In a hobby where the hottest newly hyped device is always around the corner, sometimes it’s easy to get caught up with what’s coming next. Incremental improvements and hardware changes are all well and good, but I think we could use a reminder that these devices should be lasting us for years. We can get lost in what came before when we’re all collectively salivating about what comes next.

The Ayn Odin 2 Pro in translucent purple

The AYN Odin 2 was released in December 2023, and I was lucky enough to be one of the children Santa decided to grace with a handheld at Christmas. Like most folks who got their hands on a unit at that time, I was quite simply blown away by the features on offer. In our own initial RH review, Raven Mage summed up their review, saying:

“A lot to love and very little to criticize leaves the Ayn Odin 2 in a position where it may be correct to consider it the definitive Android handheld. As with the Steam Deck in the x86 sector it will be interesting to see what sort of competition this device manages to spark, but for the time being the prevailing recommendation for an Android handheld that does everything you could want is the Odin 2.”

So, a year on, does the Odin 2 still reign supreme as the definitive Android gaming experience?

Original Highlights

Odin 2 Spec Sheet

Ayn released the Odin 2 with three different models. The Base, Pro, and Max are all the same base devices, with the latter two options offering more RAM and storage from the base model.

The base model starts at $299 (black color only) directly from AYN and goes all the way up to $459 on the Max. I received the Pro model with 12GB of RAM. That was the model that I wanted at the time, offering an attractive combination of performance and cost.

Having said that, this is not a cheap device. The Odin 2 is a premium handheld and has the cost associated with it. I think it offers tremendous value, but this is not a $29 Ali-Express special. This is a device that should be expected to have a good few years of shelf life, the same as you’d expect with a more traditional OEM console release.

Buy the AYN Odin 2

What’s Changed?

Not ponytails, or cotton tails, no……….Ducktales (on Cemu!)

When the Odin 2 was released, the biggest thing holding it back had nothing to do with the product itself, but rather the chosen OS of Android. The made-for-mobile OS just wasn’t as far along in emulation development as its x86 and Linux cohorts. The software development in Android emulation needed time to catch up with the Odin 2’s more than-capable hardware.

At the time of the Odin 2 release in December 2023, emulation experiences for more modern consoles like the Switch were still in their infancy. Fast-forward a year, and we all know about the headaches that have come along with Nintendo in the emu-sphere, but the rapid pace of development was a marvelous thing to watch, no doubt spurred by the release of the Odin 2 and similar devices, but mostly the Odin 2.

Cemu for Android on Odin 2

While we’re still left waiting for major progress in Android emulation on systems like PS3 and 360, compatibility for systems like the Switch and Wii U has evolved by leaps and bounds in what is still a relatively short period of time, even with constantly attempted interventions from the Big N.

As a hardware owner, it was nice to read about new breakthroughs in emulation software, knowing that I’d have the needed horsepower from the Odin 2 when it came time to put in work. Winlator on Android has proven to be a bonus I never knew I wanted that was ready to sing out of the gate on the Odin 2.

Upgrades

So the hardware capabilities haven’t gone anywhere, and the Android emulation is continuing to be refined, but what other improvements have become available since the Odin 2 first appeared?

Sticks

Stick Selections

I have always found the ergonomics of the Odin 2 to be excellent for my hands and play style. I’m a bigger guy with some decent-sized paws, and I’ve never felt anything was missing in the comfort of holding the handheld. It’s my preferred overall experience. Where I found it coming up slightly short were the Switch-style analog stick caps. Thankfully, Ayn made the caps replaceable without having to open up the hardware.

All you have to do is pop them off and swap them for the cap style you love best. I wrote about my own preferences in our Odin 2 upgrades article, and I’d have no hesitation in recommending either of the products mentioned there. Adding a slightly higher stick made me feel god-level over the competition in games like COD Mobile, and they just offer an added level of precision over the stock alternative.

Additional Software

Odin Tools on Odin 2

Besides overall improvements in Android and the emulators that run on the OS, there have been some software developments specifically built around the Odin 2 that have continued to keep it one of my favorites. Developer Langerhans released OdinTools back in May of 2024 and helped users with a host of wants for control and customization of their Odin 2. App overrides allow you to assign control schemes to individual apps and consoles, adjust fan and LED controls, and just offer more options for the tinkerers among us.

Console Launcher 2.0 is another recent software addition that popped into Odin’s orbit last month. Since then, it has become my go-to launcher on Android devices. It has offered a dedicated gaming OS experience but still makes access to all those needed Android features and menus accessible. A lot of folks take issue with Android OS making these devices still feel like a phone with a permanently attached controller, and for my money, Console Launcher eliminates that itch entirely. You can check out more in our preview.

Availability and Competition

Despite initial excitement surrounding the Odin 2’s release, there were concerns early on that AYN would be able to meet demand. The company had previously been plagued by stock shortages that left consumers waiting around for months on end to receive their devices.

The original Odin was a hot commodity, and the company wasn’t necessarily ready for the enthusiastic market response. It’s no good having a great product if no one can get their hands on one. AYN has seemingly corrected these hurdles with the release and support of the Odin 2.

Santa picked my Odin 2 up during the initial Indiegogo campaign, and it was waiting for me under the tree on Xmas morning. This made for a wonderful experience as an early adopter, but as time has gone on AYN has proven itself up to the task of meeting customer demand. Simply put, if you wanted an Odin 2 over the past year, it has been available without the need for scalpers.

Competition for the Odin 2 is only just now starting to truly appear. The Retroid Pocket 5 has the advantage of a beautiful OLED screen, but still can’t match the Odin 2’s raw power under the hood. So when the pre-orders went up, I wasn’t really in a rush to throw my cash in the ring. This isn’t a knock against any other products on the market, it’s just a reflection of how much I adore the Odin 2. And of course, the hobby being the hobby,  has the Odin 2 Portal coming right around the corner.

Issues After a Year (Not Many)

Slug Sticks and COD Mobile

I’ve put hundreds of hours into my Odin 2 over the past year. It is my go-to device that I use almost every day. If I don’t have a specific experience in mind, I’m reaching for the Odin 2 9 times out of 10.

Battery life is nearly as robust as it ever was. When I first started using the Odin 2, I was simply gobsmacked by how good the battery life was. One year later, and it’s still mostly just as impressive.

If I had one thing to say, it’s that it does seem to be sipping percentages down a wee bit quicker while in standby than it did a year ago, but keep in mind that this is a device I leave in standby and unplugged 99% of the time, and I’m still constantly impressed by how much life I have left in the tank after play sessions.

My right trigger has become a little squeaky. That’s it. That’s the entirety of the issues that I’ve had with this hardware. I don’t know if there’s any permanent fix without opening the unit for part replacement or modding, but for now, a shot of compressed from the can seems to do the trick every once in a while. Considering the amount of use that I’ve given it, this minor annoyance isn’t going to sway my enthusiasm.

Wrap-Up

ES-DE on Odin 2

Whether the Odin 2 is still “the best” is subjective and up to the needs and wants of the user, but I can say without hesitation that I’ve yet to find another device that I reach for before the Odin 2. It’s the benchmark for which all future competitors will be compared, and for good reason.

This device is the gold standard for other manufacturers to chase. In a space where hardware can often feel disposable because of the speed of progress, the Odin 2 is still carving through most things we throw at it, and for my consumer dollars, it has yet to find a successor.

You can purchase an Odin 2 directly from Ayn, or via Amazon.

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