Orange Pi Neo: Manjaro’s Move into Handheld Gaming Consoles

Based on the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U, the Orange Pi Neo powered by Manjaro Linux is a new handheld gaming console about to debut.

Valveโ€™s 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€“ letโ€™s 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.

FOSDEM 2024 Manjaro's Booth
FOSDEM 2024 Manjaro’s Booth, Image credits: Manjaro

Certainly, one of the most notable features is the operating system that drives this portable gaming console, Manjaro. Given this, itโ€™s 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; itโ€™s 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.

Orange Pi Neo Manjaro
Orange Pi Neo Manjaro, Image credits: Manjaro

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, itโ€™s 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 youโ€™re navigating a tight corner in a racing game or lining up the perfect shot in a shooter.

The device doesnโ€™t 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, itโ€™s 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.

CPUAMD Ryzen 7 7840U
Screen
7-inch FHD+ (1920 x 1200, WUXGA) 16:10, 500nits Brightness, 120Hz Refresh Rate
Memory16GB/32GB LPDDR5 (7500MHz dual channel)
Storage512GB-2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD (2280)
Battery50WHrs, 3S1P, 3-cell Li-polymer battery
I/O Ports2x USB 4.0 Type-C, 1x 3.5mm headphone jack, 1x TF card slot
BluetoothBT5.3
Audio2x 1W dual panoramic speakers
RockerNo Dead Zone Hall Large Rocker/RGB Lighting Mode
TriggerDual custom keys on top
GyroscopeDual 6-axis gyroscopes
OSManjaro Linux
ChargerStandard PD-65W GaN power adapter
Dimensions259mm * 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 deviceโ€™s page on Manjaroโ€™s website for more in-depth details.

Bobby Borisov

Bobby Borisov

Bobby, an editor-in-chief at Linuxiac, is a Linux professional with over 20 years of experience. With a strong focus on Linux and open-source software, he has worked as a Senior Linux System Administrator, Software Developer, and DevOps Engineer for small and large multinational companies.

Think You're an Ubuntu Expert? Let's Find Out!

Put your knowledge to the test in our lightning-fast Ubuntu quiz!
Ten questions to challenge yourself to see if you're a Linux legend or just a penguin in the making.

1 / 10

Ubuntu is an ancient African word that means:

2 / 10

Who is the Ubuntu's founder?

3 / 10

What year was the first official Ubuntu release?

4 / 10

What does the Ubuntu logo symbolize?

5 / 10

What package format does Ubuntu use for installing software?

6 / 10

When are Ubuntu's LTS versions released?

7 / 10

What is Unity?

8 / 10

What are Ubuntu versions named after?

9 / 10

What's Ubuntu Core?

10 / 10

Which Ubuntu version is Snap introduced?

The average score is 68%