Unboxing and First Impressions: The AyaNeo Flip 2
The world of handheld PC gaming has exploded over the past few years. While the Steam Deck brought the concept to the mainstream, a handful of enthusiast companies have been pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in a portable form factor. No company has been more innovative with design than AyaNeo, and their original “Flip” model—a clamshell handheld with a built-in keyboard—was a cult classic.
Now, its successor has arrived. The AyaNeo Flip 2 just landed on our doorstep, promising a more powerful processor, a better screen, and a refined design.
We’re diving in for our official unboxing and first impressions. Is this the new king of portable PC gaming?
The Unboxing: A Premium First Moment
AyaNeo knows its audience. The unboxing experience feels distinctly premium, a step above what you’d get from a mainstream console. The box is dense and sleek, with a minimalist design. Sliding off the lid, you’re greeted not just by the device itself, but by a thoughtfully laid out set of accessories. In the box, you get the Flip 2, a high-quality braided USB-C charging cable, a powerful 100W GaN power adapter, and even different-sized thumbstick caps. It’s a small touch, but it makes the whole package feel like a high-end, enthusiast product from the very start.
Design and Feel: A Refined Clamshell
Picking up the Flip 2, the first thing you notice is the build quality. It feels solid and substantial, with a new matte finish that resists fingerprints much better than the original. The hinge mechanism for the clamshell screen feels tighter and more robust, with a satisfying snap as it locks into its 120-degree and 180-degree positions.
The star of the show, of course, is the integrated keyboard. It’s still tiny, but the keys have slightly more travel this year, making quick typing for a Discord message or a web search much more comfortable. It’s not something you’d want to write an essay on, but for its purpose, it’s a huge improvement.
The Screen and Controls
Flipping open the device reveals its biggest upgrade: a gorgeous 7-inch, 1080p OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. The colors are incredibly vibrant, the blacks are perfect, and the high refresh rate makes navigating Windows and playing fast-paced games feel exceptionally smooth.
The controls will be familiar to anyone who has used an Xbox controller. The hall effect analog sticks are smooth and feel resistant to the “stick drift” that plagues other handhelds. The D-pad is clicky and responsive, and the face buttons have a satisfying, tactile feel.
First Boot and Initial Performance
The Flip 2 runs a full version of Windows, powered by AMD’s latest mobile processors. The initial boot and setup process is standard for any Windows device. After setup, we immediately downloaded and installed Cyberpunk 2077 to push it to its limits.
Our first impressions are very strong. The device was able to achieve a surprisingly stable 45-50 fps on medium settings at 1080p, a remarkable feat for a handheld. The fans are audible under load but have a lower-pitched, less annoying sound than many other handhelds we’ve tested. The screen is the real star—the OLED panel makes the neon-drenched streets of Night City look absolutely stunning.
We still have a lot more testing to do for our full review, including battery life and performance across a wider range of games. But our first impression of the AyaNeo Flip 2 is that it’s a powerful, beautifully built, and thoughtful evolution of the clamshell handheld concept. Stay tuned.
