The renowned company Ayaneo has unveiled its third-generation flagship handheld gaming console, now available for crowdfunding, and it sports an exciting new modular controller design. As detailed on their Indiegogo page, the Ayaneo 3 offers several innovative controller setups. These include a Standard Module with your typical joysticks, D-pad, and ABXY buttons, a Touchpad Module that swaps out the joysticks for a touchpad, and a Fighting Module featuring a six-button layout.
One of the standout features of the Ayaneo 3 is its modular setup, allowing gamers to mix and match controllers as they see fit, even enabling the modules to be installed upside down. With this flexibility, users can explore up to 56 different layout combinations to tailor the device to their gaming needs. While this feature is impressive, our curiosity is piqued by the motorized ejection system for the modules—it feels like it might overcomplicate a straightforward process, but we reserve final judgment until we can see it firsthand.
In addition to this unique design, Ayaneo has chosen AMD’s latest processors to fuel their console. The Ayaneo 3 can be equipped with the advanced AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU, making it one of the pioneers in handheld gaming technology. Alternatively, for those who don’t require quite as much power, the option to install an AMD Ryzen 7 8840U is available.
Looking at the different versions of the Ayaneo 3, you can choose between a 7-inch 120 Hz LCD with brightness up to 500 nits and a 7-inch 144 Hz OLED that can reach 800 nits. Interestingly, both display types are priced similarly, leaving the choice up to personal preference. Starting with 16GB RAM when using the 8840U processor, configuration can be bumped up to a hefty 64GB with the HX 370, and storage begins at 512GB, scalable up to an extensive 4TB for those who dread deleting games.
The starting price for the Ayaneo 3 is $899 for the most basic model, which excludes any extra controller modules. However, depending on your specifications, you can spend up to $2,099. There’s good news if you back this project early; the company promises discounts of $200 to $300 during the crowdfunding campaign.
It’s essential to mention that more affordable configurations do not come with the additional controller modules. These are typically included with the higher-end 64GB/2TB models, and you won’t be able to buy them separately. This decision may push those wanting the complete package toward the more expensive options.
As of now, Ayaneo has successfully met its crowdfunding target of $50,000, paving the way for production. With Ayaneo’s solid track record of delivering their promised devices, backers are quite optimistic about receiving their new gadgets.
However, remember the usual caveat with crowdfunded projects—even when they meet funding goals, there’s never an absolute guarantee of receiving a finished product. By backing this campaign, you’re not just buying a device; you’re investing in Ayaneo and sharing some of the risks involved in launching new technology. That said, you’ll enjoy a nice discount and get the console before it hits the shelves.
