Ayaneo is calling it quits on its Pocket Fit 8 Elite handheld gaming console. The company announced it will stop production due to a sharp spike in prices for memory chips and storage components, making further manufacturing financially unfeasible. Production will cease after fulfilling existing preorders and one last shipment.
Powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Elite processor, the Pocket Fit 8 Elite began reaching customers after months of delays. Ayaneo had been shipping orders incrementally to speed up deliveries as various configurations became available.
Ayaneo stressed that all current preorders will be honored, and remaining units from the final batch will go on open sale. However, this will likely be the device’s last production run, given the escalating costs.
The global shortage of RAM chips hit Ayaneo hard, causing extended delays and price hikes that eventually priced out continued manufacturing. Although the company preordered some additional components, skyrocketing prices made continuing production impossible.
The troubles extend beyond the Pocket Fit 8 Elite. Ayaneo confirmed that the Pocket Vert and Pocket S Mini models won’t receive restocks after clearing out existing inventory. A promotional offer with free bundles for the Pocket Air Mini ends on April 1, 2026. Meanwhile, the Pocket DS is still available for limited preorder, but its future remains uncertain.
On the Windows handheld front, Ayaneo’s flagship Next 2 console has paused sales due to storage costs nearly doubling since initial forecasts. Preorders already placed will be fulfilled, and sales could resume if component prices stabilize.
Ayaneo also reassured users it will continue support and spare parts supply for both the Pocket Fit 8 Elite and Next 2, even after production ends.
The spike in memory and storage prices is a headache stretching across the portable gaming sphere, affecting manufacturers worldwide. While Ayaneo’s move underscores the fragility of supply chains for niche devices, it also highlights the challenges smaller players face competing with giants like Apple or Samsung, who have deeper pockets to absorb fluctuations. For fans of compact gaming on Android and Windows, this marks a tough pause in innovation.
As hardware component prices remain volatile, watching how Ayaneo and similar companies adapt will be important. Will they shift focus to software optimization, explore alternative suppliers, or rethink product lines entirely? The Pocket DS’s uncertain fate could be a bellwether for what’s next in portable PC gaming.