In the past few days, there’s been quite a whirlwind of speculation surrounding Ayaneo’s Flip series, following some reports that left many of us wondering if the handhelds were being shelved for good. Initially, Ayaneo deleted a post on their Ayaneo Flip Indiegogo project page, which only fueled the rumors. Thankfully, they’ve now cleared the air: the Ayaneo Flip KB and Flip DS aren’t being canned, although the original message seemed to hint otherwise.
What actually happened is that Ayaneo decided to stop the production of the current Ayaneo Flip series, but only after 98% of its crowdfunding orders had already been dispatched—leaving just 18 orders yet to be shipped. This move makes the series eligible for the refund or trade-in options that we’ve previously discussed.
Moreover, the story doesn’t end there. Ayaneo is not abandoning the Flip series. They’ve promised to produce another batch of “several hundred Ayaneo Flip units in the next three months” and announced that “the Flip series will continue,” pointing towards the potential for a Flip DS 2 and Flip KB 2 in the future. Given the array of foldable and slidable keyboard gaming handhelds available, I personally feel focusing on the Flip DS format might be a wise choice, but that’s just me musing.
For those who have been eyeing the Ayaneo Flip but held back, waiting for a proper retail run instead of jumping into the crowdfunding campaign, there’s some good news. The retail release seems to be on track through a “limited restock plan,” although there’s no official date for when these restocked units will drop. Considering the buzz this campaign has stirred, I wouldn’t be shocked if they fly off the shelves the moment they become available.
Fingers crossed there’ll be enough stock for true fans, and that scalpers don’t swoop in and crash the party, as they tend to do. The Ayaneo Flip KB and, in particular, the Ayaneo Flip DS boast a unique design and powerful specs, setting them apart from most handheld gaming devices on the market. It’s gratifying to see they’re getting another shot before the next generation hits stores in the coming years.
Unfortunately, those 18 backers still waiting on their units need to make a decision—either request a refund or trade their order for another Ayaneo device by March 27, if previous instructions stand. Ayaneo assures us they’ve reached out to those affected backers directly.
