Handheld devices have been around for years, but the arrival of the Steam Deck has brought renewed interest and demand to the category, much like the Nintendo Switch did for consoles in 2017. . Valve's mission to create an affordable on-the-go gaming laptop means there's plenty of room for something more portable, which brings us to the Ayaneo Drives 2.
Design: Similar to a steam bridge, but more elegant
While Ayaneo 2 doesn't stray too far from the basic Steam Deck plan, it's clear from the start that it doesn't come cheap either. It has a large 7-inch 1920 x 1200 LCD display with high brightness (less than 400 nits in our test) surrounded by an Xbox-style controller. There are useful buttons on each side to open menus or shortcuts, and more customizable controls are located in a stack that works like left and right clicks by default. There's also a fingerprint sensor on the power button, which is a nice bonus not available on the Steam Deck.
Professionals
- excellent performance
- Excellent 7-inch Full HD+ screen
- Joystick with hall sensor
- three USB-C ports
- strong structure
- many accessories
Against
- expensive
- the show could use a little more polish
- average battery life
- without touch panel
One of the things that impressed me the most was Ayane's attention to detail. The whole setup looks well built. The computer case is smooth and solid and has a very soothing power. The front of the system features a single glass panel (with cutouts for the joystick and buttons), giving it a sleek and simple look. The company also went to great lengths to ensure that the screws were not visible. If you want to access it, there are small covers on each side that can be removed. Be careful not to spoil the ending like I did.
Other premium upgrades to the Steam platform include Ayaneo 2 joysticks with a magnetic Hall sensor and shoulder triggers that feel crisp and sharp. Unlike what you get with Valve's handheld, there's almost no dead zone. But what I like most about the design of the Ayaneo 2 is that the touchscreen is bezel-less and almost elegant.
Ultimately, while neither machine is pocket-friendly, the Ayaneo 2 is definitely the more compact of the two. The Steamboard measures a foot (about 11.7 inches), compared to the Ayaneo 2's more manageable 10.4 inches.
Ports and accessories - many options
Another quality that distinguishes Ayaneo from its competitors is the abundance of ports. In addition to a 3.5mm audio jack and a microSD card slot for expanded storage, you also get three USB-C ports, two of which can be used for charging. This flexibility has come in handy many times, giving you the freedom to run the power cord up or down, making it easy to keep the cord out of the way however you hold it. system
Also, if Ayaneo makes a portable dock, you don't need to buy one, as there are three USB-C ports in the box along with two USB-A adapters. Even without additional dongles or hubs, it still has enough connections to connect a mouse, keyboard and external display, so it's very easy to use it like a regular computer. In addition, the Ayaneo also includes a charging case, several international power adapters, a USB-C cable, and additional screw caps.
Performance: Zen3 makes a big difference
Another big advantage the Ayaneo 2 has over the Steam Deck is raw performance. Valve has partnered with AMD to create a custom chip based on the company's Zen2 architecture, the Ayaneo 2 is powered by the new Ryzen 7 6800U chip built on the Zen3+ platform. It's a leap in processing power you can actually feel.
In testing, the Ayaneo 2 scored 4,282 on 3DMark's Wild Life Extreme test, which is on par with or slightly better than what we've seen on similarly priced laptops like the Surface Laptop 5 (3,848) or XPS 13 Plus (3,505). . During gameplay, Ayaneo 2 is 25-40% faster than Steam Deck, depending on the title. Shadow of Tomb Raider averaged 54fps at high 800p settings, compared to 40fps on the Ayaneo 2 Steam Deck. When I bumped up the game's resolution to take advantage of the Ayaneo 2's Full HD+ display, it was still able to play at 1920 x 1200 (in SotTR) at 35fps , despite nearly doubling the pixels. It's a similar story in Elden Ring , where the Ayaneo 2 hovered around 55fps at medium 800p settings, compared to 48fps or 40fps at 1200p on Steam Deck.
When to use: A more luxurious way to play on the go
Okay, enough about the design and features, what do you actually want to use this thing for? In short, the Ayaneo 2 solves my biggest complaints about the Steam Deck, but in a smaller, more compact chassis and better performance. Its screen is brighter, more colorful and of better quality, so everything is clearer. And thanks to the Ryzen 7 6800U processor, you can achieve frame rates similar to the Ayaneo 2 for the Steam Deck at 800p at 1920 x 1200. I should also note that while the Valve laptop only has 512GB of internal memory, the Ayaneo 2 can deliver. SSD up to 2TB, microSD card slot (with a nice protective cover) for extra space. if you want
The control structure of the Ayaneo 2 is also excellent. So, even without a built-in trackpad, you can easily navigate Windows 11 using the left stick, which still serves as a way to move the mouse cursor, just like in Steam. Of course, this means you won't want to play Civilization 6 or an RTS on the Ayaneo 2, but even with the simplest controls, these Steam Deck games are complex. Ayaneo's magnetic Hall sensors on the analog sticks and shoulder triggers also provide an immersive experience. While I wouldn't call it a silent system, it's not as loud or annoying as a steam bridge when the fans are spinning. (Note: For what it's worth, the Huaying fan is a bit squeakier in my setup.)
However, there are some awkward aspects of the Ayaneo 2. First, Windows 11 is very annoying to use the touch controls, although loading in Steam's Big Picture mode fixes all that. Second, while I appreciate the company's Ayaspace app that doubles as a game launcher and performance monitor, the user experience seems a bit lackluster.
Changing the system resolution from the AyaQuickTool window was often unstable. Also, when I installed an update for AyaSpace, its language settings reverted to Chinese. It's not that hard to fix, but I'd rather play the game than dive into menus to fix something that doesn't need to be changed. Plus there are other minor quirks like the engine hum and the lights under the joysticks that don't know how to change color. That's because Ayaneo doesn't provide much documentation for the device, other than a few quick startup instructions, so you're left to learn the system's more hidden features on your own. (AyaSpace has a link to an FAQ document, but it's all in Chinese, so it's not very helpful to many of us in the West.)
Now, I should point out that the company says it's already working on a second version of the AyaSpace app, and there have been many patches in the month I've been using the system, so it's clear the company is looking to improve things. . However, while the specs of the Ayaneo 2 are top-notch, some of the software is still under development.
However, many of the Ayaneo 2's weaknesses are compensated by the fact that it runs Windows, which means that almost all games work. Don't get me wrong, I really appreciate what Valve is trying to do with SteamOS and Linux games in general, but even with thousands of games confirmed to launch on Steam Deck, there are thousands more. it doesn't work (and in some cases may never work properly). With Ayaneo 2, you can be more confident that the next game you buy will run smoothly.
I am now handing over the work to my colleague James, who has been testing the Ayaneo 2's emulation capabilities.
James' Retro Corner
I would recommend buying something like the Ayaneo 2 as your first emulation device. But it's worth talking about its performance here, because it really expands the library of potential games. Of course, if you want to flash ROMs from games you already own, you'll have to deal with that yourself.
Of course, with the ability to handle fairly demanding PC games, the Ayaneo 2 will be able to handle fifth or sixth generation consoles without much trouble. You can go further, but with mixed results. For example, Skate 3 on the PS3 runs at 60fps on the Ayaneo 2 with little to no special tweaks. The Last of Us , on the other hand, only managed 13 to 23 fps, with some odd stuttering at the top and bottom.
In theory, you could end up with some YouTubers working on Nintendo Switch games with varying degrees of success. Of course, that's the limit, at least for now, but if you have a library of old games and you're hoping to give them a second life in Ayaneo 2, the answer is, of course, a very capable game. built-in control emulator (which saves a surprising amount of fiddling).
Battery life: Could be better
One of the few downsides to the Ayaneo 2 is battery life. That's because compared to the Steam Deck (as the name suggests), which typically runs for three to four hours without charging, the Ayaneo 2's battery life is closer to two to three. However, if you want to improve energy efficiency, you can adjust the system's power consumption, but in the end, this is the price you pay for better performance.
collection
Looking back, I still think Steam Deck is one of the highlights of 2022. Packing high-end laptop features with great controls and incredibly good battery life into a pocket PC that costs just $400 is an incredible feat. But for people who want it. something more premium, the Ayaneo 2 is a lot to like. It has a cleaner, more compact design and a better screen. Its joysticks and buttons are also stiffer and sleeker. And not only is there a much more powerful chip inside that delivers high FHD+ performance, but [the decision to use] Steam OS instead of Windows also means wider game compatibility. Unfortunately, with the cheapest version of the Ayaneo 2 starting at $850, you're paying a premium even for these big improvements. But if you're looking for something that's truly a Steam Deck Pro, Ayaneo 2 is it.
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