Recently, there have been various reports circulating about Ayaneo’s decision to pull back an announcement on its Indiegogo page for the Ayaneo Flip project. This naturally led many to speculate that the company was scrapping the handheld devices altogether. However, a new update clarifies that the Ayaneo Flip KB and Flip DS models are very much still in the picture, despite previous messaging suggesting otherwise.
In fact, Ayaneo has shed some light on the situation. They confirmed that while production of the Ayaneo Flip series did come to a halt, this was only the case after 98% of their crowdfunding commitments had been fulfilled, leaving just 18 orders yet to be dispatched. Because of this, the series was eligible for the refund or exchange options we mentioned in our earlier reports.
Furthermore, the Ayaneo Flip series is not closing shop. The company has committed to rolling out a few hundred more units within the next three months and indicated that the Flip series has a future, opening doors for possible follow-ups like the Flip DS 2 and Flip KB 2. Given the rise of other gaming handhelds with foldable or sliding keyboards, I believe focusing on the Flip DS design might be more strategic, though that’s just my personal take.
For enthusiasts who were eyeing the Ayaneo Flip but hesitated to dive into the crowdfunding pool, there’s good news—the “limited restock plan” suggests a wider retail release. Specific dates aren’t available yet, but considering how this campaign has played out, these restocked units are likely to fly off shelves once they hit the market.
It’s our hope that true fans will have their chance to purchase them without scalpers swooping in to spoil the fun. The Ayaneo Flip KB and Flip DS stand out with their unique design and strong performance, making them appealing choices among gaming handhelds. It’s promising to see these devices getting another shot at success before any future models come into play.
However, those last 18 backers who haven’t yet received their devices need to decide on a refund or trade-in option for another Ayaneo handheld by March 27, assuming the previous announcements still hold. Ayaneo has assured that they are in communication with the affected individuals.
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