AYANEO 2 Review Video
Unboxing the AYANEO 2
Let’s start with the unboxing of the AYANEO 2. Inside the box, you will find a set of user guides for the AYANEO 2 and AYA SPACE launcher. The main highlight of the box is the AYANEO 2 handheld PC itself, which we will discuss in detail shortly.
The box also includes several accessories such as a charger and plug adaptors for different regions worldwide, a USB Type-C cable, two USB Type-C to A adaptors, and replacement screw covers for the handheld.
AYANEO 2 Overview
The AYANEO 2 handheld PC has a sleek and compact design, measuring at 10.4 x 4.1 x 1.42 inches (26.45 x 10.55 x 3.61 cm) and weighing 680g. It comes in four colours, including Retro Power, Starry Black, Sky White, and B.Duck. The 7” touchscreen LCD display features a native resolution of 1920×1200 and is covered with a single sheet of glass with an anti-fingerprint coating. The handheld boasts LED-lit hall sensor analogue sticks, a D-Pad, gaming buttons, and shoulder buttons and hall sensor triggers on the top. Two small shortcut buttons can be configured in the AYA SPACE software, and there is a power button with a built-in fingerprint sensor and volume rocker. Additionally, there are two USB Type-C ports, a USB Type-C port, a micro SD card slot, and a 3.5mm headphone jack on the bottom.
AYANEO 2 Technical Specifications
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 7 6800U. 8 cores & 16 threads up to 4.7GHz with max recommended 28W TDP |
| GPU | AMD Radeon 680M with 12 cores at 2200Mhz |
| RAM | 16GB / 32GB LPDDR5-6400 MT/s |
| STORAGE | 512GB / 1TB / 2TB PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280 |
| DISPLAY | 7 inch LCD 1920*1200 |
| COMMUNICATIONS | WiFi 6 Bluetooth 5.2 |
| BATTERY | 50.25 Wh battery |
| BATTERY LIFE | Idle on desktop at 28W TDP: 4 hours 27 minutes Cinebench on a loop at 28W TDP: 1 hour 12 minutes |
| FAN NOISE * | 69 dB |
| HIGHEST TEMPERATURE * |
45 °C |
AYA SPACE
The AYA SPACE software is a key part of the AYANEO 2 handheld PC experience, providing a console-like interface and useful shortcuts while gaming. The software allows you to access your installed games, customise the RGB lighting around the analogue sticks, and access commonly used settings.
During gameplay, you can tap the Aya key to bring up an overlay where you can access a range of useful shortcuts, such as changing the fan speed, resolution, and TDP. The AYA SPACE software is regularly updated with new features, making it a valuable addition to the AYANEO 2.
System Benchmarks
To ensure consistency with our handheld gaming PC benchmark format, we are conducting our benchmarks on the AYANEO 2 at a 28W TDP. We will be comparing its results with those of other handhelds at the end of the benchmarking process.
PCMark is a benchmark that measures the overall performance of a device by running a series of tests that simulate everyday tasks like web browsing, video conferencing, and photo editing. The benchmark provides a good overview of the general performance of a device.
In the case of the AYANEO 2, we ran the PCMark benchmark at 28W TDP, in line with our handheld gaming PC benchmark format. The AYANEO 2 scored 6,384, which is in the same range as other handhelds we have tested.
Overall, the AYANEO 2 performs well on the PCMark benchmark and is capable of handling day-to-day tasks with ease.
Great! The AYANEO 2’s multi-core score of 10,989 in the Cinebench benchmark is impressive, indicating strong CPU performance. This score puts it in the same league as other high-end handheld gaming PCs on the market.
Gaming Benchmarks
In our ONEXPLAYER Mini Pro review, we received no complaints about the new format we used for our game benchmarks. We tested the AYANEO 2 at three different power levels (11W, 20W, and 28W) at its maximum resolution, and we also ran it at 28W on 800P resolution to compare its performance against other handhelds.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
We started our gaming benchmarks with the classic game, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, running on the lowest graphics settings.
AYANEO 2 Shadow of the Tomb Raider Benchmark Result At 1200P and 28W, the AYANEO 2 achieved an average frame rate of 68. At 800P and 28W, it achieved an average frame rate of 93.
At 1200P and 20W, it achieved 62 frames per second, and at 11W, it got 31 frames per second.
Cyberpunk 2077 We moved on to a newer game, Cyberpunk 2077, which we tested on the low graphics settings.
AYANEO 2 Cyberpunk 2077 Benchmark Result At 1200P and 28W, the AYANEO 2 achieved an average frame rate of 48.78. At 800P and 28W, it achieved an average frame rate of 69.3.
At 1200P and 20W, it achieved 42.5 frames per second, and at 11W, it got 23.45 frames per second.
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 Finally, we tested the AYANEO 2 on the minimal graphics settings of Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2.
AYANEO 2 Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 Benchmark Result At 1200P and 28W, the AYANEO 2 achieved an average frame rate of 67. At 800P and 28W, it achieved an average frame rate of 94.
At 1200P and 20W, it achieved 59 frames per second, and at 11W, it got 32 frames per second.
Benchmark Summary
28W TDP |
20W TDP | 11W TDP | |
| PCMARK | 6384 | – | – |
| 3DMARK | 2710 | – | – |
| CINEBENCH | 10989 | – | – |
| TOMB RAIDER | 68 FPS | 62 FPS | 31 FPS |
| CYBERPUNK 2077 | 48.78 FPS | 42.45 FPS | 24.43 FPS |
| COD: MW2 | 67 FPS | 59 FPS | 32 FPS |
AYANEO 2 gaming benchmarks at 1200P and 28W, 20W & 11W TDP We found a similar trend with the other 6800U handhelds, where the performance gains start to decrease after 25W TDP. Notably, there was a significant performance difference between 11W and 20W, and a smaller difference between 20W and 28W. We also tested the device at 33W but saw little difference compared to 28W, making it unnecessary to push the TDP higher.
Now, let’s take a look at the AYANEO 2’s 1200P and 28W benchmark results in comparison with other handhelds, including the ONEXPLAYER Mini Pro, GPD WIN MAX 2, and a pre-production sample of the AOKZOE A1 for reference.
OXP MINI PRO |
WIN MAX 2 | AOKZOE A1 | AYANEO 2 | |
| PCMARK | 6414 | 6346 | 6496 | 6384 |
| 3DMARK | 2748 | 2805 | 2720 | 2710 |
| CINEBENCH | 11357 | 11142 | 10899 | 10989 |
| TOMB RAIDER | 69 FPS | 69 FPS | 65 FPS | 68 FPS |
| CYBERPUNK 2077 | 52.68 FPS | 48.24 FPS | 48.73 | 48.78 |
| COD: MW2 | 64 FPS | 65 FPS | 59 FPS | 67 FPS |
AYANEO 2 benchmark result comparison at 1200P with 28W TDP for handheld gaming PCs Comparing the benchmark results of the AYANEO 2 with other handheld gaming PCs, we can see that the scores are generally similar, except for the AOKZOE A1. It’s worth noting that different benchmark runs may yield slightly different scores. Overall, having a range of similarly performing handhelds allows users to choose based on design, price, and other features, rather than just performance. As mentioned in our ONEXPLAYER Mini Pro review, not having an outright fastest handheld is actually beneficial.
Final Thoughts
AYANEO 2 review: Impressive Performance and Great Emulation Capabilities The AYANEO 2 handheld gaming PC is a highly impressive device with great performance capabilities. It boasts the same level of performance as other handheld PCs based on the 6800U chipset, allowing users to play the latest AAA games smoothly. While some games may require lower graphics settings or resolutions, they are still playable on this device. Additionally, the 6800U processor is great for emulation, allowing games to run at full speed on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, among others. Overall, there are no negative points to mention about the performance of the AYANEO 2.
AYANEO 2 design review: Comfortable and stylish with a unique front glass panel The design of the AYANEO 2 is sleek and ergonomic, providing comfortable gameplay for extended periods of time. The device is not too heavy, making it easy to hold and play games on the go, although you may find yourself resting it on a surface while playing. The device’s front panel is covered by a single sheet of glass, giving it a stylish and modern look that we haven’t seen in other handheld gaming devices. However, despite the device’s claim to be fingerprint-proof, we found that it can easily become smudged with fingerprints.
If you’re in the market for a handheld PC, the AYANEO 2 is definitely worth considering. Its design is comfortable to hold and the single sheet of glass covering the front is a unique touch. However, your decision ultimately comes down to the features and design that are important to you. One standout feature of the AYANEO 2 is the AYA SPACE, which is more advanced than what other handhelds offer. So, if this is important to you, it could be a deciding factor in your purchase.