Zen 5-Powered Ayaneo 3 Gaming Handheld Debuts with Modular Controller, Starting at $699

Ayaneo, the renowned name in handheld gaming consoles, has just unveiled its latest third-generation flagship, now available on a crowdfunding platform. This new model is turning heads with its innovative modular controller design. On its Indiegogo page, Ayaneo describes the Ayaneo 3’s versatile layout options, featuring a Standard Module equipped with joysticks, a D-pad, and ABXY buttons. There’s also a Touchpad Module that swaps the joysticks for a sleek touchpad and a Fighting Module that replaces the right-side controls with a dedicated six-button setup.

What’s exciting is how these modules can be mixed and matched in myriad ways—56 combinations to be exact. You can even flip them upside down to suit your gaming style or preferences. While this level of customization is impressive, the motorized mechanism used for ejecting the modules could be more cumbersome than desirable. But, we’re cautious to draw conclusions until we get some hands-on time with it.

Ayaneo has also packed some serious power into the Ayaneo 3. Among the variants is one running on AMD’s state-of-the-art Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU, making Ayaneo a pioneer in bringing this processor to handheld gaming. Alternatively, there’s the option to go with the AMD Ryzen 7 8840U processor, which delivers robust performance for those who might not need top-tier processing capabilities.

The Ayaneo 3 presents an array of choices: opt for the 7-inch 120 Hz LCD screen with brightness that peaks at 500 nits, or go for the more vibrant 7-inch 144 Hz OLED screen, capable of reaching 800 nits. Interestingly, despite the difference in brightness and refresh rates, both display options share the same price point, leaving the decision up to your personal screen preference. Starting memory for the 8840U model is at 16GB. For those who crave more RAM, the HX 370 variant goes up to 64GB. Storage starts at a spacious 512GB but can be expanded to a whopping 4TB, catering to gamers who loathe deleting games to free up space.

Entry into this gaming arena starts at $899 for the basic model, which does not include additional controller modules. If you’re after the ultimate setup and specs, though, the price can climb up to $2,099. But there’s a silver lining: early supporters of the crowdfunding campaign can snag a nifty discount of $200 to $300.

It’s worth noting that some of the more wallet-friendly configurations don’t come with the extra controller modules. Plus, these modules aren’t sold separately, so opting for the pricier models is the only way to access them.

Already, Ayaneo has smashed its funding goal of $50,000, which indicates strong interest and a probable shift towards production. Ayaneo’s track record of meeting their promises only bolsters backer confidence that this exciting new device will reach their hands.

However, as with all crowdfunded projects, hitting the funding target is just one step along the journey to receiving a finished product. There’s always inherent risk involved, but that’s part of the package; in return for your investment, you enjoy a significant discount and the thrill of being among the first to experience this cutting-edge console.