The first non-Valve device with pre-installed SteamOS is about to ship: Ayaneo has just announced that its upcoming portable gaming PC, the Next Lite, runs the open source operating system.
Ayaneo is touting the Next Lite as a cost-effective option, but we don’t yet know much about the device or how much it will cost. It has a seven-inch 800p screen, a 47 Wh battery and Hall effect joysticks, according to a post on the Ayaneo blog. The company also promotes “vibrant colors” that include a beautiful seafoam green and “premium craftsmanship.”
But we don’t yet know which chip powers the handheld, so it’s unclear how its performance might compare to other devices.
Not listing a price seems like a big omission if it’s marketed as a potentially cheaper option than other handhelds on the market. This could compare to Valve’s remaining stock of $349 Steam Decks, while the existing Ayaneo Next sells for $1,315.
The company says “subscriptions” for the handheld will open Thursday evening, creating the possibility of a different pricing approach than a one-time purchase or crowdfunding. If you are interested, these subscriptions will be available at 9:30 p.m. ET on January 11 on the Ayaneo website. If you want to know how we liked other Ayaneo handhelds, check out our Ayaneo Next and Ayaneo 2 reviews.
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