- Primary Subject: AYANEO Next 2
- Key Update: AYANEO revealed a $4,299 max-spec Windows handheld featuring up to 128GB RAM, Ryzen AI Max+ 395, and a 9-inch 165Hz OLED display.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: February 12, 2026
- Quick Answer: AYANEO Next 2 costs up to $4,299, packs laptop-tier specs and a 165Hz OLED screen, but its price and weight make it a niche halo device.
There was a time when $800 felt like the upper limit for a premium gaming handheld.
Revealed in late 2025, the AYANEO Next 2 positions itself as a no-compromise Windows handheld, pushing hardware to the edge and pricing its most powerful configuration at a steep $4,299.
What Makes the Display Stand Out?
At its core, the Next 2 is designed to blur the line between handheld and high-end gaming laptop. It features a large 9-inch OLED display with a 2400 x 1504 resolution and a refresh rate that scales up to 165Hz.
That panel alone places it ahead of many rivals in visual quality, especially in a market where OLED is still uncommon. The screen size surpasses that of the Steam Deck OLED and even edges beyond the Lenovo Legion Go.
How Powerful Is It Really?
The real jump comes with the power configurations, as the base model begins at $1,999 ($1,799 with early preorder pricing) and features AMD’s Ryzen AI Max 385, Radeon 8050S graphics, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage.
Even at this level, the device already outclasses many mainstream handhelds in raw specifications.
For users seeking higher specs, the upgraded configuration with 64GB of RAM and a Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor comes at a noticeably higher price, while the top-tier model featuring 128GB of RAM and 2TB of storage reaches $4,299 ($3,499 for early adopters).
These memory figures are unusual for handheld gaming devices and approach workstation territory, making it clear that AYANEO is targeting enthusiasts who value extreme performance above all else.
Why Is It So Expensive?
The internal hardware is supported by a massive 115–116Wh battery, one of the largest seen in a handheld gaming PC.
This capacity dwarfs competitors like the ROG Ally X, but it also contributes to the system’s substantial weight—around 3.14 pounds (approximately 1.4kg).
That heft makes it far less portable than most handhelds and more comparable to a compact laptop split into controller form.
It’s powerful, but you will feel it. AYANEO didn’t cut corners on inputs or features either.
The Next 2 includes dual touchpads for mouse-style navigation, Hall Effect sticks and triggers for durability and precision, TMR joysticks, an 8-way D-pad, trigger locks, multiple rear buttons for customization, dual USB-C ports, RGB accents, and advanced cooling solutions to handle the high-performance components.
Bright front-facing speakers and high display brightness further reinforce its premium positioning. The device is expected to ship in Polar Black and Aurora White variants, with release timing projected around mid-2026.
Is the AYANEO Next 2 Actually Worth Over $4,000?
Honestly, for most people, no — and that’s not even an insult to the device. On paper, the AYANEO Next 2 is absurd in the best way.
Sporting a 9-inch 165Hz OLED screen, up to 128GB of memory, and 2TB of storage, the device is built for high-end performance.
Its Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor narrows the gap between handheld and gaming laptop power, and the oversized 115–116Wh battery gives it an edge in endurance.
Add advanced controls and enhanced cooling, and it stands virtually unmatched in the handheld PC market. But value isn’t about being the most powerful.
It’s about what you’re getting relative to the price. At $4,299, you’re in serious gaming laptop territory.
You could buy a high-end laptop with a dedicated GPU and still have enough left for something like the Steam Deck OLED or even the already “expensive” ROG Ally X. Those devices handle modern games well at a fraction of the cost.
The increase from $800 to $4,000 goes far beyond incremental growth. Coming in at around 3.14 pounds, the bulk is justified by its internal hardware, though it shifts the device away from true handheld convenience and toward “portable workstation” territory.
The AYANEO Next 2 isn’t meant to be sensible. It’s a halo product. It exists to show what happens when a company refuses to compromise on specs in a handheld form factor.
For the tiny niche that wants maximum performance in their hands and doesn’t care about cost, it might genuinely be worth it. For everyone else, it’s impressive — but excessive.
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