Orange Pi Neo Handheld Gaming PC Delayed Due to Component Costs
The highly anticipated Orange Pi Neo, a Linux-powered handheld gaming PC designed to compete with the Steam Deck and ROG Ally, has been put on hold indefinitely due to rising costs of key components. The delay impacts the release of a device that promised a unique gaming experience centered around the Manjaro Linux operating system.
What is the Orange Pi Neo?
Orange Pi, known for its affordable single-board computers, partnered with Arch Linux distribution project Manjaro to develop the Orange Pi Neo. Announced in early 2024, the handheld features a Steam Deck-like design and is powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 7840U processor [Orange Pi Neo]. Key specifications include a 7-inch FHD+ (1920×1200) display with a 120Hz refresh rate, 16GB or 32GB of LPDDR5-6400 memory, and 512GB to 2TB of PCIe 4.0 NVMe storage [Dexerto].
Unlike other handhelds that run SteamOS, Android, or Windows, the Orange Pi Neo is built to run Manjaro Linux. The user interface is designed for gamepad controls and launching games, but can also switch to a standard Plasma desktop environment. It also supports Flatpak applications and utilizes an immutable system structure [Dexerto].
Why the Delay?
According to an update on the Manjaro Forum, the project is “on ice” due to high prices for DDR5 RAM and SSDs [VideoCardz]. While certifications for CE and FCC compliance are complete, and improvements to the Manjaro Gaming Edition have been made, the company is waiting for component prices to fall before launching the product.
Broader Industry Impact
The Orange Pi Neo is not alone in facing supply chain challenges. Rising flash memory prices have impacted a wide range of electronics, including RAM sticks, SSDs, laptops, and smartphones. In the Linux hardware space, Raspberry Pi boards have also seen price increases in recent months [VideoCardz].
Demand for these components is largely driven by the expansion of datacenters supporting generative AI workloads, a trend that is not expected to slow down soon. This suggests that the wait for lower prices, and consequently the release of the Orange Pi Neo, could be a prolonged one.
What Does This Mean for Gamers?
The delay of the Orange Pi Neo adds to the challenges in the handheld gaming PC market. Even the Steam Deck OLED is currently experiencing stock shortages due to memory and storage constraints, and the older LCD model has been discontinued [Tom’s Hardware].
The Orange Pi Neo aimed to offer a compelling alternative with its focus on Linux and Manjaro, but its future remains uncertain until component prices stabilize.