In November, Ayaneo This thing was built to look like a retro Macintosh computer, but the inclusion of older AMD APUs wasn't going to win any power awards. Now, with a renewed NES-inspired design and a much more impressive chipset. It's also three times the price.
There is no way to avoid it. This is a really cute little mini PC. The square form factor of the NES era is a delight and you can even order an 8BitDo SNES-style controller and a grayscale Nuphy keyboard to go with it, completing the nostalgia trip. Most of the modern features, such as USB-C and HDMI ports, are hidden behind a front cover, although there is a small multifunction touchscreen on top. If you squint, you can almost fool yourself into thinking it's a real NES.
However, the AM02 is where the similarities to Nintendo's 1980s console end. This is a legitimate computer that should offer an exponentially more impressive experience compared to the AM01. Each unit ships with an AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS APU, which is slightly more powerful than the company's. In other words, it should be able to run most modern AAA games at medium settings, or even higher in some cases. The AM01 was, more or less, an emulation machine that disappeared after the Gamecube era.
As for the related specifications, you can equip the AM02 with up to 32GB of DDR5 RAM at launch, but the user can upgrade it to 64GB. It also ships with up to 1TB of solid-state storage, with capacity up to 8TB. There's even a modern cooling system, a USB-C port, several USB-A ports, an HDMI port, an Ethernet port, and a 3.5mm audio jack.
There's also the mystery of what the touchscreen will be used for. Ayaneo remains silent and simply shows it off like clockwork, although he has announced “unique gaming experiences.” At the very least, it should offer a novel way to navigate menus, adjust settings, and select games. However, a controller or keyboard would probably be more efficient.
Naturally, the increase in power comes with a related increase in costs. The AM02 starts at $440 for those who pre-order and $500 for everyone else. This is a basic version with no RAM or storage, allowing people to equip the computer with their own. Otherwise, prices range from $530 to $770, depending on RAM and storage options. You can buy this through Indiegogo, which is typical for Ayaneo, and the models ship in February. It doesn't come with any accessories, but you get a discount when you bundle it with a controller or keyboard.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ayaneos-latest-mini-pc-looks-just-like-an-old-school-nes-162551703.html?src=rss
