AYN ODIN 2 Review – The new generation of Android handhelds and only a few unfulfilled wishes

1 - Einführung und technische Daten 2 - Unboxing und Features 3 - Technische Details 4 - Wir spielen eine Runde und ziehen ein Fazit

Once upon a time in the vast expanses of digital Asgard, the mighty Odin, the All-Father of the Gods, was looking for a new challenge. After centuries of fighting, writing poetry and occasionally losing his eye, Odin found that life in Asgard had become a little… well, boring. “What good are all these runes and ravens if I can’t even play Angry Birds?” he mused. In an inspiration that could only come to a god like him, Odin decided to create the ultimate gaming console – and name it after himself: The Odin, an Android-based games console that would cause a sensation not only in Asgard, but in all nine worlds. And because Odin is not particularly good at standing on one leg, the improved version is now also available.

But Odin needed helpers, of course. The young Asian company AYN (All you Need) caused quite a stir on the handheld market with the Odin back in 2022. Well-made devices, fast customer service and great performance have made the Odin a favorite for a lot of retro gamers who like to take their console on the go. The top dog in operating systems these days is still Linux, but more and more consoles are coming onto the market that rely on Windows or Android, and it is the latter that we want to look at today: AYN is repeating the success story of the Odin Android handheld and they’ve learned from mistakes! We present: One of the first AYN Odin 2 in the wild in Germany (press samples excluded). Because this is genuine in-house stock and not influencer merchandise.

And so the Odin console quickly became a hit in Asgard. Even the otherwise serious goddess Frigg took a liking to it, especially the game “Loki’s Labyrinth”, in which you had to free the devious Loki from an endless maze full of traps and puzzles. But there were also real challenges. Heimdall, the guardian of the Bifröst Bridge, constantly complained about the poor internet connection in Asgard, which led to some epic lags in online games. And then there was the problem with the dwarves from Svartalfheim, who were constantly trying to hack the console to add their own games. Which brings us elegantly to an important topic, Thor’s necessary disclaimer:

Legal Status and Disclaimer

Illegally downloading and running copyrighted software, even in ROM format, can result in a fine, because in most cases it violates copyright law! However, there is a homebrew scene for every console and emulator that provides free games for many systems free of charge and legally!

Odin 1 Pro VS Odin 2 Pro

Admittedly, the Odin Pro did have a few problems that could spoil the gaming fun. It was quite thin and could quickly lead to pain and cramps in larger hands. The only remedy at the time was to 3D print an adapter grip, but this led to a visual deterioration of the Odin design, which was actually quite good. This fact, together with the larger cooling system, has meant that the Odin 2 is now a little thicker and therefore more ergonomic. The analog sticks were also often criticized by the community, as they were small and sat quite low, like a Nintendo Switch Joycon. Filigree inputs were therefore only possible to a limited extent. The successor now has larger sticks, which are also concave on the top.

They feel almost like the Steam Deck. With the first Odin, retrofit analog sticks with reverb technology were widely used. The first Nordic god was also a treat for the ears, but unfortunately AYN had decided to have the speakers facing backwards, away from the user, which of course significantly reduced the audio experience. The Odin 2 now has front-facing speakers (stereo). If you wanted to play on a large TV, you could also order the Super Dock, but unfortunately this proved to be a brake to the point of unplayability, as the user had very high input lag (<250ms) when connecting dedicated controllers. I can’t yet say in this article whether this problem has been fixed, as my dock is still on its way.

Spoilt for choice: Odin 2 in Base, Pro or Max?

Just like its older brother, the Odin 2 is available in three different configuration levels. Let’s take a look at the specs and consider what makes the Odin 2 the first Android handheld that can also emulate PS2 and Switch at full speed?

The attentive reader will have noticed from the list of specifications that the CPU is an 8-core Snapdragon 8 GEN 2. This is the CPU that is currently found in flagship smartphones. It is therefore hardly surprising that the gaming and emulation performance is so high. The price is all the more impressive, as a smartphone with this CPU can cost well over 500 euros. Of course, the comparison is somewhat misleading, as a smartphone has many more expensive components and sensors than a gaming handheld, but nevertheless: hats off to this pricing.

Using an Adreno for the GPU was also an excellent idea, as it is 50-75% faster than a Mali GPU in the same price range. Another bonus in terms of gaming performance: with an Adreno GPU, you can use MESA/Turnip drivers and they get regular updates. So, apart from the x86 and x64 sectors, you’re unlikely to find a faster GPU and CPU in a SOC. Depending on which version you choose, you get at least 8GB RAM and a maximum of 16GB. I think the sweet spot here is the “Pro” model with 12GB.

The base could, for example, have space problems with the RAM with hungry switch emulation, I think 16GB is rather unnecessary for Android as an OS. However, if dual boots with Windows become an option later on, this could become the “Max” model’s raison d’être. The display itself has IPS technology and displays Full HD at 60 Hertz. There are some users who report reduced color fidelity, but personally this doesn’t bother me as much for a handheld, because apart from that, this device does a lot right! The Odin 2 doesn’t lack in connectivity either, as it has the latest WiFi7 and a modern Bluetooth standard on board. If the screen gets too small for you, you can of course use the device in docking mode again and transfer your gaming sessions to the TV. You can choose between Full HD via micro HDMI and 4K via USB-C.

The large energy storage of 8000mAh also allows for longer gaming sessions on the plane without any problems. I was easily able to play Retroarch (NES to Dreamcast) for 8-12 hours on a single charge, which is an excellent result, as the Odin 2 has to be able to compete with Steck Deck and ROG Ally at this level of performance. It won the battle for battery life without any problems, but it must be remembered that the Snapdragon is a SOC for the mobile sector, while the competitors go into battle with almost complete x86 / x64 APUs. In performance-hungry tests such as Playstation 2 in triple resolution or Nintendo Switch, I could only detect a slight fan noise despite the highest power setting. The front-facing speakers in particular do a great job here and easily drown out the fan, which is barely noticeable anyway. Android 13 is used as the operating system, and there is not much to say here apart from the fact that it is one version below the current one. Everyone knows this in some form from their smartphone.