Remember the AYANEO mini PC I wrote about last year? You know, the one that looked like a classic Macintosh, ran Windows 11, and was advertised as being Ubuntu-friendly?
Well, forget it.
—Wait, you already had? Savage!
Today, AYANEO announced a seriously superior successor in the shape of the AYANEO AM02.
The Apple-aping aesthetic is a-gone, the AMD-powered internals amped up, and a 4-inch touchscreen added to the outside of case (though this is not designed to be the primary display, before you reach for your glasses).
As I think this unit looks and sounds ace I got in touch with the editor of this blog (it me) to pitch for an article about it — albeit with the aim of trying to convince him (er, myself) that I actually need one of these dinky things and not merely want one…
Time to bore you with the details! 💀
AYANEO AM02: Specs
AYANEO’s choice of AMD APUs in the first-generation model — AMD Ryzen 3 3200U or AMD Ryzen 7 5700U — was uninspired, especially given AYAENO’s gaming lineage (they make a range of handheld gaming PCs that run Windows).
Well, consider that course suitably corrected in the follow up.
At the heart of every AYAENO AM02 is an AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS APU — yup, no 2-tier system this time (which I hate as it invariably leads to reviewers/YouTuber’s covering about the good model when all my broke-ass can only afford is entry-level one).
For some perspective, this chip is more powerful than the one inside the AYANEO Kun, the company’s (very) expensive handheld gaming PC. That unit gets good reviews, is able run modern AAA titles on medium settings, and even a few on high settings.
There’s also some fairly decent cooling in action, not just a generic heatsink and chintzy fan.
Memory and storage options are ample. The AM02 is available in pre-made configs kitted out with up-to 32GB DDR5 5600MHz RAM (though it supports a max of 64GB) and up-to 1TB.
Alternatively, buy a barebones unit without RAM or SSD. Both are user-upgradeable and you can likely source RAM cheaper yourself, you may have a M.2 2280 SSD you can use, and you won’t pay for a Windows license you don’t need.
Connectivity at the front (under a flap which you open with a satisfying button press 🤤) you get a full-featured USB 4 (type-C) port, 2x USB-A ports, and a 3.5mm audio jack. At the rear: another pair of USB-A ports, 2 full-sized HDMI, 2 ethernet (1000Mbps & 2.5Gbps), and a USB-C power port.
Plus, built-in Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2.
Finally, the look of this thing. The retro NES-style case the AM02 uses is a nice boxy shape well-suited to a NUC-esque mini-PC. Plus, the retro gamer vibes has more appeal to AYANEO’s existing gamer fanbase than the beige, corporate-ish Macintosh case of the AM01.
And it has a crisp, 4-inch touch screen that AYANEO say can be used to show pictures, adjust brightness, act as a clock, and even be used to play games …In Windows, where AYANEO’s custom software controls it.
Under Linux the touchscreen will unlikely function OOTB, but Linux folk have gotten much weirder things to work. It
As for general Linux support, AYANEO say the AM02 can be used without Windows (though their custom AYAENO software is Windows-only) as a “Programming and Development Dedicated Host, Install Linux Systems Such as Ubuntu, Debian, Etc.”
And Debian is even shown in one of the promotional graphics on the product website. I will stress that the screens in all the promotional graphics appear to be edited in; the fact the Debian installer is GIANT below is likely not specific to how this device runs Linux…
I know there’s a fine line when it comes to me covering random non-specifically-Ubuntu PCs like this, but I can’t lie: I covet this hipster NUC for shamelessly materialistic reasons, so… I have covered it.
The novelty of the form factor (a cross between a NES and your nan’s alarm clock), surprisingly decent specs (for a small PC; it’s not a flex against gaming rigs), and a tiny touchscreen that has me tasked with potential uses…
One word: GIVE.
AYANEO AM02: Price
As with all of most of AYANEO’s product launches you need to buy it through Indiegogo, despite the fact it’s not strictly in need of crowdfunding as they’re already made… 💁🏻♂️.
Pricing (obviously) varies depending on model, how early you buy, and whether you want to take advantage of the discounted bundles (which add an 8bitdo controller and/or Nuphy mechanical keyboard).
The bare-bones model starts at $439 (early bird offer but there plenty left at the time I write this).
To preempt the “I could build it myself for cheaper” crowd: obviously. You always pay more than off-the-shelf cost when a company creates, designs, sources, manufactures, and/or puts a device together for you.
Devices begin shipping in February.
Are you won over by this update? Any ideas on what to use the touchscreen for? And if you buy one will you allow me to live vicariously through you? :3 Answer me (as I’m now out of words beginning with A) by leaving a comment down below…