Since Christmas Eve, Ayaneo has been steadily rolling out more details about their new Ayaneo 3 handheld gaming device. The standout feature they’ve revealed is the addition of swappable control modules—something quite groundbreaking in terms of handheld gaming customization. While the Victrix Pro BFG controller shares this design ethos outside the handheld arena, bringing it to the Ayaneo 3, along with the durable hall-effect sensors on its analog sticks and triggers, is exciting for gaming enthusiasts.
Ayaneo has been teasing the Ayaneo 3 on social media platforms like Twitter and Discord, alongside releasing a video that offers a glimpse of the unit and its swappable modules. Back in November, we learned that the device will be available with two configurations: the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and the Ryzen 7 8840U. As of now, pricing and finer technical specifications remain under wraps, but we anticipate these details to be unveiled soon, with an official launch event slated for “Late January 2025.”
The flexibility of these swappable control modules is impressive. Not only can they be swapped out, but they can also be inverted, and the individual buttons can be customized entirely. This level of modularity makes the Ayaneo 3 adaptable for virtually any genre that utilizes a controller. For instance, fans of six-button fighting games such as Street Fighter or those who enjoy retro Sega games will likely appreciate the six-face-button module. Meanwhile, modules with a touchpad are poised to enhance more desktop-oriented gaming experiences, especially when integrated with Steam Input.
Without concrete pricing or additional details, it’s too soon to judge whether the Ayaneo 3 will be a worthwhile purchase. Nevertheless, the early options look promising and potentially budget-friendly for users considering a Ryzen 7 8840U paired with a 7-inch LCD, rather than opting for an OLED screen. However, the value of this trade-off remains to be seen until we get a clear picture of the pricing. The Ayaneo 3 seems poised to compete with other premium handhelds expected next year, particularly due to its unique emphasis on refined and customizable input controls.
