Ayaneo Flip DS & KB Cancellation: A Limited Number Produced, No Further Units Planned

Back in January last year, Ayaneo embarked on a crowdfunding journey for two of its clamshell-designed handhelds, powered by AMD Ryzen—namely the Ayaneo Flip DS and Flip KB. Just a month in, we shared some early thoughts on the Flip DS, anticipating a promising addition to the market. However, the project hit a snag, and full production has now been scrapped.

Initially, everything seemed to be on track with positive updates on the performance front, especially after the internals received a significant upgrade from the ROG Ally Z1 Extreme-equivalent AMD Ryzen 7 7840U to the more robust Ryzen 7 8840U. Yet, on February 25 of this year, Ayaneo surprised everyone by announcing the discontinuation of the Flip handhelds. They’ve given existing backers until March 27 to either request a full refund or swap for another Ayaneo handheld—though doing so might require buyers to cover any price differences.

For those who backed this project, or were simply fans eager to try out these devices, this development is undoubtedly disappointing. Numerous outlets have already reviewed the Ayaneo Flip and despite some backers managing to get their hands on the handhelds, it’s clear that Ayaneo couldn’t fulfill the entire demand from its supporters. Historically, Ayaneo has been successful with crowdfunding, but this underscores a golden rule: backing a project is akin to investing rather than buying a product with a guaranteed delivery.

I must admit, it’s a shame to see this potential vanish. Previously, I pointed out how the Flip DS appeared to be an exciting follow-up for those nostalgic about the Nintendo DS and 3DS.

With its dual-screen design and robust internals capable of emulating the Nintendo Switch or running AAA PC titles, all while supporting multitasking or real-time adjustments on the second screen, the Ayaneo Flip DS was poised to stand out. At a time when the market was saturated with “Steam Deck or ROG Ally but pricier or less impressive” options—aside from a few notable systems with exceptional controls or displays—the Flip DS was refreshing.

Regrettably, it appears some innovations aren’t destined to last. On the bright side, the few existing Ayaneo Flip DS and Flip KB units, now owned by some YouTubers and early backers, are gaining status as rare collectibles. Acquiring one might now demand a substantial investment since production is permanently halted.