Ayaneo Next 2’s Staggering Price Tag: A Handheld That Costs More Than a Car?

Hold onto your wallets, gamers, because Ayaneo just dropped a bombshell that’s making heads spin across the globe. Their latest flagship handheld, the Ayaneo Next 2, comes with a price tag so astronomical, you might need to check your bank balance twice – or maybe even consider selling a kidney, just kidding (mostly)! The top-tier model of this portable powerhouse is asking for a staggering $4,299 (approx. Rs 1,195,120), and even the ‘budget’ version starts at almost two grand. Yeah, you read that right.

We know Ayaneo is known for pushing boundaries, but this feels like a whole new level. Remember how this device was actually put on hold before because production costs were too high? Well, it seems they’re back, hoping ‘early bird’ discounts will soften the blow for interested buyers.

Currently, for those eyeing the device, the Ayaneo Next 2 starts at $1,799.99 (approx. Rs 500,400) for the model packing 32GB RAM and 1TB storage, powered by an AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 chipset. That’s an early bird special, mind you. Miss it, and you’re looking at close to $2,000 (approx. Rs 556,000). Want to step up? The mid-tier version with 64GB RAM and an A1+ 395 APU will set you back $2,299.99 (approx. Rs 639,400) (again, with discount). And for the ultimate flex? The 128GB RAM and 2TB storage combo is ‘only’ $3,499 (approx. Rs 972,720) with the early bird price. But the official MSRP for that monster? A jaw-dropping $4,299 (approx. Rs 1,195,120).

Let’s put that into perspective. You could grab almost three Steam Deck OLEDs for the price of the mid-tier Next 2, and we all know how premium those feel. For many of us in Pakistan, that kind of money is a significant chunk of our life savings, not something we’d casually drop on a gaming device.

Now, to be fair, you are getting some serious hardware for this cash. The Next 2 boasts a massive 9.06-inch 165Hz OLED display with a crisp 2,400 x 1,504 resolution. Plus, it features adjustable TMR thumbsticks and dual touchpads – features that scream ‘premium’ and promise an immersive gaming experience.

A big chunk of this cost is apparently due to the inflated prices of RAM and storage, driven by the booming AI data center demand. But even without that, Ayaneo devices typically sit at the higher end of the spectrum thanks to their cutting-edge feature sets and commitment to pushing the boundaries of portable PC gaming.

Still, it begs the question: who exactly is this $4,000 (approx. Rs 1,112,000)+ handheld for? Even the most dedicated enthusiasts might balk at that figure. Unlike traditional gaming consoles that use custom, long-lasting silicon, the world of gaming handhelds is evolving at warp speed. What’s ‘top-tier’ today, like the ROG Ally X with its Ryzen Z2 Extreme, can quickly be outpaced by newer Intel Arc G3 Extreme or Ryzen AI+ models just months down the line. It’s a constant race for frames per second that makes long-term value a real concern.

It feels like buying a high-end handheld these days is less like investing in a console for a decade and more like buying a car. You know you’ll probably only keep it for a couple of years before the urge to upgrade to the ‘hotter model’ becomes irresistible, especially with new chipsets constantly on the horizon.

This rapid obsolescence and sky-high pricing might even push us towards a future where cloud streaming becomes the norm for high-end gaming. We’re already seeing physical media fading; imagine a world where owning powerful gaming hardware at home is a luxury only a few can afford, leading to a shift in how we access our favourite titles.

The Ayaneo Next 2 is undoubtedly a beast, a marvel of portable engineering that packs incredible power. But its price tag is a stark reminder of how expensive pushing the bleeding edge of portable gaming can be. For most of us in Pakistan, it’s going to remain a dream machine, something we admire from afar while we stick to our more wallet-friendly setups.

Note: PKR figures are approximate, based on a rate of Rs 278.00 per USD. Exchange rates fluctuate — please check the latest dollar rate for exact pricing.