#Nokia N97 slider phone returns as an Android gaming handheld

The recently opened Nokia Design Archive revealed the depth of the brand’s design culture. It showcased not only the various thought experiments they did, some of which ended up as weird designs, but also the process behind them. Some of these designs did feel like they were way too ahead of their time, given how some have returned to the market in one way or another.

Although HMD is also retiring its run of Nokia-branded phones, that doesn’t stop others from carrying the torch, at least unofficially. Like this gaming handheld coming out of China that almost looks like a slider phone, except it swaps out the small QWERTY keyboard for gaming controls. This unusual design makes it look like a cross between the Nokia N97 and the PSP Go, both of which were also ahead of their times.

Designer: Super Cubes (via Liliputing, NITTRX)

Even back in 2009 when it launched, the Nokia N97 was hardly the first phone with a slider mechanism. It actually followed the design of the Nokia N series of that period, most of which shared that same form factor. What made it different, however, was how it raised the screen at an angle when sliding out to create a more ergonomic position, a design that inspired devices like the Planet Computers Astro Slide 5G phone and, more recently, the AYANEO Slide gaming handheld.

In the same vein, the Sugar Cubes N97 Elite adopts that sliding mechanism and angled screen and applies it to a gaming handheld, one powered by Android rather than Windows. The name doesn’t seem to be too shy about hinting at inspiration, which is probably also a potential lawsuit waiting to happen. It’s an interesting design, no doubt, especially given the saturation of designs inspired by the Nintendo Switch or even the older Game Boy. It’s a fresh new look, relatively speaking, though it does come with its own flaws.

Given that it’s still trying to stick to a small phone size, around 4.6 inches, to be precise, there isn’t much space for controls as well. The button layout will undoubtedly feel cramped, and there’s no chance of fitting an analog stick inside. It’s practically the same situation with the PSP Go, so it’s not entirely unusable. It just won’t be that comfortable or efficient, especially for button-mashing games. Despite that small surface area, the phone slash gaming handheld is still a chunky beast.

The Sugar Cubes N97 Elite is supposed to be an actual product, but considering its origin, it’s no surprise that there are already clones out there. The latter group seems to prefer more colorful finishes over plastic shells, in contrast to the block of aluminum that the brand teased. There’s no word on an international release, but that might not be much of an issue as there will probably be very little interest in the global market for an Android gaming device with 2019 specs.