AYN Thor Review: Lightning in a Bottle?

2025 is truly the year of clamshell handhelds. From the Retroid Pocket Flip 2 and the RG34XX SP to the Miyoo Mini Flip, V90S, and AYANEO Pocket DS. However, I’m talking about none of those right now, and instead I’m pulling from another company, AYN.

A company that’s managed to capture lightning in a bottle with its Odin line of handhelds is back with their own attempt at a clamshell in the Thor. A familiar chip, a familiar second screen, and a new form factor for them. Is the Thor what you’ve been looking for? Or is the lightning storm over?

AYN Thor Specs

Starting at a price tag of $249 for the Lite model, which’s already been marked as indefinitely out of stock, you’re getting a solid piece of kit with specs to match. And specs you’ll find familiar if you know any of the other Odin 2 units. Is that worth it? Maybe.

CPU: Snapdragon 865 (Lite), Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (Base/Pro/Max)
GPU: Adreno 650 (Lite), Adreno 740 (Base/Pro/Max)
RAM: 8GB LPDDR4x (Lite), 8GB/12GB/16GB LPDDR5x (Base/Pro/Max)
Storage: 128GB (Lite/Base), 256GB (Pro), 1TB (Max); All with Micro SD support
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6/BT 5.1 (Lite), Wi-Fi 7/BT 5.3 (Base/Pro/Max)
Screens:
- Top: 6-inch OLED, 1920×1080, 120Hz
- Bottom: 3.92-inch OLED, 1240×1080, 60Hz
Battery: 6000mAh w/ 27W charging
OS: Android 13
Dimensions: 150x94x25.6mm
Weight: 380 grams

AYN Thor

Controls

Without talking about the ergonomics directly, I want to praise, but also somewhat hate, the controls of the AYN Thor. You’re looking at a solid asymmetrical layout that does most things right, with a few nitpicks to boot.

The D-pad is an AYN classic with that slight click, but solid pivot to it that’s given me no issues on any device I’ve used. Admittedly, I’ve used Retroid/AYN handhelds enough that I’ve begun to prefer it. The sticks are the same as other devices, just with newly textured thumb caps. Solid movement, great feelings, good grip.

On the other hand, for those who hate it, the buttons still feel a bit louder than they need to be, albeit more muted than something like an Odin 2 or Odin 2 Mini.

And the triggers. While I liked this style on the Retroid Pocket Flip 2, it just feels off and a bit more challenging to use on the AYN Thor. Not a dealbreaker, but it seems to be a compromise with portability in mind.

Screens

Moving through the positives first, the two OLED displays on the Thor are incredible to look at. We’ve seen the bottom panel on handhelds like the Retroid Pocket Mini, Pocket Classic, and AYANEO Pocket DMG.

If you’re doing small retro gaming, that’s the place to put it; however, I use the bottom screen for AYN’s utility panel while I stare at the top. The 120Hz panel up top is another highlight, being nice and vibrant while also retaining detail thanks to its 1080p resolution.

I think in terms of handhelds, this is probably one of the better setups that isn’t the Legion Go 2 OLED. If you’re looking for two amazing panels, this is the handheld for it.

Software Setup

The last of the big positives comes down to the software on the Thor. AYN has done really well at ensuring you can use both panels at once, from launching your apps on the screen you opened it with to adjusting the frame rates to match.

Paired with Android 13 and AYN’s dialed-in software suite, they’ve done an incredible job at getting this device going, and it’s worth the praise, especially with their regular OTA updates.

Performance

More of a middle ground, purely because we’ve seen it already in 3 other handhelds. The 8 Gen 2 manages all the way through Switch emulation, with some touching into PlayStation 3, and a smattering of x86 emulation thanks to Winlator, GameHub, and GameNative. While I had zero issues with emulation, x86 got to be a bit trickier.

My indies like Megabonk, Easy Delivery Company, and Beserk Boy were all happy to chug along on the top screen of my Thor. However, some games just refused to boot, or booted into poor performance, like Momodora III, as well as Night in the Woods strangely struggling here.

And of course, there’s the comment to make about the one system everyone is buying a Thor for: Nintendo 3DS. Yeah, it sure does work as well as you can expect. Some of my favorite 3DS games even run across this.

However, the bottom screen being a small square essentially makes the bottom screen too small in some cases, especially when compared to the big, beautiful one on top. As a whole, this is the absolute best 3DS experience you can have in a handheld. But honestly, call me crazy and give me back a new 3DS XL. It’s still my preference for this system.

The Thor will do everything you want if it’s not heavy x86 emulation, and even then, if you’re willing to tinker, there’s a lot to gain from something like the 8 Gen 2.

Ergonomics

Put simply, they’re bad. This is my personal dealbreaker and is the reason I’m not keeping it. The added weight and the awkward reach for the right stick in any situation essentially ruins the Thor for me. Joe did a great write-up on the ergonomics of the Thor, and I agree. AYN prioritized portability above all else, and for those who know what they’re getting into, or don’t use the right stick at all, are probably going to be happy.

The ergonomics of the Thor are similar, but tweaked, versus the Retroid Pocket Flip 2. Curved edges at the bottom, and nice places to rest your hands, but even then, the awkward control positioning and weight make this a no-go. Especially since, compared to the Flip 2, the Thor controls are vertical rather than inset.

Without a grip, I’m giving Thor a “C” at best. With the JCSFY grip that I bought for $30 after shipping, I’d bump it up to a B. Maybe a B+ on a good day. I would never Megabonk on this thing, and I pray for the wrists of anyone who does.

The Hinge and Nit-Picks

While the hinge itself feels solid, I personally feel like I have to make a second part of my review dedicated to some of the more recent issues people have been having, as well as my own opinions. The flex when it’s closed is similar to a 3DS, but also makes me feel more like I’m gonna break something when I put it in a bag.

Some people have been commenting on cracking in the hinge. Check Joe’s article on the website for more, but AYN seems to comment that it’s the joint line in the plastic that’s showing up and not an actual crack.

However, if yours is angled and not straight like a joint line should be, I definitely recommend reaching out to AYN for support. The Thor has a solid, albeit not perfect, hinge design, but it’s better than something like a Retroid Pocket Flip 1 or something awful like a Miyoo Flip.

As for the nitpicks, here’s my last little bit for the things I don’t like but are either not a big deal or don’t fit into the other categories. The glass panel on the controls. Unnecessary, makes the handheld heavier and more fragile for no reason, and personally, I think it ruined the look of the transparent models.

We don’t need it; stop making them. The power button is on the bottom. It’s in an awkward position, not ideal, but I also never pressed it by accident. These are my two nitpicks for the handheld, and I’ll leave it like that.

Final Thoughts

Objectively, the Thor is a great handheld. It manages to nail just about every aspect you could possibly want for a retro handheld. Emulating your DS and 3DS in a format that makes sense, and even makes me see the appeal. It’s got a known quantity of a chip, which makes it so everyone knows what to expect. However, awkward adjustments and nitpicky issues make it hard to keep for myself.

A couple of months ago, on a Tech Dweeb roundtable, I said my ideal handheld would be something like an Odin 2 in the body of a Retroid Pocket Flip 2. The monkey paw curled and gave me what I asked for, but in the process ruined the ergonomics to the point that, because of this review, I picked up the Flip 2 more than before.

I’d like to refine my answer from that video. Scale the Flip 2 to fit the Thor screen, and leave everything about the Flip 2, minus the CPU, exactly the same. The controls are more comfortable, and it was a better experience overall despite the smaller battery. That’s my ideal handheld, though the Thor comes close.

Unfortunately, this will be one clamshell this year that I’m not planning to keep because I don’t like $350 paper weights. This is likely the endgame handheld for many, as it should be; it just isn’t mine.