AYANEO Slide Review: A Powerful Gaming Handheld with a Hidden Keyboard

Today we’re taking a look at the AYANEO Slide, one of the most unique gaming handhelds currently on the market.

The Slide is the latest product from AYANEO, and this time around they are bringing something entirely new to the table. This compact gaming powerhouse not only delivers great performance but also offers the convenience of a fully functional keyboard hidden under its sliding screen.

Get ready for a long read as there’s a lot to cover. So grab your favorite drink and get comfortable, or if you’re in a hurry, jump straight to our verdict.

Contents

• Unboxing
• Specs & Pricing
• Design & Build Quality
• The AYA Space Software
• Performance
• Battery Life
• Pros & Cons
• Conclusion

What’s in the box?

The packaging for the AYANEO Slide is the coolest I’ve seen in a long, long time. The box is designed to look like a large VHS, complete with a retro-inspired outer sleeve and inner compartment that mimics the appearance of a real VHS tape. This nostalgic touch brought a smile to my face and got me excited for the unboxing process. We’re definitely off to a great start.

Inside the box, each component has its own dedicated compartment, starting with the handheld right at the top, in all its glory. Other items are housed in smaller boxes, including the user manuals for the device and software, the 65W power supply with a USB-C charging cable (plus a few AC adapters for different regions), as well as 2 USB-A to USB-C adapters.

The Indiegogo pre-orders also come with a “Backers Gift Box” which includes a screen protector, carrying case, silicone caps for the analog sticks and a couple of AYANEO branded items, including a mouse pad, a keychain, pins, fridge magnets and an assortment of playful stickers.

Specs & Pricing

The AYANEO Slide comes packed with the Ryzen 7 7840U, which has become the standard for high-end handhelds, with 8 cores and 16 threads, and integrated Radeon 780M graphics. The handheld is available in a few different configurations, and can be specced out with up to 64GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 4TB of storage (m.2 2280 PCIe 4.0).

The floating touchscreen on this device is a 6-inch 1080p 60Hz IPS display with a 16:9 aspect ratio. It has a 1000:1 contrast ratio and is rated for 400 nits of brightness, but can actually get up to roughly 500 nits. It also offers excellent color accuracy, covering 100% of the sRGB gamut.

In terms of ports and connectivity, the Slide comes equipped with the latest WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2, two USB-C 4 ports, a MicroSD card slot, and of course, the star of the show, the integrated RGB backlit keyboard concealed under its sliding screen. Two stereo speakers are also included at the bottom of the device.

When it comes to battery capacity, the Slide actually packs a pretty substantial one, considering its compact form factor. The 46.2Wh battery is in fact bigger than the one found on the ROG Ally and the Steam Deck. We’ll take a closer look at battery life later in this review.

Another aspect of note is the advanced cooling system, which consists of three copper tube modules, two copper sheets and a high-pressure fan, to help ensure optimal thermal efficiency.

The device is currently available on Indiegogo with early bird prices starting at $699 USD for the base model featuring 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. This competitive pricing is currently on par with other devices like the ROG Ally, but pricing will go up once the early bird period is over. The top of the range model, which comes with a whopping 64GB of RAM and 4TB of storage will set you back around $1300.

Design & Build Quality

AYANEO is known for producing powerful gaming handhelds with a beautiful, minimalist design, and the Slide continues that same trend. The device is available in two colors, “Sunrise White” and “Bright Black,” and the one I’ve got here for this review is the white version.

Let’s take a quick tour of the device, starting at the top with the bright orange shoulder buttons and triggers. Right next to those we can see two smaller, customizable shoulder buttons (RC and LC), a large exhaust vent, the first of the two USB-C ports available on the handheld, an LED charging indicator light, the volume rocker and the power button with a built-in fingerprint reader.

At the bottom we can see the additional USB-C port just above the MicroSD card slot, as well as a small hole for the microphone, and two downward firing stereo speakers. Personally, I would’ve liked to see a set of front-firing speakers here instead. While the Slide’s speakers can get quite loud and offer decent sound quality, they can’t quite match the exceptional audio experience found in other handheld devices such as the ROG Ally.

Things are pretty clean at the back, where we have a large air inlet that helps keep the device cool.

Turning over to the front of the device we can take a look at the controls. The start and select buttons are located on the left side, directly below the D-Pad and left analog stick, while the quick access button for the AYA Space software and a customizable function button are both placed on the right hand side, below the face buttons and right analogue stick.

And finally, the most unique aspect of this handheld, the fully functional RGB backlit keyboard that can be revealed by sliding out the display.

Size & Weight

The AYANEO Slide is approximately the same size as the Nintendo Switch, measuring 8.8 x 3.5 inches (22.5 x 9cm), but it is a much thicker device at roughly 1.3 inches (3.5cm), measured from the bottom of its contoured grips. It is also larger than a PlayStation Vita, but more compact overall when compared to other Windows handhelds like the ROG Ally and the Steam Deck. You can take a look at some size comparisons below.

The Slide weighs about 1.4lb (650g), making it lighter than the original Steam Deck but slightly heavier than the ROG Ally. It feels really comfortable in the hand, due in part to its great ergonomics, but also the excellent weight distribution, which gives the device a solid and well-built feel when you’re holding it.

Controls

The analog sticks on the Slide are comparable in size to those on the Nintendo Switch, but you won’t have to worry about stick drift here, as the device features hall effect sensors, which have also been implemented into the triggers. You can configure the sensitivity of both analog sticks in AYA Space, but you’ll be limited to preset values of 50%, 100% and 150%, so unfortunately there isn’t a lot of granularity there for fine tuning. I’m hoping this is something AYANEO can address in a future update.

The hall-based linear triggers are super smooth and feel great to use. The bumpers also feel really nice and responsive, and are perfectly sized for this handheld.

The D-Pad uses a rubber membrane connection that gives it a nice squishy feel. It has great roll which works extremely well for pulling off a move like Hadouken in Street Fighter. It’s also serviceable for platforming, but it won’t be the most accurate D-Pad for demanding platformers that require a lot of precision like Super Meat Boy or Celeste, as it tends to produce unintentional diagonals.

The face buttons also user rubber membranes and they feel fantastic. In terms of size, these buttons are bigger than the ones on the Nintendo Switch, but considerably smaller than the ROG Ally buttons.

As mentioned earlier in this article, at the top of the handheld you’ll also find some additional shoulder buttons (LC and RC) that can be configured in AYA Space to perform different functions and shortcuts.

Overall, the controls on the AYANEO Slide are great, and paired with the excellent ergonomics of the device I was able to enjoy long gaming sessions without experiencing any fatigue or discomfort.

Display

AYANEO is known for implementing great screens on their devices and the one on the Slide is no exception, but this one has a unique aspect that sets it apart. This floating-style screen hovers just above the keyboard and runs on a concealed track mechanism, enabling the distinctive sliding feature that gives the device its name.

The gorgeous full HD 6-inch display has a screen density of 368 PPI and excellent color accuracy, but its refresh rate is limited to 60Hz and unfortunately it doesn’t support VRR. It’s also worth pointing out that some may find the screen on the Slide a bit on the small side, especially if you’ve been using a larger handheld device such as the Steam Deck.

Sliding Mechanism & Keyboard

The unique selling point of the AYANEO Slide is the integrated keyboard that can be revealed by pushing its screen up. The spring-loaded mechanism feels very solid and works well, with a sharp yet smooth (and extremely satisfying) movement that snaps the display into place directly above the keyboard. Although it’s hard to speak about the longevity of this mechanism, it remained incredibly sturdy throughout my testing and I didn’t experience any glaring issues with it.

Another cool feature is the screen’s ability to tilt 30 degres, allowing for more comfortable viewing angles when typing or playing games. Using the handheld like this creates a similar experience to using a clamshell device such as the Nintendo 3DS, but with a much better display.

A Fully-Functional RGB Backlit Keyboard

The handy built-in keyboard eliminates one of the biggest pain points of using a Windows-based handheld, making it much easier to navigate Windows, enter usernames and password, input discount codes, etc.

This compact keyboard is RGB backlit and offers a variety of lighting modes, making it suitable for typing in low-light conditions. Despite its small size, it is a fully functional keyboard, including a row of function keys at the top.

The size of the keys is decent and they are clicky and responsive. Although this keyboard is much easier to use when placed on a flat surface, you can also type with your thumbs while holding the device. Of course the typing experience here won’t challenge the one you get while using a regular size keyboard, but the convenience it brings still makes it one of my favorite features of this device.

The AYA Space Software

AYANEO’s custom software AYA Space has come a long way, and the much improved 2.0 version not only acts as a launcher for your game library, but also gives you access to various device settings.

The performance tab allows you to change TDP settings using a few preset options:

• AAA Game: set at 23W by default, can be boosted up to 28W.
• Normal Game: 20W
• Retro Game: 15W
• PC Office: set at 9W, can be reduced all the way down to 5W.

You can make adjustments to all the default options listed above, or create your own custom presets from scratch.

Under monitor settings you can activate the performance overlay for real-time monitoring of FPS, CPU and GPU load, device temps and other details while playing games. You’ll have the option to choose between AYANEO’s own FPS Thunder, which offers a few different layouts for the overlay, or RivaTuner.

The AYA Space software also gives you the flexibility to customize various controller settings, allowing you to personalize control schemes, adjust analog stick sensitivity and create custom shortcuts for the shoulder buttons.

Another section allows you to customize the RGB lighting for the keyboard and the rings around the analog sticks. You can also turn these lights off entirely, if RGB is not really your thing.

The custom software also comes with a convenient quick access panel that can be brought up by tapping the AYA button during gameplay or while using Windows. This panel gives you instant access to a wide range of settings such as TDP controls, fan configuration, screen brightness and controller settings. Holding down the button brings you back to the full AYA Space experience with access to all the device settings.

Performance

Before I started playing any games, I ran a couple of quick benchmarks to set the scene. 3DMark Time Spy gave the Slide an excellent score of 3182, and the handheld also passed the Speed Way Stress Test with a 98.5% stability score.

PC Gaming

I started things off with indie games and less demanding titles. It’s not surprising that the Slide has no trouble whatsoever running games like Sea of Stars, Celeste, Dead Cells and TMNT Shredder’s Revenge, with a low TDP profile ranging from 5 to 9W. This will give you great performance on these games and also net you some decent run times when it comes to battery life.

Moving on up to slightly more demanding games like Hi-Fi Rush, Hades and Doom Eternal, I had to increase the TDP a bit to ensure smooth performance. As an example, I could only manage a stable 60FPS in Hi-Fi Rush while running at 15W TDP, anything lower than that and I’d notice a few frame drops here and there.

Doom Eternal is another great example, 15W will get you an average of 60 FPS running at 1080p, medium settings, and the game looks absolutely incredible on this display. A few other games that run great at 15W include Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, GTA V and Forza Horizon.

At the higher end, I found myself using between 20W and the maximum TDP of 28W to get a more enjoyable and stable experience on demanding AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077. During my testing, the Slide managed an average of just above 60 FPS in Cyberpunk, running at 1080p, low settings, with FSR set to balanced. Of course using a high TDP profile significantly reduces battery life, so I mostly had the Slide plugged into the charger in those scenarios.

It’s worth noting that despite the advanced cooling system on the Slide, it can still get a little bit warm when using the “AAA game” TDP profile (between 23 and 28w). It doesn’t reach a temperature that makes it too uncomfortable to hold, but it’s certainly something I noticed while playing a game like Cyberpunk, for example. Fan noise on the other hand is not too bad at all when compared to similar devices.

Emulation

Moving over to emulation, and I have to say this compact handheld is an absolute beast, being able to handle everything I threw at it, from older consoles all the way up to PS3 and Nintendo Switch, without breaking a sweat. The integrated keyboard helped immensely here, as there’s a lot of work involved in the process of installing various emulators and fine-tuning their settings to make sure everything runs as intended.

Classic 8-bit and 16-bit consoles like the NES, SNES, SEGA Master System and SEGA Genesis are no challenge at all for the Slide, and this handheld can also easily run SEGA Saturn, N64, Dreamcast, GameCube, 3DS, PS1, Wii and WiiU with excellent results.

But what really impressed me was the way the Slide handled some harder to emulate PS2 titles like God of War II and Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal, as well PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Switch games.

PS3 games like Demon’s Souls, Batman: Arkham City, Little Big Planet 2 and LEGO Star Wars all run incredibly well on the Slide, using RPCS3. However, I couldn’t get a decent performance out of Red Dead Redemption, a game that is notoriously hard to emulate.

On the Switch side of things, I’ve used the Yuzu emulator to play some games from my collection including Super Mario Odyssey, Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Breath of the Wild, all of which run well at 20W and are perfectly playable on this device.

Overall, I’m extremely impressed with the gaming performance on the AYANEO Slide. It can run everything quite well, from indie titles to modern AAA games, and if you’re looking for a high-end portable emulation machine, this handheld is a fantastic choice.

Battery Life

Batery life on the Slide is what you we’ve come to expect from a powerful Windows handheld like this one. The device has a 46.2Wh battery, which is bigger than the one found on other handhelds like the ROG Ally, Steam Deck and GPD Win 4. With that in mind, some simple math can give us a good indication of how long the battery will last, but I wanted to test the Slide in some real-life scenarios.

In my testing I went with two extremes, running Sea of Stars at a low TDP of 9W (the out-of-the-box configuration for “PC Office” in AYA Space), and Cyberpunk 2077 at the maximum 28W TDP (“AAA Game” mode, boosted up from the default 23W). For both tests, the screen was set at 50% brightness, with the RGB lighting around the analog sticks turned off.

I managed to clock up 3 hours and 27 minutes playing Sea of Stars before the battery was fully depleted. Cyberpunk 2077, on the other hand, is of course a much more demanding title, and with the Slide running at 28W I only managed 1 hour and 6 minutes before the battery was gone.

These results put the Slide very much on par with other powerful handhelds on the market. If you’re mostly playing older titles and indie games, you can reduce the TDP even further to a low 5W and expect some decent gaming sessions with the Slide, but if you’re planning to play your favorite AAA titles during a long flight, you better bring a good power bank like the Anker 737.

Pros & Cons

It’s time to start wrapping things up, so let’s take a look at the positives and negatives of the AYANEO Slide.

Pros

• Outstanding gaming performance
• Excellent build quality and ergonomics
• Gorgeous display
• Convenient integrated keyboard
• Solid (and really satisfying) sliding mechanism

Cons

• No VRR support
• Sensitivity settings for the analog sticks in AYA Space should allow for finer adjustments
• Battery life could be better
• The device can get a bit warm at high TDP settings

Verdict

The AYANEO Slide is a powerful handheld that delivers exceptional gaming performance, being able to handle everything from indie games to the most demanding AAA titles and high-end emulation with impressive results.

The added convenience of a built-in keyboard hidden underneath its clever sliding screen mechanism is an innovative touch that sets it apart from competitors. While its battery life certainly isn’t amazing, this trade-off is a small price to pay for the outstanding performance it can deliver.

---

This post contains affiliate links to partner brands. We earn a small commission if you click the link and make a purchase. There is no extra cost to you, so it’s just a nice way to help support the site.