The first Steam Deck competitor with SteamOS is almost here

The first non-Valve device with SteamOS preinstalled is about to ship: Ayaneo just announced its next handheld gaming PC, the Next Lite, is running the open-source operating system.

Ayaneo is pitching the Next Lite as a cost-effective option, but we don’t know too much about the device just yet or how much it will cost. It has a seven-inch 800p screen, a 47Wh battery, and Hall effect joysticks, according to an Ayaneo blog post. The company is also advertising “vibrant colors” that include a good-looking seafoam green and “high-end craftsmanship.”

But we don’t yet know what chip powers the handheld, so it’s hard to know how its performance might stack up against other devices.

I like the orange buttons, too. Image: Ayaneo

Not listing a price feels like a big omission if it will be marketed as a potentially cheaper option than other handhelds on the market. It could be going up against Valve’s remaining stock of $349 Steam Decks, while the existing Ayaneo Next sells for $1,315.

The company is advertising that “subscriptions” for the handheld will open on Thursday night, creating the possibility of a different pricing approach than a one-time purchase or crowdfunding. If you’re interested, these subscriptions will be available at 9:30PM ET on January 11th on Ayaneo’s website. If you want to know how we’ve liked other Ayaneo handhelds, check out our reviews of the Ayaneo Next and Ayaneo 2.