The first Steam Deck competitor with SteamOS is almost here

The first non-Valve device with SteamOS pre-installed is about to ship: Ayaneo just announced its next gaming laptop, the Next Lite, running the open source operating system.

Ayaneo is promoting the Next Lite as a cost-effective option, but we don't know much about the device yet or how much it will cost. It has a 7-inch screen with a resolution of 800 pixels, a 47-watt-hour battery, and a Hall effect joystick, according to “The Verge.” Ayaneo blog post. The company also advertises “vibrant colors” including a beautiful green hue and “quality craftsmanship.”

But we don't know yet what chip powers the mobile device, so it's difficult to know how its performance compares to other devices.

Not listing the price seems like a major omission if it's being marketed as a potentially cheaper option than other mobile devices on the market. It could go up against Valve's remaining $349 Steam Decks, while the current Ayaneo Next sells for $1,315.

The company announces that mobile “subscriptions” will open Thursday evening, creating the potential for a different pricing approach than a one-time purchase or crowdfunding. If you're interested, these subscriptions will be available at 9:30 PM ET on January 11th On the Ayaneo website. If you want to see how we like other Ayaneo laptops, check out our reviews of the Ayaneo Next and Ayaneo 2.