We are currently witnessing a renaissance in PC gaming handhelds, with the Steam Deck’s success leading the charge. However, many of these alternatives use Windows or proprietary interfaces, rather than Valve’s own SteamOS, which provides the seamless experience that the Steam Deck is known for. Ayaneo is taking a different approach with the Ayaneo Next Lite, as they have chosen to utilize SteamOS on their gaming handheld.
The Ayaneo Next Lite comes with SteamOS preinstalled as the primary interface, making it very easy to run your Steam game library on the handheld. This feature adds significant value to Ayaneo’s vision of the Next Lite as a “value-for-money option” for handheld PCs.
While exact pricing and release date details have not been revealed, we do know that the device will feature a 7-inch screen, a 47Wh battery, x-axis linear motors, and the ergonomic design and hall-effect joysticks of the standard Ayaneo Next handhelds.
In the blog post unveiling the device, Ayaneo teased that the Next Lite “will debut with unexpected and exciting surprises for players,” although the specifics are still unknown. More information will be available soon, as Ayaneo has announced that “subscriptions” related to the device will become available at 9:30 p.m. ET on January 11.
If you are curious about the company’s previous attempts at PC gaming handhelds, Digital Trends reviewed the Ayaneo 2S last August. The review gave it two-and-a-half stars, noting that the “impressive power isn’t enough to justify its high price tag and hacked together features.” Hopefully, the inclusion of SteamOS will make the Ayaneo Next Lite a better handheld from the start.
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