The AYANEO KUN Has Officially Launched - Campaign Begins Next Tuesday

Today, AYANEO has launched their next device, the AYANEO KUN, and is getting it all set up for the Indiegogo campaign. To get the ball rolling, the company set up a launch event where they went over the device in-depth to get us all up to speed and explain why this is a device we should be looking at closely. From what I see, this is going to be an intriguing but very exciting release to watch:

AYANEO KUN Features:

The Price

Before we get into the specifics, let's talk about pricing. There has been a lot of speculation on the device, considering it is huge with tons of new features. But, to my surprise, the device is actually way more affordable than I thought. Early bird pricing for the cheapest version will be $999, while the most expensive, with 64GB RAM and a 4TB SSD, will be $1,699. It is mind-blowing to see a device like this, with so many features, the newest chip, and a large screen, be as cheap as this.

The 7840 APU

To start, the KUN features an AMD 7840U APU, the same one used in some of their other devices, like the AYANEO AIR 1S. This is a fantastic chip that delivers similar performance to the ROG Ally's Z1 Extreme processor. This means we will have an extremely powerful device in our hands that is very capable.

The Screen

Next, we have the screen, which is an 8.4-inch beast. It has a maximum resolution of 2560x1600, 350PPI, has 500nits brightness, and covers 100% sRGB color gamut. On top of that, AYANEO made a specific note that you can reduce the resolution nicely to 800p to get better performance. This might make the game a bit blurry, but with a larger screen, we will be able to see smaller text a bit easier too.

The Design + Colors

Now, we take a look at the design. AYANEO has optimized the grip to make it comfortable for a larger handheld like this. There have been some added refinements to ensure people don't accidentally hit the touchpad when playing to make this simplistic design work well. There is also a little stand behind so you can prop up the device and lean it on a table or use an external controller.

The device comes in 3 colors: Silver Wing, Black Feather, and White Silk. After using the AIR 1S, which has a similar gradient design to the White Silk triggers, I would definitely want to stick with it.

Battery + TDP Usage

With a device this large, we are bound to need a lot of power. Luckily, AYANEO delivers a massive 75Wh battery to power it. This will allow us to utilize the KUN and its larger screen for much longer. On top of that, the device can push out 54W of battery drain, which is significantly more than other devices (ROG Ally goes to 40W). This could mean that by playing a game at 800p, we will be able to make some difficult games run at a stable 30 FPS. My first thought goes to Returnal here.

Heat Dissipation

The KUN uses a brand new heat dissipation system dubbed KUNPeng. This system utilizes larger, high-performance copper tubes for faster heat dissipation, as well as a high-pressure turbofan with great airflow. This makes sure the device stays cool while playing games, even when at 54W drain. From their tests, it seems the device rarely ever got to the 90c mark.

The Touchpads

One of the features I love most about the Steam Deck is the touchpads. With the AYANEO KUN, we see the first Windows handheld with these, and I couldn't be more excited. The dual TouchTAPMagic touchpads that are being used here are geared more toward accessibility rather than gaming and will offer more features to boot.

Like other touchpads, it does support touchpoint control, single-select, and double-click to open, but it has four physical buttons underneath that can have different functions, which you can customize. There is also a dedicated button on the device to access the touchpad settings.

Windows Hello Camera, D-Pad, and More

The device will also come with a front-facing camera to use with Windows Hello and video calls, a floating 8-way D-Pad, 4 customizable back buttons (2 on each side), the master control system for more button customization, hall joysticks and triggers, large-curved ABXY buttons, lighting effects and color customization, stereo dual speakers, and HD linear motors for vibration.

There is also a dedicated home button for quick access to the Xbox Quick Access toolbar. If this can be used for Steam Big Picture, this button will be invaluable. There is also USB C at the bottom and top of the device, a USB-A 3.2 port, a Micro SD card slot, 3.5mm headphone jack, and support for a M.2 2280 SSD.

It will also use AYASpace 2.0, which is phenomenal. I have been testing it and I am completely blown away by what it is offering. I am excited to see the full release, but from what has been happening, I am very optimistic.

4G Data Support

As an added bonus, the AYANEO KUN will also feature 4G network support thanks to a Nano-SIM slot underneath the stand. This is really surprising, but if you have an activated SIM card, that means you will constantly be connected to the internet (as long as that 4G network has coverage).

The AYANEO KUN looks like it will be a welcome addition to the handheld PC space. I am interested in seeing how it will perform with newer games at a high battery drain, as well as the 4G network capability. The Indiegogo campaign will be going live on September 5th at 5:00 am PST.

If you enjoyed this article, check out the rest of the content on SteamDeckHQ! We have a wide variety of game reviews and news that are sure to help your gaming experience. Whether you're looking for news, tips and tutorials, game settings and reviews, or just want to stay up-to-date on the latest trends, we've got your back!