Handheld gaming PCs are becoming more popular and powerful than ever, thanks to the advances in technology and the demand for portable gaming experiences.

Two of the most anticipated devices in this category are the AYA NEO Next and the Steam Deck, both of which offer impressive specs and features for playing PC games on the go. But which one is better for you?

In this article, we will compare the AYA NEO Next and the Steam Deck in terms of design, performance, and compatibility, and help you decide which handheld gaming PC suits your needs and preference

AYA NEO Next vs Steam Deck Review

So, does AYA NEO Next have enough potential to beat Steam Deck? Let’s find out by comparing them side by side.

Design

Let’s jump into the design of both these consoles right away. If you are familiar with AYA NEO consoles, then you might have noticed that each of their lineups got a unique shape and design. Similarly, the AYA NEO NEXT also came out with its own design, while maintaining the standard aesthetic at the same time. This console weighs around 720 grams, and it got a really nice ergonomic shape with curved corners on both sides for comfortable grips.

On top of that, this handheld uses the hall effect sensors for both joysticks and triggers, making it more durable and accurate for gaming. Also, thanks to its removable modular design, you will be able to replace the joystick with your own custom module. Besides that, it also has a 2-in-1 power button with a fingerprint sensor, and it works really well. 

Steam Deck, on the other hand, weighs 669 grams, which is noticeably less weight, and it is a lot bulkier than the AYA NEO NEXT. But, even though it comes in a bigger shape, it has really comfortable grips on the back. Additionally, you will also find four extra remap buttons at the back. Besides that, the natural placement of both analog sticks and D-Pad buttons is positioned perfectly for long gaming sessions. Another interesting feature that Steam Deck has, is the trackpads on both sides. Gamers who love playing RTS games can definitely take advantage of it. 

Specs

As we move on to the specs, we see that the AYA NEO NEXT comes with really great internal specifications compared to Steam Deck. It uses 8-core 16-thread Ryzen 7 5825U processor with a maximum boosted frequency of 4.5-gigahertz, and for GPU, it uses Radeon Vega 8 graphics chipset. Besides that, it also has 16GB of LPDDR4 RAM. So, you can say that it pretty much ensures decent performance for most modern games.

When it comes to internal storage, AYA NEO NEXT is available with up to 2 terabytes of SSD storage for you to store storage-demanding games and apps. And thanks to its 4100-milliampere battery, you can easily play games for up to 6 hours straight, depending on the game. 

In comparison, Steam Deck is equipped with a 4-core, 8-thread Zen 2 processor with a boosted frequency of up to 3.5-gigahertz. And it uses the RDNA 2 graphics chipset at 1.6-gigahertz maximum clock speed, which is also powerful enough to handle most modern PC games. Yes, it does have a lower processor compared to AYA NEO NEXT, but most importantly, it is equipped with 16GB LPDDR5 RAM. And thanks to this powerful RAM, the RDNA 2 chips on this handheld got the upper hand in terms of graphical performance against the AYA NEO NEXT. As for internal storage, by default, it comes in three separate versions – 64 GB, 256GB, and 512 GB. But you can always add an additional microSD card extending up to 1 terabyte at max. And the 5,313 milliampere battery, can deliver a maximum of 8 hours of gameplay. 

Display

It seems that both of them are using a 7-inch IPS panel display with the same resolution. But, while the Steam Deck has only 400 nits of brightness, the AYA NEO NEXT comes with 500 nits of brightness, which is 100 nits more compared to the Steam Deck. So if you are looking for crisp visuals, then AYA NEO NEXT seems a great choice in this case. But regardless of the brightness level, both handhelds are capable of delivering decent image quality.

Compatibility

The AYA NEO Next and the Steam Deck have different operating systems and compatibility modes, which affect their ability to run PC games and applications.

The AYA NEO Next runs on Windows 10, which means it can run any Windows-compatible game or application without any issues or limitations. The Steam Deck runs on SteamOS, a Linux-based operating system optimized for gaming and streaming.

SteamOS can run any Steam game that is compatible with Linux, as well as any Windows game that is compatible with Proton, a compatibility layer that allows Windows games to run on Linux. However, not all Windows games are compatible with Proton; some may have performance or functionality issues.

The AYA NEO Next has an advantage over the Steam Deck in terms of compatibility, as it can run any PC game or application that you own or want to play, regardless of the platform or source.

The Steam Deck has a disadvantage in terms of compatibility, as it can only run Steam games that are compatible with Linux or Proton, and may encounter problems with some Windows games that are not fully supported.

However, the Steam Deck also has an advantage in terms of convenience, as it can automatically launch and update your Steam games without requiring any additional steps or settings.

The Steam Deck also has a Steam Cloud Play feature, which allows you to stream your Steam games from your PC or the cloud to your device, without requiring any installation or storage space.

Can AYA NEO Next Beat Steam Deck?

To Conclude – Steam Deck does have some additional features, which the AYA NEO NEXT lacks. But, what makes the AYA NEO NEXT exception in terms of the design, is the removable modular design, hall sensors, and fingerprint sensor. Even though the AYA NEO NEXT has the most advantage in terms of internal hardware, thanks to the RDNA 2 chip, the graphical performance on the Steam Deck got a major boost against the AYA NEO NEXT. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is AYA NEO Next more powerful than Steam Deck?

Ans: AYA NEO Next has outperformed Steam Deck in some gaming performance, however in general Steam Deck is more powerful than AYA NEO Next.

What OS is AYA NEO Next Based on?

Ans: AYA NEO Next is based on Windows, which brings great compatibility to the device. However, it’s opinionated that the UI can be much better.

Can I use AYA NEO Next as a PC?

Ans: Yes. AYA NEO Next is based on the Windows operating system. So with the additional dongle, you can use this gaming device as a full-functioning PC.

Lastly, the price gaps between these two handheld consoles are huge. The AYA NEO NEXT costs almost double the maxed-out version of Steam Deck. But with that amount of money, you are also getting better internal hardware and a sleek-looking handheld console. On the bright side, Steam Deck comes in a very affordable price range, which is really hard to beat. In the end, it depends on what you want from the handheld. Would you prefer the AYA NEO NEXT over the Steam Deck?