While Ayaneo is best known for their PC-based gaming handhelds, they also make mini-PCs and various computing accessories. A few months ago, the outfit announced the Ayaneo Remake collection, a line of new devices that draw inspiration from classic tech designs. The Flip DS, which reprises the Nintendo DS design, is among those releases. The Ayaneo Retro Mini PC AM02 is another one, this time drawing its inspiration from Nintendo’s iconic NES console.
No, it’s not a one-to-one replica of the NES enclosure. Instead, it merely draws inspiration from the NES aesthetic, so it doesn’t even look like a NES Classic Edition. In fact, it’s probably closer to what a modern redesign of the 80s retro console will look like if they hired a contemporary industrial design firm to work on it. Or something like that.
The Ayaneo Retro Mini PC AM02 is a mini-PC, a category of desktop computers that have become increasingly popular in recent years, with their ability to cram a good load of computing power in an erstwhile compact enclosure. This one takes on similar space-saving dimensions, measuring just 5.7 x 5.3 x 1.9 inches (depth x width x height), albeit with a housing that’s more reminiscent of gaming consoles that desktop computers. The top of the device integrates a four-inch multi-function touchscreen strip that’s controlled exclusively from the included AYASpace 2.0 software, where you can use it to display real-time PC performance data, data and time information, various system controls, or a variety of visual imagery (e.g. photos, screensavers).
Inside, the PC houses an AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS, a powerful APU that should be able to play most AAA titles on medium settings and even some on high settings. They pair that with up to 32GB of RAM, with an empty RAM slot, so you can expand up to 64 later on, as well as up to 1TB of SSD storage, with full support for 8TB dual-sided Particle SSD if you can swing that yourself.
The Ayaneo Retro Mini PC AM02 has both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for full wireless connectivity, as well as USB4 Type-C, HDMI 2.0, and DP 1.4 slots, with full support for simultaneous triple-screen computing. You also get plenty of other ports, such as four USB Type-A slots, two Ethernet ports, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a USB Type-C power port. For cooling, it uses a custom four-piece copper pipe cooling system, aluminum fins, and a 45W turbine fan, with the latter easily controllable from the four-inch external touchscreen.
It ships with Windows 11 64-Bit Home Edition, so everything can be set up and running as soon as you take it out of the box. If you prefer your own configuration, though, they also offer a “barebones” edition that comes without any RAM, hard drive, or preinstalled OS, so you can set it up according to your desired functions. Do note, the AYASpace software only works on Windows, so you’ll have to figure out a different way to access the four-inch touchscreen by yourself if you opt for a different OS.
An Indiegogo campaign is currently running for the Ayaneo Retro Mini PC AM02. Pledges to reserve a unit starts at $441 for the barebones system and $702 for the version with 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.
