The first Steam Deck competitor with SteamOS is almost here

The first non-Valve device with SteamOS preinstalled is about to ship: Ayaneo just announced its next handheld gaming PC, the Next Lite, is running the open-source operating system.

Ayaneo is pitching the Next Lite as a cost-effective option, but we don’t know too much about the device just yet or how much it will cost. It has a seven-inch 800p screen, a 47Wh battery, and Hall effect joysticks, according to an Ayaneo blog post. The company is also advertising “vibrant colors” that include a good-looking seafoam green and “high-end craftsmanship.”

But we don’t yet know what chip powers the handheld, so it’s hard to know how its performance might stack up against other devices.

Not listing a price feels like a big omission if it will be marketed as a potentially cheaper option than other handhelds on the market. It could be going up against Valve’s remaining stock of $349 Steam Decks, while the existing Ayaneo Next sells for $1,315.

The company is advertising that “subscriptions” for the handheld will open on Thursday night, creating the possibility of a different pricing approach than a one-time purchase or crowdfunding. If you’re interested, these subscriptions will be available at 9:30PM ET on January 11th on Ayaneo’s website. If you want to know how we’ve liked other Ayaneo handhelds, check out our reviews of the Ayaneo Next and Ayaneo 2.

The first non-Valve device with SteamOS preinstalled is about to ship: Ayaneo just announced its next handheld gaming PC, the Next Lite, is running the open-source operating system.

Ayaneo is pitching the Next Lite as a cost-effective option, but we don’t know too much about the device just yet or how much it will cost. It has a seven-inch 800p screen, a 47Wh battery, and Hall effect joysticks, according to an Ayaneo blog post. The company is also advertising “vibrant colors” that include a good-looking seafoam green and “high-end craftsmanship.”

But we don’t yet know what chip powers the handheld, so it’s hard to know how its performance might stack up against other devices.

Not listing a price feels like a big omission if it will be marketed as a potentially cheaper option than other handhelds on the market. It could be going up against Valve’s remaining stock of $349 Steam Decks, while the existing Ayaneo Next sells for $1,315.

The company is advertising that “subscriptions” for the handheld will open on Thursday night, creating the possibility of a different pricing approach than a one-time purchase or crowdfunding. If you’re interested, these subscriptions will be available at 9:30PM ET on January 11th on Ayaneo’s website. If you want to know how we’ve liked other Ayaneo handhelds, check out our reviews of the Ayaneo Next and Ayaneo 2.