This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.
The original was posted on /r/ayaneo by /u/pleiyl on 2024-07-23 18:04:03+00:00.
Introduction
Since my initial impressions post on Reddit and my subsequent three-month review, I’ve received a lot of feedback and questions about the AYANEO Air 1S. Reflecting on these interactions and my extended use of the device, I think it’s time for a detailed update on how the AYANEO 1S has been serving my gaming needs. For context, I am primarily a PC gamer with a variety of portable handhelds, including the Switch, Steam Deck OLED, Odin 2 Max, Miyoo Mini (original and plus), RGB30, RG35XXSP, RG35XX Plus, and RG Nano.
Initial Concerns and Current Impressions
A year into using the AYANEO Air 1S, I believe it fills a niche that no other company (ASUS, Valve, Lenovo, etc.) currently addresses, largely due to its size and compact form factor. Initially, I had reservations about the size and ergonomics of the device. Weighing 450g, it is lighter than the Steam Deck (669g), but I was concerned about its dense feel and ergonomics. However, I can now safely say that once you get used to it, the AYANEO is less fatiguing than the Steam Deck, which is quite an achievement.
Display Quality
The AYANEO features an OLED screen that I actually prefer over the Steam Deck OLED. While the Steam Deck’s 7.4-inch, 800p screen is impressive, the AYANEO’s 5.5-inch, 1080p screen boasts a significantly higher pixel density (404 PPI vs. 204 PPI). This results in a much sharper picture as it is nearly double the ppi. Despite the smaller screen size, my good eyesight allows me to fully appreciate the difference in visual fidelity.
Performance
The AYANEO is a more powerful system compared to the Steam Deck. I recently completed “Spider-Man: Miles Morales” and “Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart” on it, running both games at medium settings. While the Steam Deck might handle these games best at low settings, the AYANEO can achieve 30 FPS on medium settings at 1080p, offering superior visual quality.Another advantage of the AYANEO is its ability to use AMD’s own drivers, providing better performance. AMD recently released an Adrenaline driver to fix FSR 3.1 stutters, although I prefer to run games without FSR or frame generation.
The Steam Deck OLED on the other hand excels when running older games at 90 FPS (or 45fps, etc and so on) or when utilizing HDR on a larger screen. The steam deck OLED has a great screen but I think for games like Spiderman/Ratchet at clank where you are cranking up the settings and aiming for 30 fps, the ayaneo power and fps target here works better for this use case.
Updates and Features
The AYANEO Air receives updates every 1-2 months, usually in the form of firmware or AYASpace updates. The recent firmware update introduced a bypass charging feature, theoretically extending battery lifespan. AYASpace is a helpful overlay that allows for easy adjustments of TDP and power profiles. It also includes a useful toggle to turn off mouse mode, which prevents double input issues in games like "Hades II. All in all, I think it pretty useful, and you are plenty of quick-action keys/toggles that you can turn on.
I was expecting less frequency of updates for a small boutique company like ayaneo
Controls and Ergonomics
Initially, I was lukewarm about the Joy-Con-like thumb sticks. However, I have come to appreciate them as they are tighter and more precise than regular Joy-Cons, contributing to a more premium feel and increased portability. I mainly use the device plugged in by my bedside, running it at max TDP (25W) and max fan speed. For my use case, I wonder if the even lighter special edition might have been a better choice since I keep it connected.
Pocketability
Had a recent comment on the old post about this so let’s talk about pocketability—if you’re thinking of slipping the AYANEO into your skinny jeans, you might want to reconsider.However, it might just find a cozy spot in your khakis. Anything in between? Well, that’s up for debate. I’ll let you be the judge with the picture linked
Audio Quality
The sound quality of the AYANEO’s speakers remains poor, even with the FX Audio app. However, I found a workaround with the Anker SoundCore Mini portable Bluetooth speaker, which significantly improves the audio experience. While this is not an ideal solution, it enhances the sound quality to the level of good TV speakers. I hope AYANEO addresses this issue in future models, as other devices like the Odin 2 and Steam Deck offer much better sound quality.
Conclusion
Given that I already own a Steam Deck, the AYANEO Air 1S is the only device from AYANEO that makes sense for me, filling a specific role as a small, compact, Windows-based handheld for anti-cheat games. In the mid-size range, competition is fierce with devices like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally X, making it a tough market to compete in.
As a side note, I wish the AYANEO team the best of luck with their next Windows-based PC handheld. I would be open to testing and providing feedback if anyone from Team AYANEO sees this!
EDIT 1: Added some links to my initial post and the picture, which reddit does seem to be displaying