Gaming phones are pretty solid these days – powerful chipset, large batteries, bright screens – but how about a gaming phone that offers sliding physical controls? That sounds cool.
Remember the PlayStation Portable (PSP)? Yeah, that was a major success for Sony, selling over 80 million units worldwide. It had a great game library, various multimedia features, and powerful hardware. It's precisely because of the PSP success that Sony launched the Xperia Play in 2011.
Do phones with sliding controls have a future?
Yes, they're fascinating.
71.43%
I'm not sure at the moment.
12.24%
I think they'll go away.
16.33%
This one combined smartphone functionality with a slide-out game controller, aiming to bring PlayStation-style gaming to mobile. While innovative for its time, it saw limited commercial success and was quietly phased out.
Now, a company called Ayaneo will probably try to resurrect this form factor with the upcoming Ayaneo Phone.
If Ayaneo sounds a bit familiar to you, it's because we reported about the Ayaneo Pocket DS, a dual-screen handheld device aimed at gamers and running Android. The Ayaneo Pocket DS features a 6.7-inch 16:9 top display and a smaller, more square-shaped bottom screen with physical controls:
Image credit – Ayaneo
That, however, is just a gaming platform.
Now, Ayaneo apparently enters the smartphone market with plans to launch the Ayaneo Phone, its first gaming-focused smartphone. Designed with gamers in mind, the device is expected to include a sliding mechanism with built-in physical controls, echoing the layout of the classic Xperia Play. While detailed specs remain under wraps, Ayaneo positions the phone as a full-featured smartphone, unlike competing devices such as the Anbernic RG Slide, which lacks mobile connectivity.
Alongside the Ayaneo Phone, the company introduced Konkr, a new sub-brand aimed at delivering affordable handheld gaming hardware. The first Android-based model, the Konkr Pocket Fit, features a 6-inch 1080p display with a 144Hz refresh rate and is powered by a flagship Qualcomm chipset, with a focus on portability and comfort. A Windows-based version, the Konkr Fit, will include a 7-inch display and a large 80Wh battery, promising high performance in a compact form.
It seems that it's great to be a (mobile) gamer in 2025.
iPhone 14 for $99.99
When you switch to Total Wireless, keep your number & grab 3 mo. of 5G
Sebastian, a veteran of a tech writer with over 15 years of experience in media and marketing, blends his lifelong fascination with writing and technology to provide valuable insights into the realm of mobile devices. Embracing the evolution from PCs to smartphones, he harbors a special appreciation for the Google Pixel line due to their superior camera capabilities. Known for his engaging storytelling style, sprinkled with rich literary and film references, Sebastian critically explores the impact of technology on society, while also perpetually seeking out the next great tech deal, making him a distinct and relatable voice in the tech world.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts:
New accounts created within the last 24 hours may experience restrictions on how frequently they can
post or comment.
These limits are in place as a precaution and will automatically lift.
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed:
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: