© Mr.Mikla / Shutterstock.com
Gaming PCs have come a long way over the past few years. Today, we have many portable consoles on the market, each with unique features and better performance. If you’re thinking of buying a portable gaming console for the first time, things can be quite challenging for you. After all, there are many factors to consider when purchasing one.
Since 2021, the AYA NEO and the Steam Deck handheld gaming devices have drawn the attention of gamers. With impressive features and smooth functionality, both have been giving tough competition to each other. So, which one is the better choice: AYA NEO or Steam Deck?
Steam Deck has released many upgraded generations. On the other hand, AYA NEO has built an entire family consisting of the AYA NEO Next, AYA NEO Pro, AYA NEO 2, and more. Wide varieties in both portable gaming devices can make things further complicated.
Worry not; we have made it easier for you to choose the suitable handheld device by comparing the AYA NEO to the latest Steam Deck generation. This way, you can quickly pick one based on your preferences and budget. So, let’s begin.
AYA NEO vs. Steam Deck: Side-by-Side Comparison
| AYA NEO | Steam Deck | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | All modern games, including indie games and AAA titles | All modern games, including indie games and AAA titles |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 4500U processor | AMD APU |
| Initial release | 2021 | 2022 |
| Display | 7.0 Inch; H-IPS | 7.0 Inch; Optically-bonded IPS LCD |
| Resolution | 1280 x 800 px | 1280 x 800 px |
| Brightness | 500 nits | 400 nits |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6, 2.4G/ 5G Dual-band | Dual-band Wi-Fi radio, 2.4GHz, and 5GHz |
| Mic Jack | 3.5 mm | 3.5 mm |
| Battery | 47 Wh | 40Whr |
| Price | From $1,049 | From $465 |
AYA NEO vs. Steam Deck: What’s the Difference?
While the Steam Deck is the hottest choice among gamers, AYA NEO is successfully attracting many people to it. Both portable gaming devices offer enhanced connectivity and performance through their improved processors.
However, the significant difference between them is the price. AYA NEO devices are almost twice as expensive as the Steam Deck, which gives the latter an upper hand. But what about the other differences? Below are some of the most prominent ones.
Design
Let’s start with the design of both gaming consoles. AYA NEO is famous for giving a unique design to each of its consoles in the lineup. The AYA NEO console continued this legacy. It is lightweight, weighing about 650 grams, and sleek with a unique ergonomic shape. The console has curved edges on both sides to let gamers hold it more strongly.
The AYA NEO has a built-in gyroscope and accelerometer sensors compatible with both joysticks. This makes the device ideal for playing games from various genres. It also features a removable modular design that lets gamers use their custom module instead of the joystick.
- Powered by a six-core AMD Ryzen 5 4500U processor.
- Delivers smooth performance in various games
- Ergonomic, handheld PC gaming device with superior ALPS joysticks
- 7-inch multitouch screen with an 800p native landscape
- Ultralight weight and portable
You will also find a two-in-one power button on the AYA NEO. It includes a fingerprint sensor that works smoothly. Meanwhile, the Steam Deck is slightly heavier than the AYA NEO, weighing around 669 grams. It also looks bulkier. Despite that, the Steam Deck has comfortable grips, allowing you to hold the device firmly.
The Steam Deck also features four additional remap buttons at its back. You can enjoy long gaming sessions on this console — all credit goes to the perfectly-placed D-Pad buttons and analog sticks. If you are a gamer who plays RTS games the most, you’ll be delighted to know that the Steam Deck has trackpads on both sides.
Specifications
Now, let’s discuss the highlighting specifications of both AYA NEO vs Steam Deck. The AYA NEO comes with impressive internal specifications, almost similar to the Steam Deck. The NEO uses a 6-core Ryzen 5 4500U processor. It offers a 4.5-GHz boost frequency. The processor also uses a graphics chipset of AMD Radeon.
The AYA NEO also features 16GB RAM. As a result, the console gives impressive performance for many old and modern games. It also allows up to 1 terabyte of internal SSD storage, which is enough to store multiple games and apps. The console is also ideal for enjoying games for 6 hours max, all thanks to 4100-mA batteries.
Contrastingly, the Steam Deck Comes with a 4-core Zen 2 processor with eight threads. It offers a boosted frequency of 3.5 GHz and uses a 1.6 GHz RDNA 2 graphics chipset. This shows the interface is strong enough to support many old and modern PC games.
- Input Device: Gamepad
- Steam Deck 64GB NVMe SSD
- Black
- 64GB memory storage
- Carrying case included
As we can see, the Stream Deck has a lower processor version than the AYA NEO, but it has 16GB LPDDR5 RAM, like its counterpart. The Steam Deck also offers better graphical performance than the NEO with RDNA 2 chips.
Concerning the internal storage, you have three options to choose from: 64 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB. The best part is that you can add an extra microSD card of up to 1 terabyte. The Steam Deck features a 5,313-mA battery that offers up to 8 hrs of gaming.
So, we can call it a tie between the AYA NEO and the Steam Deck regarding specifications. However, the latter has better battery life.
Display
You will find the display of both the AYA NEO and the Steam Deck similar, with an IPS panel of 7 inches. Both resemble each other in resolution, too. However, the Steam Deck offers only 400 nits of brightness, which is slightly lower than the AYA NEO. The latter has 500 nits of brightness.
So, if you want a gaming console with refined visuals, the AYA NEO is the right choice. But there is only a 100-nit difference between both devices’ brightness, so you can expect great quality with the Steam Deck too.
AYA NEO vs. Steam Deck: The Complete History
AYA has been releasing better versions of its portable gaming consoles for quite some time now. One thing that remains constant in the entire AYA NEO family is the size.
AYA has launched the AYA NEO Flip and will soon introduce the AYA NEO Air. The company has also come up with the Next 2, the successor to the original NEO Next. AYA has used two additional advanced solutions in the new release.
On the other hand, the Steam Deck is the Valve Corporation’s handheld gaming console. It was designed to be played on a monitor or as a handheld device, similar to the Nintendo Switch. The Steam Deck was introduced on July 15, 2021. Soon, in February 2022, this gaming console came onto the market with three different internal storage options.
By June 2022, Valve announced that they had doubled the Steam Deck’s quantity for shipping. A few months later, in December 2022, Valve stated that it was seeking improvements in the design of the Steam Deck, such as introducing an audio mixer and many new features. The company also announced that it was integrating the modern Steam Deck technology into the new Controller 2.
AYA NEO vs. Steam Deck: 5 Must-Know Facts
You now know the history and differences between the AYA NEO and the Steam Deck. Both are exceptional on their own, each having distinct features. Let’s check out five interesting facts about both portable gaming consoles.
- Steam Deck comes in three versions with varying anti-glare screens, prices, storage types and capacities, and virtual keyboard themes. The hardware of all these versions is also identical.
- Valve’s Steam Deck became so famous among gamers that 1 million units have been sold until now.
- Steam Deck has an extraordinary battery life of 2 to 8 hours, while the AYO NEO can last between 5 and 6 hours.
- Both the Steam Deck and the AYA NEO may seem like portable game consoles, but they are also full-fledged PCs. They have a strong processor, sufficient memory, and internal storage that lets you use the gaming console as the main computer via a docking station.
- The AYA NEO and the Steam Deck can also run the most modern games with excellent frame rates, including Watch Dogs: Legio, Cyberpunk 2077, Horizon Zero Dawn, Destiny 2, etc. You can also run multiple PC games.
AYA NEO vs. Steam Deck: Which One Is Better? Which One Should You Use?
After going through the entire AYA NEO vs Steam Deck comparison, we have concluded one thing. The Steam Deck and the AYA NEO are both the best on the market. AYA NEO has a better design than the Steam Deck. You can have a fingerprint, gyroscope, and accelerometer sensors and a removable modular design.
So, if the design is your main priority, you should opt for the AYA NEO. However, the Steam Deck has a prominent edge over its counterpart in terms of graphical performance. This console gives crisp visuals that allow gamers to enjoy an immersive experience.
The last thing to consider is the price difference between the AYA NEO and the Steam Deck. The cost of the former is almost twice as high as that of the Steam Deck. But this significant price difference is understandable, considering the improved internal hardware and sleeker design of the AYA NEO.
So, if the price is your concern, the AYA NEO may not be the right option. Instead, opt for the Steam Deck, which comes at a reasonable price range that people of all incomes can easily afford.
In the end, it all narrows down to your preferences. Take some time, weigh your expectations, and compare them with both consoles. See which device matches your needs the closest.
