Recently, there was quite a buzz around the Ayaneo Flip series due to some reports hinting at its discontinuation. Ayaneo initially posted an announcement on the Indiegogo page for the Ayaneo Flip, which led many to believe the handhelds were being scrapped. However, they’ve since removed that post and cleared up the misunderstanding. According to a follow-up update, the Ayaneo Flip KB and Flip DS are still in the game, despite the earlier message which seemed to suggest otherwise.
Here’s the scoop: the production of the Ayaneo Flip was indeed put on pause, but only after they’d shipped 98% of their crowdfunding orders. Just a handful, 18 orders to be exact, remain in limbo. Those affected by this can choose between a refund or a trade-in, as we covered earlier.
Importantly, the Ayaneo Flip hasn’t been shelved for good. The company is planning to roll out several hundred more units over the next three months. They’ve assured fans that the Flip series will carry on, hinting that we might see a Flip DS 2 and Flip KB 2 coming down the line. Personally, with plenty of foldable and slidable keyboard gaming handhelds out there, my money’s on focusing more on the Flip DS design—that’s just me, though.
This is great news for folks who were eyeing the Ayaneo Flip but weren’t keen on crowdfunding. It looks like a retail release is on the horizon, thanks to their limited restock plan. Although there’s no official release date yet, given the buzz, these units might sell out as soon as they hit the shelves.
Let’s hope there’ll be enough to go around for true gaming enthusiasts, without scalpers swooping in to spoil the fun. The distinct design of the Ayaneo Flip KB and especially the Flip DS, along with their robust internals, make them stand out in the handheld gaming market. It’s reassuring to know they’ll get another shot before their successors eventually arrive.
However, those 18 backers who haven’t received their devices yet will still have to opt for a refund or a trade-in for another Ayaneo model by the end of March, as the previous terms still apply. Ayaneo has reached out to those impacted to sort things out.
