I previously reported that AYANEO announced the NEXT II, its newest flagship handheld, with some truly insane specs and features that border on the ridiculous side.
The AYANEO NEXT II might have more impressive specs than the Xbox Ally X, but that battery could cause problems for anyone who wants to fly with this niche gaming device.
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
AYANEO NEXT II |
Xbox Ally X |
|---|---|---|
|
Price |
TBA |
$999.99 |
|
Release date |
TBA |
Oct 16, 2025 |
|
OS |
Windows 11 |
Windows 11 Home |
|
Processor |
AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 (Zen 5 Strix Halo 16-cores, 32-threads CPU, RDNA 3.5 Radeon 8060S integrated GPU) |
AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme (Zen 5 8-core, 16-thread CPU, RDNA 3.5 Radeon 890M integrated GPU) |
|
Storage |
TBA |
1TB M.2 2280 SSD |
|
Memory |
TBA |
24GB LPDDR5X-8000 |
|
Display |
9.06-inch OLED ( 2,400 x 1,504) 16:10 |
7-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 IPS touchscreen, 500 nits |
|
Refresh rate |
60Hz / 90Hz / 120Hz / 144Hz / 165Hz switchable |
60Hz / 120Hz |
|
VRR |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Ports |
TBA |
1x USB4 Type-C, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 1x UHS-II microSD card reader, 1x audio jack |
|
Touchpads |
Yes |
No |
|
Connectivity |
TBA |
Wi-Fi 6E + Bluetooth 5.4 |
|
Dimensions |
TBA |
11.45 x 4.78 x 1.99 (290.8 x 121.5 x 50.7mm) |
|
Weight |
TBA |
1.57 lbs (715g) |
|
Battery life |
115Whr |
80Whr |
For those of you who don’t know, in the US, UK, and Europe, any device with a battery that’s larger than 100WHr needs to get approval before it can be taken on a commercial plane. And in many locations, a 100Whr battery or higher cannot be checked in baggage.
As such, anyone who owns the AYANEO NEXT II will technically be required to go through this approval process if they want to fly with their handheld, whether or not an airline or TSA security holds you to it.
Now, I personally always bring a handheld gaming PC when I go on a plane trip since it helps pass the time. As such, the idea of having to worry about this is very unappealing and makes the Xbox Ally X a better choice.
Insane specs for better or worse
Outside of the battery, there are a few other things about the NEXT II that stand out for better or worse.
Going back to the processors, AYANEO’s upcoming Windows gaming device will feature an AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395, which is a more powerful chip than most other handhelds.
For instance, the Xbox Ally X’s AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme (8-cores, 16 threads CPU with RDNA 3.5 Radeon 890M integrated GPU) has largely been considered one of the most powerful handheld APUs (accelerated processing units), but the AI Max+ 395 (Zen 5 Strix Halo 16-cores, 32-threads CPU, RDNA 3.5 Radeon 8060S integrated GPU) is more powerful than it, with double the cores and threads.
What’s more, the Xbox Ally X APU’s TDP reaches up to 35W, but the NEXT II APU’s TDP is up to 85W. This means that, depending on settings, AYANEO’s handheld can take far more power to run, which could deplete the battery very quickly.
The NEXT II’s APU is more powerful than the Xbox Ally X’s, with a CPU that has double the cores and threads.
Then there are the NEXT II’s dimensions and weight to consider. Given its larger-than-average screen and impressive specs, this device is likely going to be large and weighty.
As an example, the Legion Go 2’s 8.8-inch OLED is considered massive compared to other handhelds, but the NEXT II’s display is even bigger at 9.06 inches, so I’m expecting the NEXT II to be fairly large in size and heavy to boot (for a handheld).
The Xbox Ally X weighs 1.57 pounds (715g), which is somewhat hefty, but it offsets that hand and wrist strain with some of the very best ergonomic grips on a handheld to date. Meanwhile, the Legion Go 2, with its even higher 2.03 pounds (920g), has detachable controllers, so you don’t have to hold it. But there’s no such relief for the NEXT II.
Of course, with all that said, I really don’t think AYANEO has designed the NEXT II for the average consumer. This is certainly a niche device for PC handheld enthusiasts who are willing to pay a much higher cost for the premium of premium handhelds.
An official price hasn’t been revealed yet, but based on other AYANEO devices, it’s very possible it could cost $2,000 or more. So once again, this isn’t meant for everyone. But AYANEO said that itself by saying this device is for “True gamers.”
At any rate, I’d be less inclined to travel with such an expensive device when there are other, less expensive handheld gaming PCs available.
But what do you think about the NEXT II? If price weren’t an issue, would you like this handheld? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.
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