Hand-held gaming PCs had been round for longer than their contemporary growth may point out, despite the fact that the Steam Deck blew the doorways off of the marketplace via creating a style that the common individual may just if truth be told have enough money. Whilst Valve might lay declare to being the “perfect price” moveable PC with its loss-leadingly low value, if you happen to’re available in the market for convenience, sheer functionality, or the capability of getting Home windows proper out of the field, there are many extra succesful Steam Deck alternatives to be had to these with larger budgets. It’s on this area the place Ayaneo has historically operated, providing full-fledged Home windows gaming PCs with high-performance elements and rapid compatibility throughout Steam and each and every different launcher’s complete library.
Top class is more or less the path you must pass in if you happen to don’t additionally personal some roughly retailer that permits you to subsidize low value merchandise for the mass marketplace. To fans, Ayaneo’s infrequently 4 determine gadgets had been mouthwatering, however even a boutique producer can’t forget about the Steam Deck eternally. Valve is now the elephant within the nook of each and every hand held PC producer’s room.
Launching along the flagship Ayaneo 2, the Ayaneo Geek (available on IndieGoGo) maintains a top rate standing however is the primary of the corporate’s complete energy handhelds to no less than get inside of spitting distance of the Steam Deck’s value (there’s the Ayaneo Air, nevertheless it’s meant for much less tough video games than the Deck). It options extra in commonplace with the Ayaneo 2 than it doesn’t, together with its superb Corridor Impact joysticks and a strong AMD Ryzen 7 6800U processor. Nevertheless it begins $150 less expensive than the Ayaneo 2, at $849. That may nonetheless set you again greater than even the costliest Steam Deck ($640). However if you happen to’re simply taking a look to spend not up to $1,000 for a real Home windows gaming PC that’s extra tough than the Deck and isn’t a lot larger than a Nintendo Transfer OLED, it’s an ideal selection, particularly in comparison to gaming laptops. In any case, we have now a “funds” boutique Steam Deck competitor. Or, if it is helping to consider it this manner, a slightly inexpensive “Steam Deck Professional.”
A succesful AMD Ryzen 6800U hand held gaming PC
Regardless of its Nintendo Transfer-like design, the Ayaneo Geek is a full-fledged gaming PC and has the specifications to check. Probably the most inexpensive style comes with 16GB of DDR5 reminiscence clocked to a speedy 6,400MHz and features a 512GB NVME SSD. The SSD may also be upgraded to 1TB or 2TB for every other $150 and $250, respectively. The highest tier style is lately priced at $1,199 and contains 32GB of reminiscence and a 2TB SSD, but when all you want is garage, the Geek additionally helps MicroSD playing cards for a less expensive selection (albeit at a slower 300 MB/s velocity). The Geek may be to be had with 800p or 1200p displays, despite the fact that that is somewhat unclear at the present IndieGoGo campaign.
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As the budget counterpart to the pricier Ayaneo 2, the Geek is remarkably similar and really just feels like a slightly pared down version of the flagship model. You’re getting the same fast Ryzen 7 6800U processor, so gaming performance is the same between both models. It uses the same outstanding Hall Effect triggers and joysticks, which feel great and are immune to joystick drift. Both units have bright 7-inch touchscreen displays. Their layouts and control schemes are the same, though the Ayaneo 2 offers more customization options for the buttons and triggers. They’re nearly identical in shape, size, and weight. Both offer a 50.25 wHr battery.
There are a handful of variations, however they’re general small and really feel like truthful scale-backs for the lower cost. The most important distinction is that the Ayaneo 2 options an edge-to-edge show whilst the Geek has skinny bezels on each side. There are different smaller variations, too. The Geek has a unmarried gyroscope for movement aiming whilst the Ayaneo 2 has two. The Geek has a linear vibration motor as a substitute of the two’s HD motor, which Ayaneo says is the same to the only within the Nintendo Transfer. The Geek additionally ships with a PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD as a substitute of the more moderen PCIe 4.0 power that includes the Ayaneo 2, despite the fact that the affect on load occasions is sufficiently small you can no longer even understand. The flagship style additionally comes with a complete glass entrance whilst the Geek simply has a pitcher display screen.
There are transparent high quality of lifestyles enhancements that include the dearer style, however the Geek in reality doesn’t really feel like a lot of a step down in any respect, particularly if you happen to’re evaluating it to the Steam Deck. I’ve used each widely and probably the most noticeable distinction is the display screen, which you briefly get used to and received’t understand in any respect if you happen to don’t have each fashions facet via facet. You probably have the cash for the Ayaneo 2, it delivers the simpler revel in over all, however the Geek is the uncommon tech acquire that doesn’t really feel such as you’re making a large sacrifice via choosing the less expensive style.
Just like the Nintendo Transfer and a gaming computer had a toddler
The Ayaneo Geek is what would occur if the Nintendo Transfer and a gaming computer had a toddler. The Geek is a slightly greater than the Transfer OLED however has an overly equivalent structure. The Geek adopts a a lot more curved design than Nintendo’s console, then again. It has an ovular face and deep, curved grips that Ayaneo says are in response to a toddler’s napping place. The controllers also are non-removable, so that you’ll wish to cling the Geek to your arms until you plug in peripherals and a docking station.
Regardless of the similarities to a Transfer with default joycons, the Geek is a ways nicer to if truth be told use. The grips are thick and contoured, tapering towards the highest to steer your arms towards the triggers. The sticks are larger, smoother, and feature extra throw. The triggers have a deep, controller-like pull. The buttons are snappy and extra crisp than the Steam Deck’s. Like every hand held, the entirety nonetheless feels somewhat compressed: the correct joystick specifically feels only a hair too low for even my medium-sized arms. Even so, I might take the Ayaneo Geek over both the Transfer or Steam Deck any day of the week with regards to convenience and straightforwardness of use. Although the Geek is ever so somewhat heavier than the Steam Deck, at 680 grams vs the Deck’s 669.
Ayaneo has equipped the Geek with an array of additional buttons to navigate Home windows and get right of entry to its other choices. There are View and Menu buttons beneath the D-pad at the left (mimicking an Xbox controller, and in most cases gratifying the similar function as Get started and Make a selection on extra old-school gadgets). Two extra further buttons are located beneath the correct joystick. One may also be mapped to a customized command whilst the opposite, the Aya button, may also be clicked to get right of entry to a handy guide a rough settings adjustment menu or held to attract up the entire AYASpace settings instrument suite. There are bumpers and triggers at the height, in addition to a couple of shoulder buttons that may be tied to customized instructions, like elevating the on-screen keyboard or Process Supervisor.
This isn’t a complete computer, so I/O is proscribed. There are 3 USB Kind-C ports overall right here: two on height and one on backside, and each and every can be utilized for energy or information. There are two USB Kind-C to Kind-A adapters within the field for connecting peripherals, however you’ll desire a docking station to glue the Geek to an exterior observe if you happen to plan to make use of it as a complete PC. There’s additionally an influence button with an built-in fingerprint reader for biometric login, a quantity rocker, headphone jack, and a MicroSD card slot for expandable garage.
Corridor Impact analog sticks and snappy buttons
Just like the Ayaneo 2, the Ayaneo Subsequent, and the Ayaneo Air earlier than it, the Ayaneo Geek makes use of Corridor Impact triggers and joysticks. Because the axiom is going, if it ain’t broke, don’t repair it, and this design is the rest however damaged. Relatively than the usage of mechanical potentiometers for its triggers and joysticks, the Geek makes use of magnetic sensors to come across motion. The loss of mechanical put on and tear all however removes the danger for joystick glide and makes those inputs one of the most smoothest you’ll in finding on any gaming controller. With the correct instrument tuning, you’ll even customise your deadzones (the portions of a joystick that your controller doesn’t learn, in an effort to keep away from small random actions).
Whilst all the Geek’s inputs are smaller than what you’ll in finding on an ordinary controller, they nonetheless really feel nearer than it’s possible you’ll be expecting. The added throw at the triggers and joysticks, whilst no longer as deep as on an Xbox or PlayStation controller, really feel a lot nearer than it’s possible you’ll be expecting and are noticeably deeper than at the Steam Deck. The triggers particularly really feel at house in my console-acquainted arms, but all of the higher for his or her added smoothness. The sticks have a little bit extra of a studying curve because of their diminished top and are much less correct than a full-size controller as a result of it. The use of the integrated gyro is helping to fine-tune aiming; then again, the Geek calls for putting in an applet to permit movement controls whilst the Ayaneo 2 has them inbuilt from the beginning.
The face buttons are snappy and tactile. There’s no mushiness to them in any respect, which is excellent for button heavy video games like platformers. The D-pad is a little bit much less crisp, with a slight wiggle to the go, nevertheless it labored for an off-the-cuff like me, even in combating video games. Every is a huge growth from the Steam Deck’s slightly comfortable inputs, then again, and all in all, make the Ayaneo Geek strangely nice to sport on.
A vibrant and colourful display screen that begs for OLED
The Geek’s 7-inch display screen is vibrant and colourful. Although it lacks the edge-to-edge protection of the Ayaneo 2, it nonetheless feels somewhat huge due to its 16:10 facet ratio. Ayaneo quotes a top brightness of 400 nits, and I’ve found out more than one occasions that it’s vibrant sufficient to play in direct daylight. It doesn’t reinforce complex options like HDR reinforce or gaming at 120Hz, however for many video games, the ones are non-issues. And in reality, would you are expecting both from a hand held designed to be value pleasant?
No, and neither would you are expecting an OLED display screen, however the Geek begs for it. The colours are wealthy and blacks are positive, however after seeing how a lot better OLED can glance at the Ayaneo Air, the Geek isn’t fairly as spectacular with out it. Distinction ranges are standard for an LCD display screen, with blacks being extra of a deep grey, however the wealthy distinction and inky blacks of the Air would have driven this to every other degree.
The display screen helps contact enter, and it general works neatly. The display screen is responsive and registers presses reliably. The most important problem is tapping on-screen parts that may simply be, neatly, tiny. The Geek packs a complete, desktop model of Home windows 11. Even with Home windows scaling grew to become on, opting for pieces in drop down menus or navigating settings inside of packages may also be tough. AYASpace, the Geek’s configuration instrument, solves this via permitting you to keep watch over a digital mouse cursor the usage of the joysticks. It doesn’t exchange the usage of a real mouse, however works strangely neatly when contact doesn’t minimize it.
The display screen is to be had in 800p or 1200p choices, nevertheless it’s no longer price paying further for the 1200p display screen, despite the fact that 800p will web you an identical answer as the fewer pricey Steam Deck. Whilst the added answer may sound nice on paper, it has a vital affect on gaming functionality and doesn’t be offering a big merit in visible high quality. In truth, that answer bump is principally most effective visual in nonetheless photographs–take note, the display screen right here is simply 7 inches. Until you’re taking part in older video games or indies, it’s higher to go away the display screen at 800p and revel in the next FPS with extra responsive gameplay.
AYASpace is the Ayaneo Geek’s spine
AYASpace is the Geek’s major configuration app and the spine to the usage of it as a real laptop. The instrument, known as up the usage of the devoted AYA button beneath the correct joystick, acts as a central hub for all your configuration choices, and you’ll additionally use it as a sport launcher. Inside of, you’ll set your TDP (the ability restrict for the components’s processor), fan velocity, button shortcuts, and extra. It’s additionally the place you’ll pass to obtain and follow firmware updates as they’re launched through the years.
Tapping the AYA button additionally brings up a handy guide a rough menu for when you wish to have to make speedy adjustments or ship commonplace instructions. It means that you can trade the functionality settings, brightness, and quantity. You’ll assign 9 other shortcuts for such things as hanging the components to sleep, enabling system-wide FSR upscaling, or pressure ultimate video games. It’s speedy and dependable, and if you happen to occur to give up AYASpace unintentionally, you’ll in an instant omit it.
AYASpace continues to be in beta and it presentations. It’s progressed via leaps and boundaries over the past yr, however there are nonetheless tough edges, with cases of damaged English, Chinese language most effective descriptions in lots of applets, and a propensity to reset itself to Chinese language with instrument updates. Regardless of that, it general works neatly. In case you will have to occur to seek out your self caught in Chinese language, you’ll trade your language via clicking for your profile within the height proper nook, then clicking at the hexagon with a touch icon via it within the subsequent menu. The following display screen has language settings within the left-most possibility of the center row.
In case you close AYASpace down, the Geek simply doesn’t paintings proper. Key purposes just like the mouse cursor or button shorts for the on-screen keyboard prevent running, and the ones shortcuts are the important thing to the hand held’s skill to serve as as a pc. With no mouse and keyboard, they permit you carry out fundamental duties like urgent the Get away key to again out of menus. Whilst it’s technically imaginable to run the Ayaneo with out AYASpace, I wouldn’t suggest it. It’s painful.
Fail to remember your paintings computer? The Ayaneo Geek has you lined.
One of the crucial superb issues concerning the Ayaneo Geek is considered one of its most evident: this can be a authentic Home windows gaming PC in a hand held shape issue. There’s no Linux. No compatibility layer just like the Steam Deck’s Proton. You’ll use all the apps and gear you could most often use for your desktop or computer with a fragment of the footprint.
And even if it’s small, The Geek is mighty. The Ryzen 7 6800U is an overly speedy, very succesful processor, and it’s subsidized via 16GB of high-speed reminiscence. The Geek has sufficient horsepower to run absolutely anything an fanatic PC consumer may just need: productiveness apps, ingenious apps, web pages and streaming services and products: the works. It’s a high-performing little laptop.
To if truth be told use it on this method calls for some add-ons, until you wish to have to seek and peck your method via its onscreen keyboard and small display screen. You’ll wish to purchase peripherals, in addition to a observe if you happen to don’t have already got one. You then’ll desire a docking station to glue the entirety and gear the tool. Nevertheless it’s imaginable. With the Geek, I wrote more than one articles throughout Google Doctors and Microsoft Phrase, edited pictures and movies with Adobe, or even plugged in a USB mic to document some tune concepts in Reaper, my virtual audio workstation.
I additionally put it to the take a look at with our suite of benchmarks. It scored 5,126 in PCMark 10, which is a forged 500 issues upper than the HP Dragonfly Folio Elite we reviewed in January. In Geekbench 5, it scored 1,341 for single-core functionality and six,483 for multi-core, which falls in need of most of the gaming laptops we’ve reviewed over the past yr, and is center of the pack for productiveness PCs. However given its considerably extra inexpensive value than a lot of the ones notebooks, the Geek’s functionality in reality is moderately spectacular.
For ingenious apps, the Geek maintains its center of the street posture. In Cinebench, it scored 1,338 for unmarried core rendering and eight,845 for multi-core, a ways exceeding the Dragonfly with all of its cores engaged however falling somewhat brief in single-core speeds. In Blender, the Geek rendered a BMW in 4 mins and 29 seconds, hanging it proper in between the Apple MacBook Pro 13 and MacBook Pro 14. With no devoted graphics card like maximum gaming laptops have, its processor has to drag double-duty. It’s no longer the quickest, however can no doubt get the task accomplished if you wish to use it as a full-fledged PC.
Spectacular gaming functionality due to the AMD Ryzen 6800U
The place it in reality issues—gaming—the Ayaneo Geek excels. Just like the Steam Deck, functionality depends on your graphics settings, answer, and the present TDP atmosphere for the CPU. It’s a balancing act between battery lifestyles and CPU energy, however as soon as it’s dialed in (or if you happen to’re taking part in plugged into wall energy), it’s greater than slightly spectacular.
Although it’s less expensive, the Ayaneo Geek sacrifices not anything in functionality in comparison to the flagship Ayaneo 2. It makes use of the similar {hardware} to power the revel in, so with equivalent settings, in-game body charges will have to be with regards to the similar. Any scalebacks Ayaneo carried out between the fashions are purely high quality of lifestyles and don’t affect gaming functionality.
There are 4 other energy modes to choose between: Energy Saving (11W), Steadiness (15W), Sport (22W), and Professional Mode (3W – 33W). Older video games and indies can steadily be performed at 11 watts and infrequently a lot much less. Sport mode is the most productive are compatible for contemporary video games, despite the fact that normally drops battery lifestyles to not up to two hours in my checking out. Steadiness mode moves a center floor between the 2. With slightly tweaking, I discovered that quite a lot of indie video games, like Tremendous Meat Boy and Disco Elysium, may well be performed with as low as 5 to seven watts, which a great deal complements battery lifestyles. Apparently, cranking up energy settings to 33W doesn’t normally be offering the most important functionality build up it’s possible you’ll be expecting. It normally offers you not up to 10 further FPS overall and drops battery lifestyles to not up to an hour, despite the fact that if you happen to’re taking part in plugged right into a wall outlet, it’s indisputably learn how to pass, for top functionality.
I examined all kinds of video games for this assessment and left the console in its Sport preset to stay issues standardized. I additionally set the video games to 800p for constant comparisons.
- Forza 5 (Top) – 71 FPS
- God of Struggle (Inventory Settings) – 39 FPS
- Cyberpunk 2077 (Steam Deck Preset) – 63 FPS
- Borderlands 3 (Extremely) – 32 FPS
- A Plague Story (Low, FSR 2.0, Efficiency Mode) – 31 FPS
- Rocket League (Top) – 133 FPS
- The Witcher 3 (Top, FSR 2.0, Extremely Efficiency) – 43 FPS
- Grime 5 (Medium) – 56 FPS
- Elden Ring (Low) – 51 FPS
Enjoying at 800p, the Ayaneo Geek means that you can flip up the settings on many new video games whilst nonetheless keeping up moderate body charges above 30 FPS. Some video games, like Elden Ring, are perfect locked to low settings for the enhanced responsiveness of upper body charges, however others, like Forza 5, have headroom to spare.
It’s tough to at once evaluate the Steam Deck’s functionality to the Ayaneo Geek’s, as Valve’s steady updates and plenty of community support approach it’s at all times getting higher. However in our unique Steam Deck assessment, we “simply slightly breached the 30 fps threshold” in God of Struggle. The AMD Ryzen 6800U is the usage of a newer processor era than the Steam Deck’s customized AMD APU, so generally, you’re prone to see somewhat progressed functionality around the board at the Geek.
Whilst PC gaming handhelds used to call for that video games be set to their lowest imaginable settings, that age is most commonly at the back of us. The vast majority of video games I examined have been ready to be driven to medium and even excessive settings. Even if you must flip issues down (it’s normally perfect to customise your settings and go for a combination that appears perfect to you), parts like decrease high quality textures are much less noticeable due to the smaller display screen. Options like FidelityFX Tremendous Answer (FSR), AMD’s means of upscaling photographs to strengthen functionality, also are changing into extra commonplace and assist you to run much more graphically tough video games whilst nonetheless hitting playable body charges. The Geek even has a integrated FSR possibility that can be utilized on many video games that don’t reinforce it natively, despite the fact that the effects can range from nice to distractingly blurry.
I’ve discussed it earlier than, nevertheless it bears repeating once more: the Geek is in a position to reinforce any sport that’s lately to be had on Home windows. There’s no worry that video games will or received’t paintings like there’s at the Steam Deck. There are few functionality anomalies that pop up in the midst of video games. The Darkish Photos Anthology: Guy of Medan used to be unplayable at the Deck however easiest at the Geek. All of because of this you’ll have an enormous library of video games to choose between on day one and rapid compatibility for it sooner or later, so long as the Geek can bodily run it. No ready on Valve to certify video games are playable or for builders so as to add reinforce. It simply works.
The Ayaneo Geek has variable battery lifestyles, loud fanatics, disappointing audio system
Whilst the Geek is clearly an overly succesful gaming device, its battery lifestyles is terribly inconsistent. In case you’ve performed a conveyable gaming PC earlier than, you’re already conversant in simply how variable battery lifestyles may also be. The 50.25 wHr battery may just closing 4 hours or 40 mins relying for your present TDP atmosphere and the way tough the sport you’re taking part in is.
The fan too can get fairly loud. In case you play at the 22-watt gaming preset, the Geek’s fan may also be distractingly noisy. It produces as a lot noise as a normal gaming computer, despite the fact that stops in need of “jet engine” standing. However because you cling the Geek nearer for your face and ears, its noise is extra noticeable all through use. Working it in Steadiness or Energy Saving modes quiets it down, however at a noticeable lower in functionality in tough video games.
The fan can have you achieving for headphones, however you can be doing that anyway due to the Geek’s disappointing audio system. They get loud sufficient to listen to neatly, however films and sport audio lack frame and sound skinny. They’ll paintings in a pinch, however identical to a computer, I wouldn’t suggest the usage of them when you’ve got a couple of headphones at hand.
Will have to you purchase the Ayaneo Geek?
The Ayaneo Geek is an outstanding hand held gaming PC, particularly when put next towards the Ayaneo 2 and the Steam Deck. Whilst Ayaneo has scaled again sure options to hit the Geek’s value, its gaming functionality hasn’t suffered in any respect. It’s a top-tier hand held that turns out certain to provoke. If you’ll have enough money it. And that’s the rub: even if the Ayaneo Geek has so much to provide for lots not up to maximum of Ayaneo’s gadgets, for that very same $849, you might want to purchase two Steam Decks and feature cash left over for video games.
That doesn’t imply the Ayaneo Geek isn’t price taking into consideration. It’s smaller and extra relaxed to make use of. It’s extra tough and plays higher in video games. Most significantly, it runs on Home windows as a substitute of Linux, so any sport or app that runs on Home windows will have to paintings positive with none further tweaks important (you’ll run Windows on the Steam Deck, nevertheless it takes a little bit of labor and doesn’t at all times web nice effects). Attach it to a docking station and observe and it will probably transform a real, full-featured laptop. On account of that, it’s extra becoming to believe the Geek adore it’s a uniquely designed gaming computer moderately than a easy sport console, and in that mild, $849 can if truth be told begin to glance moderately cheap.
Whether or not the Ayaneo Geek is sensible for you is dependent solely on how you intend to make use of it and simply how a lot you price its convenience, non-compulsory upsells like that 1200p display screen, and natural gaming horsepower. It additionally relies on how a lot you’re keen to maintain some small corporate jank, as AYAspace is much more likely to damage than SteamOS. Nevertheless it’s some of the perfect choices for purchasing just a little greater than the absolute best finish Steam Deck gets you whilst no longer spending greater than a pair hundred greenbacks further.
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