3:2 screen or GBA scaling
- AYANEO Pocket MicroNo headphone jack is the most repeated complaint. A USB-C audio adapter does not fix it: owners say the controls stop working while one is plugged in.38 comments mention headphones or audio adapters
From what owners write in community discussions. A point appears only when at least 3 different people say it.
Full details
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More comparisons
Why this pair: buyers weigh these two against each other. 15 comments by 14 different people compare them in community discussions, and 7 post titles name both. Specs, emulation scores and launch prices from the retrocatalog.com handheld database.