The AYANEO 3 is an upcoming handheld gaming PC with a 7 inch display that looks a lot like previous-generation devices from AYANEO at first glance. But this all-new model has a few significant upgrades.

First, it will be available in several configurations, including entry-level models with 7 inch IPS LCD displays and AMD Ryzen 7 8840U "Hawk Point" processors and others with Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 "Strix Point" chips and OLED screens. And second? The AYANEO 3 is the first handheld gaming PC with a modular controller design that lets you pop out and rearrange the analog sticks, D-Pad, and action buttons.

AYANEO began promoting the upcoming handheld in November, and has released additional details a few time since then. The latest update provides a look at the modular controllers.

The company says the AYANEO 3 has a "Magic Module" system that lets you pop out, rearrange, and replace the controllers. They  connect to the handheld with a set of pogo pins, and they're held in place magnetically. There's a motorized system that lets you unlock a module at the press of a button.

You can even flip them around: prefer the analog stick below the D-Pad? Just unlock and eject the left module, flip it around, and re-insert it.

The design also lets you choose from different modules depending on the buttons, layout, and functions you want. A promo video shows what looks like AYANEO will offer at least 6 different modules, and AYANEO says "over 50 layout combinations" will be available, including modules with touchpads, extra action buttons, and more.

It's unclear how much they'll cost, and whether you'll be able to choose your modules when purchasing an AYANEO 3 or if it will ship with a default set while additional modules are sold separately.

In  terms of processing power, the entry-level model comes with an AMD Ryzen 7 8840U chip, which is a pretty decent option for mobile gaming: its CPU and graphics features are similar to those of the Ryzen Z1 Extreme, but the 8840U also has an NPU with up to 16 TOPS of on-device AI performance.

But folks who want to up their game will  also be able to opt for a newer, higher-performance Ryzen AI 9 HX 370. While that chip  may gets its name from the higher-performance NPU (with up to 50 TOPS), but it also brings updated CPU and graphics architecture and more CPU and GPU cores, which should bring a significant boost for gaming and other tasks.

AYANEO 3 specs Display 7 inchesOLEDHDR"high refresh" 7 inchesLCD"high refresh" CPU AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 37012 cores / 24 threads (4 Zen 5 + 8 Zen 5C)2 GHz base / 5.1 GHz max boost36MB cache15-54W TDP AMD Ryzen 7 8840U8 Zen 4 cores / 16 threads3.3 GHz base / 5.1 GHz max boost24MB cache15-30W TDP GPU Radeon 890M16 x RDNA 3.5 compute unitsUp to 2.9 GHz Radeon 780M12 x RDNA 3 compute unitsUp to 2.7 GHz) NPU Ryzen AI50 TOPS Ryzen AI16 TOPS Color options BlackWhite

AYANEO hasn't yet provided information about the screen resolution, memory, storage, or some other important details (like how much the AYENEO 3 will cost or when it will be available for purchase).

But while the physical design is reminiscent of the AYANEO 2, the new model features a few significant updates including front-facing speakers for better audio and an updated button system that includes trigger locks and two back buttons.

Pictures also show a set of ports that appears to include USB Type-C and OCuLink connectors, as well as a microSD card reader.

And in a video released on November 22, the company revealed that the AYANEO 3 will be the company's first device with a new "magnetic suspension motor" for enhanced vibration feedback and support for swapping the action buttons so you can arrange the X, Y, A, and B buttons as you see fit.

This article was first published November 8, 2024 and most recently updated December 25, 2024. 

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