The handheld gaming market has been in a state of flux recently, with Valve’s Steam Deck sparking mainstream interest. Now, Ayaneo has stepped into the spotlight with its latest flagship handheld gaming device, the Ayaneo KUN. With advanced features that rival its competitors, the Ayaneo KUN is positioning itself as a major player in this burgeoning industry.

Design and Display

The Ayaneo KUN takes design cues from its competitors, the Steam Deck and the Asus ROG Ally. However, it differentiates itself with a larger and more vibrant 8.4-inch, 2560×1600 display boasting 500 nits peak brightness. Although the Asus ROG Ally does have a 120Hz refresh rate, neither it nor the Steam Deck can match the KUN’s display size.

Performance

The Ayaneo KUN houses an AMD Ryzen 7 7840U APU coupled with a Radeon 780M GPU. It has a maximum TDP of 54W, significantly higher than the 15W for the Steam Deck and 35W for the ROG Ally. This is managed by a unique cooling system known as the “KUNPeng” heat dissipation system. The device remains reasonably cool under various loads, according to internal temperature testing results from Ayaneo.

Battery Life

One of the standout features of the Ayaneo KUN is its remarkable battery capacity. The device packs a 19500mAh (75Wh) battery, far outstripping the competition. While exact battery longevity will depend on a host of factors such as in-game settings and refresh rate, Ayaneo claims the KUN can last over three hours at a 15W load.

Controls and Connectivity

Controls on the Ayaneo KUN are extensive. The device features Hall effect joysticks, a D-pad, ABXY buttons, touchpads, a dedicated home button, and more. On the connectivity front, it offers a USB Type-C port, a USB Type-A port, a microSD card slot, and even a nano-SIM slot for optional 4G connectivity. It also provides ample storage expansion options through an M.2 PCIe SSD slot.

Customizable Features

The Ayaneo KUN comes with four customizable buttons on the back, a first for Ayaneo. These buttons add to the device’s versatility, allowing users to adapt controls to their specific needs through the AYASpace interface.

Pricing and Availability

The Ayaneo KUN is available for pre-order via an Indigogo campaign starting September 5. Pricing starts at $999 for the 16GB + 512GB configuration, and goes up to $1699 for the 64GB + 2TB variant. Three color options—Black Feather, Silver Wing, and White Silk—will be available. Global shipping is expected to commence from mid-October.

Market Competition

Although the Ayaneo KUN comes with a higher price tag compared to the Steam Deck and the Asus ROG Ally, its superior features could justify the cost for many consumers. Especially with early bird pricing, the Ayaneo KUN positions itself as a premium yet potentially worthwhile investment in handheld gaming.

Conclusion

The Ayaneo KUN has certainly grabbed attention with its impressive feature set. From its powerful internals to its expansive display and substantial battery life, the device aims to be a top contender in the handheld gaming market. Whether or not consumers will be willing to shell out a premium for these high-end features will determine the device’s success in an increasingly crowded market.

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