Valveโs Steam Deck has undeniably shaken the handheld gaming console scene, carving out a fresh niche for Linux-powered devices. On the horizon, a new contender is set to enter the arena โ letโs welcome the arrival of the Orange Pi Neo.
Orange Pi Neo Manjaro
To the surprise of many attendees at FOSDEM 2024, Manjaro unveiled the Orange Pi Neo, a new device targeted at handheld gaming console enthusiasts.
Certainly, one of the most notable features is the operating system that drives this portable gaming console, Manjaro. Given this, itโs reasonable to anticipate that the Orange Pi Neo could support various other Linux distributions.
This ultra-small, ultra-slim gaming powerhouse is set to redefine what gamers expect from portable devices, thanks to its incorporation of the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U – 8 Cores and 16 Threads CPU, promising flagship performance that could easily rival traditional gaming platforms.
But the Orange Pi Neo is not just about raw power; itโs a blend of high performance and aesthetic finesse designed to cater to the discerning tastes of modern gamers.
Its 7-inch FHD+ screen, boasting a resolution of 1920 x 1200 and a refresh rate of 120Hz, ensures crisp, fluid visuals that can bring any game to life with stunning clarity and vibrancy.
The device boasts a super cooling system featuring a large turbofan, dual copper pipes, and aluminum alloy cooling fans. This advanced system guarantees that the console can operate at full performance without overheating, ensuring uninterrupted gaming sessions even during the most demanding tasks.
Another striking feature is its hall linear trigger. Utilizing an electromagnetic induction drive, itโs expected to offer gamers precise control with a silky smooth feel and no noise.
The linear trigger travel is about 8mm, with pressing accuracy up to 0.09mm and 255 steps of key travel. This feature ensures millimeter precision feedback with every press, whether youโre navigating a tight corner in a racing game or lining up the perfect shot in a shooter.
The device doesnโt also skimp on specs, offering 16GB or 32GB LPDDR5 RAM options and storage ranging from 512GB to a whopping 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD.
With dimensions of 259mm by 107mm by 19.9mm and weight supported by a 50Whrs battery, itโs clear that portability does not come at the expense of power or playtime.
Regarding connectivity, Orange Pi Neo is equipped with two USB 4.0 Type-C ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a TF card slot. It also features dual 1W panoramic speakers, Bluetooth 5.3, and a PD-65W GaN power adapter.
Hardware Specs
The table below shows the full hardware specifications of the new device.
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 7 7840U |
| Screen | 7-inch FHD+ (1920 x 1200, WUXGA) 16:10, 500nits Brightness, 120Hz Refresh Rate |
| Memory | 16GB/32GB LPDDR5 (7500MHz dual channel) |
| Storage | 512GB-2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD (2280) |
| Battery | 50WHrs, 3S1P, 3-cell Li-polymer battery |
| I/O Ports | 2x USB 4.0 Type-C, 1x 3.5mm headphone jack, 1x TF card slot |
| Bluetooth | BT5.3 |
| Audio | 2x 1W dual panoramic speakers |
| Rocker | No Dead Zone Hall Large Rocker/RGB Lighting Mode |
| Trigger | Dual custom keys on top |
| Gyroscope | Dual 6-axis gyroscopes |
| OS | Manjaro Linux |
| Charger | Standard PD-65W GaN power adapter |
| Dimensions | 259mm * 107mm * 19.9mm |
Availability & Price
This might be a bit disappointing for many, but unfortunately, there is no additional information available regarding the availability or expected price of the Orange Pi Neo.
Rest assured, we will closely monitor the situation and promptly update you with any official news as soon as it becomes available. In the meantime, feel free to check out the deviceโs page on Manjaroโs website for more in-depth details.
