Switch-Like AYA NEO Handheld Gaming PC Surpasses Crowdfunding Goal In Just Hours

On one hand, supply chain insiders are now fueling rumors of a Nintendo Switch Pro being in development for a late 2021 release. On the other, there is the AYA NEO, a portable gaming PC that claims to be capable of running the latest games.

The entry-level model, which comes with 512GB along with the Founders Edition with the same internal storage capacity, quickly sold out, according to PCGameN. However, the 1 TB standard and Ultimate Package versions are still up for grabs.

As of this writing, the official Indiegogo page for the AYA NEO shows that 1,577 backers have so far pledged their support for the project. It is already 2,604% above its original goal of $420,000 with still 27 days left.

Unlike the highly limited Founder Edition of the handheld gaming PC that comes in transparent housing, the regular version will have two color options: Light Moon and Dark Star.

According to the crowdfunding page, the company is offering the 500 GB ($789) variant in black, while the 1 TB ($869) units are available in both colorways. Although the AYA NEO resembles the Nintendo Switch from a glance, the two have some key differences.

AYA NEO uses Microsoft's Windows 10 operating system, which means that it can be used for more than just gaming. The placement of the analog sticks and some of its face buttons, except for some additional inputs, is like the Joy-Cons. Nevertheless, much like the Switch Lite, the gamepads are non-removable.

"Clickable joysticks have optimized dead zone for smoother operation. The positioning of joysticks and D-Pad are optimized, ensuring minimal learning curve. The device chassis is shaped with wider sides, ensuring a firmer grip and better gaming performance," the manufacturer said in the description.

Ergonomics aside, the shoulder triggers use APLPS micro switches which provide shorter travel and tactile feedback for responsive gameplay. Rumble motors and 6-axis gyroscope/accelerometers are on board to give players a more immersive experience in context to the game they are playing.

Moreover, the button shortcuts for Windows Task Manager and on-screen keyboard are also included but are kept flush to prevent accidental actuation. It also has an optional dock, which adds more ports and outputs for a desktop-like experience when hooked up to a monitor or TV.

The front is dominated by a 7-inch 215-PPI H-IPS capacitive multi-touch panel with a peak brightness of 500 nits. The AYA NEO is equipped with a 7-nm AMD Ryzen 5 4500U with integrated Radeon Graphics and paired to a 16 GB LPDDR4x-4266 RAM.

Three 4,100 mAh cells combine for a total of 47Wh at 11.4V battery that ranges from a little over two up to six hours of gaming, depending on the settings. Fast charging technology is supported as well.

The AYA NEO is shipping out to backers globally this may.