Android handhelds are a mixed bag when it comes to retro gaming. Some of the cheap ones fail to get the software right, while the premium ones cost an arm and a leg. The Ayn Odin, however, sits in the sweet spot when it comes to price and performance. It comes in three versions – Ayn Odin, Odin Lite, and Odin Pro. The one we are reviewing today is the Ayn Odin Pro, which may just be one of the best Android handhelds out there with the ability to emulate even PlayStation 2 games seamlessly.
The Ayn Odin Pro starts at $289, which is a lot higher than some of the more affordable retro handhelds, but you immediately notice why when you take it out of the box. The console feels great in the hands due to its premium build. The entire device has a sweet matte finish and the emulation performance is nothing short of impressive. It can even run PlayStation 2 games and the software is quite simple to set up.
| Product Specs: | Details: |
|---|---|
| CPU | 1.5GHz quad-core CPU and an ARM Mali 450 GPU |
| RAM | 1 GB |
| Storage | 64-256 GB |
| Ports | 1 HDMI, 2 USB-A |
| Price | $50-$80 depending on the storage |
Pros
- Powerful emulation performance (up to PS2)
- Premium build
- Easy to use software
Cons
- Logo looks awkward
- Software setup may take a while for casual users
Screen
The screen is a wide 6-inch LCD panel with 1080p resolution, 369 PPI pixel density, and dragon tail glass protection. The large panel is the perfect size for gaming and the brightness is high enough for sunlight viewing as well. You may get black bars on the sides in some games, but that can easily be fixed through the settings.
1080p resolution (1920 x 1080) is a bit overkill for most retro games, but it only makes the content look even more crisp. For that reason, watching other content, such as YouTube, is pleasing as well. It never feels like you are using a retro handheld gaming device. Not to mention the touchscreen input is highly accurate as well.
Design and Build Quality
As mentioned earlier, the $289 price tag immediately makes sense once you hold the device for the first time. Even the packaging feels high quality and comes with all the basics to get you started. But once you pull the console out, you can feel the premium finish straight away. The grip feels nice and comfortable and the weight is not heavy whatsoever, which lets you game for hours before your hands get tired.
The matte touch keeps all the fingerprints away and the subtle LEDs on the sides and the joystick set it apart from rival consoles. These LEDs have become Odin’s signature design element at this point.
The handheld’s size is identical to the Nintendo Switch Lite, but the Odin Pro is easily the better feeling device. The action buttons have nice feedback thanks to the conductive rubbers underneath, which make them feel like modern PS5 and Xbox controller buttons. The joysticks, D-Pad, and shoulder buttons are high quality as well and feel nothing short of PS5 or Xbox level.
Performance
The Ayn Odin Pro is packed with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 chipset, the flagship Android SoC from 4 years ago. In short, you are getting the same raw hardware performance as the Samsung Galaxy S9 or Google Pixel 3, but in a bigger package with more ventilation and cooling. This means the Odin Pro can sustain its flagship hardware performance for much longer than a smartphone.
The device has three performance modes, which are very important for increasing the emulation quality. They are divided into Standard Mode, Performance Mode, and High-Performance Mode. The console can handle all the best games up to the PlayStation 1, Sega Dreamcast, and GameCube era in Performance Mode and it even stays quiet while doing so.
What’s most impressive is that it can even handle PlayStation 2 titles, which is known to be a heavy-duty task that typically costs you a fortune. Granted you have to dial up the device into High-Performance Mode, but it still puts rival PS2 emulator devices to shame and you still get 4 to 5 hours of battery life with it.
Software and UI
All of the newest Ayn Odin devices boot Android 11 out of the box. The software experience is not as straightforward as some other rival consoles, meaning you can’t simply just boot up the device and start playing your favorite games.
Setting everything up takes a few minutes, but it’s quite simple and you won’t be needing any instruction manuals.
You simply have to download the right emulators and ROMs and you’re ready to go. The touchscreen makes it quite easy to simply head over to the Google Play Store and get all your emulators. ROMs can easily be downloaded from dedicated ROM websites or you can just move them from a PC.
After that, it’s as easy as opening an app, loading your ROM, and jumping into the game. 80% of the games will already have their buttons mapped, but having to do it manually is quite simple as well through emulator settings.
Verdict
There is no other way to put it. The Ayn Odin Pro is one of the best, if not the best $300 Android retro console. There are absolutely no compromises in terms of hardware, software, or even the build quality. The screen is big, bright, and colorful, the build quality is premium, hardware performance is top-notch thanks to the SD845, and the software is quite simple to set up.
The only complaints are very minor, such as the awkward-looking company logo or the “Start Select” text killing the stealth aesthetics.
The software setup is not casual user friendly, meaning you have to know the right emulators and ROMs to get, but that is nothing complicated to learn. A simple Google search is the way to go.
The Ayn Odin Pro is going to be very hard to compete with, especially with this low price tag.
FAQs
What is the Ayn Odin?
The Ayn Odin is an Android handheld console made for retro games. The Odin Pro is one of the best retro gaming consoles out there.
How much does the Ayn Odin cost?
The Ayn Odin comes in three models – Ayn Odin, Odin Pro, and Odin Lite. These devices cost $239, $289, and $199 respectively.
What games can I play?
The Ayn Odin Pro can emulate all classic consoles all the way up to PlayStation 2.
