The AOKZOE A2 follows up on their prior AOKZOE A1 handheld, which was based on AMD Ryzen 7840U handheld gaming device to compete with ROG Ally and Steam Deck.
AOKZOE unveiled their A2 handheld on Indiegogo, joining the league of numerous handheld gaming devices hitting the market equipped with an onboard AMD Ryzen 7 7840U CPU and Radeon 780M iGPU based on RDNA 3 architecture. This positions it in the same performance league as the ROG Ally featuring the Z1 Extreme CPU, alongside other 7840U or Z1 Extreme handhelds.
Compared to the Steam Deck, mostly geared towards 720p (1280x800) gaming, most devices sporting the Z1 Extreme or Z840U utilise 1200p displays. This potentially elevates fidelity with enhanced hardware power, especially for older titles that easily run at native resolution or 2D games that benefit from increased pixel density. The AOKZOE A2 follows suit in this regard.
The device's standout features include its hall-effect analog triggers and joysticks, alongside a bezel-less, 7-inch, 1200p (1920x1200) IPS display and RGB lighting encircling the joysticks. Hall-effect triggers and joysticks involve sensors using magnets, enhancing long-term reliability and eliminating wear and tear on physical contacts. Compared to the ROG Ally, which has a larger bezel but only hall-effect triggers, these upgrades are significant.
Regrettably, there's no official documentation detailing the display refresh rate for the AOKZOE A2. Considering the ROG Ally employs a similar 1200p IPS screen running at 120 Hz, the absence of this information suggests the A2 handheld might operate at 60 Hz.
If accurate, the AOKZOE A2 would make some intriguing trade-offs. For instance, the device boasts 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM clocked at 7500 MT/s, doubling the Ally's 16GB capacity. Yet, it remains uncertain if such a RAM upgrade bears meaningful advantages for a handheld like this. Moreover, 120 Hz on the ROG Ally appears relatively questionable for running modern games on these devices—it's primarily beneficial with 2D or lightweight 3D games.
Certain decisions made with this handheld seem slightly questionable, particularly allocating a considerable budget for RAM when a lower price or an improved screen could be viable alternatives. However, comprehensive details aren't available presently, necessitating further clarification about several items on the specifications list. Additionally, there's the query of whether the A2 can stand out in an increasingly crowded market, currently dominated by the Steam Deck (including the new Steam Deck OLED), alongside major players like Asus and Lenovo.
In essence, the AOKZOE A2 does hold promise, especially if its design or hall-effect sensors resonate with your preferences. The device is scheduled for release on December 21, offering "Early Bird Pricing" for the 7840U model starting at $699 for a 32GB RAM + 512GB PCIe 4.0 SSD configuration. This matches up with the ROG Ally at $650, albeit with the mentioned trade-offs. The top-tier configuration includes an astonishing 64GB RAM and 4TB storage for $1,199—bearing in mind, it could entail a 2TB 2230 SSD plus a 2TB MicroSD card, given the absence of known 4TB M.2 2230 SSDs. Early Bird Pricing will be available for 96 hours post-launch.
