It also offers a great selection of ports for the connecting of various accessories and monitors.
Pricing & specsDesign & buildSoftwarePerformanceCompetitionScorecardShould you buy it?
AYANEOis a Chinese tech company that primarily produces Windows gaming handhelds.
There are vents on the bottom and sides of the AYANEO Retro Mini PC AM01 to help keep the device cool.
But is it a good gaming alternative to more expensive gaming handhelds?
Disclaimer:This review was made possible thanks to a review unit provided by AYANEO.
The company did not see the contents of this review before publishing.
The AYANEO AM01 is designed to look like one of the first Macintosh computers despite running Windows 11.
So you determine what option works best for your needs and price range.
AYANEO AM01 configurations
So, what configuration should you get?
That depends on how you intend to use the mini PC.
There’s even a power button on the front that looks like the original rig’s power switch.
Altogether, the AM01 has a sturdy build and looks good wherever you put it.
Several things are included with the purchase of the AYANEO AM01.
There are several ports on the back of the AM01 including an HDMI 2.0 port and a DisplayPort 1.4(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
It also comes with an HDMI cable and a universal power adapter cable with different heads.
There are even illustrated instructions in the included manual on how to fire up the unit.
This allows my desk to look a whole lot cleaner.
(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
Additionally, the small size fits conveniently into a bag should I want to travel with it.
However, the user experience from an English speaker’s perspective isn’t great.
There are typos everywhere and confusing statements that can sometimes be hard to interpret.
(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
Additionally, AYASpace interface options show controller buttons even if you’re trying to use a mouse and keyboard.
Despite its rather unrefined interface, AYASpace is a very handy program.
There is also the option to add a new preset if I so desire.
The AM01 comes with various stickers for you to customize the mini PC with.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
This way, I can quickly jump between different tweaks options to match my current use of the AM01.
So you’ll want to adjust these prefs depending on what you’re doing with the mini PC.
However, they are both reliable and should serve you well in a variety of scenarios.
Step-by-step illustrated instructions let you know what you need to do to safely open the AM01 for upgrades.
Just don’t expect it to be an amazing multitasker.
As usual, I also ran several benchmarks on the AM01 for a more quantitative read on its capabilities.
This is a great place to be.
AYASpace makes it easy to adjust the AM01’s various settings including the FPS Limit and TDP Limit.
This wasn’t surprising, given how well the rig previously handled any tasks I gave it.
It’s also a great equipment to host emulators on.
However, the experience is very choppy.
Additionally, there are plenty of ports to help you connect various devices.
you might use it for gaming, office, or student use.
It has a starting price of $519.99.
I had to connect my Xbox controller to the AM01 in order to approve the first AYASpace update.
Since it’s only 2.4 inches thick, you’re free to also place it below your monitor.
Additionally, there are several ports to connect your various devices and monitors.
Another part of what makes the AM01 so useful is the good selection of ports it offers.
AYANEO AM01 PCMark 10 benchmarks.(Image credit: Windows Central)
you could connect various accessories or monitors to this mini PC without feeling limited.
Plus, the design is undeniably cute and nostalgic.
AYANEO AM01 Geekbench 5 benchmarks.(Image credit: Windows Central)
AYANEO AM01 Geekbench 6 benchmarks.(Image credit: Windows Central)
AYANEO AM01 CrossMark benchmarks.(Image credit: Windows Central)
In a Cyberpunk 2077 benchmark, the AYANEO AM01 only averaged 8.58fps, but the fact that it ran the game at all is impressive.(Image credit: Windows Central)
AYANEO AM01 Cinebench benchmarks.(Image credit: Windows Central)
AYANEO AM01 3DMark Time Spy benchmarks.(Image credit: Windows Central)
AYANEO Retro Mini PC AM01 is perfect for running lighter games like retro classics or ones with lower graphics.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
AYANEO Retro Mini PC AM01 is capable of running higher graphics games like Baldur’s Gate 3, but gameplay is very choppy.(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
Geekom AS 6 is an excellent all-purpose mini PC that can handle office work and some gaming.
I love how easily the AYANEO AM01 fits under my monitor and doesn’t take up much room.
