Think gaming handhelds are too expensive? Ayaneo says ‘hold my beer,’ lists $5,000+ monster
Ayaneo has officially listed its Next 2 gaming handheld on its website, with the top-tier model priced at $5,299—making it among the most expensive gaming handhelds ever released. The premium configuration features an AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 APU (a Strix Halo processor), 2TB of SSD storage, and substantial RAM.
The steep pricing reflects component cost increases that forced Ayaneo to suspend pre-orders earlier in the year. The company cited “rising storage costs and the ongoing memory crisis” as making production “no longer sustainable” at previous price points. With the device now officially listed, the new pricing appears to represent Ayaneo’s attempt to absorb these escalating hardware costs.
The $5,299 price point represents a significant entry barrier for portable gaming. While the Ayaneo Next 2 targets consumers seeking powerful x86-based handheld gaming with high-end performance specifications, the pricing may significantly limit its mainstream market appeal.