AYANEO's Fresh NES-Inspired Mini PC: Stylish and Surprisingly Strong

Exciting news today from AYANEO as they unveil their latest creation, the AYANEO AM02 – a seriously upgraded successor.

Say goodbye to the Apple-inspired look; it's been replaced with a fresh design. The internals got a power boost with AMD, and now there's a 4-inch touchscreen on the case. Just a heads up, though – it's not meant to replace your main display, so keep those glasses handy.

Fired up about this cool gadget, I reached out to the blog editor (which happens to be me) to propose an article. My mission? Convince myself that I don't just want this nifty device; I actually need it.

Now, let's delve into the specs of the AYANEO AM02. Unlike its predecessor, it rocks an AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS APU – no confusing two-tier system this time. No more worrying about reviewers covering the high-end model when all I can afford is the entry-level one (ugh, the struggle).

For some perspective, this chip packs more punch than the one inside the AYANEO Kun, their pricey handheld gaming PC. The Kun earns good reviews, handling modern AAA titles on medium and even high settings. It boasts decent cooling, not just a basic heatsink and a flimsy fan.

Memory and storage options are generous. The AM02 comes in pre-made configs with up to 32GB DDR5 5600MHz RAM (supports a max of 64GB) and up to 1TB. Alternatively, grab a barebones unit without RAM or SSD. Both are user-upgradable, and you might find cheaper RAM on your own. Plus, you won't pay for a Windows license you don't need.

Connectivity is a breeze – at the front, a satisfying button press reveals a full-featured USB 4 (type-C) port, 2x USB-A ports, and a 3.5mm audio jack. At the rear, another pair of USB-A ports, 2 full-sized HDMI, 2 ethernet (1000Mbps & 2.5Gbps), and a USB-C power port. Don't forget the built-in Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2.

Now, the look of this thing – the retro NES-style case is a neat boxy shape, perfect for a NUC-esque mini-PC. The retro gamer vibes appeal more to AYANEO’s existing gamer fanbase than the beige, corporate Macintosh case of the AM01.

And that 4-inch touchscreen? AYANEO claims it can do it all – show pictures, adjust brightness, act as a clock, and even play games in Windows using their custom software.

For Linux users, the touchscreen might need some tinkering, but hey, the Linux community can handle weirder things. AYANEO says the AM02 can be used without Windows for programming and development, supporting Linux systems like Ubuntu and Debian.

Pricing varies depending on the model, early bird offers, and bundled deals (including an 8bitdo controller and/or Nuphy mechanical keyboard). The bare-bones model starts at $439 (early bird offer), and they start shipping in February.

To address the skeptics who say, "I could build it myself for cheaper" – obviously. You're paying for the convenience of having a company design, source, manufacture, and put it together for you.

Interested? You can grab yours through Indiegogo, although it's worth noting they're not exactly in need of crowdfunding as they're already made. So, why not treat yourself? The AM02's unique form factor, surprisingly decent specs, and that tiny touchscreen make it hard to resist, at least for this shamelessly materialistic tech lover. 

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