Do not fall for faux listings when shopping for a retro gaming handheld

[ad_1] <img class="e_Ug" decoding="async" loading="eager" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="AYN Odin 2 Portal in hand" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AYN-Odin-2-Portal-in-hand.jpg 1920w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AYN-Odin-2-Portal-in-hand-64w-36h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AYN-Odin-2-Portal-in-hand-1000w-563h.jpg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AYN-Odin-2-Portal-in-hand-1536w-864h.jpg 1536w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AYN-Odin-2-Portal-in-hand-675w-380h.jpg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AYN-Odin-2-Portal-in-hand-300w-170h.jpg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AYN-Odin-2-Portal-in-hand-1280w-720h.jpg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AYN-Odin-2-Portal-in-hand-840w-472h.jpg 840w" alt="AYN Odin 2 Portal in hand" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AYN-Odin-2-Portal-in-hand.jpg"/> Nick Fernandez / Android Authority

TL;DR

AYN introduced that many purchasers have complained about rip-off web sites promoting its handhelds. The corporate “can not assure any kind of safety” for gadgets bought from unaffiliated web sites. Prospects ought to at all times use firm web sites or official shops on marketplaces like Amazon or AliExpress.

Regardless of their considerably legally doubtful origins, Android gaming handheld makers have taken a number of steps towards legitimacy lately. The large gamers, like Retroid, AYN, and AYANEO, don’t ship gadgets with any copyrighted materials, and most now provide some kind of guarantee on merchandise. Nonetheless, that hasn’t stopped scams from popping up in different components of the online, prompting AYN to ship out a warning message this morning.

The corporate writes that it has acquired experiences of unaffiliated web sites promoting its merchandise on-line. These vary from overpriced resellers to outright scams, and the corporate warns that it “can not assure any kind of safety if you are going to buy from non-AYN websites.” The corporate additionally notes that solely emails from addresses ending in @ayn.hk are official AYN workers members.

Solely purchase gaming handhelds from official sources or danger dropping your cash to a rip-off.

The one respectable locations to purchase AYN handhelds are its official web site, in addition to its official shops on Amazon and AliExpress. Nonetheless, most new merchandise are solely accessible on the web site.

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<img class="e_Ug" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="9.375rem" title="google preferred source badge light@2x" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x.png 676w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x-64w-20h.png 64w" alt="google preferred source badge light@2x" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x.png"/><img class="e_Ug" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="9.375rem" title="google preferred source badge dark@2x" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.png 676w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x-64w-20h.png 64w" alt="google preferred source badge dark@2x" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.png"/> AYANEO has historically bought principally by means of crowdfunding platforms like Indiegogo, however this yr it’s shifting extra gross sales to its web site. The corporate has struggled to ship gadgets on time, and it seems to be taking criticisms about lengthy crowdfunding intervals to coronary heart as a part of its “Service Enchancment Plan” for 2026.

Different handheld makers are harder to pin down. ANBERNIC sells merchandise through its official web site, however many of the greatest offers may be discovered from third-party sellers on AliExpress. That platform has some degree of buyer safety from fraud, however you'll probably want to leap by means of some hoops to get any assist.

In any case, patrons ought to take care when looking for gaming handhelds and solely buy from trusted sources. In the event you’re shopping for second-hand, attempt to use platforms that provide some type of purchaser safety.