AYANEO raises the curtain on the NEXT 2, but only halfway. The manufacturer confirms the platform and some core features, but remains silent on all the uncomfortable details: display specifications, battery capacity, RAM/SSD options, weight, prices and dates remain shrouded in mystery for the time being. Marketing on, facts off, a double-edged sword for a product category that thrives on honest wattage and fps figures.

Source: AYANEO

Zen 5, RDNA 3.5, Strix Halo offshoot: solid base

At the center is AMD’s Ryzen AI Max 395, a 16-core/32-thread mobile APU based on Zen 5. According to the manufacturer, the integrated Radeon 8060S (RDNA 3.5) should come “close to RTX 4060 performance”. Sounds good, but without measured values it’s just a numbers game: Do you mean laptop RTX 4060 (80-140 W) or desktop? What TDP does AYANEO allow for the APU in the handheld – 15, 25, 35 W? Without these key points, any comparison is academic at best. Nevertheless: For 720p/1080p with adaptive scaling (FSR/XeSS/RSR), the iGPU should be sufficient in many titles.

Third Strix Halo handheld on the market

With the NEXT 2, AYANEO joins the ranks of GPD and OneXPlayer, which already deliver devices with the same APU foundation. In terms of performance, therefore, no miracle is to be expected; differentiation comes down to thermals, ergonomics, input devices and battery life. This is precisely where AYANEO remains vague, which is no coincidence. If you share the base, you have to win when it comes to fine-tuning.

Inputs: TMR sticks, dual-mode triggers

The controller setup is more exciting. AYANEO speaks of “exclusive TMR joysticks” (Tunneling Magnetoresistance), i.e. magnetoresistive sensors with high resolution and low-drift behavior, as well as dual-mode triggers, switchable between “hair trigger” and Hall analog. Plus a classic Xbox layout (ABXY), a circular D-pad and additional buttons. If this is implemented properly, AYANEO scores exactly where GPD/OneXPlayer has scattered so far: consistency, deadzones, haptics.

Display & battery: the big unknowns

AYANEO calls it a “top-tier screen”, but does not reveal the size, resolution, panel technology or refresh rate. Without this information, any performance classification remains a waste of time; 800p@60 Hz has different requirements than 1200p@120 Hz. The energy storage unit is referred to as an “extra-large” built-in battery. This sets it apart from the GPD Win 5 with a removable battery, but loses service convenience. Cooling? Dual fan, as previously leaked. The decisive factor will be the volume under continuous load – paper data does not heat any slats.

Memory configuration: probably 32 GB/1 TB upwards

There is no official information on RAM and SSD. A basic package of 32 GB LPDDR5(x)/1 TB NVMe is realistic, because the competition is hardly accepted below that and the APU-iGPU combination lives on bandwidth. Anyone seriously aiming for 1200p will want to see 64 GB and fast LPDDR configurations. But as long as AYANEO remains silent, this will remain a wish list.

Price & positioning: 1,500 US-$ plus X

AYANEO has not mentioned any prices. Those familiar with the market expect to pay US$ 1,500 and up, depending on RAM/SSD, display and bundle. Not only is that a lot of money, it is also a risk in times of tight GDDR7/DRAM supply chains: Premium APUs, complex inputs and complex cooling drive the BOM. The sweet spot only arises when thermal performance, battery life and noise levels are actually convincing. Otherwise, it remains an expensive couch console.

Classification: Potential yes, lack of evidence

The package smells like a serious iteration: modern APU, usable iGPU, ambitious inputs. At the same time, AYANEO doesn’t have a solid story to tell: How long does the battery last with a 25-30 W APU budget? What fps does the device deliver in Cyberpunk, Elden Ring, Helldivers 2 at native resolution and balanced FSR? How loud are the two fans? Without these answers, the announcement is more of a teaser than a launch, a diplomatic capitulation to the hard measurements.

Source: AYANEO

Preliminary key points

• APU: AMD Ryzen AI Max 395 (Zen 5, 16C/32T)
• iGPU: Radeon 8060S (RDNA 3.5)
• OS: Windows
• Inputs: TMR sticks, switchable hair/reverb triggers, Xbox layout
• Cooling: dual-fan design
• Battery: permanently installed, “extra-large” (specifications missing)
• Display: “top-tier” (size/Hz/panel unnamed)
• Price/availability: open; tendency > 1,500 US-$

Conclusion

AYANEO provides the right headlines, but still no substance. If you want to buy, wait for real benchmarks, thermal measurements and runtime tests. Only then will it become clear whether the NEXT 2 is more than just a pretty data sheet with asterisks.

Source: AYANEO via X