Ayn and Anbernic Halt US Shipments Amidst Trump-Era Tariffs on Chinese-Made Devices

Ayn and Anbernic, two major players in the handheld emulation device market, have officially announced a pause in shipments of their products to the United States in response to recent enforcement of tariffs on Chinese-made goods initiated under the administration of President Donald Trump.

This development has considerable implications for the US market, which has seen increasing demand for alternative gaming handhelds like the Ayn Odin 2 and Retroid Pocket series—devices considered by many as strong competitors or complementary platforms to the Nintendo Switch. Background: Tariffs Impacting Gaming Handheld Shipments The ongoing US-China trade tensions have resulted in renewed enforcement of import tariffs, making it increasingly difficult—and expensive—for companies based in China to ship electronic goods directly to American consumers.

This week, Anbernic, renowned for its line of retro handheld consoles, became the first major brand to suspend US shipments in reaction to these tariffs. Following Anbernic’s lead, Ayn, developers of the popular Odin 2 handheld, confirmed through a customer service email shared on their official Discord and later reported by Android Authority, that they will also pause shipments to the US.

According to Ayn’s statement, the company will continue to ship products to the US through April 25th.

They anticipate a one-week break in shipments as they search for new logistics channels, aiming to resume deliveries by May 5th. "The intention is to pause shipping for a week beginning April 25, then identify a new delivery channel so operations can restart on May 5th," an Ayn representative clarified in the circulated communication. The disruption has also impacted GoRetroid, manufacturer of the Retroid Pocket Classic and Retroid Pocket Flip 2 handheld systems.

With GoRetroid commonly believed to share a parent company with Ayn, the company is making efforts to dispatch as many pending US orders as possible before shipping limitations take effect. A key factor in the shipping halt is an announcement from Hongkong Post, which declared it will no longer accept air postal parcels containing goods bound for the US starting from April 27th.

This logistical bottleneck has compelled Chinese-based companies to quickly adapt or risk significant delays and added costs for US consumers.

Additionally, the end of the De Minimis exception on May 2nd is expected to drive up prices for those ordering handheld emulation devices from China to the United States. While Ayn, Anbernic, and GoRetroid work toward alternative shipping methods, there is an expectation that, even once sales resume, devices may see a modest price increase for US customers.

Nonetheless, the companies remain committed to adapting their logistics and supporting US demand for handheld retro gaming alternatives—a sector that continues to grow alongside the popularity of platforms like Nintendo Switch and the ongoing interest in classic and open-source gaming experiences.

US Xbox Series X|S Anbernic Trump