The AYANEO NEXT 2 seems BIG!
In price and size. Maybe it's cool?
I get to thinking a lot about what I would like to see from the competition to the Steam Deck. Unfortunately, nothing has really grabbed me from other mfg’s but this one? This might be pretty good.
The AYANEO NEXT 2 is a massive, high-end Windows gaming handheld that prioritizes “overkill” specs over portability and price. It is currently being crowdfunded on Indiegogo. (Not my favorite way to purchase things, but not that big of a deal.)
I own an AYANEO device, the Pocket DMG gameboy-like. Designed for retro games, capping out at PS1 or so. I really like it, and wondered what these guys might have up their sleeves. Turns out, it’s a BIG sleeve because this huge monster is what they have up it. (The sleeve that is.)
Let’s talk some specs:
CPU/GPU: It features AMD’s “Strix Halo” chips (Ryzen AI Max+ 395), which provide graphics performance comparable to a discrete laptop GPU (like an RTX 4060).
Battery: It has a 116Wh battery, the largest ever in a handheld. Note that this is technically above the standard 100Wh limit for most commercial flights, which may cause travel issues.
Screen: A large 9.06-inch OLED display with a high 165Hz refresh rate at 2400 x 1504 resolution.
The Price: It is extremely expensive, starting at $1,799 (Early Bird) and going all the way up to $4,299 for the top-tier 128GB RAM model. (Yikes)
Controls: Includes “TMR joysticks” with adjustable torque (you can change the physical tension of the sticks), Hall-effect triggers, and dual touchpads (similar to a Steam Deck).
Storage: 32GB to 128GB LPDDR5x RAM; up to 2TB SSD.
Connectivity: Dual USB4 por
ts, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4.
Connectivity: Dual USB4 ports, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4.
Release Date: Estimated shipping starts in June 2026.
Clearly this is a “luxury” niche device meant for enthusiasts who want a handheld that performs like a high-end gaming laptop and don’t mind the high price and heavy weight.
My concerns?
Obviously price/value, but also, how simple will it be for me to get Steam OS on here and dump the windows install? Maybe they’ll offer both at some point, like most of the Deck competition is doing now. (Or planning on doing.)
I have a real thing for handhelds in general, and could not have a higher opinion of the Steam Deck. Could something finally come along and make me look at something new?
Love to hear your thoughts. On this, but also the handheld world in general.