AYANEO has announced a release date of January 6, 2026 for their upcoming Mini PC AM03. What’s notable about this release is that AYANEO is directing consumers to order the device from their website, as opposed to their usual practice of placing devices on pre-order site IndieGoGo.
Release Details
The AYANEO Mini PC AM03 is another in the company’s line of compact PC systems like the Mini PC AM01S, which have AYANEO blending retro design with modern hardware. The Mini PC AM03 teaser shows a device with a boxy shape and pastel colors, with a minimalist design reminiscent of computers from 30 years ago. AYANEO describes the Mini PC AM03 has having “artistic design and flagship performance”, which leads us to believe that the AM03 will likely be positioned as a higher-end model.
We don’t have any details concerning pricing or internals just yet, but considering that AYANEO have used an AMD Ryzen processor with increasing capabilities each Mini PC iteration (Ryzen 3 > Ryzen 7 > Ryzen AI 9), it’ll be interesting to see what is packaged in the AM03.
AYANEO Mini PC AM03 Flyer
Not to bury the lead, but AYANEO has also announced a change to their ordering process for the AM03. Some key highlights they shared with their announcement concerning the ordering process for the Mini PC AM03:
- Orders will be placed on the AYANEO website, not a pre-order partner
- Orders will be shipped within one week after purchase from the AYANEO webstore
- Early Bird Pricing will be available for a limited time within the first month after launch
- Limited Quantity Available – only a small batch has been produced, and stock is strictly limited
Why the Change?
For anyone that’s been following the retro handheld and emulation scene recently, it’s hard not to notice the recent outcry in regards to AYANEO’s business practices when it comes to placing pre-orders, lack of communication, and the glacial pace of processing and shipping out their devices. Notably, some individuals have been able place orders for recent devices like the Pocket Air Mini and KONKR Pocket Fit from third-party resellers like AliExpress, AKNES, and even Best Buy, and have received their devices before IndieGoGo backers. This has lead to a less-than-quiet rumble from the community about AYANEO’s communication and business practices, even leading to a statement from AYANEO themselves regarding IndieGoGo and backer orders.
Our own Zu Reviews released a video last week, and since then, many other content creators have come out with videos and statements regarding their displeasure with AYANEO. This is a bit of a prickly situation, as there are also individuals within the community that have a different opinion. Some believe that there is more of an issue with international shipping logistics than potentially unfriendly consumer practices, or that recent changes within the IndieGoGo platform are to blame.
Regardless of your stance on the situation, it’s safe to say that there are several individuals within the retro handheld and emulation community that are not happy with the way things are being handled by AYANEO currently.
Going Forward
It’s hard to say if AYANEO is making this change in response to recent community backlash, or if they had planned for the Mini PC AM03 to be available in stock on their website from the start. However, the timing of this change is notable, and we’ll have to wait and see moving forward if this is an early indication of them listening to the concerns of their customers and making changes to the way they market and sell their devices.
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