Get Ready for a Sticker Shock: The Latest Gaming Handheld is Set to Cost a Fortune!
Yikes! It seems the global memory shortage is hitting gamers hard, with Ayaneo announcing their upcoming handheld, the Next 2, with a jaw-dropping price tag that can soar up to $4,300!
Just this past weekend, this Chinese tech vendor unveiled the Next 2, a device that looks to compete with the popular Steam Deck, running on Windows 11. It's not just its impressive 9-inch screen and substantial 3.1-pound heft that make it stand out, but its absolutely colossal pricing.
The entry-level version, equipped with a generous 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, will be available for $1,999. But if you're looking for the ultimate gaming experience, the top-tier model boasts a mind-boggling 128GB of RAM and 2TB of storage, and will set you back a staggering $4,299!
But here's where it gets controversial... Ayaneo CEO Arthur Zhang pointed the finger squarely at the ongoing memory shortage, explaining in a live stream that major tech companies are aggressively snapping up chip supplies for their AI data centers. This insatiable demand, he claims, is driving up component costs for everyone else.
“Finally, let’s get to the pricing and cry for a moment. Man, this is too hard. To be honest, I originally didn’t want to sell it,” Zhang shared, with his comments translated from Chinese. He further elaborated that prices continued to climb even as they were developing the Next 2, and Ayaneo won't actually be turning a profit at these inflated prices.
For some perspective, even the first-generation Next was a premium device, but its most expensive configuration (32GB RAM and 2TB storage) topped out at a comparatively modest $1,565.
“The storage vendors are killing us,” Zhang lamented later. This memory crunch has already sent ripples through the market, leading to price increases for PC graphics cards, RAM, SSDs, and a host of other essential components.
And this is the part most people miss... The good news, if you can call it that, is that Ayaneo is offering the Next 2 at an early bird discount for those who pre-order on Indiegogo. So far, the campaign has garnered 60 backers, and Ayaneo is aiming to begin shipping the first Next 2 units to international customers in June.
This pervasive memory crunch, which is unfortunately expected to persist into next year, has even forced other major players like Valve to adjust their plans. They had to re-evaluate the launch date and pricing for their Steam Machine and Steam Frame VR headset due to the same supply chain issues.
So, what do you think? Is this astronomical pricing a necessary evil due to market forces, or are companies like Ayaneo exploiting the situation? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
