Aya Neo’s latest Windows handheld packs the company’s most powerful tech into a compact shell.
If you follow the portable gaming PC scene at all, you’ve probably heard of Aya Neo.
The Chinese manufacturer has quietly made a name for itself since 2021 with high-performing handheld Windows PCs.
But on the positive side, Aya Neo’s handhelds just keep getting better.
The Ryzen 7 6800U units start at $980 and can outperform the Steam Deck.
I tested the model with the 6800U, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD.
And placing the Air Plus next to the Steam Deck makes the latter appear comically large and clunky.
The Air and Air Pro had OLED displays whereas the Air Plus is fitted with a 1080p IPS screen.
Customizable LED rings surround the analog sticks to add some additional style to the look.
The D-pad is fantastic, hitting the sweet spot between “clicky” and “mushy.”
Aya Space lets you navigate through your game library using regular stick and button controls.
When you first boot up the Air Plus, you are prompted to set up Aya Space.
Then you’ve got the option to launch them straight from Aya Space and install your games.
Aya Space, while a welcome inclusion, is not without problems.
Or sometimes it fails to pull the box art for the games you add to your library.
Other times, button inputs wouldn’t register at all.
I also had it crash on me several times.
When I say you’re going to adjust your prefs often, I really mean that.
Cranking the TDP up to the max comes at a big cost, though: battery life.
Unsurprisingly, the 46.2Wh battery can drainextremelyquickly when playing graphically intensive AAA games at 20W TDP.
But where the Air Plus really struggles in comparison is best-case battery life.
Meanwhile, it’s possible to get around eight hours on the Steam Deck.
Most of the time, the sweet spot for performance is at the 10 or 15W TDP configs.
After all, most handhelds benefit in the audio department when using headphones.
The larger handheld should disperse heat better and can be played at a higher TDP (33W).
If a PC game offers controller support, chances are the Air Plus will have no problem running it.
However, a hub will allow you to use peripherals that connect via cords or 2.4GHz dongles.
If you’re away from the desk, amini keyboard and mouse combo like thisis great to have.
Viewing the Air Plus in this way adds value to your purchase, too.
The Aya Neo Air Plus is launching at an interesting time for Windows handhelds.
Asus recently announced its own 7-inch gaming handheld that launches on May 11.
TheAsus ROG Allylooks to offer Steam Deck-comparable performance in the $600-$700 price range.
Previously, Aya Neo was only competing with other start-ups in the Windows handheld scene.
It’s possible that the ROG Ally will make Aya Neo devices sound even more expensive.
Aya Neo’s 7-inch devices might become hard sells if the ROG Ally offers comparable performance for hundreds less.
If you think the 7-inch Steam Deck, ROG Ally, Aya Neo 2, etc.
are too large, the Aya Neo Air Plus is a great choice if you want high-end performance.
Superb performance in this small of a package is an incredible feat.
If you want a Windows handheld, the Air Plus should be near the top of your list.
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