Gaming handheld maker AYANEO is stepping into the smartphone arena with a device that may be targeted squarely at mobile gamers. Early teasers suggest the phone will include physical shoulder buttons—a feature rarely seen in modern phones and one that signifies a focus on console-style control when the device is used horizontally. Reviewers spotted hints of these trigger buttons in a teaser video that showed dual rear cameras and what appear to be upper edge folds or protrusions where shoulder buttons might sit.
AYANEO describes the upcoming phone as “a mobile phone truly made for gamers” and “with the soul of a gaming handheld.” The design hints also suggest that beyond the shoulder buttons, the device could adopt a slider mechanism or a form factor optimized for both everyday use and serious mobile gaming. While many gaming phones today prioritise raw specs—high refresh screens, large batteries, advanced cooling—AYANEO seems to be playing a different angle: bringing built-in physical controls to the form factor itself.
That said, many details remain under wraps: there’s no confirmed spec list, release date or price announced yet. The success of the phone will depend not just on the novelty of shoulder buttons but on how well AYANEO balances smartphone features (camera, battery, network) with gaming ergonomics and control performance. If they pull it off, the phone could appeal to gamers who want console-quality interaction without carrying a separate handheld device. For the broader industry, the move may encourage other manufacturers to reconsider how phones handle gaming controls and whether hardware input should make a comeback in mobile design.
