As the holiday festivities fade, Ayaneo has been busy generating buzz with new details about its upcoming Ayaneo 3 handheld. The most exciting announcement? You can now swap out the control modules on the Ayaneo 3, opening up a whole new world of customization for handheld gaming. While Victrix Pro BFG has led the charge with this kind of modular design, seeing it applied to handhelds, and with hall-effect sensors for added durability in the analog sticks and triggers, is truly refreshing.
Alongside Twitter updates and Discord chats, Ayaneo released a video showcasing the Ayaneo 3 from various angles, highlighting the innovative control modules. Back in November, we learned the device would be available in both Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and Ryzen 7 8840U versions. As of now, pricing and complete technical details remain under wraps, but keep an eye out for more info, as a big launch event is slated for “Late January 2025.”
A standout feature of the Ayaneo 3 is its hyper-modular design, allowing for not just swappable control modules but also inverted configurations and customizable button swaps. Whether you’re a fan of six-button fighting games like Street Fighter or nostalgic for Sega retro games, the six-face-button module should have you covered. If more desktop-oriented gaming is your thing, modules equipped with touchpads will pair nicely with Steam Input for a smoother experience.
While we’ll have to wait and see if the Ayaneo 3 ends up being a worthwhile investment given we lack pricing details, its versatile features and potential for budget-friendly options seem promising. Those considering the Ryzen 7 8840U with a 7-inch LCD might find themselves making some trade-offs, but without price points, it’s tough to say for sure. It does, however, seem poised to stand out among high-end handhelds expected next year, particularly with its unique emphasis on customizable input controls.
