Ayaneo 3: New $699 Gaming Handheld with Zen 5 Power and Modular Controller Design Released

Ayaneo, the well-known creator of handheld gaming consoles, has unveiled its third-generation flagship device, and it’s causing quite a buzz on crowdfunding platforms. This time, they’ve introduced a revolutionary modular controller design. As outlined on their Indiegogo page, the Ayaneo 3 is equipped with different modules: the Standard Module, which includes joysticks, a D-pad, and ABXY buttons; a Touchpad Module, replacing joysticks with a sleek touchpad; and a Fighting Module, which swaps the right ABXY and joystick for a six-button module perfect for fighting games.

The real game-changer here is the ability to mix and match these modules, or even flip them upside down, giving users a staggering 56 possible layout combinations. This level of customization means you can tailor the controller to suit your style and the specific game you’re playing. The only hiccup might be the motorized mechanism used to eject the modules, which seems a tad over-engineered. It’ll be interesting to see how that plays out once we get our hands on the device.

Ayaneo is also pushing the envelope on performance with the Ayaneo 3. One variant is powered by AMD’s cutting-edge Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU, marking the company’s first foray into including such a powerful processor in a handheld gaming console. Alternatively, if you prefer slightly less horsepower, there’s the option of an AMD Ryzen 7 8840U processor.

Diving into specifics, the Ayaneo 3 offers quite a range: you might opt for a 7-inch 120 Hz LCD with a crisp brightness of up to 500 nits, or go for the more vibrant 7-inch 144 Hz OLED display capable of reaching a stunning 800 nits. Interestingly, despite these display differences, pricing remains consistent, so your choice will likely come down to personal preference. On the memory front, configurations start at 16GB with the 8840U model, but bump up to a whopping 64GB when equipped with the HX 370 processor. Storage is no small offering either, starting at 512GB and ranging up to a massive 4TB—for those who despise the hassle of deleting games to make space.

Price-wise, the Ayaneo 3 kicks off at $899 for the base model, but this doesn’t include the additional controller modules. For those looking to max out on specs, the price can climb as high as $2,099. Thankfully, early supporters can snag a deal with discounts ranging from $200 to $300 during the campaign.

However, it’s crucial to note that the more affordable configurations don’t come with extra controller modules; those are bundled with the pricier 64GB/2TB versions. And since Ayaneo isn’t selling these modules separately, you’ll need to opt for the higher-end models if that’s important to you.

As of now, Ayaneo has already surpassed its $50,000 funding goal, a strong indicator that the Ayaneo 3 is heading into production. The company has proven reliable in delivering on its promises in the past, lending some confidence to backers that they’ll eventually receive the product they’re pledging for.

That said, it’s important to remember that crowdfunding carries its own set of risks. Hitting a funding target doesn’t necessarily ensure a finished product. Investing at this stage means placing your trust in the company and sharing in the risks involved in launching a new gadget. But for early adopters, this often means enjoying a sweet discount and the bragging rights of being among the first to receive the latest tech marvel.