AYANEO Retro Mini PC AM02

The AYANEO Retro Mini PC AM02 takes its shape from the Nintendo Entertainment System, down to a spring-loaded front door that pops open when you press a red button. Inside is an AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS, or the newer 8845HS in some configurations, with integrated Radeon 780M graphics that covers productivity work, retro emulation, and 1080p gaming at medium settings. A 4-inch touchscreen set into the top panel reports system stats and changes TDP without a keyboard. The primary I/O sits behind the front door, so the console illusion holds until you open it. Two Ethernet jacks, a USB4 Type-C port, and two DDR5 SO-DIMM slots round out the hardware.

Design leads, cooling and rear ports lag

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AYANEO Retro Mini PC AM02 Comparison Chart

	AYANEO Retro Mini PC AM02	AYANEO Retro Mini PC AM02	AYANEO Retro Mini PC AM02
Price	List Price: Amazon Prices: Check Price on Amazon	List Price: Amazon Prices: Check Price on Amazon	List Price: Amazon Prices: Check Price on Amazon
Version	32GB/1TB/AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS	32GB/2TB/AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS	32GB/1TB/AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS
Performance Rating	5.7	5.7	5.7
Operating System	Windows 11 Home	Windows 11 Home	Windows 11 Home
Processor	Octa-core 3.80 Ghz (max 5.10 Ghz) AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS	Octa-core 3.80 Ghz (max 5.10 Ghz) AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS	Octa-core 3.80 Ghz (max 5.10 Ghz) AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS
GPU	Integrated AMD Radeon 780M	Integrated AMD Radeon 780M	Integrated AMD Radeon 780M
RAM	32 GB DDR5 SO-DIMM, 2-channel (Dual-channel DDR5-5600MHz)	32 GB DDR5 SO-DIMM, 2-channel (Dual-channel DDR5-5600MHz)	32 GB DDR5 SO-DIMM, 2-channel (Dual-channel DDR5-5600MHz)
Internal Storage	1 TB NVMe SSD	2 TB NVMe SSD	1 TB NVMe SSD
Dimensions width x length x thickness	5.75 x 5.28 x 1.89 inches (146.05 x 134.11 x 48.01 mm)	5.75 x 5.28 x 1.89 inches (146.05 x 134.11 x 48.01 mm)	5.75 x 5.28 x 1.89 inches (146.05 x 134.11 x 48.01 mm)
Weight	1.19 lbs (0.54 kg)	1.19 lbs (0.54 kg)	1.19 lbs (0.54 kg)
WiFi	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.2	Bluetooth 5.2	Bluetooth 5.2
Ethernet	2 Ethernet ports at 2.5 Gbps	2 Ethernet ports at 2.5 Gbps	2 Ethernet ports at 2.5 Gbps
HDMI	1 Full-Size HDMI Port	1 Full-Size HDMI Port	1 Full-Size HDMI Port
DisplayPort	1 DisplayPort (DisplayPort 1.4)	1 DisplayPort (DisplayPort 1.4)	1 DisplayPort (DisplayPort 1.4)
VGA	No VGA Ports	No VGA Ports	No VGA Ports
USB Ports	2 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3, 2 USB-C (1 USB4) Front (behind cover): 1x USB4 Type-C, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A. Rear: 2x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1x USB-C (power input only).	2 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3, 2 USB-C (1 USB4) Front (behind cover): 1x USB4 Type-C, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A. Rear: 2x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1x USB-C (power input only).	2 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3, 2 USB-C (1 USB4) Front (behind cover): 1x USB4 Type-C, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A. Rear: 2x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1x USB-C (power input only).
Thunderbolt Ports	No	No	No
OCuLink	No	No	No
Internal SATA Ports	No SATA ports	No SATA ports	No SATA ports
Card Reader	No Card Reader	No Card Reader	No Card Reader
Headphone Jack	combo	combo	combo
Fanless	No	No	No
VESA Mount	Yes	Yes	Yes
In the Box	AYANEO AM02 Mini PC, 100W GaN PD power adapter, USB-C power cable, HDMI cable, user manual, 2 miniature screwdrivers, screws, AC power adapter with regional plugs.	AYANEO AM02 Mini PC, 100W GaN PD power adapter, USB-C power cable, HDMI cable, user manual, 2 miniature screwdrivers, screws, AC power adapter with regional plugs.	AYANEO AM02 Mini PC, 100W GaN PD power adapter, USB-C power cable, HDMI cable, user manual, 2 miniature screwdrivers, screws, AC power adapter with regional plugs.
Expandability	Dual DDR5 SO-DIMM slots supporting up to 64GB DDR5-5600MHz RAM. One M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe slot supporting drives up to 8TB. RAM and SSD are both user-upgradable.	Dual DDR5 SO-DIMM slots supporting up to 64GB DDR5-5600MHz RAM. One M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe slot supporting drives up to 8TB. RAM and SSD are both user-upgradable.	Dual DDR5 SO-DIMM slots supporting up to 64GB DDR5-5600MHz RAM. One M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe slot supporting drives up to 8TB. RAM and SSD are both user-upgradable.

Console-style chassis with dual Ethernet and USB4

Dimensions are 5.75 x 5.28 x 1.89 inches, and the unit weighs 1.19 pounds. Behind the front door sit two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, a USB4 Type-C port, and a 3.5mm combo audio jack; the rear panel carries two USB 2.0 Type-A ports, HDMI, DisplayPort 1.4, two Ethernet jacks, and a USB-C port dedicated to power input. Cooling relies on four copper heat pipes and a fan that keeps the 7840HS within safe thermal limits at a 45W TDP, though Liliputing found the fan becomes audible during sustained gaming sessions.

The Ryzen 7 7840HS is an 8-core, 16-thread processor with a base clock of 3.8 GHz and boost to 5.1 GHz. Its integrated Radeon 780M, built on RDNA 3, runs modern titles at 1080p medium and handles retro emulation up to PS3 and Switch-era systems. ETA PRIME measured an average of 74 FPS in Horizon Zero Dawn at 45W TDP, and Elden Ring and The Witcher 3 both run at playable frame rates. The upgraded variant swaps in the Ryzen 7 8845HS, which adds a Ryzen AI NPU while keeping the same core count and clock speeds. Both chips score approximately 28,800 on PassMark’s CPU benchmark.

Wireless duty falls to WiFi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.2. The two Ethernet jacks pair a 2.5GbE Intel I226-V controller with a 1GbE Realtek port, which suits network-attached storage or home server work alongside the desktop role. Storage runs through a single M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe slot that takes drives up to 8TB, and the two DDR5 SO-DIMM slots accept up to 64GB of DDR5-5600MHz RAM. The front USB4 port drives an eGPU enclosure for anyone who wants more graphics than the 780M provides, and both the RAM and the SSD are user-replaceable.

Reviewer Insights

ETA PRIME

ETA PRIME called the AM02 “one of the coolest mini PCS to ever hit the market,” highlighting its ability to control performance directly from the built-in touchscreen display. His testing focused heavily on gaming performance at various TDP settings, finding the Radeon 780M handled titles like Horizon Zero Dawn at 74 FPS average and ran emulators for demanding platforms without issue. He praised the thermal design, noting the system stayed under throttling limits even at 45W sustained load.

The teardown portion of the review revealed easy internal access for RAM and storage upgrades, with ETA PRIME praising the engineering of the four-copper-pipe cooling solution. He noted that “we can actually control the performance directly from this display,” and treated the touchscreen controls as a working feature. His only criticism centered on early software limitations, with some subscreen features still in development at the time of his review.

Russ from Retro Game Corps

Retro Game Corps approached the AM02 primarily as an emulation machine and was thoroughly impressed with its capabilities. He praised the retro aesthetics, noting “the most obvious and obviously best thing about this thing is the Retro Vibes,” and confirmed it handles demanding emulation platforms including Wii U, PS3, and Xbox 360 at playable frame rates. His Cinebench scores confirmed strong multi-threaded performance for a device of this size.

The review also highlighted the clean Windows 11 installation shipping with “no bloatware no viruses or any bull crap,” which he considered a welcome departure from many competitors. He did note the fan becomes audible during high-performance gaming loads and pointed out limited rear-panel USB connectivity as a minor inconvenience.

Wulff Den

Wulff Den gave the AM02 a rare perfect score, declaring “I’m giving it my first ever 10 Doos out of 10.” The review focused on the AM02’s versatility, testing it across gaming, emulation, video editing, and general office work. He was particularly impressed by the cartridge door mechanism and the touchscreen’s ability to cycle through performance profiles on the fly.

The review confirmed excellent emulation results including PS1 games at 4K upscaling resolution, and strong performance in modern titles like Elden Ring. Wulff Den highlighted the cooling system’s four copper pipes and 45W fan profile as key to sustained performance, though he noted the AYA Space software could use better formatting for settings access.

Tech Tesseract

Tech Tesseract tested the AM02 with a focus on its viability as a living room gaming setup, comparing the experience to connecting a console to a TV. He described the style as “off the charts,” noting it resembles “an old VHS player or Nintendo Entertainment System.” Performance testing confirmed that “most of the time you’re going to be bottlenecked at the GPU instead of the CPU,” indicating the Ryzen 7 7840HS has headroom to spare in this chassis.

He raised a practical concern about the top-mounted touchscreen, observing that it loses much of its appeal when the unit sits across the room under a TV. He also noted audible fan noise during heavy tasks, commenting “we could hear the fan of the Mini PC” even over game audio. His recommendation focused on the USB4 port’s eGPU support as a key upgrade path for users who want more graphical performance down the road.

PC Gamer

According to PC Gamer, the AM02 is a “super-compact, delightful design” that finds its calling as a living-room emulation station. The review praised the mechanical front hood and overall build quality, noting “it’s a pint-sized homage to the original Nintendo Entertainment System.” However, they observed that thermal and size constraints prevent the 7840HS from reaching its absolute peak performance, calling it “a shame you can’t access the absolute top-end of the 7840HS’ capabilities.”

Engadget

Engadget’s James Trew emphasized the AM02’s blend of retro and contemporary design, noting “the AM02 strikes a good balance between retro and contemporary design so it fits well in my adult living room.” He appreciated the USB-C power delivery making it more portable than many rivals and the dual RJ45 ports for future-proofing. His main criticism centered on the 4-inch touchscreen being “currently more of a novelty” due to software bugs and the impractical need to be near the device to use it.

Liliputing

Liliputing found the quad-copper-pipe cooling system keeps the AM02 running quietly during typical use, though fan noise does increase under sustained heavy loads. The review praised the included 100W GaN fast charger with an additional USB-A port and highlighted the effective cooling design using “four copper heat pipes.” The review confirmed the AM02 “lives up to each of those claims” regarding vintage aesthetics, innovative screen, and high-performance configuration. Minor criticisms included the all-plastic case construction and the Windows 11 Home license instead of Pro.

Buy it for emulation and shelf presence

On a desk or a shelf, the top-mounted touchscreen reports temperatures and swaps TDP profiles with a tap, and the front door puts the USB4 port and the two USB 3.2 Gen 2 jacks within reach. Tuck the unit behind a TV and both of those stop paying off, leaving two USB 2.0 ports and a power-only USB-C on the rear for everyday plugging.

The hardware underneath holds up for emulation, indie titles, and 1080p gaming at medium settings, and the two Ethernet jacks let it double as a home server. Sustained heavy workloads are where it gives ground, because the cooling holds the 7840HS short of its peak and the fan gets audible while doing it. RAM and storage both come out with the two screwdrivers in the box, so a 32GB build can grow to 64GB later.

Our Mini PC Comparison Chart lists these specs against the rest of the catalog.

Frequently Asked Questions