I've seen enough premium gaming handhelds — AYANEO's budget line shows the way

AYANEO Unveils New Budget-Friendly Gaming Handheld Line

During AYANEO’s 2025-2026 Strategy Sharing Session, the tech company's CEO, Arthur Zhang, shared details about several upcoming devices. These include mini PCs, a gaming tablet, a mobile controller, and more. As part of these announcements, AYANEO introduced its new sub-brand, KONKR, which is described as "a high-performance handheld console brand with high cost performance, to create more cost-effective handheld products for every player."

This means that the KONKR line is AYANEO’s budget-friendly approach to gaming handhelds. The company showcased two KONKR handhelds, though full specifications and pricing are not yet available. Here’s what has been revealed so far:

• KONKR Pocket FIT: An Android handheld powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, developed over the past year.
• KONKR FIT: A slightly smaller device than the ROG Ally X, featuring a 7-inch display and an 80Wh battery.

AYANEO’s move into the budget segment comes at a time when many consumers, including myself, have expressed frustration with the lack of affordable options in the handheld gaming market. Recently, I had a conversation with a coworker at Windows Central about how manufacturers need to offer more budget-friendly choices instead of focusing solely on premium models.

While AYANEO’s devices are typically expensive, it remains to be seen how much more affordable the KONKR line will be. However, the concept of budget-friendly handhelds is something companies like ASUS, Lenovo, and others should consider. This is especially true if they want to better serve their customers and gain a stronger foothold in the gaming market.

The Need for More Affordable Handhelds

Over the last three years, the handheld gaming PC market has gained mainstream attention, largely due to the Steam Deck. This was followed by other devices such as the ASUS ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and more. Despite this competition, Valve has maintained its position as the most affordable option in the market.

The Steam Deck's affordability has gone largely unchallenged, which is a missed opportunity for OEMs like ASUS ROG, Lenovo, MSI, and others. These companies could better serve consumers and capture more of the market by offering more affordable devices.

Currently, the premium market is well-served, but what is needed now are more budget-friendly gaming handhelds that still deliver strong performance at a lower price point. For instance, the Steam Deck starts at $399.00 and even its highest OLED configuration with 1TB storage is priced at $649.00, making it a more cost-friendly option compared to other devices.

However, the Steam Deck is beginning to show its age with smaller screens, lower resolution displays, and less powerful processors. This creates an opportunity for competitors to step in with budget-friendly alternatives that can replace the Steam Deck.

AYANEO’s Journey and Innovation

If you're interested in learning more about AYANEO, the 2025-2026 Strategic Sharing Session is available on YouTube. Note that the event is in Chinese without subtitles or translations.

AYANEO started in 2020, creating multiple Windows handheld gaming PCs. Notably, the company released its first Windows handheld two years before the Steam Deck launched in 2022. Since then, AYANEO has expanded its product range to include mini PCs, battery packs, Android handhelds, and more.

One of the standout aspects of AYANEO is its commitment to innovation and releasing devices that cater to niche markets. For example, the AYANEO Flip DS features a dual-screen, foldable clamshell design, while the AYANEO Slide includes a full keyboard.

As the demand for portable gaming continues to grow, AYANEO’s new KONKR line represents a promising step toward more accessible and affordable options for gamers. It’s hoped that other manufacturers will take note and follow suit, bringing more budget-friendly choices to the market.