Recently, a bit of commotion stirred up the gaming community as Ayaneo pulled an announcement from its Indiegogo page for the Ayaneo Flip handhelds, leading many to assume they were scrapping the line altogether. However, a follow-up update brought some clarity—rather unexpectedly, the Ayaneo Flip KB and Flip DS aren’t going anywhere despite the initial message that hinted otherwise.
Here’s the situation: while Ayaneo indeed halted the production of the Flip series, they made this decision after fulfilling a whopping 98% of the crowdfunding orders. Only 18 orders were left unshipped, which still made the series eligible for refunds or trade-ins, as previously discussed.
Moreover, the word on the street is that the Flip series isn’t facing the ax just yet. Ayaneo has committed to rolling out a fresh batch of several hundred Flip units within the next quarter. They confirmed that the Flip series will endure, hinting at potential successors like the Flip DS 2 and Flip KB 2 down the road. Given the variety of foldable or slide-out keyboard handhelds available, my take? Stick with the Flip DS layout, but that’s just one perspective.
For those who eyed the Ayaneo Flip but decided to hold off for a full-scale retail release instead of backing a crowdfunding effort, the news is promising. Ayaneo’s “limited restock plan” suggests that a retail launch is on the horizon, although a concrete date isn’t yet on the cards. Judging by how things are unfolding, those units might fly off the shelves as soon as they become available.
Let’s cross our fingers that enthusiasts snag the devices and scalpers don’t make things difficult. With their unique design and powerful specs, the Ayaneo Flip KB and Flip DS stand out from the usual handhelds. It’s refreshing to see them get another shot before their successors eventually surface.
As for those 18 remaining backers, unfortunately, they still need to decide between getting a refund or opting for a trade into another Ayaneo device, with a deadline looming before March 27. The company says it’s already reached out to them, so hopefully, this ends on a good note for everyone involved.
