Ayaneo Under Fire: Scalpers, Delays, and Broken Trust

New Delhi, january 05, 2026: As of early 2026, the once-celebrated retro handheld manufacturer Ayaneo is navigating a severe public relations crisis. Longtime supporters and industry critics are increasingly vocal about what they describe as a “cycle of overpromising and under-delivering.”

The Core of the Conflict

The controversy reached a boiling point following significant delays for the Pocket FIT and Pocket AIR Mini handhelds. While international backers on Indiegogo reported months of silence and pending shipments, many noticed the exact same devices appearing for sale and ready to ship on third-party marketplaces like AliExpress.

Ayaneo’s Defense: Scalpers and Policy

In an official response, Ayaneo leadership attributed the friction to external factors rather than internal mismanagement. The company’s defense rests on three pillars:

• Indiegogo Policy Changes: Ayaneo claims recent shifts in the crowdfunding platform’s shipping and verification requirements caused unforeseen logistical bottlenecks.
• The “Scalper” Problem: When asked why third-party retailers had stock while backers did not, Ayaneo blamed unauthorized resellers and scalpers who allegedly siphoned off units intended for direct consumers.
• Supply Chain Disruptions: The company cited “multiple supply chain disruptions,” specifically affecting high-end models like the Pocket FIT Elite, which is now delayed until at least March 2026 due to the Chinese New Year holiday and chip integration complexities.

Critics Point to “Product Overload”

Industry analysts and prominent community voices, such as YouTuber Zu Reviews from Retro Handhelds, argue that Ayaneo’s problems are self-inflicted. A primary criticism is the company’s aggressive release schedule; in 2025 alone, Ayaneo announced approximately 20 new devices.

Critics suggest this “shotgun approach” to product launches leads to several systemic issues:

1. Fragmented Support: With so many hardware variations, software updates and customer service inquiries often go unanswered.
2. The “Ghosting” Trend: International backers have reported being “gaslit” with repeated promises of “shipping next week” that never materialize.
3. Financial Sustainability: There are growing concerns that the company uses funds from new crowdfunding campaigns to fulfill older, backlogged orders—a practice some community members have labeled as risky.

A Competitive Shift

The backlash comes at a time when competitors like AYN and Retroid have significantly improved their logistics and customer transparency. While Ayaneo was once the undisputed king of high-end boutique handhelds, users are now flocking to rivals that offer more reliable shipping windows and consistent communication.

“It’s about accountability and protecting consumers,” stated a recent community editorial. “We love the hardware, but we can’t recommend a brand that prioritizes new hype over existing customers.”

As 2026 progresses, the ball is in Ayaneo’s court. Whether they can “right the ship” by pausing new announcements to focus on fulfillment—or if they will continue their current trajectory—remains the defining question for the brand’s future.