PlatformsAyaneo is cooking up its own Steam Deck, but its specs target indie gamesWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
PlatformsAyaneo is cooking up its own Steam Deck, but its specs target indie gamesWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Ayaneo)
Ayaneo knows a thing or two about handhelds, but the portable PC makers just announced plans to release something that sounds like a Steam Deck. However, rather than officially teaming up withValve, the company’s next device will come armed with an unofficial version of SteamOS, and it feels like it’s designed with indie gaming fans in mind.
Dubbed the Ayaneo Next Lite, the upcoming 7-inch handheld swaps out Windows for HoloISO, an unofficial version of SteamOS. Again, that means Valve isn’t involved in this project, despite the fact it sounds an awful lot like a third party Steam Deck. Things also get even more intriguing when it comes to innards, as the portable will come armed with either aAMDRyzen 5 4500U or Ryzen 7 4800U APU, both of which are now four years old.
Scaling configurations start at 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD, with the cheapest option coming with a $299 early bird price tag attached. That’s $100 cheaper than the base Steam Deck LCD, but Ayaneo’s choice of APU isn’t really comparable to Valve’s custom AMD chip. Therefore, I’m hesitant to call the Next Lite a proper alternative, as it’ll feel more suited to handling lighter indie games than the latest releases with reduced settings. Of course, I’ll need to actually put the portable through our usual benchmarks to confirm that, but I feel like I’ve already got a good grasp of Vega 8 and its abilities.
Specs aside, the Ayaneo Next Lite will come armed with Hall effect joysticks, Hall triggers, and Six-axis Gyroscope. Its 47Wh battery should also provide plenty of battery life, especially since it’ll be powering a lower-spec chip.
(Image credit: Ayaneo)
Who is the Ayaneo Next Lite for?
Creating a cheaper handheld gaming PC is no easy feat, and the Steam Deck still currently dominates that particular ring. The Ayaneo Next Lite does feel like a proper attempt at offering something cheaper, even though it has to use an older APU architecture to do so. At first glance, I was perplexed at the decision, but after giving it some thought, opting for a chip that will handle indie games and avoid being glutenous with power makes sense. I mean, I can’t envision a reality where you’ll be able to run big-budget PC releases on a device that’s under $300, as even the Steam Deck itself can’t fully pull that off.
With that in mind, I’d say the Ayaneo Next Lite is for PC players with a backlog of both indies and older releases. Normally, I’d point anyone with $300 to spend on a handheld towards the Nintendo Switch, but I totally get why using Steam is more appealing, especially when it comes to game prices. Plus, with rumors of the Nintendo Switch 2 ramping up, picking up the first iteration could come back to haunt you later in 2024.
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As for a release date, Ayaneo says the Next Lite is coming in the near future, so watch this space if you’re into picking one up.
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Today’s best handheld gaming PC dealsValve Steam Deck 64GB$499$469.99ViewSee all pricesASUS ROG Ally$550$490ViewSee all pricesLenovo Legion Go$549ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best handheld gaming PC dealsValve Steam Deck 64GB$499$469.99ViewSee all pricesASUS ROG Ally$550$490ViewSee all pricesLenovo Legion Go$549ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best handheld gaming PC deals
Valve Steam Deck 64GB$499$469.99ViewSee all pricesASUS ROG Ally$550$490ViewSee all pricesLenovo Legion Go$549ViewSee all prices
Valve Steam Deck 64GB$499$469.99ViewSee all prices
Valve Steam Deck 64GB$499$469.99ViewSee all prices
Valve Steam Deck 64GB
Valve Steam Deck 64GB
$499$469.99View
$499$469.99
$469.99
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ASUS ROG Ally$550$490ViewSee all prices
ASUS ROG Ally$550$490ViewSee all prices
ASUS ROG Ally
ASUS ROG Ally
$550$490View
$550$490
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Lenovo Legion Go$549ViewSee all prices
Lenovo Legion Go$549ViewSee all prices
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We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3
Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
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Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1
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2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2
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3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3
Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5
Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
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Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2
Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3
Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”