Handheld game consoles have become increasingly popular over the last couple of years, thanks to the advancements in technology, that have enabled them to offer gaming experiences that are comparable to those of traditional gaming PCs. For instance, many handhelds now have high-resolution screens, powerful processors, and advanced graphics capabilities, allowing gamers to play complex and immersive games in a portable manner. Following the trend, several brands are flooding the market with their handheld offerings, and competing against each other to take the biggest piece of the pie.
Ayaneo is one such brand that has exceeded crowdfunding expectations by raising over 1 Million US Dollars in under 24 Hours with its first handheld. And now? They have several products under their portfolio, an enormous fanbase, and the aptitude to compete against the gaming industry’s biggest rival, Steam Deck. But how did they even get here? Let’s find out!
About Ayaneo
The company behind Ayaneo goes by the name Aya International, which originated in China. The first version of the device, the Ayaneo Founder Edition, was launched back in 2020 as a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo. This was the world’s first 7-nanometer handheld gaming console. As mentioned earlier, It quickly exceeded its fundraising goal and raised over 1 million dollars in less than 24 hours.
Since its successful crowdfunding campaign, Ayaneo has become a major competitor in the handheld gaming console market, competing with established brands such as Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck. The company has released several updated versions of the device, including the Ayaneo Pro and Ayaneo Next, which offer improved performance and features. Gradually, Ayaneo has quickly made a name for itself in the handheld gaming industry and continues to attract a growing fanbase of gamers who appreciate its powerful hardware and portable design.
Product Portfolio
Initially, Aya International started with a single product, the Ayaneo Founder Edition. It featured an AMD Ryzen 5 4500U processor, 16 Gigabytes of RAM, and 512 Gigabytes of SSD. Which was quite powerful for a handheld console during that time. Followed by this handheld’s success, they have launched several other devices such as the Ayaneo Pro, which is a more powerful version of the Founder Edition with a Ryzen 7 4800U processor, 16 Gigabytes of RAM, and a 1 Terrabyte of SSD.
Other models include the Ayaneo Flip and Ayaneo Slide where one has a Flip Up display while the other includes a slide-up screen. Their Ayaneo Air is also worth mentioning as it is one of the thinnest and lightest gaming handhelds currently available on the market with an OLED screen. From the models mentioned here, some even come with both Intel and AMD CPU options as well as customizable memory and storage upgrades.
Current Project
Ayaneo’s current project includes the Ayaneo Next 2, which is said to be the first handheld to feature a Ryzen 7000 series CPU along with a discrete GPU. If this turns out to be true, this will be an absolute unit with solid gaming performance up its sleeves. It doesn’t stop right there, according to their recent Twitter Post, they are likely to announce another series titled as AyaNeo KUN. At this point, they have so many products with loads of variations, which gives people enough headroom to get the one that suits them the most.
As for their future projects, they have plans to move into super affordable Android-based handhelds that will solely focus on emulation. Ayaneo Air Classis is one of these upcoming handhelds which will include an OLED screen, Hall Sensor triggers, and a joystick, as well as an exclusive retro game database for emulation enthusiasts. Who knows what else they are cooking for us, handheld gaming enthusiasts! Regardless, the handheld gaming community is alive and thriving with the contribution of Ayaneo.
Our Takeaway
“From a crowdfunding project to becoming an industry rival fighting against the likes of Steam Deck, they have come a long way! Their product portfolio offers powerful hardware and a portable design, making it an attractive option for gamers who want to enjoy high-performance gaming on the go. With more handhelds on the way, the future of handheld gaming is looking pretty promising with Ayaneo!”
