The Ayaneo Geek Is the Closest Factor We Need to a Steam Deck Professional

Handheld gaming PCs have been round for longer than their latest increase may point out, even when the Steam Deck blew the doorways off of the market by making a mannequin that the typical particular person might really afford. Whereas Valve might lay declare to being the “finest worth” moveable PC with its loss-leadingly low value, should you’re out there for consolation, sheer efficiency, or the performance of getting Home windows proper out of the field, there are many extra succesful Steam Deck options accessible to these with greater budgets. It’s on this area the place Ayaneo has historically operated, providing full-fledged Home windows gaming PCs with high-performance elements and instantaneous compatibility throughout Steam and each different launcher’s full library.

Premium is sort of the course it’s important to go in should you don’t additionally personal some sort of retailer that permits you to subsidize low price merchandise for the mass market. To fanatics, Ayaneo’s generally 4 determine units have been mouthwatering, however even a boutique producer can’t ignore the Steam Deck endlessly. Valve is now the elephant within the nook of each handheld PC producer’s room.

Launching alongside the flagship Ayaneo 2, the Ayaneo Geek (accessible on IndieGoGo) maintains a premium standing however is the primary of the corporate’s full energy handhelds to a minimum of get inside spitting distance of the Steam Deck’s value (there’s the Ayaneo Air, however it’s supposed for much less demanding video games than the Deck). It options extra in frequent with the Ayaneo 2 than it doesn’t, together with its glorious Corridor Impact joysticks and a strong AMD Ryzen 7 6800U processor. Nevertheless it begins $150 cheaper than the Ayaneo 2, at $849. That can nonetheless set you again greater than even the costliest Steam Deck ($640). However should you’re simply seeking to spend lower than $1,000 for a real Home windows gaming PC that’s extra highly effective than the Deck and isn’t a lot greater than a Nintendo Change OLED, it’s an important alternative, particularly in comparison with gaming laptops. Lastly, we have now a “finances” boutique Steam Deck competitor. Or, if it helps to consider it this fashion, a considerably inexpensive “Steam Deck Professional.”

Ayaneo Geek

The Ayaneo Geek gives spectacular gaming efficiency for much less, however will nonetheless set you again greater than a Steam Deck.

Ayaneo Geek

The Ayaneo Geek gives spectacular gaming efficiency for much less, however will nonetheless set you again greater than a Steam Deck.

What’s it?

Essentially the most inexpensive full-size Ayaneo with a Ryzen 7 6800U so far

Value

Begins at $849, Reviewed at $1,199

Like

Nice gaming efficiency, extremely customizable, glorious joysticks and triggers

Dislike

Battery life varies wildly, tapping the display may be troublesome, software program may be complicated

A succesful AMD Ryzen 6800U handheld gaming PC

Regardless of its Nintendo Change-like design, the Ayaneo Geek is a full-fledged gaming PC and has the specs to match. Essentially the most inexpensive mannequin comes with 16GB of DDR5 reminiscence clocked to a speedy 6,400MHz and features a 512GB NVME SSD. The SSD may be upgraded to 1TB or 2TB for an additional $150 and $250, respectively. The highest tier mannequin is at present priced at $1,199 and contains 32GB of reminiscence and a 2TB SSD, but when all you want is storage, the Geek additionally helps MicroSD playing cards for a less expensive different (albeit at a slower 300 MB/s pace). The Geek can be accessible with 800p or 1200p screens, even when that is barely unclear on the present IndieGoGo marketing campaign.

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Because the finances counterpart to the pricier Ayaneo 2, the Geek is remarkably related and actually simply seems like a barely pared down model of the flagship mannequin. You’re getting the identical quick Ryzen 7 6800U processor, so gaming efficiency is identical between each fashions. It makes use of the identical excellent Corridor Impact triggers and joysticks, which really feel nice and are resistant to joystick drift. Each models have shiny 7-inch touchscreen shows. Their layouts and management schemes are the identical, although the Ayaneo 2 gives extra customization choices for the buttons and triggers. They’re almost an identical in form, measurement, and weight. Each provide a 50.25 wHr battery.

Display screen: Full Display screen 1200p

Display screen: Slim Bezel 800P or 1200P

Dealing with: Full glass entrance

Dealing with: Glass solely over show

Vibration: “Similar as Change” HD vibration motor

Vibration: X-axis linear motor

Fingerprint module: Contact S3 sleep fingerprint module

Fingerprint module: Normal fingerprint module

“SoundTapMagic sound vibration” included

Measurement: 264.5 x 105.5 x 21.55 mm

There are a handful of variations, however they’re total small and really feel like truthful scale-backs for the cheaper price. The most important distinction is that the Ayaneo 2 options an edge-to-edge show whereas the Geek has skinny bezels on all sides. There are different smaller variations, too. The Geek has a single gyroscope for movement aiming whereas the Ayaneo 2 has two. The Geek has a linear vibration motor as a substitute of the two’s HD motor, which Ayaneo says is an identical to the one within the Nintendo Change. The Geek additionally ships with a PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD as a substitute of the newer PCIe 4.0 drive that comes with the Ayaneo 2, although the influence on load instances is sufficiently small that you could be not even discover. The flagship mannequin additionally comes with a full glass entrance whereas the Geek simply has a glass display.

There are clear high quality of life enhancements that include the costlier mannequin, however the Geek actually doesn’t really feel like a lot of a step down in any respect, particularly should you’re evaluating it to the Steam Deck. I’ve used each extensively and probably the most noticeable distinction is the display, which you rapidly get used to and received’t discover in any respect should you don’t have each fashions facet by facet. In case you have the cash for the Ayaneo 2, it delivers the higher expertise over all, however the Geek is the uncommon tech buy that doesn’t really feel such as you’re making a giant sacrifice by choosing the cheaper mannequin.

Just like the Nintendo Change and a gaming laptop computer had a child

The Ayaneo Geek is what would occur if the Nintendo Change and a gaming laptop computer had a child. The Geek is a contact bigger than the Change OLED however has a really related format. The Geek adopts a way more curved design than Nintendo’s console, nevertheless. It has an ovular face and deep, curved grips that Ayaneo says are based mostly on a child’s sleeping place. The controllers are additionally non-removable, so that you’ll want to carry the Geek in your arms until you plug in peripherals and a docking station.

Regardless of the similarities to a Change with default joycons, the Geek is way nicer to truly use. The grips are thick and contoured, tapering towards the highest to information your fingers towards the triggers. The sticks are greater, smoother, and have extra throw. The triggers have a deep, controller-like pull. The buttons are snappy and extra crisp than the Steam Deck’s. Like every handheld, every little thing nonetheless feels barely compressed: the suitable joystick particularly feels only a hair too low for even my medium-sized arms. Even so, I’d take the Ayaneo Geek over both the Change or Steam Deck any day of the week in terms of consolation and ease of use. Even when the Geek is ever so barely heavier than the Steam Deck, at 680 grams vs the Deck’s 669.

Photograph: Chris Coke / Gizmodo

Ayaneo has outfitted the Geek with an array of additional buttons to navigate Home windows and entry its totally different choices. There are View and Menu buttons under the D-pad on the left (mimicking an Xbox controller, and customarily fulfilling the identical position as Begin and Choose on extra old-school units). Two extra additional buttons are positioned under the suitable joystick. One may be mapped to a customized command whereas the opposite, the Aya button, may be clicked to entry a fast settings adjustment menu or held to attract up the total AYASpace settings software program suite. There are bumpers and triggers on the highest, in addition to a pair of shoulder buttons that may be tied to customized instructions, like elevating the on-screen keyboard or Process Supervisor.

This isn’t a full laptop computer, so I/O is proscribed. There are three USB Sort-C ports complete right here: two on prime and one on backside, and every can be utilized for energy or information. There are two USB Sort-C to Sort-A adapters within the field for connecting peripherals, however you’ll want a docking station to attach the Geek to an exterior monitor should you plan to make use of it as a full PC. There’s additionally an influence button with an built-in fingerprint reader for biometric login, a quantity rocker, headphone jack, and a MicroSD card slot for expandable storage.

Corridor Impact analog sticks and snappy buttons

Just like the Ayaneo 2, the Ayaneo Subsequent, and the Ayaneo Air earlier than it, the Ayaneo Geek makes use of Corridor Impact triggers and joysticks. Because the axiom goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t repair it, and this design is something however damaged. Fairly than utilizing mechanical potentiometers for its triggers and joysticks, the Geek makes use of magnetic sensors to detect motion. The dearth of mechanical put on and tear all however eliminates the possibility for joystick drift and makes these inputs a number of the smoothest you’ll discover on any gaming controller. With the suitable software program tuning, you may even customise your deadzones (the elements of a joystick that your controller doesn’t learn, in order to keep away from small random actions).

Photograph: Chris Coke / Gizmodo

Whereas all the Geek’s inputs are smaller than what you’ll discover on a traditional controller, they nonetheless really feel nearer than you may count on. The added throw on the triggers and joysticks, whereas not as deep as on an Xbox or PlayStation controller, really feel a lot nearer than you may count on and are noticeably deeper than on the Steam Deck. The triggers particularly really feel at residence in my console-acquainted arms, but all the higher for his or her added smoothness. The sticks have a bit extra of a studying curve as a consequence of their lowered top and are much less correct than a full-size controller due to it. Utilizing the built-in gyro helps to fine-tune aiming; nevertheless, the Geek requires putting in an applet to allow movement controls whereas the Ayaneo 2 has them inbuilt from the beginning.

The face buttons are snappy and tactile. There’s no mushiness to them in any respect, which is nice for button heavy video games like platformers. The D-pad is a bit much less crisp, with a slight wiggle to the cross, however it labored for an off-the-cuff like me, even in combating video games. Every is a giant enchancment from the Steam Deck’s considerably mushy inputs, nevertheless, and all in all, make the Ayaneo Geek surprisingly nice to recreation on.

A shiny and colourful display that begs for OLED

The Geek’s 7-inch display is shiny and colourful. Despite the fact that it lacks the edge-to-edge protection of the Ayaneo 2, it nonetheless feels pretty massive due to its 16:10 facet ratio. Ayaneo quotes a peak brightness of 400 nits, and I’ve found a number of instances that it’s shiny sufficient to play in direct daylight. It doesn’t help superior options like HDR help or gaming at 120Hz, however for many video games, these are non-issues. And actually, would you count on both from a handheld designed to be price pleasant?

Photograph: Chris Coke / Gizmodo

No, and neither would you count on an OLED display, however the Geek begs for it. The colours are wealthy and blacks are high quality, however after seeing how a lot better OLED can look on the Ayaneo Air, the Geek isn’t fairly as spectacular with out it. Distinction ranges are typical for an LCD display, with blacks being extra of a deep grey, however the wealthy distinction and inky blacks of the Air would have pushed this to a different stage.

The display helps contact enter, and it total works effectively. The display is responsive and registers presses reliably. The most important problem is tapping on-screen parts that may simply be, effectively, tiny. The Geek packs a full, desktop model of Home windows 11. Even with Home windows scaling turned on, selecting gadgets in drop down menus or navigating settings inside purposes may be troublesome. AYASpace, the Geek’s configuration software program, solves this by permitting you to manage a digital mouse cursor utilizing the joysticks. It doesn’t change utilizing an precise mouse, however works surprisingly effectively when contact doesn’t minimize it.

Photograph: Chris Coke / Gizmodo

The display is offered in 800p or 1200p choices, however it’s not price paying additional for the 1200p display, even when 800p will web you a similar decision because the less expensive Steam Deck. Whereas the added decision may sound nice on paper, it has a big influence on gaming efficiency and doesn’t provide a significant benefit in visible high quality. Actually, that decision bump is especially solely seen in nonetheless photographs–bear in mind, the display right here is simply 7 inches. Until you’re enjoying older video games or indies, it’s higher to go away the display at 800p and revel in the next FPS with extra responsive gameplay.

AYASpace is the Ayaneo Geek’s spine

AYASpace is the Geek’s foremost configuration app and the spine to utilizing it as an precise laptop. The software program, referred to as up utilizing the devoted AYA button under the suitable joystick, acts as a central hub for all your configuration choices, and it’s also possible to use it as a recreation launcher. Inside, you may set your TDP (the ability restrict for the system’s processor), fan pace, button shortcuts, and extra. It’s additionally the place you’ll go to obtain and apply firmware updates as they’re launched over time.

Photograph: Chris Coke / Gizmodo

Tapping the AYA button additionally brings up a fast menu for if you wish to make quick adjustments or ship frequent instructions. It means that you can change the efficiency settings, brightness, and quantity. You possibly can assign 9 totally different shortcuts for issues like placing the system to sleep, enabling system-wide FSR upscaling, or drive closing video games. It’s quick and dependable, and should you occur to stop AYASpace accidentally, you’ll instantly miss it.

AYASpace remains to be in beta and it exhibits. It’s improved by leaps and bounds during the last yr, however there are nonetheless tough edges, with cases of damaged English, Chinese language solely descriptions in lots of applets, and a propensity to reset itself to Chinese language with software program updates. Regardless of that, it total works effectively. If you happen to ought to occur to seek out your self caught in Chinese language, you may change your language by clicking in your profile within the prime proper nook, then clicking on the hexagon with a splash icon by it within the subsequent menu. The following display has language settings within the left-most choice of the center row.

Photograph: Chris Coke / Gizmodo

If you happen to shut AYASpace down, the Geek simply doesn’t work proper. Key features just like the mouse cursor or button shorts for the on-screen keyboard cease working, and people shortcuts are the important thing to the hand-held’s capacity to operate as a pc. With out a mouse and keyboard, they permit you carry out primary duties like urgent the Escape key to again out of menus. Whereas it’s technically doable to run the Ayaneo with out AYASpace, I wouldn’t suggest it. It’s painful.

Overlook your work laptop computer? The Ayaneo Geek has you coated.

One of many superb issues in regards to the Ayaneo Geek is one in all its most blatant: this can be a real Home windows gaming PC in a handheld type issue. There’s no Linux. No compatibility layer just like the Steam Deck’s Proton. You should use all the apps and instruments you’ll usually use in your desktop or laptop computer with a fraction of the footprint.

And although it’s small, The Geek is mighty. The Ryzen 7 6800U is a really quick, very succesful processor, and it’s backed by 16GB of high-speed reminiscence. The Geek has sufficient horsepower to run absolutely anything an fanatic PC consumer might need: productiveness apps, inventive apps, web sites and streaming companies: the works. It’s a high-performing little laptop.

Photograph: Chris Coke / Gizmodo

To really use it on this method requires some add-ons, until you wish to hunt and peck your method by its onscreen keyboard and small display. You’ll want to purchase peripherals, in addition to a monitor should you don’t have already got one. You then’ll want a docking station to attach every little thing and energy the system. Nevertheless it’s doable. With the Geek, I wrote a number of articles throughout Google Docs and Microsoft Phrase, edited photographs and movies with Adobe, and even plugged in a USB mic to document some tune concepts in Reaper, my digital audio workstation.

I additionally put it to the take a look at with our suite of benchmarks. It scored 5,126 in PCMark 10, which is a stable 500 factors larger than the HP Dragonfly Folio Elite we reviewed in January. In Geekbench 5, it scored 1,341 for single-core efficiency and 6,483 for multi-core, which falls in need of most of the gaming laptops we’ve reviewed during the last yr, and is center of the pack for productiveness PCs. However given its considerably extra inexpensive value than a lot of these notebooks, the Geek’s efficiency actually is reasonably spectacular.

For inventive apps, the Geek maintains its center of the highway posture. In Cinebench, it scored 1,338 for single core rendering and eight,845 for multi-core, far exceeding the Dragonfly with all of its cores engaged however falling barely quick in single-core speeds. In Blender, the Geek rendered a BMW in 4 minutes and 29 seconds, placing it proper in between the Apple MacBook Professional 13 and MacBook Professional 14. With out a devoted graphics card like most gaming laptops have, its processor has to tug double-duty. It’s not the quickest, however can definitely get the job carried out if you wish to use it as a full-fledged PC.

Spectacular gaming efficiency due to the AMD Ryzen 6800U

The place it actually issues—gaming—the Ayaneo Geek excels. Just like the Steam Deck, efficiency will rely in your graphics settings, decision, and the present TDP setting for the CPU. It’s a balancing act between battery life and CPU energy, however as soon as it’s dialed in (or should you’re enjoying plugged into wall energy), it’s greater than a bit spectacular.

Despite the fact that it’s cheaper, the Ayaneo Geek sacrifices nothing in efficiency in comparison with the flagship Ayaneo 2. It makes use of the identical {hardware} to drive the expertise, so with an identical settings, in-game body charges needs to be nearly the identical. Any scalebacks Ayaneo utilized between the fashions are purely high quality of life and don’t influence gaming efficiency.

Photograph: Chris Coke / Gizmodo

There are 4 totally different energy modes to select from: Energy Saving (11W), Steadiness (15W), Recreation (22W), and Professional Mode (3W – 33W). Older video games and indies can typically be performed at 11 watts and generally a lot much less. Recreation mode is the most effective match for contemporary video games, although often drops battery life to lower than two hours in my testing. Steadiness mode strikes a center floor between the 2. With a bit tweaking, I discovered that various indie video games, like Tremendous Meat Boy and Disco Elysium, could possibly be performed with as little as 5 to seven watts, which drastically enhances battery life. Curiously, cranking up energy settings to 33W doesn’t often provide the main efficiency enhance you may count on. It often offers you lower than 10 additional FPS complete and drops battery life to lower than an hour, although should you’re enjoying plugged right into a wall outlet, it’s undoubtedly the way in which to go, for peak efficiency.

I examined all kinds of video games for this assessment and left the console in its Recreation preset to maintain issues standardized. I additionally set the video games to 800p for constant comparisons.

Forza 5 (Excessive) – 71 FPSGod of Struggle (Inventory Settings) – 39 FPSCyberpunk 2077 (Steam Deck Preset) – 63 FPSBorderlands 3 (Extremely) – 32 FPSA Plague Story (Low, FSR 2.0, Efficiency Mode) – 31 FPSRocket League (Excessive) – 133 FPSThe Witcher 3 (Excessive, FSR 2.0, Extremely Efficiency) – 43 FPSDirt 5 (Medium) – 56 FPSElden Ring (Low) – 51 FPS

Enjoying at 800p, the Ayaneo Geek means that you can flip up the settings on many new video games whereas nonetheless sustaining common body charges above 30 FPS. Some video games, like Elden Ring, are finest locked to low settings for the improved responsiveness of upper body charges, however others, like Forza 5, have headroom to spare.

It’s troublesome to straight evaluate the Steam Deck’s efficiency to the Ayaneo Geek’s, as Valve’s steady updates and loads of neighborhood help means it’s at all times getting higher. However in our authentic Steam Deck assessment, we “simply barely breached the 30 fps threshold” in God of Struggle. The AMD Ryzen 6800U is utilizing a newer processor era than the Steam Deck’s customized AMD APU, so normally, you’re more likely to see barely improved efficiency throughout the board on the Geek.

Whereas PC gaming handhelds used to demand that video games be set to their lowest doable settings, that age is usually behind us. The vast majority of video games I examined had been capable of be pushed to medium and even excessive settings. Even when it’s important to flip issues down (it’s often finest to customise your settings and go for a combination that appears finest to you), parts like decrease high quality textures are much less noticeable due to the smaller display. Options like FidelityFX Tremendous Decision (FSR), AMD’s methodology of upscaling photographs to enhance efficiency, are additionally changing into extra frequent and assist you to run much more graphically demanding video games whereas nonetheless hitting playable body charges. The Geek even has a built-in FSR choice that can be utilized on many video games that don’t help it natively, although the outcomes can fluctuate from nice to distractingly blurry.

I’ve talked about it earlier than, however it bears repeating once more: the Geek is ready to help any recreation that’s at present accessible on Home windows. There’s no concern that video games will or received’t work like there’s on the Steam Deck. There are few efficiency anomalies that pop up in the course of video games. The Darkish Footage Anthology: Man of Medan was unplayable on the Deck however good on the Geek. All of because of this you’ll have a large library of video games to select from on day one and instantaneous compatibility for it sooner or later, so long as the Geek can bodily run it. No ready on Valve to certify video games are playable or for builders so as to add help. It simply works.

The Ayaneo Geek has variable battery life, loud followers, disappointing audio system 

Whereas the Geek is clearly a really succesful gaming machine, its battery life is extraordinarily inconsistent. If you happen to’ve performed a transportable gaming PC earlier than, you’re already aware of simply how variable battery life may be. The 50.25 wHr battery might final 4 hours or 40 minutes relying in your present TDP setting and the way demanding the sport you’re enjoying is.

The fan can even get fairly loud. If you happen to play on the 22-watt gaming preset, the Geek’s fan may be distractingly noisy. It produces as a lot noise as a typical gaming laptop computer, although stops in need of “jet engine” standing. However because you maintain the Geek nearer to your face and ears, its noise is extra noticeable throughout use. Working it in Steadiness or Energy Saving modes quiets it down, however at a noticeable lower in efficiency in demanding video games.

The fan can have you reaching for headphones, however you might be doing that anyway due to the Geek’s disappointing audio system. They get loud sufficient to listen to effectively, however films and recreation audio lack physique and sound skinny. They’ll work in a pinch, however identical to a laptop computer, I wouldn’t suggest utilizing them when you have a pair of headphones useful.

Photograph: Chris Coke / Gizmodo

Must you purchase the Ayaneo Geek? 

The Ayaneo Geek is a formidable handheld gaming PC, particularly compared in opposition to the Ayaneo 2 and the Steam Deck. Whereas Ayaneo has scaled again sure options to hit the Geek’s value, its gaming efficiency hasn’t suffered in any respect. It’s a top-tier handheld that appears sure to impress. If you happen to can afford it. And that’s the rub: although the Ayaneo Geek has rather a lot to supply for lots lower than most of Ayaneo’s units, for that very same $849, you can purchase two Steam Decks and have cash left over for video games.

That doesn’t imply the Ayaneo Geek isn’t price contemplating. It’s smaller and extra comfy to make use of. It’s extra highly effective and performs higher in video games. Most significantly, it runs on Home windows as a substitute of Linux, so any recreation or app that runs on Home windows ought to work high quality with none additional tweaks vital (you may run Home windows on the Steam Deck, however it takes a bit of labor and doesn’t at all times web nice outcomes). Join it to a docking station and monitor and it may well change into a real, full-featured laptop. Due to that, it’s extra becoming to contemplate the Geek prefer it’s a uniquely designed gaming laptop computer reasonably than a easy recreation console, and in that gentle, $849 can really begin to look reasonably cheap.

Whether or not the Ayaneo Geek is sensible for you relies upon completely on how you intend to make use of it and simply how a lot you worth its consolation, non-compulsory upsells like that 1200p display, and pure gaming horsepower. It additionally depends upon how a lot you’re keen to take care of some small firm jank, as AYAspace is extra more likely to break than SteamOS. Nevertheless it’s among the best choices for getting only a bit greater than the very best finish Steam Deck will get you whereas not spending greater than a pair hundred {dollars} additional.

Need extra of Gizmodo’s client electronics picks? Try our guides to the most effective telephones, finest laptops, finest cameras, finest televisions, and finest tablets and eReaders. And if you wish to be taught in regards to the subsequent massive factor, see our information to every little thing we all know in regards to the iPhone 15.