Recently, Ayaneo stirred some confusion over its Ayaneo Flip Indiegogo project, leading many to believe the handheld devices were meeting an untimely end. After deleting an announcement post, Ayaneo has now stepped forward to clear things up: the Ayaneo Flip KB and Flip DS aren’t being axed as was previously thought.
Here’s the real story. While it’s true that production on the Ayaneo Flip series has been halted, this only happened after a whopping 98% of crowdfunding orders had been shipped. We’re talking just 18 orders still in limbo. For those affected, refund and trade-in options are available, something we’ve talked about before.
Now, let’s talk about the future. The Ayaneo Flip series itself isn’t dead. Ayaneo plans to churn out a few hundred more units over the next three months. They’ve also hinted at keeping the series alive, with possible future iterations like the Flip DS 2 and Flip KB 2. Given the crowded space of foldable keyboards in gaming handhelds, focusing on the Flip DS might be the smarter play, but hey, that’s just my two cents.
For folks still on the fence, preferring to wait for official retail instead of backing a crowdfunding venture, there’s good news. A retail release is on the horizon through a “limited restock plan.” No exact date yet, but given the buzz around this campaign, expect them to sell out quickly once they hit the shelves.
Let’s cross our fingers that serious gamers get their shot at these scarce devices before scalpers. The Ayaneo Flip KB and Flip DS have a unique charm, blending standout design with muscley specs. It’s refreshing to see them given another lease on life before their successors eventually roll out.
As for those 18 unlucky backers, they’ve still got to decide between a refund or opting for another Ayaneo device by March 27, if the prior terms still hold. Ayaneo assures that they’ve reached out to everyone involved. If you’re eagerly following every update, stay tuned; it’s an intriguing saga that’s far from over!
