AYANEO’s Mac-inspired retro gaming console gets an actual screen and an upgrade

Retro designs are quite big in the video game industry, both in actual games and the machines that run them. There are many “mini” consoles that recreate the classic aesthetics of home consoles, arcade cabinets, and even personal computers, paying homage to “the good old days” while also introducing a younger generation that never grew up with these products. Although not exactly known for gaming, AYANEO took the classic Apple Macintosh and shrunk it down to a mini console, but it was apparently not yet done.

The AYANEO AM01S announced back in late 2023 was already a cute recreation of the original, but its association with the Mac was extremely superficial. It was clearly meant to lie down on a desk, especially since placing it upright does little to change that “Fake Mac” image. The brand just fixed that with a “re-launch” of the retro mini console, though you’ll still have to lay it down on its “back” to use it.

Designer: AYANEO

The most obvious upgrade to the AYANEO AM01S is a 4-inch touch screen that was previously just a black plastic panel that signified the location of the Macintosh display. Naturally, you can’t really see it when you’re using the gaming console, so AYANEO added a trick to turn it into a functional feature. You can flip the display up and use it as a second display or even a primary display when there is no other monitor connected.

It’s a simple addition that AYANEO hopes will bring added value to the console. After all, it would need to offer more than just looking like a Mac flat on its back. This screen can be used to display additional controls, system monitors, or the game itself, practically making the AM01S an independent and somewhat portable mini console.

The upgrade, however, has an even bigger change inside. The processor is now an AMD Ryzen AI 370 CPU, a significantly more powerful processor not just for gaming but also for AI-related features. It expands the utility of the AM01S way beyond just playing retro games, most of which can do just fine with weaker hardware. Together with the new flip touchscreen, it’s shaping up to be quite a talented modern Mac, minus the Mac OS, of course.

The only problem is that AYANEO has yet to actually launch the AM01S. Even the first model wasn’t made available for purchase more than a year after it was announced. With the redesign and upgrade, the launch window will probably be delayed even further, which isn’t good for a brand that’s already in hot waters for failing to deliver on a highly successful crowdfunded campaign.

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