Indiegogo staffers are placing crowdfunded merchandise to the take a look at in our new collection of product opinions. On this version, our very personal Affiliate Director of Content material and Social Media offers a assessment of Ayaneo Air, a brand new extremely skinny OLED gaming handheld that everybody’s speaking about. Does it dwell as much as the hype? Learn on as we put it to the take a look at!
I like to journey, and once I do, my philosophy is to journey mild with only a single carry-on and backpack. So I’m all the time looking out for devices which might be transportable, light-weight, and may maintain a variety of media. For bringing some good books with me on trip, I’ve my Amazon Kindle Oasis. For catching up on my favourite reveals and movies, I’ve my iPhone 13 Professional Max. For all my favourite video games, I normally take my gaming laptop computer, but when I run out of area in my bag, I find yourself simply leaving it (and all my favourite video games) behind at house. Whereas I do have a useful Nintendo Change, I’m restricted to simply enjoying video games which might be made for the Nintendo platform. So when the workforce at Ayaneo requested me if I needed to take a look at a prototype of their new gaming handheld Ayaneo Air, I couldn’t cross up the possibility to present it a attempt! I additionally needed to do a side-by-side comparability of the Ayaneo Air with different standard gaming handhelds, so I invited my brothers over to assist me assessment as they’re each avid avid gamers, who personal a Steam Deck and Nintendo Change.
Unboxing the Ayaneo Air
Unboxing the Ayaneo Air was a delightfully thrilling expertise. It jogged my memory of unboxing a brand new Apple product. The workforce at Ayaneo was considerate about the best way they packaged the gadget, designing a complete expertise from begin to end. From the second you elevate the lid off the field…
You’ll come head to head with a traditional black inlay card like this…
So what comes within the field?
Upon unboxing, I discovered all of the elements to be very well-packed in a kind becoming foam. I just like the frustration-free packaging and as somebody who cares about sustainability, it appears that evidently solely minimal single use plastic packaging was used.
The field comes with a plug and an AC adapter (CE marked/UL listed), which turns out to be useful for journey. It additionally comes with two USB-C to USB-A dongles, a handbook with Home windows OS directions within the form of the gadget.
Lifting the handbook lastly reveals the much-anticipated Ayaneo Air!
It appears I received the Aurora White coloration! The opposite out there colours are Polar Black and Sakura Pink. One other factor to notice is that the Ayaneo Air crowdfunding marketing campaign has different out there fashions, just like the Ayaneo Professional, which is available in Polar Black, Aurora White, and Brilliant Silver. There are additionally different particular editions out there just like the B. Duck and Retro Energy.
First Take a look at the Ayaneo Air
A few first impressions stood out to probably the most to me upon lifting the gadget out of the field. First was simply how light-weight and durable it feels. The grips and buttons at first contact really feel much more ergonomic than the Steam Deck.
Second was the design and aesthetic. As you possibly can see from the photographs I took beneath, the housing isn’t only a stable white. It has a twin gradient pink and inexperienced coloration, which is actually distinctive. I just like the artistry and look of it!
On the backside of the gadget, it has a micro SD cowl, a USB port, and headphone jacks. There are additionally downward firing stereo audio system on the backside. To match, the Steam Deck is entrance firing, and this attribute may very well be so much higher for some avid gamers.
On the high of the gadget, it has one other USB port, quantity rocker, a vent for the cooling system, and On/Off buttons.
For a measurement comparability, right here’s what the Ayaneo Air appears like subsequent to the Steam Deck and the Nintendo Change. As you possibly can see, the Ayaneo Air is so much smaller and extra transportable than the others. Whereas it has a bulkier depth than the Nintendo Change, it’s fairly skinny at 18mm. I additionally discovered the Ayaneo Air’s buttons and grips to be much more ergonomic than the Change. The buttons and joystick glow and lightweight up too, which is an fascinating addition. Although I’m wondering if the glowing joystick might add to battery drain. One other benefit it has over the Steam Deck? Different reviewers declare SteamOS may be placed on the Ayaneo Air, calling it a mini OLED Steam Deck.
And talking of OLED, the display screen is pure OLED goodness. I’m very excited to check this out with some video games.
So let’s transfer on to the setup…
Setup
Unboxing the Ayaneo Air was a enjoyable expertise as a result of this factor is actually lovely in design and well-built.
The setup, nonetheless, was not a straightforward, easy one. Now this isn’t due to the best way the gadget was constructed; quite, I feel it’s due to Home windows. Now Home windows has a variety of benefits, however the draw back is its tedious setup. Upon connecting the gadget to wifi, I needed to check in with a Microsoft account. (Professional-tip: you possibly can briefly block Web entry out of your router to check in with an offline account.)
Additionally, there are simply so many Home windows updates upon setup! It was a bit of irritating, as a result of I used to be so excited to simply play video games on the gorgeous Ayaneo Air immediately. For many who are used to enjoying on SteamOS (which hides every little thing within the OS and simply reveals a sport launcher), there could also be a steep studying curve with Home windows setup and driver updates.
For comparability, with the Steam Deck, SteamOS is a straightforward setup with video games preloaded. On the Nintendo Change, it’s a straightforward plug and play expertise after you arrange or log in to your Nintendo account. Due to Home windows, organising the Ayaneo Air took a really very long time.
My advice to the workforce at Ayaneo is to have Direct-X preinstalled. It’s a gaming API for Home windows video games, and can be a pleasant to have for a future iteration.
Setup: Charging
Whereas I used to be ready for all of the Home windows updates (so many updates!) to finish, I made a decision to cost the gadget. Proper out of the field, the Ayaneo Air had a 30% cost. I discovered that charging it was a clean expertise. The gadget glows crimson when it prices, and there are 2 ports, which implies there may be much more flexibility to cost whereas in its case. (As for the tomtoc carrying case it comes with, I’ll get to that later in my assessment.)
Gaming: Placing it to the Take a look at
Now first off, I wish to level out that this might be a primary look, first impressions sort of assessment. I do know that over time, I’ll uncover new issues to take pleasure in, like, or dislike the extra time I spend on it, enjoying all types of video games and having totally different form of experiences. Possibly I can do one other assessment 1 or 2 months any longer my full Ayaneo Air expertise. However for now, I’m simply going to check with it just a few numerous video games that I like.
Recreation #1: Witcher 3
I do know this picture taken on my iPhone 13 Professional Max don’t do it justice, however the OLED display screen is a factor of magnificence. Pair that with the ultra-wide angle and the complete discipline of view, the sport appears so vibrant on each facet. It makes for an immersive expertise, and heightens the story a lot extra. The one factor I seen that I didn’t like was that the textual content is a bit small on the display screen.
Recreation #2: Yoku’s Island Categorical
My brother prompt I attempt enjoying this indie sport known as Yoku’s Island Categorical. So we loaded it up on the Ayaneo Air and right here’s what it appears like…
With the OLED display screen, the colours have been good and vibrant. I watched as my brother performed, and in response to him, the controls — particularly the sensor on the Corridor impact joysticks — have been responsive.
Recreation #3: Gato Roboto (indie sport)
I used to be curious how a black and white sport would carry out on the Ayaneo Air. We loaded up an older, indie sport known as Gato Roboto to place it to the take a look at.
As you possibly can see from the photographs, the excessive distinction B&W visible actually popped.
This sport may be very action-packed so it has a variety of vibration, and on the Ayaneo Air, we loved the haptic suggestions and management depth.
My brother and I took it exterior in my yard simply to see the way it appears like enjoying beneath the solar. In any case, it’s meant to be transportable sufficient to make use of even outside whereas on the go. And it didn’t disappoint! The graphics and visible expertise was simply as lovely.
Talking of being on the go, the Ayaneo Air comes with its very personal customized carrying and storage case by tomtoc. I like the colours that match the twin gradient coloration of the Aurora White gadget.
The case appears to be fabricated from a water-resistant materials, in case of any spills. It appears like the within materials can also be molded and flocked to guard the joystick and button of the gadget, holding them in place as you journey or in case you drop it or knocks round in your bag. l just like the YKK zipper which is clean, and the strap can also be adjustable. Except for the helpful storage perform, it makes for an ideal journey accent.
There’s even a bit of pocket to retailer stuff in.
With the Ayaneo Air in its tomtoc case, I’m able to go anyplace with all my favourite video games!
Remaining Ideas: Who’s This For?
General, the {hardware} appears good. Mechanics appears good. The OLED display screen is a gamechanger, in addition to it measurement, weight, portability, and thinness. My solely suggestions is that Home windows is probably not the perfect factor for this gadget, because the setup time and updates took so lengthy.
The Ayaneo Air is for the gamer who’s keen to sacrifice efficiency on the ever-popular Steam Deck for better portability. As a result of it’s so light-weight and ergonomic, this one is actually for avid gamers on the go. It additionally comes with different media and productiveness options, which I unnoticed on this assessment however will revisit afterward, so it may well act like a mini laptop computer.
This can be a good choice for avid gamers who don’t like the restrictions of Nintendo as a closed system, as you get with the Nintendo Change. Those that wish to play indie retro video games like Yoku’s Island Categorical, Lifeless Cells, and Gato Roboto, and wish to play them with enhanced and wealthy visuals, the Ayaneo Air could have the extremely broad angle OLED display screen the place the graphics self-illuminated on all sides. If you happen to’re in search of the next high quality efficiency than most retro handhelds in the marketplace, you’ll wish to get this in your arms.
The Ayaneo Air is a conveyable and aesthetic various to the Steam Deck.
Present your assist for the marketing campaign, and again it now on Indiegogo if you wish to get it earlier than it’s gone!
