Are you a fan of portable gaming PCs? Then you’ve likely heard of Aya Neo, the Chinese manufacturer that’s been making waves since 2021 with their impressive handheld Windows PCs. Aya Neo has released a variety of different handhelds in a short amount of time, which can be both a blessing and a curse. While it may feel like your device is outdated after a few months, it’s worth noting that Aya Neo’s devices keep getting better and better. Their latest release, the Aya Neo Air Plus, takes the impressive internals of the flagship Aya Neo 2 and packages them into a sleek, compact form factor.
The Aya Neo Air Plus boasts great performance, a premium build, and three different colors to choose from (Glacier Blue, Starlight Black, and Classic Gray). Prices range from $600 to $1,400 and offer a variety of configurations. While the lower-end models may not perform favorably compared to the popular Steam Deck despite being more expensive, the Ryzen 7 6800U configuration is a marquee Air Plus model that can outperform the Steam Deck.
The Air Plus falls between the Aya Neo 2 and the previous Air/Air Pro models in terms of size and form factor, with a 6-inch touchscreen display instead of the original 5.5-inch. It’s ergonomically friendly and feels natural to hold for hours. The D-pad, sticks, and triggers are among the best on the market, and customizable LED rings add some additional style to the device.
Aya Space, the proprietary software and user interface created by Aya Neo, is included with the Air Plus. It lets you navigate through your game library using regular stick and button controls and allows you to tinker with important settings like TDP and screen resolution. Additional storage is available via the microSD slot. While Aya Space is still in beta and may experience some quirks, it’s certainly usable and better than navigating Windows.
Overall, the Aya Neo Air Plus is a top-tier portable gaming PC that’s perfect for tinkering and finding the optimal settings for your favorite games. While it may cost more than the popular Steam Deck, the Air Plus offers better performance and a sleek, compact form factor that’s sure to impress.
