Game console maker Ayaneo develops smartphone similar to Sony Xperia Play

Slider phones are a fond memory for many, from the classic QWERTY phones of the early 2000s to Sony's iconic Xperia Play that integrated a physical game controller right into the phone.

Now, the design seems to be making a comeback as Ayaneo unveils its first gaming phone.

Ayaneo briefly hinted that it was working on a phone back in August during the launch of the dual-screen Pocket DS. Of course, many of the company's handhelds run a custom version of Android, so integrating a cellular modem into one shouldn't be too difficult.

The company's teaser suggests it could be a side-sliding design.

We don’t know much about the phone yet. The video briefly reveals a fairly standard-looking rectangular device. There’s a dual camera in the top left corner, and you can clearly see the buttons on the top edge. Android Central has suggested that the Ayaneo could have a slider design similar to the Sony Xperia Play, with the controls hidden under the screen, but that’s not clear from the video.

Gaming phones have become quite popular in recent years, especially Android devices that often focus on hardware design to improve performance through active cooling systems, while also equipping large capacity batteries, high refresh rate screens, and in some cases, limited physical controls.

However, until now no one has recreated the idea of Sony's gaming phone from 2011, that phone appeared nearly 15 years ago. It seems that Ayaneo wants to change this.

In a teaser posted on YouTube, Ayaneo said the company’s “first mobile phone” would be released soon. The device was introduced with the message “when a mobile phone meets a console soul.” The “Remake” branding suggests the product will focus on remaking classic games in a retro style.

Thiết kế trượt lộ bàn phím trigger gaming từng xuất hiện trên Sony Xperia Play 15 năm trước. — *The slide-out design reveals the gaming trigger keyboard that appeared on the Sony Xperia Play 15 years ago.*

The clear image of the device in the teaser video shows that it definitely has physical trigger keys, but other upgrade details are still kept under wraps.

However, through other teaser images, it can be seen that this is a slider phone similar to the Xperia Play. Previous teasers of this device appeared earlier this year emphasized the slider design, with the message "the magic is in the sliding action". Android Central also reported on this announcement.

Although there are still many unanswered questions, it is clear that Ayaneo is nurturing a special product. Regarding the release date, there is still no specific information.