The AYA Neo Flip is a handheld gaming PC with a 7 inch, 120 Hz LCD display and a clamshell-style design that makes it look like a tiny laptop or Nintendo DS when closed, and like… nothing else, really when open.
That’s because lifting the lid reveals a compact QWERTY keyboard designed for thumb typing, positioned between a set of game controllers. The Flip’s closest competitor is the GPD Win Mini, but that handheld’s game controllers are positioned above a larger keyboard, which means that your grip needs to be higher when using the system in handheld mode.
AYA has been making handheld gaming PCs for a few years, and seems to launch new models at a blistering pace when compared with the competition. But the Flip is one of only two models the company has unveiled to feature a physical keyboard. The other is the AYA Neo Slide, which has a screen that slides upward (and tilts at an angle).
Neither model is available for purchase yet, but AYA began talking about the Slide and Flip earlier this year, and plans to launch them both by the end of 2023.
Since first unveiling the AYA Neo Slide, the company has updated the design and specs, promising that it would feature a 6 inch, 1920 x 1080 pixel display that slides upward, a QWERTY keyboard with RGB backlit keys, and an AMD Ryzen 7 7840U processor.
AYA has announced fewer details for the Flip, but the company is starting to show off an updated design for its first clamshell-style device, along with a few details. AYA also plans to reveal more information about the specs, pricing, and availability after officially launching the AYA Neo Slide.
Here’s what we know about the AYA Neo Flip so far.
AYA says that like all of its handheld computers, the Flip is designed first and foremost for gaming, which is why it has a thumb keyboard rather than a touch-type keyboard. This allowed the company to put the controllers on the left and right sides where you would expect them to be if there was a display in the center, and should make the Flip comfortable to hold in two hands.
Still, the addition of a keyboard should make text input a little easier, and could help with navigating Windows, which is an operating system that wasn’t really meant to be navigated only with game controllers.
The AYA Neo Flip is also expected to feature the same cooling system as the AYA Neo 2S, which means we can expect three copper heat tubes, a copper sheet, graphene patch, and fan for active cooling.
While the company hasn’t revealed the processor yet, I’d be surprised if this thing shipped with anything other than an AMD Ryzen 7040U chip at this point. And in response to a question on the official AYA Discord, the company’s CEO sorta/kinda hinted that it’s possible the Flip could have an Oculink port for 63 Gbps high-speed data connections to external graphics docks or other accessories. That’s a feature the GPD Win Mini and upcoming AYA Neo 2S Mini LED edition also have.
via @AYANEO_
Win Mini had an excellent design. This…uh… needs work.
Nice. We need more competition in the clamshell with keyboard space. Although I have several nitpicks with these seemingly very very early renders. I hope some things change before the mockup/prototype stages.
I hope it gets a 4G/5G option. I also don’t want to carry a hotspot or tether my phone.
Very very disappointed. Keyboard is such a waste, it should just be omitted from the product. Ridicules.
At first I thought, wow I am not going to order GPD Win mini. I will go with AYA, then I see keyboard and I lost all interest.
Agreed, total waste. we have had great small keyboards in the past like the s o n y v a i o z and p etc, and now we ahve the Win Max 2 keyboard which is pretty darn good for the size.
But this is once again a HUGE mistake.
Aya, you really want to make money?
Then fill the base of the unit with a full keyboard like the Win Max 2, then put the controllers to the side and make them detachable.
That way you will be able to use windows and the keyboard.
Yikes… engineers these days.
Will it have a 4G/5G option? I want to use a clam shell as a UMPC and a gaming handheld. I don’t want to tether my phone or carry a separate hotspot.
That D-pad looks terrible. Looks like it came from a portable DVD player.
xD yeah, agreed. Though I kinda like Aya’s ideas for these in general…
I dunno why they have such a hard time with D-pads though. Is it something about the Chinese market perhaps? Or is it something about the gaming community?
Afaik, the standard cross shaped D-pad is the one that works and is also pretty simple… like, no extra cost like hall effect sensor analog sticks.
It’s just a bad design.
Making a keyboard small is challenging enough, and it’s even harder trying to tack some controller along it.
I think GPD has done a great job on the Win-Mini given what they had to work with, and they done with. And even better with the GPD Win-4 (if only the Win-3 had a tactile keyboard).
However, for my money, I would want something even better than that. At least as good as the OneX Player with the keyboard and detachable controllers. Or the GPD Win-Max-3 which is just optimised to the nTH degree. The Valve SteamDeck has the best controller ergonomics, but it lacks a keyboard which could be handy for usual needs or just regular laptop operations.