AYANEO is pushing the boundaries of handheld gaming once again, and this time they’re bringing out the big guns-literally. The upcoming AYANEO NEXT 2 is shaping up to be a beast of a portable gaming machine, powered by AMD’s top-tier Strix Halo chip, the Ryzen AI Max+ 395.
This marks one of the first true integrations of the massive APU in a handheld form, rivaling even high-end gaming laptops in terms of specs.
Unlike previous models like the Pocket and Flip DS, the NEXT 2 is jumping straight to the Strix Halo, skipping the more conservative Strix Point chips entirely. With 16 Zen 5 CPU cores and a Radeon 8060S GPU featuring 40 Compute Units based on the RDNA 3.5 architecture, this isn’t just a step forward-it’s a leap.
But this kind of firepower doesn’t come without heat-literally. To tame the beast, AYANEO has ditched the typical single-fan design in favor of a dual-fan cooling system mounted on a prototype PCB that’s bigger than most competing handhelds. This oversized board accommodates LPDDR5X RAM, M.2 SSD slots, and a variety of ports, suggesting a device that blurs the line between handheld and laptop.
Founder Arthur Zhang shared an early look at the console during a livestream, showing off its impressive internals and hinting at a screen size around 10 inches. While the design may change before launch, it’s already drawing comparisons to gaming tablets or even portable workstations. It’s not just about power-it’s about redefining what portable gaming can be.
Despite previous challenges with thermals and power efficiency, AYANEO’s experience developing the AI395 Mini PC seems to have paid off. The NEXT 2 appears ready to handle the demanding specs of Strix Halo with confidence. It’s also proof that AMD has finally ramped up production of these coveted chips, as several new devices are starting to appear featuring them.
Of course, with great power comes great… weight. Some users are already joking that you’ll need strong arms to wield this thing and a power outlet nearby after just 15 minutes. But for those looking for uncompromised power in a portable form, the NEXT 2 might just be worth its likely premium price tag.
Whether it’s a handheld console or a portable gaming PC disguised as one, one thing is clear: AYANEO NEXT 2 is not messing around.