The AyaNeo and the Steam Deck are two of the most popular portable gaming devices on the market. They both have their own unique features and capabilities. So, which one is the better device? In this ultimate comparison, we’ll pit the two against each other in a battle to see who comes out on top. If you already own a Steam Deck or are looking to get one after reading this article, we recommend looking into our research on the best accessories for your steam deck.
What is The AyaNeo?
The AyaNeo is the world’s first true console PC. It’s a full-fledged Windows 10 gaming machine that’s as powerful as a high-end gaming PC, but as small as a Nintendo Switch. The AyaNeo is powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 4800U (Renoir) CPU with integrated AMD Radeon Vega 8 graphics.
The base model of the AyaNeo has 16GB LPDDR4x 4266Ghz RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a 4,100mAh battery. All of this fits inside a chassis that’s just over 2 inches wide and 4 inches tall.
The AyaNeo is a crowdfunded project that raised over $1 million on Indiegogo. The team behind the project is based in Shenzhen, China. The AyaNeo is currently available for purchase. As for the latest AyaNeo Air, it is not available for pre-order as of 28 July 2022. The company is planning to release the AyaNeo Air series soon, perhaps by the end of this year. The AyaNeo is an impressive feat of engineering. It’s a fully functional PC that’s been shrunk down to the size of a handheld gaming console. Additionally, its docking station does not only charge the device but also turns it into a PC.
The AMD Ryzen embedded CPU gives it the performance of a high-end gaming PC, but in a form factor that’s comfortable on the hands. The team behind the AyaNeo has done an impressive job of packing a lot of power into a small form factor.
Steam Deck vs AyaNeo Specs
| AyaNeo | Steam Deck | |
| Price: | $869 | $399 |
| CPU: | AMD Ryzen 5 4500U (Renoir) | Zen 2 4c/8t |
| GPU: | AMD Radeon Vega 8 Graphics (Integrated), 8 cores | 8 RDNA 2 CUs |
| RAM: | 16GB LPDDR4 | 16 GB LPDDR5 |
| Storage: | 512 GB M.2 2280 SSD | 64 GB eMMC (PCIe Gen 2 x1) |
| Battery capacity: | 47Wh | 40Whr |
| Weight: | 650 grams | 669 grams |
| Display Size: | 7 inches | 7 inches |
Note: The comparison made is based on the base model of each console; the AyaNeo and the Steam Deck.
Performance
AyaNeo is a powerful and versatile handheld gaming console that offers an immersive gaming experience. It is packed with features that allow users to enjoy a variety of games, including AAA titles, on the go. The console’s performance is impressive, as it is able to deliver smooth and lag-free gameplay.
Despite its small size, the AyaNeo is capable of running games at high resolutions and framerates. Additionally, the console’s battery life is impressive, as it can last for up to 6 hours on a single charge. Overall, the AyaNeo is a great option for gamers who want a high-quality handheld gaming experience.
On the other hand, when it comes to Steam Deck, it also supports AAA titles but it can only last 6+ hours if the user is playing less graphic demanding games. Playing AAA titles may last you 3.5 hours at maximum.
The AyaNeo console has great performance thanks to its AMD Ryzen 5 4500U CPU and AMD Radeon Vega 8 GPU. The high-end model of this console also comes with 16 GB LPDDR4 RAM and a whopping 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD option, which is plenty of space for most gamers.
Meanwhile, the Steam Deck has an inferior Zen 2 4c/8t CPU with an 8 RDNA 2 CUs GPU that just pales in comparison to the AMD embedded AyaNeo specs sheet. Similarly, it has an inferior storage type eMMC (PCIe Gen 2 x1). But where it shines is the memory, the Steam Deck has LPDDR5 RAM while the AyaNeo has LPDDR4.
In AyaNeo, even with a 30W overdrive, which is well over the 20W specified boundary, the graphics performance isn’t really spectacular considering the 50 percent increase in energy usage. Most AAA games maintained roughly 30–45 frames per second at their base configurations when we tested every title on the 20W Game preset. And on the other side, light and medium titles may get steady at 50-60 frames per second by slightly adjusting the parameters.
Whereas when it comes to the Steam Deck, overlocking is not necessary as the optimization for Steam Client and Steam produced/powered games is simply amazing. Optimization can out-perform even the highest-end products as less power can be used to achieve maximum performance.
Quality
AyaNeo is a high-quality product that offers a great deal of value for its price. It is a beautiful product that is well-made and durable. The craftsmanship is excellent, and it is a perfect product for those who are looking for a high-quality product. The Deck also feels very high-quality but it has a slight edge as it is made durable enough to take on years of extreme gaming and wear and tear. In addition to that, the Steam Deck provides all this in less value than the AyaNeo.
The quality of a handheld device is often judged by its display screen. A high-quality display screen is clear and bright, with good color reproduction and that is what the AyaNeo has. With a peak brightness of 500 Nits, this display is one of the best when it comes to handheld gaming consoles. As for the resolution, its display is 1280 x 800 pixels with a pixel density of 215 PPI.
The Steam Deck has an impressive 7-inch display (touch) which has a peak brightness of 500 Nits but it has a noticeably larger bezel surrounding the screen which is not a deal breaker but Steam could have gone for thinner bezels. This would allow the device to have a more modern look.
The AyaNeo has a similar look to the Nintendo Switch but is a little larger and thicker. While it’s also available in Light Moon and retro-inspired “Retro Power” shades, we chose the Dark Star color, and it looks stunning. Despite the AyaNeo Pro being made with only plastic, the matte surface is undoubtedly attractive and works well in the hand.
The Steam Valve, on the other hand, has a more plain color palette which is not necessarily a bad thing but the colors could be a little more exciting. However, you can buy custom cases for your Steam Deck with the color choices that you prefer.
The AyaNeo has a little crack just at the upper exhaust that causes a clicky sound when force is exerted, but other than that, there seem to be no strange creaks or other noises. The AyaNeo Pro is rather hefty for a portable handheld console. The Steam Deck console does not have creaking issues which is a good thing.
Features
Cooling
The solitary air intake motor there at the rear and the upper outflow vent deal with the heated components. If you have big hands, the way you would hold the gadget can cause you to partially obstruct the inflow. However, we didn’t have too many problems with this. However, even with the excellent cooling mode on, which increases the speed of the fan to 4700 Revolutions per minute, the AyaNeo Pro heats up very quickly. Fortunately, the fan sound is not that disruptive even at its maximum setting. However, the overall temperature does not reach an intolerable level unless you are obstructing the airflow in a certain manner, which is amazing!
The Steam Deck has a better cooling system, the 25W exhaust fan works great, keeping the handle sides of the device cool and the touch areas of the display comfortable for skin contact. Unlike the AyaNeo, the Steam Deck does not have any heating issues.
Steam Deck has an automatic system that turns off the device if the internal temperature reaches 105° C. Before that, if the internal temperature of the device reaches 100° C, the Steam Deck will lower its performance to avoid any major crashes within the system. This maneuver also slows down the heating rate of the device.
Haptic Feedback
The AyaNeo has an X-axis linear vibrational engine, which is uncomfortably calibrated to intense by design and does not work as a good feedback experience. We thus changed the option to a softer vibrational response. This can also be an issue if you are using the device while it’s on the docking station. The vibrational mechanism can, on the whole, improve the gaming experience, specifically in motorsport titles like Need for Speed, where in-game actions like a motor cranking up or an accident are accurately simulated.
When Steam Deck first came out, it had haptic feedback issues. Users complained that either the left or right vibration motor is stronger and louder than the other. This issue was somewhat solved via a software update but still, the haptic feedback of this console is not as good as AyaNeo.
Steam Deck vs AyaNeo: Which is Better?
Overall, we recommend the Steam Deck for the price, feature list, and accessibility. The AyaNeo has a large screen and a fast processor, making it perfect for gaming and other demanding tasks. However, it is more expensive than the Steam Deck and lacks some of the features that make the Steam Deck a great choice for budget-conscious gamers. If the pricing is not a factor that affects you, then you should probably go for the AyaNeo Pro, but for most, the Steam Deck will be the better purchase.