Why Gaming Handhelds Cost More Than GPUs: The RAM Crisis Explained [2025]

The Handheld Gaming Crisis Nobody Wanted to Talk About

Last month, I was scrolling through gaming news when I saw it: a handheld gaming device priced at $4,299. My first thought wasn't "wow, innovation." It was "who greenlit this?"

The device in question is the Ayaneo Next 2. On paper, it sounds incredible: a 9-inch OLED screen, the latest AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor, and 128GB of RAM packed into something you can hold in your hands. But here's the thing—that 128GB configuration costs more than an RTX 5090 graphics card. More than a full gaming PC. More than a month's rent in some cities.

This isn't a case of a company being greedy or making poor decisions. This is what happens when supply chains break, memory prices skyrocket, and consumers with money start accepting the unacceptable. The RAM crisis has officially jumped from desktop PCs to handhelds, and if you think $4,299 is outrageous, you're right. But understanding why it happened requires digging into something most people ignore: the memory manufacturing crisis that's reshaping how we buy hardware.

In this article, we're breaking down why gaming handhelds have become luxury items, what's actually driving the price explosion, and whether paying $3,500 for a handheld makes any sense in 2025.

TL; DR

• The Ayaneo Next 2 costs up to $4,299 with 128GB RAM and 2TB storage, exceeding RTX 5090 pricing
• RAM shortage is the culprit, pushing memory prices up 40-60% year-over-year, forcing manufacturers to pass costs to consumers
• 128GB is overkill for handheld gaming, with most handhelds running perfectly on 32GB or even 16GB
• Early bird pricing starts at $3,499, still an unreasonable entry point for portable gaming
• The market is fragmenting, with budget handhelds under $500 and premium models exceeding laptop prices

RAM prices have significantly increased from 2023 to 2025, with 32GB modules rising from

What Exactly Is the Ayaneo Next 2?

Before we get into the pricing rant, let's understand what we're actually talking about here. The Ayaneo Next 2 isn't just another handheld gaming device. It's built around AMD's Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor, which is a legitimately powerful chip. We're talking performance roughly equivalent to an RTX 4060 GPU, which was released in 2023.

For context, that's the kind of performance that lets you play modern AAA games at 1080p with decent frame rates. Games like Starfield, Dragon's Age: The Veilguard, and Baldur's Gate 3 aren't totally off the table. You'd be hitting 30-40 FPS in many cases, and for a handheld, that's legitimately impressive.

The 9-inch OLED display is another premium feature. Most gaming handhelds stick with 7-8 inch screens, so you're getting a noticeably bigger visual canvas. The colors pop, the blacks are genuinely black, and scrolling through menus feels buttery smooth. The 116 Wh battery is also substantial, designed to handle real gaming sessions without demanding you hunt for a charger every hour.

But here's what's wild: you don't actually need all this for handheld gaming. The Nintendo Switch has been dominating the market for almost eight years with a 6.2-inch LCD screen, modest processing power, and way lower specs. The Steam Deck, arguably the handheld that sparked this whole Android PC trend, uses a custom APU that's far less powerful than the Ryzen AI Max+. And both of those devices have crushed it in terms of sales and player satisfaction.

So why is Ayaneo building something this powerful? Simple answer: because they can. There's a niche audience of people willing to pay crazy money for the most powerful handheld possible. But that niche audience is extremely small, and pricing yourself at $4,299 doesn't help you expand beyond it.

Estimated data shows that while current PC hardware prices are elevated due to supply constraints, they are expected to gradually decrease over the next 12-24 months as market conditions improve.

The RAM Crisis: More Than Just Shortage

Understanding the pricing requires understanding memory. RAM isn't like a GPU or processor. There isn't really a "new generation" of RAM that's dramatically better. DDR5 is faster than DDR4, sure, but the difference between 32GB and 128GB is just quantity. You're buying more of the same thing.

Historically, RAM has been cheap. Like, stupid cheap. A decade ago, you could grab 8GB for under $20. The price-to-capacity ratio has improved consistently for years. That trend is completely shattered now.

In 2024, memory prices started climbing. Hard. We're talking 40-60% increases year-over-year depending on the type and capacity. Some specific memory types saw even worse inflation. The causes are multiple: AI server demand (companies building out data centers for machine learning are buying memory in bulk), manufacturing capacity constraints, supply chain issues from the post-COVID scramble, and geopolitical tensions affecting production in Taiwan and South Korea.

But here's what's genuinely wild about the memory crisis: it's selective. High-capacity modules—like the 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB sticks the Ayaneo Next 2 uses—are hit especially hard. There's legitimate shortage of these modules because they're expensive to produce, carry higher defect rates during manufacturing, and most consumers don't need them.

When most people build a PC, they buy 32GB total, which is usually two 16GB sticks. When a company like Ayaneo wants to sell a 128GB variant, they need four 32GB modules, or eight 16GB modules. That multiplies the cost impact. Buying 32GB of RAM might have cost

The manufacturers have to buy this memory on the open market. They can't negotiate the laws of supply and demand into oblivion. So those costs get passed to the consumer. This is why the Ayaneo Next 2's base model with 32GB starts at a reasonable-ish $1,999, but jumping to 128GB nearly doubles the price.

Comparing the Incomparable: Why $4,299 for a Handheld Is Insane

Let's talk about what $4,299 actually gets you in the current PC gaming landscape. Because that price point opens some perspective.

An RTX 5090 graphics card, the absolute flagship GPU from Nvidia right now, has an MSRP of $1,999. That's for a card that can play any game at maximum settings at 4K resolution. You could pair it with a mid-range CPU and monitor and build a desktop that crushes any handheld's performance.

Or you could buy a high-end gaming laptop. A Razer Blade 16 or Alienware 18 in the $3,000-4,000 range gives you a device with a larger screen, better thermal management, more expansion options, and similar (actually superior) performance.

Or you could buy a Steam Deck OLED and an entire secondary gaming laptop and still have money left over.

The Ayaneo Next 2 with its $4,299 configuration offers something specific: portability plus power, in a single device you can hold. But that's also a device that's going to need a case, probably a dock, definitely a carrying bag for travel. It's not replacing a laptop. It's not replacing a desktop. It's a niche device in a niche market.

The early bird pricing of $3,499 doesn't really fix this either. You're still paying luxury car down payment money for a gaming device. Even for hardcore enthusiasts, that's a tough sell.

The Ayaneo Next 2 offers higher RAM and a larger screen but at a significantly higher price compared to the Steam Deck, which provides better value for most gamers.

Why 128GB of RAM in a Handheld Is Peak Marketing

Let's be brutally honest: no handheld gaming device needs 128GB of RAM. Not now. Not in the near future. Not realistically ever.

The Nintendo Switch runs most of its catalog on 4GB of RAM (split between system and GPU memory). The Steam Deck runs Elden Ring, Baldur's Gate 3, and Starfield on 16GB combined. The ROG Ally handles serious AAA titles with 16GB. Even the most demanding emulation projects—the stuff people do with modded Dolphin emulators and maxed-out texture packs—rarely exceeds 32GB, and usually tops out around 24GB under extreme conditions.

The only real use cases for 128GB in a handheld are: (1) running a full development environment, (2) processing video or 3D rendering, or (3) saying you have 128GB. That's it.

So why does Ayaneo offer it? Marketing, mostly. Having a 128GB option on the spec sheet makes the device sound cutting-edge and powerful. It appeals to the "more is better" psychology that affects everyone when they're buying tech. It also gives the company an ultra-premium tier that makes the 64GB and 32GB options seem more reasonable by comparison.

But it's a cynical move that exploits the RAM crisis. The company knows that memory is expensive right now. They know customers will see that huge capacity number and assume they're getting something special. And they're betting that the subset of customers rich enough to consider a $4,300 handheld won't balk at the premium for double the RAM they actually need.

Interestingly, this strategy might backfire. Early reviews and community reaction have been harsh. People understand that you can't actually use 128GB of RAM on a handheld. You can't even see it on the spec sheet for most games. It's waste. And charging an extra $1,600 for waste is tough to justify, even if you're the type of person who drops four grand on portable gaming hardware.

The Base Model: When $1,999 for a Handheld Seems Reasonable

The Ayaneo Next 2's entry-level configuration starts at

Except that's still a legitimately insane price for a handheld. Let's contextualize: that's the same price as the RTX 5090 we mentioned earlier. It's the launch price of a Nintendo Switch, a Steam Deck, and a ROG Ally combined, times several orders of magnitude.

But fine. If we're accepting that Ayaneo's doing a premium positioning, $1,999 for a 9-inch OLED handheld with current-gen hardware isn't completely unreasonable. The Ryzen AI Max 385 is last-generation compared to the Max+ 395, but it's still a solid performer. You're losing about 10-15% performance, which is noticeable but not game-ruining.

The issue is that

This has happened before. When companies announce early bird pricing, it's often because they know the final retail pricing is going to upset people. They want to capture the ultra-committed fans at a better price before the sticker shock of the regular price. It's a smart strategy, but it also tells us something depressing: even Ayaneo knows $3,499-4,299 is hard to swallow.

Projected data shows a steady increase in PC hardware prices due to rising AI demand over the next few years. Estimated data.

Why This Matters: The Handheld Gaming Market Is Fragmenting

The Ayaneo Next 2 pricing isn't just a curiosity. It's a signal about where the handheld market is heading, and it's not pretty.

For the past few years, handheld gaming has had a clear market structure. Budget options like the Nintendo Switch Lite at

Now that structure is completely broken. The Steam Deck OLED might be joined by a Steam Deck 2 with current-gen hardware at potentially

Meanwhile, budget Android handhelds—think devices from manufacturers you've never heard of—are actually getting pretty good, with some legitimately competent 1080p gaming devices under

So the market is fragmenting into three distinct tiers: ultra-budget casual (

The RAM crisis is accelerating this fragmentation. Cheap handhelds can use LPDDR5X memory, which is more affordable and sufficient for 1080p gaming. Mid-range handhelds can justify 16-32GB. But the premium devices are pushing 64GB and 128GB just because the manufacturers can, and because it gives them a differentiation story that justifies the insane pricing.

But here's the thing: this strategy doesn't actually work long-term. If you price yourself out of the market—if nobody can justify paying $4,300 for a handheld—then you don't have a market anymore. You just have the people desperate enough or rich enough to buy anything you release. And that's a user base measured in hundreds, not thousands.

The Bigger Picture: PC Hardware Inflation and AI

The Ayaneo Next 2 pricing is frustrating, but it's also a symptom of something bigger: the entire PC hardware market is under pressure from AI infrastructure demand.

Here's what's happening. Companies building AI models need insane amounts of computing power. They need GPUs, they need processors, they need memory. All of it. And they're willing to pay premium prices because AI models can generate massive ROI. A single large language model project might require thousands of GPUs and cost tens of millions of dollars, but it can generate billions in value.

This creates enormous pull on the supply chain. Memory manufacturers prioritize high-capacity modules for data center use. GPU manufacturers prioritize high-end cards for AI training. Processor makers focus on the most powerful chips. The consumer market gets what's left.

When your customer base can be data center companies buying thousands of units for millions of dollars, individual consumers buying a single gaming device aren't high priority. You optimize for volume in the data center, and you price consumer products based on whatever memory you can source.

The RTX 5090 pricing is a perfect example. Nvidia's MSRP is

The same dynamic is hitting memory. High-capacity modules are scarce. So manufacturers are charging more. And handheld makers have to pass those costs to consumers.

The really depressing part? This probably won't get better for at least 2-3 years. AI demand is only growing. Memory manufacturing capacity is ramping up, but slowly. Unless there's a major AI bubble burst or massive manufacturing expansion, we're looking at elevated hardware prices for years.

In 2025, the Ayaneo Next 2 is expected to have low sales due to its high price, while the Nintendo Switch 2 will likely dominate the market. (Estimated data)

Why Other Handheld Makers Aren't Pushing 128GB

If 128GB is so sellable (theoretically), why aren't other manufacturers doing the same thing? Why isn't Lenovo pushing a Legion Go with 128GB? Why isn't Asus making a ROG Ally with that much RAM?

Simple answer: they don't want to destroy their brand reputation.

Ayaneo is a niche manufacturer. Most people have never heard of them. They're essentially competing in a space where the premium positioning is already extreme. Losing a few thousand sales because your prices are insane doesn't hurt as much as it would for a mainstream brand.

Lenovo, Asus, and Nintendo can't make that same bet. They need volume. They need casual consumers willing to spend

So what these companies do instead is keep their premium offerings in the $700-900 range, with 16-24GB of RAM. That's premium, but it's not completely divorced from reality. It's a device that real people can conceivably buy.

Ayaneo doesn't have that constraint. They can be weird, niche, and expensive, and their core audience will eat it up. It's a valid strategy for a niche player. But it doesn't mean it's a good strategy for the market overall.

The Supply Chain Perspective: Why Memory Costs Haven't Stabilized

Here's something most consumers don't understand: memory manufacturers don't just magically produce more capacity when prices go up. It doesn't work that way.

Memory manufacturing is capital-intensive. Building a new fab (manufacturing facility) costs

So manufacturers are cautious. They're expanding capacity, but slowly. Samsung, SK Hynix, Micron, and others have announced capacity expansions, but they won't come online in meaningful quantities until 2026-2027 at the earliest. Until then, current production is limited.

The demand, meanwhile, is immediate. Data centers need memory now. AI companies need it now. Consumers are going to buy it at whatever price point they can access it.

This imbalance is the fundamental driver of the crisis. It's not malice or poor planning by Ayaneo. It's the reality of constrained supply meeting explosive demand. The market is just priced high until supply catches up.

For a device maker like Ayaneo, this creates a brutal calculation: do you source memory at current market prices and charge $4,299? Or do you wait for prices to stabilize, miss the launch window, and potentially lose market share to competitors? Most choose the former. They lock in current pricing and hit the market hard, knowing that future units might be cheaper if they can source better deals.

The Ayaneo Next 2's full price of

Alternative Perspective: Is This Actually a Smart Niche Play?

Here's a devil's advocate take: maybe Ayaneo knows exactly what they're doing, and $4,299 is the right price for their actual market.

Think about it this way. Ayaneo's real customers aren't casual gamers. They're not people considering a Switch 2 or Steam Deck 2. They're a very specific subset of enthusiasts and professionals who want: maximum power, niche OS flexibility (Ayaneo devices run custom Linux distributions and Windows), and are willing to pay luxury prices for that combination.

For video editors who want a portable machine that can handle GPU-accelerated editing. For developers who need a high-powered portable workstation for on-the-go development. For AI researchers who need a powerful handheld device for research and testing. For rich collectors who want the most premium portable gaming device that exists.

For those audiences, 64GB or 128GB actually makes sense. If you're serious about video work or development, having that much RAM available is genuinely valuable. And if you're in any of these categories, you're already spending

So maybe the real question isn't "why would anyone pay

From a business strategy perspective, that's actually sensible. Target a tiny, wealthy segment with a premium product at premium pricing, and optimize for margin rather than volume. It's the opposite of the Nintendo playbook, but it's a valid strategy.

The problem is execution and messaging. Ayaneo needs to be very explicit about who this device is for and why 128GB matters to them. Right now, the marketing reads as "we built a handheld with crazy specs that nobody needs and priced it like a desktop gaming PC." That narrative doesn't sell, even to the niche audience that might actually benefit from the device.

Better messaging would be: "The Ayaneo Next 2 is the most powerful portable workstation and gaming device in the world. If you do professional video work, development, or research on a portable machine, here's the device built for you. Here's why 128GB actually matters for your workflow." That sells the premium positioning. Right now, it's just expensive.

Future Predictions: Will Other Handhelds Follow?

If the Ayaneo Next 2 actually sells—if enough people back it on Indiegogo to validate the market—we'll probably see copycats. That's how the hardware market works. One company proves a price point is viable, others follow.

But I don't think we'll see mainstream brands like Nintendo, Valve, or Asus pushing $4,000 handhelds anytime soon. The market structure doesn't support it. Instead, I expect we'll see a two-tier approach:

Budget tier ($200-400): Nintendo Switch 2 and its competitors, targeting casual gaming and family gaming. Basic specs, fantastic game libraries, proven business model.

Mid-premium tier ($600-900): Steam Deck successor, ROG Ally successor, Lenovo Legion Go successor. Current-gen hardware, solid battery life, enough power for AAA gaming. This is where most enthusiasts will be.

Ultra-premium niche tier ($2,000-4,500+): Ayaneo devices and potential competitors from other niche manufacturers. Maximum specs, maximum price, minimum volume. More curio than actual product category.

The real story isn't that handhelds are becoming expensive. It's that the market is splitting. Casual gaming will remain affordable. Enthusiast gaming will stay in the $600-800 range. And a tiny luxury market will exist for people who want the absolute most powerful portable device that money can buy.

The RAM crisis accelerates this splitting. It makes cheap RAM expensive, so manufacturers either absorb the cost (which crushes margins) or pass it to consumers (which increases prices). Budget devices can get away with passing costs by using older memory types. Premium devices are stuck paying cutting-edge prices for cutting-edge capacity.

But here's my actual prediction: by 2027, when the next generation of handhelds launches and memory supply has recovered somewhat, we'll look back at 2025 prices and shake our heads. The Ayaneo Next 2 at $4,299 will be remembered as the peak of handheld pricing insanity. Memory will be cheaper (but still not pre-2023 levels), manufacturing will have improved, and the market will have rationalized.

Until then, we're stuck in this transitional period where premium handhelds cost as much as cars and nobody's really happy about it.

What Should Consumers Actually Buy Right Now?

If you're in the market for a handheld gaming device in 2025, here's the practical reality:

If you want something to play Nintendo games, buy a Switch or wait for the Switch 2. It's cheap, the games are incredible, and it does exactly what you need. You don't need 128GB or the latest processor. You need good games, and Nintendo has those.

**If you want to play modern AAA games on a handheld, the Steam Deck OLED at

If you want maximum power and don't mind Windows, wait. The Steam Deck 2 is probably coming in late 2025 or 2026, and it will offer superior specs to the current generation at (presumably) reasonable pricing. Asus will probably announce an updated ROG Ally. Lenovo might update the Legion Go again. None of these will be $4,299. All of them will be better values than the Ayaneo Next 2.

If you genuinely need 64GB or 128GB of RAM for specific work, and money isn't a concern, then evaluate the Ayaneo Next 2 on its technical merits. But be honest about whether you actually need it, because most people don't.

If you're a handheld enthusiast and you have disposable income, the Ayaneo Next 2 is interesting as a collector's item. It's the most powerful handheld ever made (at launch). That has value to some people. But understand that you're paying for scarcity and specs, not practical gaming improvements.

The core message: don't let the specs or the premium positioning push you into something you don't actually need. The

The Bigger Lesson: Why This Matters Beyond Handhelds

The Ayaneo Next 2 pricing is frustrating, but it's also educational. It shows us something important about how tech markets respond to supply constraints.

When supply is limited and demand is high, prices go up. That's economics 101. But the interesting part is how that pressure cascades through the market. Memory manufacturers can't increase supply fast enough. Handheld makers need to choose between eating costs or passing them along. They choose the latter. The consumer feels pain.

This same dynamic is playing out across the entire PC hardware market right now. Graphics card prices are elevated. Processor prices are higher than they should be. Laptops cost more. Desktops cost more. Your gaming PC build costs 20-30% more than it would in a normal market.

But here's the silver lining: this isn't forever. Eventually, memory capacity expands. Manufacturing catches up. Competition normalizes pricing. The market finds equilibrium again. We saw this with GPU prices after the crypto mining bubble burst in 2022. We'll see it again with memory.

The lesson is patience. If you don't need a new handheld or gaming PC right now, waiting 12-24 months will probably save you $500-1,000+. If you do need one, buy the best value you can find, knowing that prices will be better by this time next year.

And for people considering the Ayaneo Next 2? Save your money. By the time it ships, better alternatives will probably exist, and definitely will within 6 months.

FAQ

What is the Ayaneo Next 2 handheld?

The Ayaneo Next 2 is a portable gaming PC powered by AMD's Ryzen AI Max processors, featuring a 9-inch OLED display, up to 128GB of RAM, and 2TB of storage. It runs Windows and custom Linux distributions, targeting enthusiasts and professionals who need maximum portable computing power. The device starts at

Why is the Ayaneo Next 2 so expensive?

The primary driver of the Ayaneo Next 2's high pricing is the global RAM crisis, which has pushed memory costs up 40-60% year-over-year. Additionally, AI infrastructure demand has created competition for high-capacity memory modules, constraining supply. The premium hardware components, 9-inch OLED display, and niche manufacturing scale also contribute to the elevated pricing structure.

Do gaming handhelds actually need 128GB of RAM?

No. Most gaming handhelds perform excellently with 16-32GB of RAM. The Nintendo Switch uses roughly 4GB, the Steam Deck runs on 16GB, and even the most demanding emulation and gaming workloads rarely exceed 32GB. The 128GB configuration is largely a marketing spec designed to justify premium positioning rather than a practical necessity for gaming.

How does the Ayaneo Next 2 compare to the Steam Deck?

The Ayaneo Next 2 offers significantly more power, a larger screen, and more RAM, but at a dramatically higher price. The Steam Deck OLED, priced at $549, is still the better value for most gamers because it offers excellent 1080p gaming performance, a massive game library, and proven reliability at a fraction of the cost. The Ayaneo Next 2 targets a different market segment focused on maximum specs rather than optimal value.

Should I wait for future handheld releases instead of buying the Ayaneo Next 2?

Yes, for most consumers, waiting makes sense. The Steam Deck 2, updated ROG Ally, and other competitors will launch within 12-18 months with current-generation hardware at more reasonable pricing. Memory prices may also stabilize by then, potentially reducing overall handheld costs. Unless you specifically need the Ayaneo Next 2's unique software flexibility or niche use cases, waiting will provide better options and better pricing.

How will the RAM crisis affect future handheld pricing?

The RAM crisis will continue to pressure handheld pricing through 2025-2026 until memory manufacturing capacity expands significantly. Manufacturers will either absorb costs (reducing margins) or pass them to consumers (increasing prices). Budget handhelds will likely see smaller price impacts, while premium models like the Ayaneo Next 2 will show the sharpest increases. Once memory supply stabilizes around 2027, handheld pricing should normalize downward.

Can the Ayaneo Next 2 actually replace a gaming laptop?

The Ayaneo Next 2 can supplement a gaming laptop but not fully replace one. The smaller screen, limited thermal management, and reduced durability compared to a laptop make it less suitable for extended work sessions. However, for casual gaming, light development, and portable content consumption, it's a viable alternative if you prioritize mobility over comfort and raw performance.

What's the actual performance difference between the Ryzen AI Max and Max+ processors?

The Ryzen AI Max+ 395 offers roughly 10-15% better performance than the Ryzen AI Max 385, primarily in GPU-accelerated tasks and AI workloads. For gaming specifically, the difference is largely negligible because game performance is bottlenecked by the 1200p handheld display rather than the processor. The performance gap doesn't justify the $700 price difference for gaming use cases.

Will Ayaneo devices become cheaper once the RAM crisis ends?

Likely not dramatically cheaper. While memory prices will normalize, Ayaneo's manufacturing costs won't drop proportionally because they're a small-volume manufacturer without economies of scale. You might see $300-500 price reductions on future generations, but the brand will likely remain premium-positioned. Mainstream manufacturers like Valve and Nintendo will see more significant price benefits from stabilized memory markets.

Is the Ayaneo Next 2 worth buying for content creation or development?

For creators and developers with specific workflows that require 64GB or 128GB of RAM, the Ayaneo Next 2 becomes more compelling. If you do video editing, 3D rendering, or development work on the go and actually use that memory capacity, the premium pricing is more justifiable than for gaming use alone. However, a portable laptop would still likely be a better choice for serious professional work due to superior cooling, ergonomics, and display size.

The Bottom Line: Is 2025 the Peak of Handheld Insanity?

The Ayaneo Next 2 represents something important in the hardware market: the moment when supply constraints forced a niche manufacturer to price a handheld device completely outside the realm of what normal consumers consider reasonable.

Four thousand dollars for a handheld. Let that sink in. That's a policy decision. That's a trade-off. That's someone at Ayaneo saying: "We're willing to lose 90% of potential customers to maximize margin on the 10% willing to pay this price." It's a viable strategy for a niche company, but it's also a clear signal that the market is broken.

The RAM crisis created the conditions. The AI boom intensified them. Ayaneo capitalized on them. But the result is a product that practically nobody can justify buying, except the ultra-rich and the ultra-enthusiastic.

Here's my actual belief about what happens next: the Ayaneo Next 2 will sell better than expected to the niche audience it's targeting. Some people will back the Indiegogo campaign. Some reviewers will get units and make videos. The internet will lose its mind about the pricing. But actual volume will be tiny—measured in thousands, not tens of thousands.

Meanwhile, the Steam Deck OLED will continue selling briskly at $549. The upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 will dominate the market. The next-gen ROG Ally will find a solid audience. These devices will prove that the real handheld market isn't demanding maximum specs at maximum prices. It's demanding good value, good games, and good execution.

By 2026, when memory prices normalize and the next generation launches, we'll look back at 2025 as the year handheld pricing hit its absurd peak. Future Ayaneo devices might be expensive, but hopefully not $4,299 expensive. That price point will be a historical curiosity: the time when a RAM crisis collided with a manufacturer's ambition and created a device nobody actually needed at a price nobody could justify.

So should you buy the Ayaneo Next 2? Only if you're already in that ultra-niche market segment that values maximum specs above all else and has money to burn. For everyone else: save your cash. Better handhelds at better prices are coming. Patience in a broken market usually pays dividends.

Key Takeaways

• The Ayaneo Next 2 costs up to $4,299 with 128GB RAM, exceeding RTX 5090 pricing due to memory shortage
• Global RAM prices have increased 40-60% year-over-year, driven by AI data center demand pulling memory supply
• 128GB of RAM is functionally unnecessary for handheld gaming; most devices run excellently on 16-32GB
• The handheld market is fragmenting into budget (
  $200-400), mid-range ($
  500-800), and ultra-premium ($1,500+) tiers
• Steam Deck OLED at $549 remains the best value for gaming handhelds; waiting for next-gen devices is likely the smarter choice

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