Manufacturer of handheld gaming devices Ayaneo is now selling its devices at online retailer Best Buy in the US. Ayaneo Kun and Next Lite are available now on the retailer’s website, with Kun even launching at a special retail price of $999.
I interviewed Ayaneo CEO Arthur Zhang earlier this year and he expressed interest in increasing the brand’s awareness in North America. This move into mainstream retail seems like a solid first step, but the success of these handhelds could be crucial to whether more product lines come to market.
Ayaneo isn’t just interested in creating the best handheld gaming PC – the company also makes mini PCs and mobile gaming handhelds. Despite only entering the market in 2020, Hong Kong-based Ayaneo already has an extensive product library.
The Kun represents the higher end of Ayaneo’s handheld offerings thanks to its 8.4-inch 1600p display and AMD Ryzen 7 7840U APU. At the other end of the scale is the Next Lite, a much cheaper option that still offers respectable performance with an AMD Ryzen 7 4800U and 800p display.
Many of Ayaneo’s low-spec handhelds are used primarily as emulation consoles, but their most powerful models can compete with (or even outperform) devices like the Asus ROG Ally X.
Most of Ayaneo’s products have been launched via crowdfunding and the company plans to keep this method of product launch for the foreseeable future. While it’s unconventional, it’s worked for Ayaneo so far, but this move into traditional retail makes perfect sense when trying to target a market like North America.
If you want to know which titles are great for mobile gaming, check out our guide to the best Steam Deck games, where each entry is handpicked and tested for your peace of mind.
