AYANEO Geek Review

We will be conducting a review of the AYANEO Geek by comparing it with the AYANEO 2 handheld gaming PC. Our evaluation will involve running system and game benchmarks and analyzing the results. Additionally, we will play games recommended by our viewers and share our final thoughts on whether it is advisable to purchase the Geek instead of the AYANEO 2.

AYANEO Geek Review Video

Unboxing the AYANEO Geek

When unboxing the AYANEO Geek handheld gaming PC, you will find a set of user guides that provide useful information about getting started with the device and its AYA SPACE software. The AYANEO Geek comes with a 65W charger that includes plug adaptors for use in different countries, making it a convenient option for travelers. Additionally, you will find a USB Type-C charge cable and two USB Type-C to Type-A adaptors that can come in handy.

The AYANEO Geek is an excellent device for gaming enthusiasts, and our unboxing video provides an in-depth look at what’s included in the package. You can see the AYANEO Geek handheld gaming PC in more detail, along with the various accessories that come with it. If you’re looking for a portable gaming PC that’s easy to set up and use, the AYANEO Geek is a great option to consider.

AYANEO Geek Overview

The AYANEO Geek has a slightly larger design compared to the AYANEO 2, measuring 10.3 x 4.1 x 1.4 inches (26.4 x 10.5 x 3.6 cm) at its thickest. However, both devices have a similar weight of around 680g. In terms of screen size, the AYANEO Geek comes with a 7” slim bezel touchscreen, available in both 1200P and 800P resolutions. While the display quality is excellent, the AYANEO 2 display is superior in terms of vibrancy and color. Our upcoming comparison review will delve into more detail.

The AYANEO Geek features hall effect analogue sticks and traditional gaming buttons on its front, along with two additional buttons that are designed for custom functions and the AYA SPACE overlay. On the top of the device, there are hall effect triggers and shoulder buttons, along with two small buttons that can be configured for custom key presses. The power button also doubles as a fingerprint sensor for added security and quick login to Windows. There is a volume rocker and two USB Type-C ports on the device.

Additionally, the AYANEO Geek includes a USB Type-C port on the bottom that can be used to connect to the official AYANEO dock. There is also a Micro SD card slot and a 3.5mm headphone port for further convenience. The AYANEO Geek is a well-designed handheld gaming PC that offers a range of features that are sure to delight gamers.

Technical Specifications

AYANEO Geek Technical Specifications

After conducting several tests using the Cinebench benchmark, the AYANEO Geek reached a maximum temperature of 45°C, with a peak fan noise of 69dB. With its 50.25Wh battery, the device provided a runtime of one hour at full load, operating at 28W TDP, and four hours and thirty-five minutes on the desktop at the same TDP.

In terms of comparison between the AYANEO 2 and the AYANEO Geek, there are some noticeable differences between the two models. Our upcoming review will explore these differences in more detail.

When comparing the AYANEO 2 and AYANEO Geek, one of the most significant changes, apart from the display, is the utilization of PCIE 3 instead of PCIE 4 in the latter. While there are differences in the vibration, gyroscope, and fingerprint modules used, many users may not find these variations important. Our upcoming review will provide a more detailed breakdown of the differences between the two models.

Dead Zone Dilemma

Recent discussions about hall effect sensors and controls for handheld gaming PCs have brought attention to potential dead zones. During our review of the AYANEO Geek, we discovered that AYANEO had released an update for their AYA SPACE software that allows users to switch off or on Dead Zone compensation.

With Dead Zone compensation turned off, we found that the movement based on our input was relatively accurate. However, the axis did not always return to zero when we fully went in one direction and then released the stick. On the other hand, with Dead Zone compensation turned on, moving the stick would jump anywhere between 23% to 28% before registering, but it returned to zero after letting go.

While the level of accuracy may not be significant for some games, users can now choose to have more accurate or slightly less accurate initial input by turning Dead Zone compensation on or off. It is great to see AYANEO addressing this issue and providing users with the option to adjust their settings.

AYA SPACE

Looking for a more console-like experience with your AYANEO handheld? AYA SPACE is the perfect frontend for you. This launcher scans your drive for games and adds them to the menu, allowing you to change settings and update firmware easily. During gameplay, simply press the AYA SPACE button to access an overlay with shortcuts to commonly used settings like fan speed, TDP, and screen resolution. Recently, AYANEO introduced the Smart TDP feature that dynamically adjusts TDP on demand, saving battery power and improving GPU performance. AYANEO is always updating this software with new features, providing a polished look and feel that sets them apart from other manufacturers.

System Benchmarks

It looks like the AYANEO Geek and AYANEO 2 have similar overall system and gaming performance at 28W TDP, with the AYANEO 2 slightly outperforming the Geek by a small margin in the benchmarks. However, it’s worth noting that these results can vary depending on the specific conditions and setups in which the benchmarks were conducted.

Gaming Benchmarks

In this section of our AYANEO Geek review, we’ll be conducting gaming benchmarks at both 1200P and 800P resolutions with varying TDP levels of 11W, 20W, and 28W. These benchmarks will provide a comprehensive look at the device’s gaming capabilities, ranging from high-quality gaming to optimal battery life.

In our AYANEO Geek review, we conducted gaming benchmarks at both 1200P and 800P resolutions, with varying TDP levels of 11W, 20W, and 28W. We began with testing Forza Horizon 5 on low graphics settings, where we observed noticeable differences in benchmark results across TDP levels at 1200P. However, at 800P, the AYANEO Geek performed one frame per second faster than the AYANEO 2.

Moving on to Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the benchmark results were very close with just a few frames difference across tests. Overall, we found identical performance between the two handhelds.

Next, we tested Cyberpunk 2077 on default low graphics settings, and observed decent scores across all four benchmarks, with the AYANEO Geek performing a frame or two better than the AYANEO 2 in some cases. At 1200P, players can limit the game to 30 or 40 frames, or go for 800P resolution and increase a few graphics settings.

Lastly, we tested Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 on minimal graphics settings with no upscaling, and noticed a decreasing gap between the two handhelds as the TDP levels lowered. The scores were fairly good, allowing players to comfortably play at 800P with some higher graphics settings or keep it on minimal for the best frame rates.

Gaming Benchmark Summary

Based on the benchmark results, it appears that the AYANEO Geek performed similarly to the AYANEO 2 in most of the gaming tests, except for Forza and Call of Duty, which had slightly lower scores on the Geek. This difference could be attributed to various factors such as different game versions and drivers. However, overall, the system benchmarks were comparable to other handheld gaming PCs, indicating that the AYANEO Geek is a reliable and capable device for gaming.

In our AYANEO Geek review, we conducted both system and gaming benchmarks to gauge its overall performance. We tested it with the highest resolution of 1200P as well as 800P, across a mix of 11W, 20W, and 28W TDP, providing a good range of resolutions and TDP levels for gaming, from best quality through to battery life.

For the gaming benchmarks, we tested games such as Forza Horizon 5, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Cyberpunk 2077, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. We observed noticeable differences in benchmark results in Forza Horizon 5 on the low graphics settings, but overall, the FPS remained good across different tests. Shadow of the Tomb Raider showed identical performance, with just a few frames either way across the tests. Cyberpunk 2077 delivered decent scores, with some frames above the AYANEO 2 on some tests. On the other hand, Forza and Call of Duty had some lower scores on the AYANEO Geek, which we attributed to different game versions and drivers to an extent.

Overall, the AYANEO Geek performed similarly to the AYANEO 2 and other handhelds, such as the GPD Win 4 and ONEXPLAYER Mini. If you want to compare the results, check out our Best Handheld Gaming PC 2023 guide.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, our review of the AYANEO Geek reveals that it is an impressive handheld gaming PC. After testing it alongside the AYANEO 2, we found that the quality and feel of the two devices are comparable. We also noted that the controls on the AYANEO Geek are just as responsive as those on the AYANEO 2. Overall, we are impressed with the AYANEO Geek’s performance and design. If you’re looking for a high-quality handheld gaming PC, the AYANEO Geek is definitely worth considering.

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