I'm open to correction but Valve has said they've got no plans at least in the near-to-mid-term for a successor, haven't they? You think the variety of handhelds coming out forces their hand (pun probably intended)?
@@davetron3030correct. They're still working on it, they confirmed that much at least. Though we shouldn't expect anything until 2025 at the earliest. Valve is waiting on a successor to the steam deck apu, can't say I blame them
lol me too to the point i get haters telling me i cant afford a thing(insert aya/asus/...) but without valve making it better my ally sucks i cant launch afew of the games i wanted a handheld for like fall out 1 that work perfectly on the steam deck
It’s a nice device but $1000, I’ll stick with my Steam Deck. It is a blessing the Steam Deck got to such a low entry price since the Steam marketplace can help offset the loss on the device. I would definitely consider the AYANEO Air 1S if money was not a factor.
That fact this device exists at all is just pretty amazing. Of course at that price it is always going to be a curiosity more than a viable mass consumer product.
@@SWOTHDRA who's ya'll? The prices are acceptable for both considering what HW you are getting. Whether there is a large audience at that price point for a handheld PC is what is questionable, not the price of the devices themselves imo.
A great example of why these competitors have such an uphill battle against the Steam Deck. They can't sell the hardware for a loss and make it up with software sales.
I got their first iteration of the Air and I use it more than my Deck. I just love the form factor and the OLED screen is amazing with PSP or Gamecube emulation. Even though my model is the 5825u it still runs games rather well. I also have the AYANEO 2S for my 7840u fix and that processor is better for sure.
I love my air 1s. the screen size being "big enough" is just gonna vary from person to person. Ive had no issue playing baldur gate 3 on it, and it looks amazing. my ally has been collecting dust since I got the air. the OLED panel really is a game changer for me.
Yeah the screen size is incredibly subjective. Could absolutely be fine for some. Also agreed that I have no reason to pick up my Ally when I have a 7840U handheld nearby
FYI the thin and light model with the color scheme you like better also has a 7840U, it is just restricted to a lower TDP (15W on battery, 18W plugged in). Edit: Oh and btw, awesome review! I watched all the other reviews you mentioned and still appreciated your thoughts on the device a lot!
It will be dead probably people are so fickle. Handheld gaming has been around forever this is the best generation but they just dock it. I'm lost why dock it? Furthermore I can't count the number of people that hate the idea of cloud based or digital license game. Yes the steam deck is a seller but when do we get annoyed with short play times 3-4 hours or cords to chArge. I personally love all this stuff. Loved cloud gaming now services are dying and people complain about game pass streaming.
Really ridiculous and exiting about big performance/power and large number on hardware spec... Begin to invest in portable power plant/generator or find way to bring wall socket with you. Majority already need it (wall socket e-bike/scooter size battery pack), image in few year with BS trend - bigger, faster, more powerful.
This handheld is at such a perfect size. Not big and bulky like the Steam Decc, not as tiny as the PSVita. It's just the right size for pocket-portability
@@SWOTHDRA Battery life will never be good on these handhelds, especially with a bunch of LEDs on it. Battery tech isn't all that great. And the screen could definitely be a lil bigger. Less of a border, more screen
@@SWOTHDRABattery life on this device is more or less the same as the Steam Deck and these other handhelds (which isn't great, but its hardly an issue when every single PC handheld is like this)
@@PantsaBear The first GPD Win had an absolutely amazing battery life (Windows would show 20 h remaining at 100 % while idling), to the point where I didn’t even put it into standby when I wasn’t using it. I just left it on with the screen still glowing, lol. I think there might be a market for slightly cheaper handhelds (the GPD Win was $400) which are pocketable and low-powered enough to have great battery life (it really wasn’t very powerful, but indie games, retro games, and even older AAA games (such as Dishonored, for example) ran just fine).
We have the devices, now what we need are developers to start developing FOR handheld windows PCs. Games are still being developed for full on desktop rigs, which is fantastic, but it would be great to get AA-level experiences that are targeted at and developed for the handheld market. Games from 2013-2017 look amazing still, and run great on these handhelds, especially the Steam Deck. So targeting a graphics level thats on par with a Red Dead Redemption 2 or a Metal Gear Solid V would be an awesome space for developers to explore.
The price on these devices is rarely mentioned, but it's the most important factor. Being more powerful doesn't matter when we're talking $799 for the base model, and that's the early bird price. The one shown in this video is $1k. I understand they don't have the option of selling at a loss to make money off the consumer later with software, but let's be real. Buying this device (or any of their devices) over a steam deck, rog ally, or lenovo legion makes zero sense & you're wasting your money if you do so. Super small screen, not directly supported by any storefront or software, double if not triple the cost of the competitors.
Speak for yourself. The steam deck screen is not something I want to look at. I’ve loved the screen and form factor on the first Air, and I’ll definitely be looking to pick up the 1S once the OG Air fails to run things I want.
@@emlyndewar I speak for a lot of people, you want to waste your money go ahead. Sounds like you already did once. I could buy 2 steam decks, or one and fully upgrade it with the deck hd screen, a 2tb SSD, etc etc and have money left over.
Ayaneo seems to release a new device every 3 months. What should be covered is how well do these devices get firmware updates? Is a device that released 2 years ago still getting regular updates? I cant believe it would be
I love my Steam Deck, the size was overwhelming at first, but after a lot of use, it's clear that it's comfortable and the controls are well placed for the size. The only way I'd consider something significantly smaller now is if it was PSP/Vita sized - I think that would be really interesting. Wouldn't be as powerful, but you could still pack a decent processor in there, and maybe even less than a 720p screen to compensate for lower power and battery.
The difference bwtween SD and all of these handhelds is that SD is still getiing better while Ayaneo released their 6th console, are we still getting updates to the first Ayaneo?
Exactly! Valve with their amazing customer service, price politics and community, plus the user friendly Steam OS are still unmatched which probably won't change any time soon. No matter how many of those windows devices get thrown out to the market they all share the same huge disadvantage compared to Steam Deck being the unoptimized Windows OS which is horribly clunky, unintuitive and overloaded for a portable device. I don't wanna spend more time in the system settings tinkering like an idiot, than in the actual games, that's ridiculous! On the Steam Deck you get all the convenience of a console - you just turn on the device, open your library and load up your game. Done! That's how it's supposed to work. Besides, just look somewhere around the 17 minute mark in that video, how horrible the Windows desktop looks on such a tiny screen! What a joke... Clearly, as long as there's no dedicated Windows version for handhelds those things are worthless. They cost a fukin fortune but have only a fraction of the outstanding user experience of a Steam Deck. Plus they get abandoned real quick because there's a new model released every few months. It's actually insane, how the fuk are ppl supposed to keep up?! That Chinese assembly line system and its short-lived products are definitely not the way to go and not to be trusted with all that money they demand. Screw 'em!
@@sacredsecrecy9620when Tears of the Kingdom leaked there were whole forums dedicated to getting it to work on the Steamdeck because the community is huge. These other devices are left to fend for themselves. Steamdeck will always outperform these other handhelds because of better software. Using windows is a L
@@sacredsecrecy9620They’re definitely not “worthless” lmao if since people love them. Sorry a better device hurts your feelings but competition only means I get more to choose from :)
I like it. I’m waiting for a computer that’s the size of a phone or PSP. I’d love to carry it in my pocket all day! I’d ditch the smartphone for one! Small games on the go, and major games and productivity at the desk/TV! I really do want a one-for all computer that I keep with me all the time with all project and personal files in my pocket! Until then, Steam Deck goes everywhere with me in a bag!
Yeah I love my ayaneo air 1s oled it's perfect in size and power plus it fits in your pocket. I bought a nintendo switch lite flip cover case to cover the screen and analog sticks in Mt pocket.
Got mine about a week ago and my impressions so far are very mixed. When everything works it's pretty amazing. Playing Sea of Stars on it has been awesome! But it has A LOT of problems. Out of the box I basically had to reinstall Windows from scratch to get it to work properly, as the Windows installation it came with was kinda borked. Touch screen was very unresponsive, built in controller would sometimes stop working, occasional freezes and so on. A complete reinstall fixed most of those issues but not all of them. It still doesn't always boot properly, like 1 out of 5 reboots it just freezes on the boot screen. There is also some occasional fairly quiet popping/crackling sound from the left speaker, no idea if it's a driver or a wiring issue. The AyaSpace app/launcher is also super crap and very buggy. I'm currently using Steam in Big Picture mode as my main UI instead, with Handheld Companion for TDP control. It's not perfect either because Handheld Companion can also be a bit of a pain to use, but at least it's better than what the device comes with. I still have to let it start up AyaSpace on every boot though since that's the only way to turn off the stick ring LEDs. The LEDs also light up every time I connect or disconnect the charger, which is super annoying. I wish you could just disable them permanently. I never managed to have AyaSpace and Steam running at the same time because there would always be some kind of controller conflict. So my current solution is to immediately shut down AyaSpace as soon as it has managed to turn off the LEDs. I tried ChimeraOS on it (basically open-source SteamOS for those that aren't familiar) even though the Air 1S isn't officially supported yet and it looks promising. The sound doesn't work yet, the extra buttons don't work and there is no way to control the LEDs yet. Once the devs figure those things out though I will be switching to Chimera in a heartbeat.
Me over here with a steamdeck that I've literally only used windows and made music in FL studio on. I think I played High on Life over the cloud with it...
At this rate, we will have amazingly powerful handhelds that burn through the battery in 15 minutes. How about more power efficiency for a change? For real, these handhelds have horrible battery life on anything even remotely demanding. And things are only getting worse with more powerful hardware.
Just another expensive and crappy (specs) laptops in small/handheld form factor. Battery already in them act more like UPS, give time get to the wall socket or battery bank capable to charging car battery, e-bike/scooter.
Have you heard of the Frore "Air jet pros" new solid state cooling technology? It is suppose to be able to cool up to 10 watts on one module while being insanely thin, quiet and efficient. perfect for these handhelds. Good video, Just curious on your thoughts
@@blacksamuraisoffendmeyes but then what is the performance of that. You can't look at a benchmark of the top of the line and then say hey there's a cheaper version too. They won't perform the same.
Any luck getting Starfield to niot rash on the ayaneo air 1s? I downloaded the new update on the ayaneo website but it still tells me my drivers are out of date then starts then crashes when I pick my save file
I really wish the GPD Win Mini was just a bit smaller, closer to the size of the original GPD Win 1. Personally if I want a pocketable device i generally want a Clamshell to maximize space.
I love how people give Aya Neo crap for the 5.5" 1080p screen. But they had to use a commodity screen to get OLED. Making a 6" 720p OLED like a lot of people seem to want in the Air series would be stupid expensive for AN. If someone wants to pay for the setup work to make the 6" screens, I'm sure AN would fit it in the Air.
Regarding the color, I love this specific color scheme, I usually go for it when I buy my emulation devices lol. It reminds me of the original Game Boy.
@@sacredsecrecy9620PS2 era is amazing on Steamdeck. Literally the peak of gaming history. The newer consoles don't know how to use graphics to enhance gameplay and story. So yes playing them on a small screen loses a lot because it's basically a movie you click through. Go back to the real era of gaming and Steamdeck excels. If you can't find something worth playing from PS2, Dreamcast, PSX, Nintendo 64 and earlier that sounds like a you problem
It'll be better optimized than anything on the market but locked down. Probably performance equivalent of the PS4 but you can't use it for emulation and such because of Nintendo's lockdowns. Steamdeck is basically a PS3 as was the Switch
yeah def not for me, the screen is just too small. really hoping the successor to the Steam Deck had a USB Type C port both on top and on bottom and a OLED screen even if it remains at 1280x800
That's like saying iOS needs to move to other devices to succeed. Android did that and the poor performance across cheap models destroyed much of their hype. Most Android devices are cheap throwaway phones or Samsung now
@@chiquita683 What I'm saying is that handhelds need more optimisation than we are seeing with windows and handhelds won't get the optimisations fast enough on windows because its such a small market share compared to desktop or servers. Handheld PCs are not new but if we want the trend to continue and stick this time we need more optimisation because for handhelds stuff like battery life, responsive sleep/wake functionality and compatibility while performing well are part of the software enabled key features. SteamOS is not perfect but it meets thos targets far better in some cases to the point people would want it as an option especially to give a console feel to those who want it.
I agree imo. It's why I sold my PS5, PSVR, Vita, and PSP (plus no time to sit down and game anymore, I work long hours and try to spend time with the family. Handhelds though, a godsend imo). I have the Steamdeck and nothing else so I can stay focused on one device and one platform. I have Switches in my house but it's for my wife and kids, primarily I'm Steamdeck and PC. Could not handle so many devices imo, but I'm a working Dad that just needs to be laser focused if I game, so it's one singular device for me. Chasing the numbers game of higher frames overwhelmed me back in 2007 (Crysis years), chased me away from pc for nearly two decades, and nothing has changed with that mentality. So these newer shiney devices don't interest me and need to be happy with what I got and understand a few compromises until the Steamdeck 2 comes later.
@@da1writer1985I totally get that sentiment. I'm a console player myself, but only started gaming with the PS3, then switched to the PS4, sold my PS3 but kept my PS4 to this day, because of the library of games I don't wanna lose. For the new AAA titles I have an Xbox Series X and for my favorite older games and indies that I can enjoy whenever and wherever, I also have a Steam Deck, so that every gaming device that I have has its distinct purpose. I see no point in buying everything that's new and trendy on the market. You'll end up with only 2-3 go-to devices anyway, so what's the point in wasting all that money? I think some people just need to get their priorities straight ☺️
This could have been great but the screen is too small. They should have made the screen edge to edge and at least border balanced. PS Just about the only thing that extra 1 1/2 inch will really matter lol agree! hahaha
Serious question deserves a serious answer... I never felt compelled to limit the channel to just Steam Deck but instead to serve the audience that the Steam Deck speaks to. In my mind, it's a hypothetical persona that is like me and lives somewhere between PC and console gaming. They see the benefits of both and have been wanting PC handhelds to take off for years. Increasingly, I've had the opportunity to cover a lot more than the Steam Deck but I try to fit it in the context of that hypothetical viewer. If I were ever to rename the channel, "Fan the Tech" would be on the table. If it helps, consider this "Fan the Tech" without an official renaming.
@@FanTheDeckFan the Tech is too broad. I think Deck still works. Steamdeck and deck are becoming like Google to mean all these handheld consoles. Steamdeck changed the game and people know when they see Deck it means their portable gaming consoles. Tech could mean phones, watches, etc and RUclips is flooded with that. It's still not that easy to get reliable reviews on these handhelds that aren't just blatant pay for review type things or where people have any real world use of the devices to know what the community cares about. You'd probably be better off keeping a niche in "deck" , it's taking off
Although the power of the Steam Deck is not enough for me, I'm still waiting for next year. The new AMD APU should take a big step forward in terms of GPU performance. Low-end graphics cards will probably become obsolete sooner or later.
I just wish these handhelds would really try to compete with the Steam Deck, but I can't really justify that price for a tiny little handheld. I know, it's really powerful and everything, but for the size of that thing I don't plan on playing triple As anyway, there should be a low-end tier for the ones who like the small form factor but plan on playing mostly indies and old triple As. No, Switch doesn't count, it's not on the PC handheld category.
@@TonyJenn But as I said I don't need that much horsepower. I don't plan on playing triple As on those tiny little handhelds, more like indies or old games. What it misses in this new "PC handheld" market is a low-end tier reasonably priced for people who just want a tiny steam deck lite with low specs. This is waaay overpowered to me.
@@Manuelx98. Even devices slower will be more expensive than the Steamdeck. The CPU itself isn't what causes the big gap in price. It's just volume and Valve being able to sell at close to break even.
@@Manuelx98.Well, there're actually a ton of retro handhelds for any taste and preference, and really cheap at that, out there. Some can even play PS3 games. So, if you're interested in those to play older games, check out the channel Retro Game Corps. He introduces all the modern retro handhelds with all their features, pros and cons and also lists his favorites. What's really good about all those handhelds is that they have their own OS and don't rely on the clunky Windows OS which is absolutely not fit for mobile gaming. The simplicity and convenience of a console is a highly valuable feature on the go. I hope you'll find the right device for you 😊👍
I personally think the future of gaming is going to be these devices effectively replacing consoles. Microsoft and Sony were wrong about this all along, although they were right about the whole games becoming a service thing. They should have gone ALL in with a super powerful hybrid console, too. Valve and these other companies ate their lunch. Personally I see my next device being the Legion Go.
At this rate I'm thinking about just waiting for one of these to be powerful enough to replace my gaming PC. Even if its like 1 to 1 and a half thousand, that's what ide spend on a desktop anyway.
I already spent the entire summer playing exclusively on my steam deck. Any AAA game it couldn't run, I ignored. I'm already spending way too much time buying games than playing them anyway haha. I just don't see myself playing on my gaming laptop any time soon
@@BortaMaga”and Have the extra cash” is a huge understatement lmfao “have the extra cash” is having money for a switch and saving 100 or so more for a steamdeck, not 1 thousand dollars wtf 😭
@@gelo888 or getting something more powerful than the steam deck and almost as small as a switch lite. Not to mention steam deck isn't pocketable. Sure 1000 bucks isn't the best value, but size does matter for some people.
@@BortaMagaYeah, but devices with THAT screen size definitely need a more appropriate OS at least. Just look at the Windows desktop on that tiny screen around the 17 minute mark, it looks ridiculous! It's horribly inconvenient and clunky. Imagine tinkering around in the system settings (which is necessary because it's Windows) on THAT device! And all that just so you can say you have a pocket handheld? Is that really worth 1000 bucks?! That's absolutely stupid. Guess this device is merely an excuse for people with disposable income to throw a part of it out the window.
I mean it's about the price mainly. The size might not matter for everyone and the same goes for performance. Truth is that when it comes to price vs. performance, it's still absolutely insane how well steam deck performs (even when docked with FSR). That's why it won't be really replaced anytime soon.
Man this thing should cost less than it is and I’d get one just can’t justify the price when there is steam deck and now Oled even if I want smaller and more power it’s not worth it purely because of the sticks it uses and the price sadly
Dude how are people seeing ANYTHING on these little screens? Even my Deck isn't big enough for me to play anything but beat em ups. Anything that requires lots of reading FORGET IT! I am pushing 40 and my eyes are sh&t now. I will never buy another handheld unless it has an ultra thin/light screen the size of a large tablet......but then I guess it's not portable lol
This is the perfect formfactor for me.. but these pc-gaming handhelds bring a thing that a hate about PC gaming: too much configuration... I liked to use the PSVITA because its just: get and play... i never need to be preocupate with tdp, fps, overclocking, underclocking "oh, this game runs great, these not"...
![Blox Fruits Dragon Rework Update [Full Stream]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EqDAp8udhm0/mqdefault.jpg)
God. All these new hand-held gaming PCs just makes me super excited for the successor to the Steam Deck.
It's gonna be really exciting!
I'm open to correction but Valve has said they've got no plans at least in the near-to-mid-term for a successor, haven't they? You think the variety of handhelds coming out forces their hand (pun probably intended)?
Gl with that, you'll be waiting for a while
@@davetron3030correct. They're still working on it, they confirmed that much at least. Though we shouldn't expect anything until 2025 at the earliest. Valve is waiting on a successor to the steam deck apu, can't say I blame them
lol me too to the point i get haters telling me i cant afford a thing(insert aya/asus/...) but without valve making it better my ally sucks i cant launch afew of the games i wanted a handheld for like fall out 1 that work perfectly on the steam deck
It’s a nice device but $1000, I’ll stick with my Steam Deck. It is a blessing the Steam Deck got to such a low entry price since the Steam marketplace can help offset the loss on the device. I would definitely consider the AYANEO Air 1S if money was not a factor.
That fact this device exists at all is just pretty amazing. Of course at that price it is always going to be a curiosity more than a viable mass consumer product.
@@gamble777888ya'll were blasting the ROG ALLy for its price but a 1000 bucks is acceptable?
@@SWOTHDRA who's ya'll? The prices are acceptable for both considering what HW you are getting. Whether there is a large audience at that price point for a handheld PC is what is questionable, not the price of the devices themselves imo.
A great example of why these competitors have such an uphill battle against the Steam Deck. They can't sell the hardware for a loss and make it up with software sales.
@@DragunBreath yup, they are essentially relegated to a even more narrow niche. For a consumer still cool that those possibilities exist.
ayaneo really keeps making their brand stand out with their designs. looks beautifully crafted
This is close to my ideal small-form handheld. Wish I could afford it. Absolutely beautiful device.
Check around black friday / when new models drop, I've seen similar models go around/under $600.
Still not a *small* amount of cash but possible
I was able to get the previous model for 300 used not as powerful but it plays stuff fine
I got their first iteration of the Air and I use it more than my Deck. I just love the form factor and the OLED screen is amazing with PSP or Gamecube emulation. Even though my model is the 5825u it still runs games rather well. I also have the AYANEO 2S for my 7840u fix and that processor is better for sure.
I love the Air, I do wish I’d gone for the 5825u though. 1S looks great!
I love my air 1s. the screen size being "big enough" is just gonna vary from person to person. Ive had no issue playing baldur gate 3 on it, and it looks amazing. my ally has been collecting dust since I got the air. the OLED panel really is a game changer for me.
Yeah the screen size is incredibly subjective. Could absolutely be fine for some. Also agreed that I have no reason to pick up my Ally when I have a 7840U handheld nearby
sell your ally. It can fund future purchases.
FYI the thin and light model with the color scheme you like better also has a 7840U, it is just restricted to a lower TDP (15W on battery, 18W plugged in).
Edit: Oh and btw, awesome review! I watched all the other reviews you mentioned and still appreciated your thoughts on the device a lot!
These systems are getting ridiculous. I can't wait to see where things are in 10 years.
It's pretty insane
It will be dead probably people are so fickle. Handheld gaming has been around forever this is the best generation but they just dock it. I'm lost why dock it? Furthermore I can't count the number of people that hate the idea of cloud based or digital license game. Yes the steam deck is a seller but when do we get annoyed with short play times 3-4 hours or cords to chArge. I personally love all this stuff. Loved cloud gaming now services are dying and people complain about game pass streaming.
Really ridiculous and exiting about big performance/power and large number on hardware spec... Begin to invest in portable power plant/generator or find way to bring wall socket with you. Majority already need it (wall socket e-bike/scooter size battery pack), image in few year with BS trend - bigger, faster, more powerful.
@@ronnieb7989not everyone has the internet speed to support streaming
PC gamers don't give a fuck about physical. Games are significantly cheaper
This handheld is at such a perfect size. Not big and bulky like the Steam Decc, not as tiny as the PSVita. It's just the right size for pocket-portability
True but the battery life is bad and the screen is too small
@@SWOTHDRA Battery life will never be good on these handhelds, especially with a bunch of LEDs on it. Battery tech isn't all that great. And the screen could definitely be a lil bigger. Less of a border, more screen
@@SWOTHDRABattery life on this device is more or less the same as the Steam Deck and these other handhelds (which isn't great, but its hardly an issue when every single PC handheld is like this)
@@PantsaBear The first GPD Win had an absolutely amazing battery life (Windows would show 20 h remaining at 100 % while idling), to the point where I didn’t even put it into standby when I wasn’t using it. I just left it on with the screen still glowing, lol.
I think there might be a market for slightly cheaper handhelds (the GPD Win was $400) which are pocketable and low-powered enough to have great battery life (it really wasn’t very powerful, but indie games, retro games, and even older AAA games (such as Dishonored, for example) ran just fine).
I'd love to see a video focused on 720p gaming on the Air 1S. How much battery life can you squeeze out of it etc...
The limited edition Air 1S does have a 7840u. The difference is the dimensions & as a result the battery which is significantly smaller.
Great review man
I think I’ve read somewhere, that for them to make to handheld affordable, they used an already existing oled 5.5 screen they didn’t design it.
I like the size of it and will definitely look into getting one.
1000 bucks
Ayaneo out here like, "Ok I know everyone is trying to make uber Game Gears, but what if we made an uber Gameboy Pocket?"
We have the devices, now what we need are developers to start developing FOR handheld windows PCs. Games are still being developed for full on desktop rigs, which is fantastic, but it would be great to get AA-level experiences that are targeted at and developed for the handheld market.
Games from 2013-2017 look amazing still, and run great on these handhelds, especially the Steam Deck. So targeting a graphics level thats on par with a Red Dead Redemption 2 or a Metal Gear Solid V would be an awesome space for developers to explore.
What a time to be alive.
The price on these devices is rarely mentioned, but it's the most important factor. Being more powerful doesn't matter when we're talking $799 for the base model, and that's the early bird price. The one shown in this video is $1k.
I understand they don't have the option of selling at a loss to make money off the consumer later with software, but let's be real. Buying this device (or any of their devices) over a steam deck, rog ally, or lenovo legion makes zero sense & you're wasting your money if you do so. Super small screen, not directly supported by any storefront or software, double if not triple the cost of the competitors.
Exactly 💯💯💯
Speak for yourself. The steam deck screen is not something I want to look at. I’ve loved the screen and form factor on the first Air, and I’ll definitely be looking to pick up the 1S once the OG Air fails to run things I want.
@@emlyndewar I speak for a lot of people, you want to waste your money go ahead. Sounds like you already did once.
I could buy 2 steam decks, or one and fully upgrade it with the deck hd screen, a 2tb SSD, etc etc and have money left over.
@@zach7384 you speak for yourself, but think you speak for everyone. Keep being frugal, I'll keep enjoying my Air and the time saved not upgrading it.
Ayaneo seems to release a new device every 3 months. What should be covered is how well do these devices get firmware updates? Is a device that released 2 years ago still getting regular updates? I cant believe it would be
They barely get support and thwy are wayyyy too expensive
They are barely supported just a month after launch, so yeah.
I love my Steam Deck, the size was overwhelming at first, but after a lot of use, it's clear that it's comfortable and the controls are well placed for the size. The only way I'd consider something significantly smaller now is if it was PSP/Vita sized - I think that would be really interesting. Wouldn't be as powerful, but you could still pack a decent processor in there, and maybe even less than a 720p screen to compensate for lower power and battery.
The difference bwtween SD and all of these handhelds is that SD is still getiing better while Ayaneo released their 6th console, are we still getting updates to the first Ayaneo?
Yes Aya does have their own drivers and OS :)
Exactly! Valve with their amazing customer service, price politics and community, plus the user friendly Steam OS are still unmatched which probably won't change any time soon. No matter how many of those windows devices get thrown out to the market they all share the same huge disadvantage compared to Steam Deck being the unoptimized Windows OS which is horribly clunky, unintuitive and overloaded for a portable device. I don't wanna spend more time in the system settings tinkering like an idiot, than in the actual games, that's ridiculous! On the Steam Deck you get all the convenience of a console - you just turn on the device, open your library and load up your game. Done! That's how it's supposed to work.
Besides, just look somewhere around the 17 minute mark in that video, how horrible the Windows desktop looks on such a tiny screen! What a joke... Clearly, as long as there's no dedicated Windows version for handhelds those things are worthless. They cost a fukin fortune but have only a fraction of the outstanding user experience of a Steam Deck. Plus they get abandoned real quick because there's a new model released every few months. It's actually insane, how the fuk are ppl supposed to keep up?! That Chinese assembly line system and its short-lived products are definitely not the way to go and not to be trusted with all that money they demand. Screw 'em!
@@sacredsecrecy9620when Tears of the Kingdom leaked there were whole forums dedicated to getting it to work on the Steamdeck because the community is huge. These other devices are left to fend for themselves. Steamdeck will always outperform these other handhelds because of better software. Using windows is a L
@@sacredsecrecy9620can you play your GOG games or Epic store games yet??? 🤡
@@sacredsecrecy9620They’re definitely not “worthless” lmao if since people love them. Sorry a better device hurts your feelings but competition only means I get more to choose from :)
Thin thin retro limited version has a 7840u too
Maybe this is to small. Excellent video as always. Like I said before I'll be sticking to the Steam Deck.
Small? You seriously need to get a PSP
I have problem how layout to small for my hands, but I can see people who didn't like other handheld being to big, this maybe go to for them.
I love that size
I like it. I’m waiting for a computer that’s the size of a phone or PSP. I’d love to carry it in my pocket all day! I’d ditch the smartphone for one! Small games on the go, and major games and productivity at the desk/TV!
I really do want a one-for all computer that I keep with me all the time with all project and personal files in my pocket! Until then, Steam Deck goes everywhere with me in a bag!
Yeah I love my ayaneo air 1s oled it's perfect in size and power plus it fits in your pocket. I bought a nintendo switch lite flip cover case to cover the screen and analog sticks in Mt pocket.
Got mine about a week ago and my impressions so far are very mixed. When everything works it's pretty amazing. Playing Sea of Stars on it has been awesome!
But it has A LOT of problems.
Out of the box I basically had to reinstall Windows from scratch to get it to work properly, as the Windows installation it came with was kinda borked. Touch screen was very unresponsive, built in controller would sometimes stop working, occasional freezes and so on.
A complete reinstall fixed most of those issues but not all of them. It still doesn't always boot properly, like 1 out of 5 reboots it just freezes on the boot screen. There is also some occasional fairly quiet popping/crackling sound from the left speaker, no idea if it's a driver or a wiring issue.
The AyaSpace app/launcher is also super crap and very buggy. I'm currently using Steam in Big Picture mode as my main UI instead, with Handheld Companion for TDP control. It's not perfect either because Handheld Companion can also be a bit of a pain to use, but at least it's better than what the device comes with. I still have to let it start up AyaSpace on every boot though since that's the only way to turn off the stick ring LEDs. The LEDs also light up every time I connect or disconnect the charger, which is super annoying. I wish you could just disable them permanently. I never managed to have AyaSpace and Steam running at the same time because there would always be some kind of controller conflict. So my current solution is to immediately shut down AyaSpace as soon as it has managed to turn off the LEDs.
I tried ChimeraOS on it (basically open-source SteamOS for those that aren't familiar) even though the Air 1S isn't officially supported yet and it looks promising. The sound doesn't work yet, the extra buttons don't work and there is no way to control the LEDs yet. Once the devs figure those things out though I will be switching to Chimera in a heartbeat.
Thats a 1000 bucks wasted....
Yo, return it. It might be a faulty unit
Great critical review. I don’t hear these observations from other popular RUclipsrs
Awesome review bro
I really appreciate that!
Me over here with a steamdeck that I've literally only used windows and made music in FL studio on. I think I played High on Life over the cloud with it...
If the screen to body ratio would've been better I'd probably get one. Like a 6 inch screen in this body would be amazing
At this rate, we will have amazingly powerful handhelds that burn through the battery in 15 minutes. How about more power efficiency for a change?
For real, these handhelds have horrible battery life on anything even remotely demanding. And things are only getting worse with more powerful hardware.
Just another expensive and crappy (specs) laptops in small/handheld form factor. Battery already in them act more like UPS, give time get to the wall socket or battery bank capable to charging car battery, e-bike/scooter.
Have you heard of the Frore "Air jet pros" new solid state cooling technology? It is suppose to be able to cool up to 10 watts on one module while being insanely thin, quiet and efficient. perfect for these handhelds. Good video, Just curious on your thoughts
The only problem I have its just too expensive compare to the steam deck, like 2x sometimes.
Yeah it can be a lot
There’s a $500 version 6800u
@@blacksamuraisoffendme I'm trying to find it, couldn't find it, also kinda defeats the purpose of being powerful than the Steam deck.
@@blacksamuraisoffendmeyes but then what is the performance of that. You can't look at a benchmark of the top of the line and then say hey there's a cheaper version too. They won't perform the same.
More expensive than the legion go too. That had 8.8 inch screen lol.
Any luck getting Starfield to niot rash on the ayaneo air 1s? I downloaded the new update on the ayaneo website but it still tells me my drivers are out of date then starts then crashes when I pick my save file
Meh I still love my steam deck, and when steam deck 2 comes out I’ll get that. The OS is perfect and the build quality is great.
I was interested in this device but the screen is a little too small. I got the GPD Win 4 instead but 7640U.
Which game is he playing on around 2:40 ?? Looks like a retro game
I really wish the GPD Win Mini was just a bit smaller, closer to the size of the original GPD Win 1. Personally if I want a pocketable device i generally want a Clamshell to maximize space.
I love how people give Aya Neo crap for the 5.5" 1080p screen. But they had to use a commodity screen to get OLED. Making a 6" 720p OLED like a lot of people seem to want in the Air series would be stupid expensive for AN. If someone wants to pay for the setup work to make the 6" screens, I'm sure AN would fit it in the Air.
No way I can game in such small screen these days, my sight is not what it used to be and even find the Deck's too small many times
Regarding the color, I love this specific color scheme, I usually go for it when I buy my emulation devices lol. It reminds me of the original Game Boy.
I thought I would see a performance comparison between the steam deck since the the console is in the title..
Rocket League on switch lite is just a bit too small, so I hope the higher resolution oled helps since the screen size is the same
More powerful than Steam Deck and Ally. Proceeds to buy it for SNES roms 😅
😭😭😅
Yeah, because what else are you supposed to play on that tiny screen? Makes all that power obsolete.
@@sacredsecrecy9620PS2 era is amazing on Steamdeck. Literally the peak of gaming history. The newer consoles don't know how to use graphics to enhance gameplay and story. So yes playing them on a small screen loses a lot because it's basically a movie you click through. Go back to the real era of gaming and Steamdeck excels. If you can't find something worth playing from PS2, Dreamcast, PSX, Nintendo 64 and earlier that sounds like a you problem
What's the game at 0:25 secs?
Does this little guy have a good cooling system? I have a bad feeling it may fry in a year...
I didn't open it but the temps stayed surprisingly low during my tests. I can run a few benches back to back and let you know
How long can it play ac6 on low and max settings?
can you please list the games you were playing here.
If their is a switch 2, I wonder if it will even compare with the current handheld PC market
It'll be better optimized than anything on the market but locked down. Probably performance equivalent of the PS4 but you can't use it for emulation and such because of Nintendo's lockdowns. Steamdeck is basically a PS3 as was the Switch
yeah def not for me, the screen is just too small. really hoping the successor to the Steam Deck had a USB Type C port both on top and on bottom and a OLED screen even if it remains at 1280x800
What game is he playing at @10:12?
Cult of the Lamb
What beat em up game are you playing
This would be amazing with a 16:10 screen, I would definitely pick one of these up if they came in all black.
it does, now buy one and make a review please,
unfortunately they're limited on options for OLED panels and developing a new one is astronomically expensive
SteamOS really needs to launch to fullyvtake advantage of the handheld trend if they want this to category to carry on
That's like saying iOS needs to move to other devices to succeed. Android did that and the poor performance across cheap models destroyed much of their hype. Most Android devices are cheap throwaway phones or Samsung now
@@chiquita683 What I'm saying is that handhelds need more optimisation than we are seeing with windows and handhelds won't get the optimisations fast enough on windows because its such a small market share compared to desktop or servers. Handheld PCs are not new but if we want the trend to continue and stick this time we need more optimisation because for handhelds stuff like battery life, responsive sleep/wake functionality and compatibility while performing well are part of the software enabled key features. SteamOS is not perfect but it meets thos targets far better in some cases to the point people would want it as an option especially to give a console feel to those who want it.
I see someone playing The Ninja Warriors, I immediately thumbs up.
Bomb Rush is also a huge plus
this is my kind of territory
Is it the size that appeals to you? Or the 7840U?
honestly both@@FanTheDeck
🔥🔥
800p 6 inch Oled screen and I litle bit Bigger 45HW battery. Killer
How do you cope owning all those handhelds? My OCD would drive me to insanity with so many choices lol
I agree imo. It's why I sold my PS5, PSVR, Vita, and PSP (plus no time to sit down and game anymore, I work long hours and try to spend time with the family. Handhelds though, a godsend imo). I have the Steamdeck and nothing else so I can stay focused on one device and one platform. I have Switches in my house but it's for my wife and kids, primarily I'm Steamdeck and PC. Could not handle so many devices imo, but I'm a working Dad that just needs to be laser focused if I game, so it's one singular device for me. Chasing the numbers game of higher frames overwhelmed me back in 2007 (Crysis years), chased me away from pc for nearly two decades, and nothing has changed with that mentality. So these newer shiney devices don't interest me and need to be happy with what I got and understand a few compromises until the Steamdeck 2 comes later.
@@da1writer1985I totally get that sentiment. I'm a console player myself, but only started gaming with the PS3, then switched to the PS4, sold my PS3 but kept my PS4 to this day, because of the library of games I don't wanna lose. For the new AAA titles I have an Xbox Series X and for my favorite older games and indies that I can enjoy whenever and wherever, I also have a Steam Deck, so that every gaming device that I have has its distinct purpose. I see no point in buying everything that's new and trendy on the market. You'll end up with only 2-3 go-to devices anyway, so what's the point in wasting all that money? I think some people just need to get their priorities straight ☺️
Any one ordered from UK do we have to pay any hidden fees like import ?
When I first opened my Steam Deck I thought it was comically big, and now everything else just looks comically small to me.
the point of portability is for things to be portable :) more size = less chance to be portable
But the battery life is less right? And it needs an accesory for bringing a battery pack.
Yeah the battery is a little smaller (38Wh) and it burns through battery a little faster in my experience.
This could have been great but the screen is too small. They should have made the screen edge to edge and at least border balanced. PS Just about the only thing that extra 1 1/2 inch will really matter lol agree! hahaha
Steamdeck should make a variation like this.
Serious question: This channel being titled "Fan The Deck" doesn't imply just Steam Deck content anymore? Deck now refers to any Deck-style handheld?
Serious question deserves a serious answer...
I never felt compelled to limit the channel to just Steam Deck but instead to serve the audience that the Steam Deck speaks to. In my mind, it's a hypothetical persona that is like me and lives somewhere between PC and console gaming. They see the benefits of both and have been wanting PC handhelds to take off for years. Increasingly, I've had the opportunity to cover a lot more than the Steam Deck but I try to fit it in the context of that hypothetical viewer.
If I were ever to rename the channel, "Fan the Tech" would be on the table. If it helps, consider this "Fan the Tech" without an official renaming.
@@FanTheDeckFan the Tech is too broad. I think Deck still works. Steamdeck and deck are becoming like Google to mean all these handheld consoles. Steamdeck changed the game and people know when they see Deck it means their portable gaming consoles. Tech could mean phones, watches, etc and RUclips is flooded with that. It's still not that easy to get reliable reviews on these handhelds that aren't just blatant pay for review type things or where people have any real world use of the devices to know what the community cares about. You'd probably be better off keeping a niche in "deck" , it's taking off
The Retro version is very cute. 😘😘
As someone who got the gpd win 3 (the 6 inch screen one) if the handheld is not comfortable… you will never use it
Ergonomics and screen size is a big downer for me.
Does anyone know which game that kid is playing towards the end of the video?
If you mean the 3D platformer, it's called Pseudororegalia.
It's small but it heats up like a mother fcker . Especially at higher tdps. The whole thing gets pretty hot. The screen etc. I had the first air pro.
What is that skateboarding game?
Although the power of the Steam Deck is not enough for me, I'm still waiting for next year. The new AMD APU should take a big step forward in terms of GPU performance. Low-end graphics cards will probably become obsolete sooner or later.
You'll say each year that the product next year will be better. But that's just tech companies drip feeding our their tech
ROG Ally for the win again!!
I just wish these handhelds would really try to compete with the Steam Deck, but I can't really justify that price for a tiny little handheld. I know, it's really powerful and everything, but for the size of that thing I don't plan on playing triple As anyway, there should be a low-end tier for the ones who like the small form factor but plan on playing mostly indies and old triple As. No, Switch doesn't count, it's not on the PC handheld category.
these aren't cheap to make, especially with more powerful specs. Valve can afford to charge the low price because they have steam to soften the blow.
@@TonyJenn But as I said I don't need that much horsepower. I don't plan on playing triple As on those tiny little handhelds, more like indies or old games. What it misses in this new "PC handheld" market is a low-end tier reasonably priced for people who just want a tiny steam deck lite with low specs. This is waaay overpowered to me.
@@Manuelx98. Even devices slower will be more expensive than the Steamdeck. The CPU itself isn't what causes the big gap in price. It's just volume and Valve being able to sell at close to break even.
@@Manuelx98.Well, there're actually a ton of retro handhelds for any taste and preference, and really cheap at that, out there. Some can even play PS3 games. So, if you're interested in those to play older games, check out the channel Retro Game Corps. He introduces all the modern retro handhelds with all their features, pros and cons and also lists his favorites. What's really good about all those handhelds is that they have their own OS and don't rely on the clunky Windows OS which is absolutely not fit for mobile gaming. The simplicity and convenience of a console is a highly valuable feature on the go. I hope you'll find the right device for you 😊👍
@@Manuelx98.it's not missing Ayn makes cheap devices exactly like you're describing. One is 249 and the other is 349
1.5 Inches goes a long way when things are tight thanks ill keep that in mind
Me just waiting for someone to make these things last 5 hours max
the ROG ally has the same apu
I personally think the future of gaming is going to be these devices effectively replacing consoles. Microsoft and Sony were wrong about this all along, although they were right about the whole games becoming a service thing. They should have gone ALL in with a super powerful hybrid console, too. Valve and these other companies ate their lunch. Personally I see my next device being the Legion Go.
i agree, microsoft didnt think big enough.
At this rate I'm thinking about just waiting for one of these to be powerful enough to replace my gaming PC. Even if its like 1 to 1 and a half thousand, that's what ide spend on a desktop anyway.
I already spent the entire summer playing exclusively on my steam deck. Any AAA game it couldn't run, I ignored. I'm already spending way too much time buying games than playing them anyway haha.
I just don't see myself playing on my gaming laptop any time soon
@@spaceman6_6 i agree
Buy a gaming laptop
Imagine trying to play a competitive shooter on this 😳
I like the look of it but I can feel my hands cramping up just looking at it.
Way too small for me unfortunatly.
A thousand bucks man.. that's insane for a handheld. It's cool to see these new devices but I'm left scratching my head wondering who this is for
to be fair there are different versions starting from $500 and they have some coming out from $300 but with intel 🤮
like the video said, it's for people who want a much more powerful yet much smaller than the rog ally and have the extra cash
@@BortaMaga”and Have the extra cash” is a huge understatement lmfao “have the extra cash” is having money for a switch and saving 100 or so more for a steamdeck, not 1 thousand dollars wtf 😭
@@gelo888 or getting something more powerful than the steam deck and almost as small as a switch lite. Not to mention steam deck isn't pocketable. Sure 1000 bucks isn't the best value, but size does matter for some people.
@@BortaMagaYeah, but devices with THAT screen size definitely need a more appropriate OS at least. Just look at the Windows desktop on that tiny screen around the 17 minute mark, it looks ridiculous! It's horribly inconvenient and clunky. Imagine tinkering around in the system settings (which is necessary because it's Windows) on THAT device! And all that just so you can say you have a pocket handheld? Is that really worth 1000 bucks?! That's absolutely stupid. Guess this device is merely an excuse for people with disposable income to throw a part of it out the window.
I'll wait for Steam Deck 2 or whatever it's called 🤷🏻♂️😌
now if they made steamos version
I really just don't want the OS to be Windows...
Battery will also take off like a rocket.
I mean it's about the price mainly. The size might not matter for everyone and the same goes for performance. Truth is that when it comes to price vs. performance, it's still absolutely insane how well steam deck performs (even when docked with FSR). That's why it won't be really replaced anytime soon.
I believe the GPD Win 4 is smaller
Since you say its stronger than the steam deck, then why dont you play starfield on it then and explore around?
This video has actually been ready for about a week now so before Starfield was available.
@@FanTheDeck all im saying is do a performance comparison with the ayaneo and steam deck with starfield.
Man this thing should cost less than it is and I’d get one just can’t justify the price when there is steam deck and now Oled even if I want smaller and more power it’s not worth it purely because of the sticks it uses and the price sadly
Also it should be 800p 1080p is overkill considering the size lmfao like why it’s wasted performance
run bazzite on it
*& more*
_did you just say "pocket rocket" ?! I'm using that catchphrase from now on!_
hey kid, is a good practice to put the names of the games that are showed on the video :)
Man valve really started something here love my deck but I'm tempted on a new handheld.
aya neo invented these consoles way before valve, so did other companies like gpd and onexplayer :)
Then don't go up buying chinese ones. They don't get same level of support and care that Valve provides.
price 1k + im sure
Waaaaay too expensive. This thing needs to be at least $50 less expensive than Steam Deck to be even worth considering
you are paynig for portability and power, this thing is way superior than the steam deck, that's why the price
Should have been 7640U
If only it could be a VANGOGH!
Dude how are people seeing ANYTHING on these little screens? Even my Deck isn't big enough for me to play anything but beat em ups. Anything that requires lots of reading FORGET IT! I am pushing 40 and my eyes are sh&t now. I will never buy another handheld unless it has an ultra thin/light screen the size of a large tablet......but then I guess it's not portable lol
Get back to the PSP era to understand.
This is the perfect formfactor for me.. but these pc-gaming handhelds bring a thing that a hate about PC gaming: too much configuration...
I liked to use the PSVITA because its just: get and play... i never need to be preocupate with tdp, fps, overclocking, underclocking "oh, this game runs great, these not"...