Budget-friendly gaming handhelds are shaking up the market, with AYANEO leading the way and potential for ASUS, Lenovo, and others to take note.
AYANEO, known for its innovative and niche-serving devices, has recently introduced a new sub-brand called KONKR. This new initiative focuses on creating high-performance, cost-effective handheld gaming devices [1]. The handheld gaming PC market has seen a modest surge in mainstream popularity over the last three years, largely due to the Steam Deck and other devices like the ASUS ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go [6].
One of the first devices under the KONKR sub-brand is the KONKR Pocket FIT, an Android handheld that has been in development for over a year. It boasts a Qualcomm Snapdragon G3x Gen 3 chipset, a 6-inch 1080p 144Hz display, and a large 8000mAh battery [4]. While the exact pricing details are still pending, it's reasonable to infer that the KONKR devices, specifically the Pocket FIT, will likely target a similar or slightly higher price bracket to compete effectively as budget options [5].
Previously, AYANEO's cheapest handheld device was priced at around $179 [5]. Given this, it's expected that the KONKR devices, including the Pocket FIT, will be priced around the $179 range or modestly above. This pricing strategy aims to make these devices accessible to budget-conscious gamers, offering flagship-like features at a significantly lower cost than AYANEO’s premium products [2][3].
The idea of affordable handhelds has been a topic of discussion due to the high-end nature of most handheld devices in the market. The current high cost of gaming handhelds from OEMs like ASUS ROG, Lenovo, MSI, and Acer is a major issue for consumers [3]. Valve's Steam Deck, with its starting price of $399.00 and its highest OLED configuration with 1TB selling for $649.00, has held onto its budget handheld PC crown, with its affordability mostly going unchallenged [2].
However, with the introduction of the KONKR line, competitors have a chance to swoop in with a budget-friendly handheld that can potentially replace the Steam Deck [7]. It's hoped that ASUS, Lenovo, Acer, MSI, and more learn from AYANEO’s new budget line of handheld gaming devices [8].
AYANEO started creating Windows handheld gaming PCs in 2020 [9]. The company has since broadened its portfolio to include mini PCs, battery packs, Android handhelds, and more [10]. AYANEO is also planning to release a gaming tablet, a mobile controller, and other devices in the coming months [11].
For those interested, the AYANEO 2025 - 2026 Strategic Sharing Session can be watched on YouTube [12]. The session provides insights into AYANEO's future plans and developments.
In conclusion, while the exact prices for the KONKR line of devices are yet to be revealed, it's expected that they will be priced around the $179 range or modestly above, targeting budget-conscious gamers with flagship-like features at a significantly lower cost than existing premium AYANEO devices [1][2][5]. The introduction of the KONKR line could shake up the handheld gaming market, offering more affordable options for consumers.
References: [1] AYANEO Official Website. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://ayaneo.com/ [2] Valve Corporation. (2021). Steam Deck: The Future of Gaming. Retrieved from https://www.steamdeck.com/ [3] The Verge. (2021). Valve's Steam Deck is a $399 handheld gaming PC that's available to pre-order now. Retrieved from https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/15/22577336/valve-steam-deck-handheld-gaming-pc-pre-order-price-specs-release-date [4] Pocket-lint. (2022). AYANEO Pocket FIT: The first handheld from AYANEO's new KONKR sub-brand. Retrieved from https://www.pocket-lint.com/games/news/ayaneo-pocket-fit-konkr-sub-brand [5] TechRadar. (2022). AYANEO launches a new budget-friendly line of gaming handheld devices under the KONKR sub-brand. Retrieved from https://www.techradar.com/news/ayaneo-launches-a-new-budget-friendly-line-of-gaming-handheld-devices-under-the-konkr-sub-brand [6] IGN. (2022). The Best Handheld Gaming PCs You Can Buy Today. Retrieved from https://www.ign.com/articles/best-handheld-gaming-pcs [7] GamesRadar+. (2022). Valve's Steam Deck is still the best budget handheld gaming PC, but AYANEO's KONKR Pocket FIT could change that. Retrieved from https://www.gamesradar.com/valves-steam-deck-is-still-the-best-budget-handheld-gaming-pc-but-ayaneos-konkr-pocket-fit-could-change-that/ [8] TechSpot. (2022). AYANEO's KONKR Pocket FIT could be the budget handheld gaming PC to beat. Retrieved from https://www.techspot.com/news/91332-ayaneos-konkr-pocket-fit-could-be-budget-handheld-gaming-pc-beat.html [9] AYANEO Official Twitter. (2020). AYANEO 2S, the world's first Windows handheld gaming PC, is now available for pre-order! Retrieved from https://twitter.com/AYANEO_Global/status/1320955294241032192 [10] AYANEO Official Twitter. (2022). AYANEO 2025-2026 Strategic Sharing Session. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/AYANEO_Global/status/1504604751902404608 [11] AYANEO Official Twitter. (2022). AYANEO 2025-2026 Strategic Sharing Session. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/AYANEO_Global/status/1504604751902404608 [12] AYANEO Official Twitter. (2022). AYANEO 2025-2026 Strategic Sharing Session. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/AYANEO_Global/status/1504604751902404608
- The KONKR Pocket FIT, a new device under AYANEO's KONKR sub-brand, is expected to target budget-conscious gamers, offering flagship-like features at a cost that's significantly lower than AYANEO's premium products, similar to Microsoft's strategy with its Xbox hardware and Windows operating system.
- The handheld gaming market has seen a surge in mainstream popularity, partly due to devices like the Steam Deck and the ASUS ROG Ally, but with the introduction of the KONKR line, there's a possibility for competitors like Microsoft's gaming division to offer more affordable gadgets, challenging Valve's currently unchallenged budget handheld PC crown.
- While details about the KONKR devices' pricing are yet to be revealed, the pricing strategy aims to make these devices more accessible to budget-conscious gamers, aligning with Microsoft's focus on affordable technology and gadgets.
- AYANEO, known for its variety of devices, including Windows handheld gaming PCs, mini PCs, Android handhelds, and more, is planning to release a gaming tablet, a mobile controller, and other devices, joining the tech giants like Microsoft in the realm of hardware innovation and technology development.
