AYANEO has unveiled a new handheld featuring the AMD Phoenix processor, specifically the Ryzen 7 7840U, boasting a 28W maximum power consumption. The standout feature of this gaming device is its concealed QWERTY keyboard beneath a screen, a distinctive trait not found in other mainstream handhelds. Dubbed “SLIDE,” the device can slide off its keyboard, maintaining a compact footprint.
One of the primary selling points for this console is its compact size. Despite the 6-inch diameter screen, it boasts a high pixel density of 386 pixels per inch, a resolution of 1920×1080, and a peak brightness of 400 nits. Although it’s not an OLED panel but rather an IPS one, it offers a remarkable display with 100% sRGB and 85% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage according to official specifications.
The SLIDE incorporates an innovative cooling system dubbed 3+2, comprising three 8 mm copper tubes connected to two copper plates. Powered by a single high-pressure turbine fan affixed to a heat sink with a surface area of 20304 mm², the system is designed to maintain a temperature of 46°C in 15W TDP mode and can reach up to 61°C during gameplay with a 28W configuration, though it may exceed this during stress testing. It’s important to note that these temperature figures are based on the full fan speed mode.
Featuring LPDDR5X memory at an undisclosed speed, the system offers three configurations for memory: 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB. It also supports full M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 SSDs with storage capacities up to 4 TB, albeit at a slightly higher cost.
Concerning connectivity, the system is equipped with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 support. It features two USB4 Type-C connectors and accommodates SD 7.0 TF cards with a read speed of up to 700 MB/s. Additionally, the device incorporates integrated fingerprint recognition as a security measure in case of unauthorized access or misplacement.
AYANEO has already introduced dozens of products to the market, cultivating a substantial community among handheld enthusiasts well before the Steam Deck era. However, what remains consistent is that AYANEO systems continue to be relatively pricey and pose a greater challenge to acquire compared to their competitors.
The system is currently accessible at an initial cost of $699, exclusively for early adopters through a crowdfunding platform. Subsequently, other consumers will need to pay a minimum of $799 or $899 when the system becomes available through additional retail channels. This pricing applies to the configuration with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage.
For the 32 GB variant, there is an additional cost of $100, and upgrading to 2 TB storage incurs an extra $160 (totaling $260 above the base model). Users not seeking storage enhancements can choose the 4 TB option, priced at $1299, $1499, and $1599, depending on whether it’s an early bird, Indiegogo retail, or official retail purchase.