What you need to know
- AYANEO is a gaming handheld company that has released several devices.
- The first AYANEO Windows gaming handheld released in 2021, before the Steam Deck’s release in 2022.
- Today, the company revealed it’s latest gaming handheld, the AYANEO 3, which will have your choice of either a regular AMD CPU or an AMD AI CPU.
- OPINION: It feels like we’re getting way too many gaming handhelds on the market, and many of them don’t offer a different enough experience to make them worth buying.
As someone who has been following this rapidly evolving world of handheld gaming for years now, I must admit, it feels like we’re drowning in a sea of devices! Remember when a new Nintendo or Gameboy was an exciting event? Now, it seems like there’s a new one every other month.
As an analyst, I might rephrase it like this: While Steam Deck is often credited as the initiator of the PC gaming handheld boom in 2022, it’s essential to remember that AYANEO was already in the game a year earlier. In fact, they launched their Windows-based handheld device in 2021. Since then, AYANEO has been consistently releasing gaming devices. Today, they unveiled their latest top-tier handheld model, the AYANEO 3, and shared some of its key specifications.
We’re still waiting for AYANEO to reveal all of the configuration options for the AYANEO 3, but so far we know what kind of CPU and display you can get. First off, consumers have the choice of getting either a standard AMD Ryzen 7 8840U, which is a decently powerful CPU that AYANEO has used in previous handhelds (see my AYANEO FLIP DS review and AYANEO 2S review for examples).
Should buyers prefer a more powerful option, they could opt for the Ryzen AI 9 HX370 instead, which delivers superior performance over the 7 8840U and transforms the AYANEO 3 into an AI-focused gaming handheld. Essentially, this CPU upgrade would significantly enhance the device’s ability to manage AI tasks effectively.
For those interested in knowing, the Ryzen AI 9 HX370 is a direct competitor to the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H Meteor Lake CPU, and AMD’s AI CPU offers better multi-core performance and power efficiency than Intel’s offering. However, the Intel Core Ulra 9 185H is now considered an older AI CPU since the new 200S series has now launched. You can learn more in our Intel Core Ultra 9 285K review.
Display-wise, the AYANEO 3 has a pretty standard 7-inch screen size (which is the same size as Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch OLED, ROG Ally and ROG Ally X, and MSI Claw). However, AYANEO 3 buyers get to choose between getting either a less expensive LCD display or a much higher quality OLED that supports HDR.
For its newest premier gadget, AYANEO hasn’t disclosed the exact amount of RAM or storage yet. But historically, they’ve been generous with providing multiple choices, so we can anticipate that they will continue to do so.
From the images provided by AYANEO, it appears that the casing has a microSD card reader on its surface and also a USB-C port. However, as of now, it remains undetermined whether there are any further ports located on the bottom side of the device.
Moreover, it comes equipped with lock keys situated at the rear, a feature I’ve noticed only once before on another handheld device, the upcoming Zotac Zone. These locks enable you to customize the pressure required on the triggers before they activate. This feature is particularly beneficial in competitive games as it allows players to have greater control and faster reactions by adjusting the trigger sensitivity.
The prices for different configurations of the AYANEO 3 haven’t been disclosed yet, and the official launch date is also undisclosed at the moment. But it’s expected that we’ll find out more details about both in the upcoming months.
Historically, AYANEO has provided reduced initial pricing for its gaming handheld devices, and it seems reasonable to anticipate the same for the upcoming AYANEO 3. Previous models have been sold through Indiegogo, making that platform a likely place for the AYANEO 3’s release.
Are we getting too many handhelds?
In the world of portable gaming devices, it’s common for manufacturers to launch new versions or updates each year. For instance, ASUS recently unveiled an updated ROG Ally X this year, while Lenovo is rumored to be developing the Legion Go S. Furthermore, we can expect MSI to release a new handheld, the Claw, in 2025, following the disappointing performance of their initial device.
While some businesses view gaming handhelds as devices that should be self-sufficient for a few years, Valve, for example, has stated they won’t release new models of the Steam Deck every year. Conversely, Nintendo, who essentially started the handheld craze in 2017 with their Nintendo Switch, plans to launch its backward-compatible Switch 2 next year.
It’s understandable that numerous gaming companies are competing fiercely in the emerging portable PC gaming market, given its novelty. This is likely due to them fine-tuning their first designs or launching upgraded versions such as “Lite” or “Pro” models. Moreover, some highly anticipated devices like the Acer Nitro Blaze 7 are yet to hit the market.
Currently, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and Legion Go are dominating the market in terms of handheld devices. The variety is abundant, and it won’t be long before some manufacturers struggle to maintain a competitive edge, especially given that many of these products share similarities. To succeed, they need to offer unique selling points or exceptional features that will draw consumers towards their product. Without such compelling reasons, I question the necessity of frequent releases in this increasingly saturated market.
For AYANEO, it’s not just about producing handheld devices; they’re innovating to offer distinct experiences. Unlike many competitors, their products like the AYANEO Slide with its hidden keyboard and the dual-screen AYANEO FLIP DS, provide something unique. As long as AYANEO keeps pushing the boundaries in handheld gaming, I’m eager to see what they will bring next. However, with the AYANEO 3, the fierce competition might make it hard for them to truly stand out among competitors.
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2024-11-08 22:09