Ayaneo has announced the Next Lite. A 300-dollar handheld with SteamOS – or at least a modified form of it
Last week, (Ayaneo), the Chinese manufacturer of handheld consoles, attracted attention when they announced the Next Lite – the first non-Valve handheld with SteamOS.
Now the specs and prices are known and there is some bitter news: The operating system is an unofficial version of SteamOS called HoloISO.
I still find the announcement very interesting, but I don’t think the device is worthwhile for German customers – the Steam Deck is to blame.
These are the specs
Operating system: The Ayaneo Next Lite is supplied with HoloISO. This is an unofficial and modified version of SteamOS. However, this also means that you are dependent on Ayaneo for updates and do not receive them directly from Valve. The first tests will show whether or to what extent HoloISO is a disadvantage.
CPU and GPU: The Ayaneo Next Lite comes with two different configurations. The cheaper one has the AMD Ryzen 5 4500U installed and the more expensive one the Ryzen 7 4800U. Both processors are now four years old and use Vega 8 graphics. The RDNA2 GPU in the Steam Deck is a good deal more powerful than this one.
Rest of the technical data: The Ayaneo Next Lite has 16 GB of RAM and a 47 Wh battery. The IPS display has an 800p resolution and measures 7 inches diagonally. The joysticks and triggers use Hall effect technology. The APU is cooled by a fan and two copper heatpipes
The Next Lite has three USB-C 3.2 Gen2 ports – but unfortunately none for USB 4, so external GPUs are not an option. Interestingly, Ayaneo uses an M.2 2280 NVME SSD for the storage – a form factor that is also used for most desktop PCs. There is no slot for microSD cards.
Price and availability: The cheapest version of the Ayaneo Next Lite starts at 300 US dollars for the model with 128 GB and Ryzen 5 4500U. Orders will be possible towards the end of the month and the first deliveries should take place in February.
Why it is rather uninteresting for German customers?
The Ayaneo Next Lite is a cool handheld console that’s a few years too late. If it had come out before the Steam Deck, I imagine it would be quite successful.
But because the Steam Deck exists today, it really doesn’t make it easy for German customers to recommend the Next Lite:
- The Steam Deck is more performant
- It is officially supported by Valve
- It costs about the same
- It has a microSD card slot
- Shipping from Europe
If you want to buy the Ayaneo Next Lite, you will almost certainly have to import it. This means that import fees will be added to the euro price, which could be a little higher anyway. For 400 euros, the Steam Deck simply makes a lot more sense. If you opt for a refurbished model, you could even get away cheaper.
As much as I celebrate the fact that we have more choice in the operating system of PC handhelds outside of Windows handhelds, the Ayaneo Next Lite is unfortunately just another addition alongside the Steam Deck, which continues to dominate the sub-£500 price range.
Who might be interested in the Next Lite?
I think the Ayaneo Next Lite will be of particular interest to those who live in countries where the Steam Deck is not available. If it costs around 300 euros here and doesn’t have to be imported, I could imagine it as a good low-power alternative to the Steam Deck – powerful enough for retro games and indies.
As it stands now, a recommendation for German customers makes little sense. And that’s not even the product’s fault.
Now I’m looking forward to your answers. What do you think of the Ayaneo Next Lite? Would you buy it for a price of around 300 euros? And what about a price of around 400 euros? What advantages would you see in it compared to the Steam Deck? Do you have any experience with Ayaneo’s handhelds? Let us know in the comments!
