The Nano Play is yet another upcoming handheld PC coming to market hoping to capitalize on the popularity started by companies like Valve and AYANEO.
What is particularly interesting about the marketing of the Nano Play is that they are coining it a “laptop and handheld console hybrid”. Which is a bit strange to us.
Most of these handheld PC devices could offer basic computing services, but surely nobody out there is hoping to turn their gaming handheld into their daily work computer.
Marketing materials for the Nano Play do show users with an external keyboard and the device propped up on a separate stand.
I guess if you plan on spending $499 or more, the starting price for the “All-In-One Solution” Nano Play, you’d want to get more out of it than a game of Genshin Impact.
But if we are to focus only on the gaming use for the device, what exactly can we expect?
Table of Contents
Performance Expectations
With subtexts like “Compact & Portable”, “Smooth Feeling”, and “Ergonomic Design”, we’re getting all of the familiar tags from other popular handheld PC devices.
We know that the Nano Play plans on implementing an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme Zen 4 CPU paired with an AMD RDNA 3 GPU. And it’s base operating system will be Windows 11.
So obviously, we’re looking at a fairly powerful Windows-based gaming PC that can run things like Steam and Microsoft Word (if we’re to seriously consider this as a dual-use device).
We’d anticipate a handheld that sits below the performance of any recent AYANEO Windows device, and maybe a more than the Steam Deck, which isn’t necessarily trying to be ultra powerful.
Design and Aesthetics
I guess we can be impressed with the fact that the Nano Play is something that has already been produced in physical form to shoot their promotional material.
Many times, we see impressive concept imagery that never becomes a physical reality. In the case of the Nano Play, it’s the total opposite…
Their concept imagery looks horrific, but the physical production doesn’t look as bad. Still not great, but not the worst.
I would say that the Nano Play looks like the CRKD Nitro Deck meets the ASUS ROG Ally… then bump the quality down by about 25%.
At times in the marketing, the device looks thin and sleek. Other times, it looks chunky and oversized. So it is a bit difficult to get a feel for the size.
At 700g, it weights just a bit more than the Steam Deck and the ASUS Rog Ally. Both of which fall in the 600s.
Those extra large trigger buttons are definitely giving us the impression that this is a big boi intended for big hands.
And some of the action buttons look like they would have quite a lot of travel before you’ll get a click. So again, this appears to be a device designed for those in search of chunk and heft.
Nano Play Specifications
- Processor: AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme Zen 4
- Graphics Card: AMD RDNA 3
- Memory: 16GB, LPDDR5X, 8533MHz 128bits, Dual-Channel
- SSD: 512GB/1TB/2TB/4TB, M.2 2280Interface (NVMe Protocol), PCle 5.0*4
- System: Windows 11
- Screen: 7-inch Full Bonding IPS Touchscreen, 100% sRGB/100% DCI-P3, 1920×1080 165Hz Refresh Rate, 16:10 Native Aspect Ratio, Supports 10-Point Touch
- Battery Capacity: 12450mAh, 48Wh/11.55V, 65W Nitride Fast Charging, Maximum Continuous
- Gaming duration of 2H
- Charging Time: 3H, overcharge protection
- Rated Power: 15W
- Rated Voltage: 5V
- Product Size: 260*105*31
- Weight: 700g
- Etc: USB-C 4.0 (40Gbps) x2, USB-C 3.2 Gen2 *2 (20Gbps) x2, USB-A 3.2 Gen2 *1 (10Gbps) x2, Wi-Fi 6E(Wi-Fi 7 Requires Software Update Upon Official Release), Bluetooth5.3, 3.5mm Audio Jack x1, MicroSD Expansion Slot, Fingerprint Scanner
Impressions
I don’t think I have to tell you that this isn’t really something I am excited about.
My frustrations with the handheld gaming scene grows as we see emerging companies with little ambition to do something new.
More often than not, new companies hope to capitalize on what is already popular. They see the success of devices like the Steam Deck and say “we can do that!”. Maybe you can, but did you ask yourself if you should?
As long as there are consumers out there to support these kinds of companies, we will continue to see the same thing pop up every month. So it is our responsibility to let them know whether we want what they are selling or not.
If the Nano Play is something you would like to support, they are launching their Kickstarter campaign very soon.
You already know what I think. But maybe you have a different opinion. Maybe you see something special in the Nano Play.
