Ayaneo Cancels Pocket FIT Console Over Cost Increases
▼ Summary
– The Ayaneo Konkr Pocket FIT 8Elite handheld is being discontinued after its final restock due to sharply rising storage component costs.
– Ayaneo has also suspended sales of its high-end Windows handheld, the NEXT 2, as storage price increases have made its production cost nearly double the selling price.
– Broader semiconductor shortages are impacting RAM, SSD, and CPU prices across the industry, leading companies to halt or adjust plans.
– Other major companies like Valve are experiencing stock shortages and product launch delays, while Intel and AMD have announced CPU price increases.
– The shortages are affecting both ARM-based Android devices and x86-based Windows systems in the gaming handheld market.
The global semiconductor shortage continues to exert severe pressure on the tech industry, with rising component costs forcing manufacturers to make difficult decisions. Ayaneo has become the latest casualty, announcing the effective cancellation of its high-end Pocket FIT 8Elite handheld console. The company stated that a dramatic spike in storage component prices has made future production financially unsustainable, marking the upcoming restock as the device’s final batch.
This Android-powered console, featuring a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, a 6-inch 144Hz display, and an 8,000mAh battery, will soon be unavailable. Ayaneo indicated that the version with the less powerful Snapdragon G3 Gen 3 chip will likely remain for sale, suggesting weaker demand for that model has provided some pricing flexibility. The announcement was made via an Indiegogo update, framing the decision as a direct result of uncontrollable market forces.
The problem extends far beyond this single ARM-based device. Ayaneo has also suspended sales of its ambitious Windows-based NEXT 2 handheld. That model was a premium offering with specs including an AMD Ryzen AI Max+ processor, up to 128GB of RAM, and a large 9-inch OLED screen, carrying a $2,000 price tag. Even that steep cost proved insufficient to cover the new reality. In a separate post, the company revealed that post-Chinese New Year discussions with suppliers showed storage procurement prices had multiplied several times over. The total product cost now approaches double the original selling price, making continued sales impossible.
Ayaneo is not alone in this struggle. The industry-wide supply chain disruption is impacting major players. Valve has reported low stock for the Steam Deck and delayed launches for other hardware like the Steam Machine. Furthermore, major chipmakers are passing costs onto consumers. Intel recently announced CPU price increases of up to 10 percent, with AMD following suit by raising prices by as much as 15 percent. These moves signal that the component cost crisis is deepening rather than receding, threatening the viability of new hardware across the market. For consumers, this trend likely means higher prices and fewer available products in the near future.
(Source: GSMArena.com)