The main difference between the AYANEO Pocket S and the Steam Deck is power.
The Steam Deck plays everything up to Wii U well, while the AYANEO Pocket S tops out at Switch.
Other differences
- The AYANEO Pocket S measures 213.9 x 85 x 14 mm and weighs 350 g; the Steam Deck measures 298 x 117 x 49 mm and weighs 674 g.
- The AYANEO Pocket S runs Android, the Steam Deck runs Windows or Linux.
- The Steam Deck has a 7.0 inch screen against 6.0 inches on the AYANEO Pocket S.
- The Steam Deck has a headphone jack; the AYANEO Pocket S does not.
Which is better
Which fits in a pocket better?
AYANEO Pocket SThe AYANEO Pocket S (213.9 x 85 x 14 mm, 350 g). The Steam Deck is 298 x 117 x 49 mm, 674 g. Neither fits a jeans pocket; think jacket pocket or bag.
Which is better for PS2 games, the AYANEO Pocket S or the Steam Deck?
Steam DeckThe Steam Deck. It scores 100 out of 100 for PS2 against 90.
Which costs less?
TieThey launched at about the same price: $399 and $399.
Which is better for GBA games?
Steam DeckThe Steam Deck. GBA games fill 94% of the Steam Deck's screen at 5x with even pixels, against 84% of the AYANEO Pocket S's screen at 9x.
Which has the bigger battery?
AYANEO Pocket SThe AYANEO Pocket S, at 6,000 mAh against 5,200 mAh. That is capacity only: the chips differ, and the heavier the system you play, the faster either one drains.
Side by side
| AYANEO Pocket S | Steam Deck | |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $399 | $399 |
| Released | May 2024 | Feb 2022 |
| Plays well up to | Switch | Wii U |
| Shape | Horizontal | Horizontal |
| Software | Android | Windows or Linux |
| Chip | Qualcomm Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 | AMD Aerith |
| Memory | 12 GB | 16 GB |
| Screen | 6.0 inch IPS 16:9 | 7.0 inch LCD 16:10 |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1440 or 1920 x 1080 | 1280 x 800 |
| Battery | 6,000 mAh | 5,200 mAh |
| Weight | 350 g | 674 g |
| Size | 213.9 x 85 x 14 mm | 298 x 117 x 49 mm |
| Analog sticks | Double, asymmetrical | Double, symmetrical |
| Hall effect sticks | Yes | ? |
| L2 and R2 | Yes, stacked | Yes, stacked |
| Analog triggers | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| Video out | Yes | Yes |
| Headphone jack | No | Yes |
Green marks the better value where one is clearly better. Prices are launch prices.
Emulation
- AYANEO Pocket SSteam Deck
- Game Boy
- NES
- Genesis
- GBA
- SNES
- PS1
- DS
- N64
- Dreamcast
- PSP
- Saturn
- GameCube
- 3DS
- Wii
- PS2
- Switch
- Wii U
- PS3
100 means the system runs at full speed with no known issues.
Full details
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More comparisons
Why this pair: buyers weigh these two against each other. 56 comments by 47 different people compare them in community discussions, and 1 post titles name both. Specs, emulation scores and launch prices from the retrocatalog.com handheld database.