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The Ayaneo Air, A handheld gaming PC that is of marginally larger size than the Nintendo Switch Lite, offers gamers a convenient and affordable way to take their gaming on the go. Starting at just $499, the Ayaneo Air is the perfect choice for gamers seeking a no-compromise experience in a smaller package. In this review, we’ll be looking at the specs, design, and performance of the Ayaneo Air to determine whether it lives up to its promise of delivering powerful gaming in a small package.
It was always my dream to have a gaming machine I could take anywhere and still have the power to play the latest titles. When I heard about the Ayaneo Air, I knew I had found what I was looking for.
Personal Experience
At first, I was worried about its size. It seemed too small to offer the level of performance I wanted, but what really won me over was its design. Not only is the Air thinner and lighter than its bigger competitors, but the 5.5 inch AMOLED screen and snugly curved grips make it surprisingly comfortable to hold.
The Air gives you lots of options for customizing your experience. Gaining entry to all your applications and games is made simple with Aya Space software; its user-friendly interface makes navigating easy. From there you can adjust settings like the TDP and fan modes, customize button behaviors, and adjust controller sensitivity. You can even use the ‘Master Controller’ to calibrate the inputs if you want a more refined experience.
As far as actual performance, the Air and Air Pro both do a good job, though they don’t quite match their meatier brothers. I was able to run the highest settings in a few titles, but if you want to push the performance to its limits you’ll want to lower any settings you don’t need. Even in the ‘slower’ mode, I got more than adequate results for AAA titles.
The Ayaneo Air is the closest I’ve come to having a fully portable gaming machine that can play the latest titles. Its slim profile and lightweight design make it convenient to travel with and its impressive array of features make it easy to customize your experience. If you’re looking for a more traditional PC gaming experience on the go, the Ayaneo Air is a great choice.

Examining the Compact Design of the Ayaneo Air
The Ayaneo Air provides multiple features in an extended form factor compared to the Nintendo Switch Lite. Its form factor centers around being slender and featherweight., Featuring soft curves and an aesthetic borne from the Switch Lite, this design captures the essence of the popular console. It has a 5.5-inch 1080p AMOLED screen, two customizable shoulder buttons, A port offering extra memory capacity through a MicroSD card is available. The arrangement of the buttons is mostly similar to those found on earlier editions., Providing a sense of comfort for those accustomed to playing with a controller. The control sticks and activation switches have been augmented with Hall Effect sensors for a precise and seamless experience., and the D-Pad is crisp and accurate. The back features large vents to allow heat from the CPU to escape, and its ergonomic design fits naturally in your hands. While the Air sacrifices some performance due to its small size, Purchasing the item is highly advantageous for its diverse applications.
What Sets the Ayaneo Air Apart from Its Competitors?
The Ayaneo Air is a unique handheld gaming PC that is designed for maximum portability and ease of use. Its small form factor and lightweight design make it easy to take on the go, while still offering capable hardware and performance. Not only does it come with a color-rich AMOLED display, but it also features customizable inputs, taps and holds shortcuts, Up to a maximum of 32GB of RAM and 2TB of NVMe storage can be supported. Additionally, The Air is equipped with a MicroSD card slot, enabling users to access greater storage capacities., and it supports WiFi 6E to ensure a fast, reliable connection. Finally, with the Aya Space app, gamers can easily customize their gaming experience and access all of their games. The Ayaneo Air is designed for convenience, portability, and performance, which makes it stand out amongst its competitors.
What type of CPU, Memory, and Storage Come with the Ayaneo Air?
The Ayaneo Air comes in three different models, each offering a different combination of CPU, memory, and storage. Fitted with a Ryzen 5 5560 CPU and 8GB of DDR4 RAM, the introductory Air Lite machine is a great option., All devices include an integrated NVMe SSD of 128GB as standard. For those wanting more, the Standard model upgrades to 16GB of RAM and provides more options for onboard storage up to 512GB. Users seeking even more power can opt for the Pro model, Replacement: quicker Ryzen 7 5825U chip, as well as up to 2TB of built-in storage. All models feature a slot for expanding storage via MicroSD cards.

Comparing Inputs on the Ayaneo Air
The Ayaneo Air offers impressive inputs for a device of its size. Its joysticks and triggers are made with Hall Effect sensors that use magnetism over mechanical dials, allowing for smooth and precise inputs with no risk of joystick drift. The buttons are all fabricated with membrane switches that grant considerable feedback and the D-Pad is responsive and exact. All of these combined make the Air a joy to play with, even with its smaller form factor. This makes it a great choice for gamers who want a device that is easy to travel with and provides an excellent gaming experience.
The link to purchase a AYANEO Air PRO from Amazon can be found here
Exploring the Performance of the Ayaneo Air
The Ayaneo Air is a powerful piece of technology in a very small package. Starting at $499, This phone includes a 5.5-inch 1080p AMOLED display as well as varied internal elements, Replacing up to 32GB of memory and 2TB, up to a max of 64GB RAM and 4TB of quick SSD storage is possible. Despite its small size, it can pack in some impressive specs. However, This compact design does possess some drawbacks. To balance performance and battery life, The Air Pro and Air Max provide a maximum of 12, 15, and 18 watts of TDP, respectively. As a comparison, the Ayaneo Next, with its bulkier size, can reach up to 28 watts.

Accessories for the Ayaneo Air
Ayaneo has several accessories available for the Ayaneo Air. A zippered storage pouch from TomToc, Outputs for providing power to multiple gadgets, Additionally, A special version the Nuphy Air75 mechanical keyboard is obtainable. The carry case sports a stitched covering encasing its protective semi-rigid outside and the Air is safely cinched in a soft interior., velvety fabric to protect it from scratches. Meanwhile, The GaN charger offers supplementary outputs for powering numerous gadgets, and the Air75 is renowned for its diminutive, mechanized keys. These accessories add to the convenience of the Ayaneo Air, and are perfect for anyone looking to get the most out of their gaming experience.
The link to purchase a AYANEO Air PRO from Amazon can be found here
Pros
- Small and portable form factor, with no sacrifice to performance.
- Impressive AMOLED display with five-point touch support.
- Advanced features like Hall Effect sensors, WiFi 6E, and customizable shoulder buttons.
Cons
- Poor sound quality from the built-in speakers.
- Limited connectivity, with only USB Type-C ports.
Final Conclusion
Quirky software that requires some time to learn to get the most out of the device.
The Ayaneo Air is the perfect device for gamers who prioritize portability. It packs impressive specs into a small form factor, with a beautiful 1080p AMOLED display and plenty of customization options. Despite its small size, it has plenty of power and a great array of inputs. It also features WiFi 6E and a microSD card slot, making it easy to both store and access content. The battery life isn’t great, and the speakers are a bit tinny, but overall the Ayaneo Air is an impressive device that we would highly recommend to anyone looking for a powerful portable gaming PC.
FAQ’s regarding the AYANEO Air PRO
What features does the Ayaneo Air have?
The Ayaneo Air is a pocket-sized gaming PC that holds the title of being just slightly bigger than the Nintendo Switch Lite. It boasts a sleek design that provides gamers with the perfect combination of portability and performance. It packs impressive specs, including a Ryzen 5 5560 processor (6 cores/12 threads), 8GB of DDR4 memory, 128GB of built-in NVMe storage, a 5.5 inch AMOLED 1080p touchscreen, two customizable shoulder buttons, a MicroSD card slot for expandable storage, Hall Effect sensors for the joysticks and triggers, tactile membrane switches for the face buttons, The top and bottom feature a solitary USB Type-C port, as well as WiFi 6E compatibility. It includes extras such as a handy zip-up carrying bag, a GaN battery charger, and a tailor-made Nuphy Air75 mechanical keyboard.
What software does the Ayaneo Air run?
The Ayaneo Air runs Aya Space, By pressing the Aya key, you can access a launcher and setup utility that is already present on the gadget. It lets you launch games, adjust settings like TDP and fan modes, change resolution and brightness, access a set of customizable quick commands, Modify button assignments and adjust the settings with the Master Controller module.
How powerful is the Ayaneo Air?
The Ayaneo Air is not as powerful as the Ayaneo Next or Steam Deck, The limited extent of the computer hinders the amount of power supplied to the processor. It is recommended to interpret performance as a progressive continuum, with our outcome falling just shy of the energy-consuming utmost. In terms of sheer horsepower, Both Ayaneo Air iterations are not on par with the Ayaneo Next and Steam Deck.