I just want to say that I love your videos. I'm never going to buy 98% of these but I just love this hobby and you're the MVP in this part of youtube. Great editing, super informative, good vibes.
This reminds me of the time I was starting my UA-cam channel and got super into mics. I watched everything from a number of mic review channels before buying one and then just continued watching them anyway even though I had no interest anymore in buying a new mic or upgrading my mic.
@@mechanicalmonk2020Thats how i was with cameras. Started with watching videos of go pros vs chinese knockoffs, ended with watching videos on a red magic pros. Some people just know how to present information well.
Exactly! I have been into emulation for years (I used to mess around with sprites in NESticle for funsies). Retro gaming and emulation have been a causual hobby that I jump in and out of occasionally, I think the last time I was as reignited was in the PSP/Vita years. RGC has singlehandedly reignited the passion I have for retro games and emulation, not only that, but I have gone full tilt on handhelds and loving every second of the ride! Thanks Russ!
There isn't a better source than retro game corps. Absolutely amazing videos. I just got my Odin 2 pro yesterday and his setup guide was the ONLY reason I was able to get it all set up. I watched like 3 other videos and none of them are so easy to follow as RGC's video. My favorite channel on youtube right now. Keep it up!
Russ is the only reviewer I trust. Watched him sense he began (or very close to the beginning) and he's genuinly a good guy, honest, and puts a lot of hard work into his content.
Same here! Can't believe I just spent 410 bucks for a handheld console! It looks amazing tho. It's all thanks to this guy. I've wanted a handheld that can powerfully handle emulation and Russ made it easier as you say.
I am an old school UA-camr (I was the co-creator of Retroware TV back in 2007). It's primarily a game developer company now after we sold the brand. But I just wanted to say, I LOVE your videos. Everything is well-executed and clear and enjoyable to watch. You have a big fan! And I am now the proud owner of an Odin 2 and I'm consistently impressed by what this thing can handle.
Just got my odin 2 12gb ram model. And I am overjoyed at its performance! As soon as I heard switch emulation I jumped at the chance to grab one. Sold my odin pro and retroid pocket 2s. It's great to have Android And emulation without having to change a bunch of settings! Great Video 📹 👍🏽
@@SereneBlueSoul Ebay for $280. But the crazy thing is I purchase 2 more odin pros for my boys when I saw that they were on sale for $199.00. Couldn't beat that price I paid $360 for my oden pro. There is a workaround to play Switch games on yuzu but it's not as good as the odin 2 of course.
Another banger of a review. I'm looking forward to my Odin 2 even more than I was before. I just hope AYN doesn't delay too much this time. I'm not holding my breath on that point though.
The fact that they sent out review units is a good sign that they could hit the target date. With the Odin 1, they were delayed for months before they sent review units. That was mostly because of covid, which is less of an issue now
I'm kind of people who already own a Steamdeck, doesn't want to buy any other handheld but still curious to other handheld, that's why I'm watching your videos. 😅
Great information here, thank you. The Odin 2 hits all my marks, so I am going for it. The Retroid Pocket 3+ ALMOST got me, but I am glad I waited. I'll gladly pay a bit more for this improved experience.
I bought the RP3+, which cost me approximately $275 by the time I paid import duties in Mexico. It’s ok, but it doesn’t run my favourite PS2 games perfectly, the analog sticks feel bad (like a Switch), and the sleep mode battery drain is really bad, something like 40% per day. PS4 streaming on it is also broken, as it won’t connect to the PSN server to let me log into my account. On the plus side, it’s pocketable. I can’t justify ordering the Odin 2 right now, especially since the cheapest model would be in the region of $400-$450 for me by the time I paid shipping and import fees, but it definitely would have been a better choice.
@donovanleemurphy9349 You have better chances of looking for used odin 1s on ebay. Idk how shipping works for ebay in Mexico. But odin 1s do pretty okay for game cube and streaming.
I have a Steam Deck and I never really find myself picking it up because it's so huge, I have small hands and I just don't find it comfortable. I preordered the Odin 2 last week after seeing all the hype for it, and have been flip-flopping all week about whether I should cancel or not! This review helped me decide to keep my preorder and I am so excited to receive it :)
yea.. i have quite big hands (tho skinny..just big) and i still find thr steam deck so bulky and heavy while holding it up for long. the Switch's size and weight are soo much better. And then you play the Vita and realize how mega light it is!
I didn't originally watch this review because I felt the Odin 2 was out of my price range for a first timer but after having bought and sold the pocket 4 pro (too small) and the anbernic rg556 (bad analogue sticks) I'm now convinced this is the model everybody should own.
@@BASSstarlet not expensive but can be tricky - basically it's taking it apart and putting it back together the same way. Id recommend watching Joey's retro handhelds, he did a video on it and it was helpful
Until units ship then everybody is hater but once delays crop up then they were right all along and backers were fools for thinking this time would be different, lol
@@Mister_Phafanapolisthis time is already different as they've sent review units earlier than last time. The biggest cause for the delays before was covid, which is less of an issue now
I think this time is different as they are ahead of schedule. Only question will be is how long it takes them to ship out to all the backers as this campaign got a lot of interest. They might not actually have units hit retail until April.
Oh, I'm sure all of the super objective, totally impartial retro gamer UA-camrs would let us know if there were any shipping delays in a company's past *honk honk*
Literally started this whole journey because I saw a post on instagram talking about the miyoo mini plus being able to play ps1 games & now I'm here! Life is pretty funny that way. Anyway, this device seems perfect for my needs & I definitely am gonna look into to getting one next month in that amazing translucent purple! Never been more sold in my life!
As a first minutes backer, thank you for starting off with that intro, helps me to sit back and just get excited over the review. Also, that RPG HP game is amazing. Stuff like that is really creative and actually properly answers the question of should I get X or Y since it really is personal preference. Great review as always, I'm hyped.
Was bummed when I decided to cancel my Loki device earlier this year because I couldnt afford it/couldn’t wait. All my excitement came flooding back with the Odin 2 because it is everything I wanted the Loki devices to be in the first place at a pricepoint I can manage and hopefully shipping within a timeframe I can definitely afford to wait. Thanks so much for your coverage on it!
Amazing review as usual! I have an Odin Lite and it’s my favorite device currently.. I myself am stuck choosing between an Odin 2 or a SteamDeck. I might just grab a SD now and then see if Ayn ships the Odin 2 on time and grab one of those too. So many decisions in the handheld market these days and I love it! Ayn is really stirring up the handheld market!
Hey Russ, I just wanted to say that the addition of the Buying RPG is one greatest additions to your videos. Despite you being extremely in-depth and honest in your reviews (which is appreciated), it often boils down to how does this device fit into my current handheld landscape. I often get excited about a new device as I watch these videos, but the Buying RPG aspect offers a more tangible idea of whether I truly need (want) the device. It brings me down to earth at the end of each video. Cheers.
One of the most accurate rewiew ever made, thank you. I've liked the idea you left very useful hints to give players a bunch of reasons why they should buy this console or not. It's also fascinating this device gives us the highest performance at the lowest possible price. Competitors like anbernic or retroid from now have to be very impressive to convince us to buy their products.
10 hrs of PS2 or GC level games for a handheld is pretty insane. One of my biggest gripes with handheld PC is the abysmal battery life. The device may be portable but your essentially stuck to a wall outlet with their 2 hours battery life. I have my Odin 2 pre ordered and can't wait. We now have a affordable Retro device that makes GC and PS2 fully playable and I am overjoyed.
your reviews remain some of the most thorough and helpful. I'm an AYN Odin 1 person considering the upgrade, so this helped me with the comparison, thank you!
Thank you, Russ! I love the Venn diagram at the end, it makes my decision so much easier. I have a Steam Deck, a ROG Ally, a Switch and a plethora of other little handhelds, but I have found that the one thing I do the most by far is stream from my consoles and cloud game. I was looking for something that would do a little bit of emulation but would allow me to play play from anywhere in the house and jumping on the couch when I wanted a large gaming experience. I love the little device BUT know you have shown me another one that calls my attention, the Ayaneo Pocket Air. Now I have to run some comparison. Thanks!!!
Good review! Man, I already have a Retroid Pocket 3 Plus and Steam Deck, but this device really is tempting. In some ways, I wish I had not pulled the trigger on the Retroid Pocket 3 Plus as having PS2/GameCube emulation on a comfortable handheld is a huge draw for me. I suppose I could just sell the Retroid Pocket 3 Plus and put the money towards an Odin 2.
The slice of productivity between the Retroid and the Steamdeck exists, the Odin fits in it, but I don’t believe anybody needs those three devices as there is so much overlap between what they can all do.
That's exactly what my situation is. I have a retroid pocket 3+, which has been great, but this is the pinnacle of what I've always wanted, the ability to emulate any and all consoles AND upscale them to boot. I'm just going to sell my retroid pocket once the odin 2 is delivered.
@@kurtisrinker1202 I'm heading in that direction as well. The Odin 2 just seems like such an amazing handheld that it would just make my Retroid Pocket 3 Plus obsolete.
The Odin 2 is still larger than the RP3+, so less portable. Soon the Aya Neo Pocket S will also come out being smaller and slimmer than the Odin 2 but also just as powerful, maybe even a bit more, and will have an oled screen instead of an LCD.
I admit the PS2 emulation would be tempting for me too, but with the Odin 2 being double the price of the RP3+ (for now at least), I'll stick with my RP3+ and its so-so PS2/GC capabilities. With half an eye on an Odin 2 price drop next year perhaps... Of course, by then we might have an RP4 with the same specs, who knows!
Russ, you are such a godsend to the gaming community. Every single video you put out just packs too much information that I'm all set for a whole week. Dang, you are like the Wikipedia of video game emulation. Thank you so much for all your hard work in making excellent quality content. I will support your channel til we grow old and deaf. LOL love ya buddy!
Odin 2 Pro will be my first handheld emulator. Looking forward to never watching another review again, checking out from this part of the internet and spending the next half a decade or more playing thousands of games I have never played before. 😘✌️🎮 In one of the reviews of the original Ayn Odin, Russ said something about how if a device like that was the first one he ever purchased then he would not have bought another device. That spoke to me. That’s what I want; buy the best thing I can afford and get to using it. Have spent enough time “researching” on UA-cam or Reddit, all I want is to buy a good produce once and not have to think about upgrading for a very long time.
@@chickendelight1316 My interest in this genre of UA-cam has drastically decreased. However, my vidya playing has not increased. Most nights the Odin sits unplayed.
I don't what you did to the audio for the gameplay section but it showcased the passive soundstage of my headphones in a way I have not experienced in the 8 months that I've owned them. I had to take off my headphones to make sure no sound was playing from my monitor! Awesome experience!
As always, great review! You've made the wait even more intense for the delivery of the console ordered after your first review ;-) I would love to see your material on the exact configuration of emulators on this console, especially the button mapping you recommend. I started in 1985 with Commodore 16 and Atari 65XE and later I had only a PC. I completely slept through the console era - now I want to go back to them ;-). We can only hope that this time they will keep the order fulfillment deadline and that for Christmas each of us will have our own console in our hands. Otherwise, customers will turn away from them.
I just finished binge watching your Odin 2 content. I think it's some very good content and will be very helpful in choosing whether to buy this or not. I'm somewhere between the second and third type of person who's watching these videos. I have what I feel is a nice handheld gaming and emulation setup using my old LG V35 paired with a GameSir X2 Pro I won in a giveaway by the DameTech channel. So, while I don't own a modern retro handheld I'm in no hurry to buy because I'm in a pretty good place. But; this Odin 2 is really testing my resolve. Value is important to me. Not necessarily cheapness; something can be expensive and be a good value. For example; a $7k Grand Seiko watch is an excellent value compared to a Rolex, not just because it costs less, rather because it offers superior craftsmanship and engineering. The fact that it costs less, relatively - it's still several thousand dollars, is icing on the cake. I feel like most of the handhelds Russ covers are a good $50 too expensive for what one gets. I like them; but, my desires to buy one go away after I finish commenting under that day's video. The Odin 2 has deeply impressed me. In raw terms, $300+ isn't cheap by most standards, but, when one looks at what they're getting for the money and just how future proof it is, well... This comment went way too long. Sorry to anyone who read all the way through expecting some great insights. Haha.
Fair warning about AYN. There's a lot of us having issues with touchscreens becoming nonresponsive on the original Odins. Pretty much exactly one year later. They've also refused to address it, forcing customers to either mail in their device for repairs, or having you buy a shell and screen to repair yourself. Edit: Just to clarify, customers have to pay for the repair if you mail it in.
Thank you for the heads up, nobody ever talks about these devices outside of the first two or so weeks they release, so long term quality issues like this always fly under the radar.
If you mail in your device are they repairing it under warranty? If yes, that is addressing it, even if it is not your preferred solution. Still thanks for sharing the life span of these screens are suspiciously low.
Are you talking about the first batch of the Odin Base/Pro? Or any of the original Odins such as the Lite too? I own a Lite and haven’t had issues and I don’t see many people talking about it in the Odin subreddit. Not saying it’s not true but just wondering what you meant by “original”.
First off thanks for these in depth reviews. I love watching them and contemplating what I will purchase next. The future of these handhelds whether Android or Windows seems bright. The battery life on these Android devices are quite impressive. I wish AMD could get the x86 to sip power like that. I’m hoping Zen 8000 strix APU series will bring these handhelds to the next level with power efficiency and gaming performance.
Yeah this is going on my shopping list - I only have 4:3 emulation devices now (yes okay also a steam deck) and this is what'll complete my collection. Marvelous video as per usual - I remember discovering you at like 500 subscribers, man am I happy I did!
@@deatman5843Some of these guy’s “collections” are insane. Why do you have half a dozen of the same thing? _“This one is only for Pokémon, this one fits in my 5th pocket, this one stays in the bathroom (lol, so random), this one is my on-the-couch device, this is my out-of-the-house device, this one I take on vacations (metal body is more durable), this one stays plugged into my TV…”_
oh man your videos are SO GOOD! Thank you for doing this kind of comparison, i bought a RP3+ this year and your videos helped me on my decision because you detailed every corner of the device.
First, your videos are way too great for us! Keep it going! What we really can hope for is a handheld console with 15W TPD max, N2 TSMC process, and can deliver them performance 200% as the Snapdragon 8 gen 2. This matters because it can be a future device that can run more graphic-demanding games. Right now the Snapdragon 8 gen 2 has a maximum performance at 11.8W. This is very impressive, and I hope Qualcomm is going in the right direction for their Snapdragon Gx chips.
Russ!!!!! Come on!!!! Why are you such a good salesman😭😭😭 I shouldnt have watched this video!!!! In all seriousness this device is right up there with the steam deck as far as value goes. This is crazy, just really gets me pumped for how much further the scene can go. Competition and innovation like this is great
Thanks to your first impressions video I preorder the 16/512 one. I have an RG 350M, a Steam Deck and the ROG Ally. This one covers the bigger than the 350M, smaller than the pc handhelds, and with enough juice to emulate nearly everything.
If I was only going to get either a steam deck, or this in this video- which one would you recommend? Does the deck emulate PS2 as well as this reportedly does?
Just bought the Odin 2 Pro I am so excited! Never owned one of these devices before so itll be a completely new experience for me setting it all up. If anyone has any tips for a complete beginner I am all ears!
I just did the exact same thing and I’ve never owned a handheld either! I was stuck between the RP5 (Retroid pocket 5) and Odin 2. Odin 2 is just even better in almost every way ( button layout, battery life, CPU, GPU, Snapdragon Gen2, emulation power,) so it cost me $100 more but that’s okay. I have a fully loaded 2tb modded Wii with 450 GameCube games and 720 Wii games haha bouta pop in the SSD cards 😂.
Really wish Snapdragon SBCs were more accessible. Would love to build my own handheld with a 4:3 screen that can be modular and used as the brain and screen for a cyberdeck.
I got my Odin 2 Pro in the mail just around 2 weeks ago, and yeah, it’s ABSOLUTELY the handheld to get. I adore mine to bits, and I love every little thing about it
after watching this and other reviews, i ended up actually ordering the base version. i wasn't really expecting i'd be getting another android handheld since i was holding out for a x86 handheld and figured my retroid pocket 3+ would be the last android system i would get. But it just seemed too good to pass up at $300. the performance, screen size, resolution, size, buttons, ergonomics, size, and battery life seem to be exactly what i have been wishing for a handheld.
@@kingd3001 it was delivered today. i'm loving it. the 6" screen is a really nice balance between a bigger device (like steamdeck) or having to squint (retroid pocket). controls feel right, especially the sticks, they have smooth motion. and so far, everything just runs, ps2, gamecube, wii. i still have to finish setting it up, but from my initial impressions, i'm going to love this thing. a bit heavier than i had expected, but in no way problematic. also, i ordered the base and the box said "base" they shipped me the pro version! talk about a lucky break
I think this is the first high end ARM handheld that makes more financial sense than buying a phone and controller. Very nice hope to see more on the future.
@@horacegentleman3296 give me a bit to find it Errr that's how it works because it's SD8GEN2 not the "+" chip. Qualcomm works in this pattern where the "+" chip gets released in the second half of the year with higher clock speeds. Therefore the older chips get depreciated by a few hundred dollars at the very least, in china the pricing effects can be even larger.
While I already have a Steam Deck, size and battery life alone make this a superior choice unless your main interest is PC gaming. I already reach for my Odin Pro exclusively for retro gaming just because of the insane battery life, and AYN being able to move up to a current gen Snapdragon while maintaining that same range of battery life is just further validating my decision to pre-order the Odin 2 Pro. The only question left is whether AYN can get these out the door on schedule, and they don't exactly have the best track record there. The fact that they've got final build quality review devices out there a couple months ahead of release is a good sign though.
Great work as always! My usual, not-exactly-on-topic question: you mentioned the difficulty in converting Wii Mote controls to a handheld/controller like this, and I couldn’t agree more, I wonder if you might be willing to do a walkthrough/tutorial with how you typically map your controls with the rationale to help some of us along who often are discouraged from even trying given the difficulty curve?
I've managed to get an FPS(ish) game like Elebits running decently despite the challenges. It's not perfect and I need some tweaking now that I've hit some more challenging levels but it's possible. It's just annoying if you're switching between lots of different Wii games and constantly adjusting controls. Worth it if you're playing the one game all the way through.
Thanks so much for doing input lag testing. Regardless of actual frames/ms, your ranking seems to match well to others' ranking, and confirms the Odin devices lagging way behind. Run ahead is interesting but I'm not sure yet if I trust that it will be consistent.
@@iTheBeep I don't know of any officially compiled table per se. But researching the latency of different devices well before this video, both from anecdotal reports as well as some people's measurements in ms, as well as my own testing from analyzing videos, I can basically just say that his ranking here is very accurate.
Going from an Anbernic product, this could be a really nice upgrade. But going from the original Odin, I'm not sure if I could justify the new device. I'll probably wait until the next generation.
Idk man that gen 2 snapdragon is a pretty nice difference. If you could sell your OG odin for 100-200 and use that for the Odin 2 sounds like it would definitely be worth it.
Very helpful video. I have a PS Vita but am thinking of getting this as my next machine. I think this video has nudged me a little closer to getting it.
Another thing to keep in mind is that AetherSX2 is not being developed anymore, so if your favorite PS2 games won't work on the app now, that isn't going to change anytime soon, maybe never. PCSX2 has 97% of the ps2 catalog listed as playable and is only available on a pc, or the Steam Deck.
Wierdly ive found a game that i cant run on pcsx2 but it works on aethersx2 its the grappler baki game i think the localised version is called fighting fury
The input lag methodology was quite solid IMO, but you should run it a number of times (maybe around 10x per device) and use the average, to account for the run-to-run variances that can occur for different reasons. In general, great video as always. Greetings from Sweden!
Russ, I think you forgot a group. Those of us who love this hobby and love Retro Game Corps and just want to grab our favorite snack and watch you do your thing.
I just got my RP4 Pro and I've already decided to sell it foe the Odin 2. I also own the RGB30 and I just don't find the RP4 Pro to be much better. I'm going with the Odin 2 because it's still portable, good ergonomics, and definitely far more powerful than the RGB30.
Really here because you are ocdly satisfying to watch. Im considering because of your review of devices.thanks for making my decision making easier lml
@@JuliusGrohlthere’s no way you’re justifying the portal lmao. Any handheld at that price range will destroy it because it can do anything other than stream lol.
Thanks for this, Russ! I think you've actually convinced me that I don't need it. Who knows how I'll feel in a weeks time - It's such a pretty device and I'm a sucker for 'nice things'.
I have an Odin Pro and enjoy it, but I've been disappointed with the thumbsticks and wished it was better with PS2 and GC. Because of that, I had been looking at the Steam Deck, but as I've seen more with the Odin 2, it's looking more attractive to me. The one thing I really wish it had was parallel thumbsticks. I'm a long time PS player and prefer in line sticks, which is one thing that at like about the SD. But I'm still leaning towards the Odin 2
I'm so disappointed to hear this. I ordered and Odin Pro two weeks ago because I thought it would be everything I need because I heard it did PS2 and GameCube greatly. Now I hear that it doesn't do that much better than the $140 Anbernic that I have. Dang it
many thanks for the steam deck comparison and venn diagram. i think this cements my decision to refund my odin 2 backing and stick to my steam deck. the odin 2 rpg is hilarious and great if i was a bigger gamer, and had money to spare, i'd probably have got the odin 2 alongside the steam deck, but there's just not enough justification for me to get it in addition to a deck, and if i didnt have the deck, the pros of the deck outweigh the pros of the odin 2 for me I really cant wait to see what the retroid pocket 4 will look like - if it's a $150 slightly beefed up android device at the same size, i think they'd scratch the itch the odin 2 promises to fulfill at a less of an investment price
On the input latency tests, its very easy perform this is via Retroarch.. You can assign the frame advance function to say any button on your device.. you can then load up Mario, pause the game, HOLD UP on the controller, and hit the frame advance button WHILE holding the UP button (we're trying to make Mario look up in this case) and you can hit the frame advance button over and over to see exactly how many frames it took for Mario's head to look up. For example, I used this method on my Miyoo Mini and most SNES games were about 2 frames slow on input latency.. I then went into Retroarch's settings and offset the input latency (i can't remember the exact area or what it's called, I think frame time or something maybe) and you can mitigate and eliminate input latency completely on most handhelds that use Retroarch anyways.. or at least on certain cores, I don't know that you can "fix" it on every core. Hope this makes sense! I then continued watching your video and you already spoke on it "Run ahead" feature.. I do know that it can also break a lot of games with the feature too.
I'm kind of upset with myself for getting the Odin Lite and not holding out for a revision. But I guess that means I'll just have to set aside some money and grab myself one of these after they start shipping, assuming they actually ship on time.
Today I bought the transparent blue version of the Pro because of you! I’ve been watching your videos for months, but I finally bought something! I really like your videos and never thought I’d actually buy anything, but this one being perfect on PS2 games is what did it for me. I almost bought the first version of this device, and I’m really glad I waited!!! Perfect PS2 emulation, but lighter and better battery than the Steam Deck. This is what I wanted! I don’t really play Steam games or PC games, so this will be perfect for me!
Nice overall review, but I think you really should have mentioned that AYN has never shipped a product on time. Especially with your hypnotical 3rd group, they would have no idea that if you take AYN's track record for releases into account, that they will probably be waiting almost a year to get the Odin 2.
For others who have previously owned Odin devices, how noticeable is that input latency when playing platformers or any other games that require precise inputs?
Most reviews don’t mention it but some forumites seem to either have particularly laggy devices or are extremely sensitive to the matter and have dismissed the entire company. In my unscientific and unprofessional opinion: probably not a problem for most people.
I ended up selling my odin because of that, triple digit latency on fast paced games and plaformers is really bad. I even tested the real latency, it's between 120 and 150ms.
The phone will underperform in gaming. The problem is the cooling solution, the Odin has active cooling with a decent heatsink. My Odin Lite barely gets warm. On the other hand, my S22 Ultra gets really warm to the touch, so the device might end throttling sooner or later. The Odin might throttle too, but it will take a LOT longer to get there, if it even does.
I know Samsung throttles the performance a bit to help battery and prevent the phone from getting too hot. Odin 2 shouldn't have those issues with a cooling system.
@@Algray_ the S22 devices had the sd8gen1 made by SAMSUNG foundry which was really inefficient, got hot incredibly quick which also lead to lower battery life. SD8GEN2 uses TSMC's much better foundry and it behaves much better even on phones with passive cooling but for prolonged use the ODIN will still be better, at a certain point phones will throttle and the battery will also take some heat
@@jesusbarrera6916 Heh, good to know that my S22 Ultra underperforms and has poor battery life thanks to that. Although it doesn't change the fact that those phones just aren't made with gaming or prolonged screen on times in mind.
Fantastic review, you covered all the bases I could think of! It reminds me a lot of the shining recommendation Taki had for the original Odin one year ago (i.e., "Odin exists.") - which also makes for an awesome realization of how much of a jump the Odin 2 is in that short time, no doubt thanks to that Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. We finally have a no-compromises, Android-based, portable PS2/GC. It's looking like AYN is gonna knock it out of the park if they can deliver on time. Great job on this one Russ!
I was THIS CLOSE to buying this on the Indiegogo this week but I decided that I don't really need PS2/GC emulation. I mean it's nice to have but what's the point really? So I went for the RGB30 because it genuinely seems more interesting to me. The Odin 2 looks so good but I think I'd spent 99% of the time just configuring it and having fun with that. Whereas the RGB looks like it'll be great for Pico-8 and vert arcade games/DS stuff.
Yep. At this price this thing is DOA to me because of factors many people don't seem to grasp. They are treating this purchase as if it's a steam deck. But this is a chinese handheld being shipped from china. You will have questionable customer support and big hassles if anything goes wrong. There's just literally no way I would ever spend this much on a chinese product. But GL to all the big money purchasers and I honestly hope you have a lot enjoyment with your device, and that nothing ever goes wrong with it.
@@jesusbarrera6916Yes, but they are sold by U.S. (for me) companies. So the customer service is usually different. I've heard nothing but good things about AYN customer service though.
I am interrsted, but at 300 dollars before any acessories like SD cards, carrying cases or screen protectors, I just cant justify this when i already have a steam deck. Still waiting for that magical sub 200 device that has PS2 capable power and is pocketable.
Nice to see a worthy successor, I'll stick to my og Odin for now mainly because cash is tight but it does the job and I don't use it as much as I'd like.
In my case for the Odin 2 not having an oled panel is a plus not a minus. I’m very sensitive to Oled’s PWM flickering (as seen on this video when the Aya neo pocket air is shown).
"There are probably 4 types of people watching this video." Sorry Russ, there's at least 5 groups - the one you didn't forsee is the group I'm in - I simply crave your detailed and thorough reviews. 😃 Sidenote, I can't wait for pocketable PS2 devices.
![The most POWERFUL handheld emulation machine [Ayn Odin 2]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/KHwHpiAMog4/mqdefault.jpg)
I just want to say that I love your videos. I'm never going to buy 98% of these but I just love this hobby and you're the MVP in this part of youtube. Great editing, super informative, good vibes.
This reminds me of the time I was starting my UA-cam channel and got super into mics. I watched everything from a number of mic review channels before buying one and then just continued watching them anyway even though I had no interest anymore in buying a new mic or upgrading my mic.
I couldn't agree more, Russ is definitely the gold standard 🦾
@@mechanicalmonk2020Thats how i was with cameras. Started with watching videos of go pros vs chinese knockoffs, ended with watching videos on a red magic pros. Some people just know how to present information well.
i would never buy 100% them lmao
any chinese knockoff should be held/destroyed by customs agents at the border
Exactly! I have been into emulation for years (I used to mess around with sprites in NESticle for funsies). Retro gaming and emulation have been a causual hobby that I jump in and out of occasionally, I think the last time I was as reignited was in the PSP/Vita years. RGC has singlehandedly reignited the passion I have for retro games and emulation, not only that, but I have gone full tilt on handhelds and loving every second of the ride! Thanks Russ!
There isn't a better source than retro game corps. Absolutely amazing videos. I just got my Odin 2 pro yesterday and his setup guide was the ONLY reason I was able to get it all set up. I watched like 3 other videos and none of them are so easy to follow as RGC's video. My favorite channel on youtube right now. Keep it up!
Russ, you outdid yourself with this one. Your parameters and methods of evaluation are getting creative and honest as ever!
I’m here to be validated 😂
Russ is the only reviewer I trust. Watched him sense he began (or very close to the beginning) and he's genuinly a good guy, honest, and puts a lot of hard work into his content.
@@Statistic189 mhmm he's not like 95% of youtubers just trying to promo and push products/services. In Russ We Trust 😁😁
This is it, the system I have been waiting for, this will be my first hand-held since the PSP. Thanks for the review
Okay, it’s settled. I’m getting an Odin 2 😬
Thanks for making this decision easier Russ!
YEAAAH BRO ! EXACTLY 🙏🏼😂🔥🔥🔥
Same here! Can't believe I just spent 410 bucks for a handheld console! It looks amazing tho. It's all thanks to this guy. I've wanted a handheld that can powerfully handle emulation and Russ made it easier as you say.
I am an old school UA-camr (I was the co-creator of Retroware TV back in 2007). It's primarily a game developer company now after we sold the brand. But I just wanted to say, I LOVE your videos. Everything is well-executed and clear and enjoyable to watch. You have a big fan! And I am now the proud owner of an Odin 2 and I'm consistently impressed by what this thing can handle.
Just got my odin 2 12gb ram model. And I am overjoyed at its performance! As soon as I heard switch emulation I jumped at the chance to grab one. Sold my odin pro and retroid pocket 2s. It's great to have Android And emulation without having to change a bunch of settings! Great Video 📹 👍🏽
how long did you wait for it to arrived to your place?
@@coronacalona6683 Im pretty sure there pre-order, I thought?? I could be wrong
Where did u sell your Odin pro?
@@coronacalona6683 maybe 2 months at best from the time I ordered.
@@SereneBlueSoul Ebay for $280. But the crazy thing is I purchase 2 more odin pros for my boys when I saw that they were on sale for $199.00. Couldn't beat that price I paid $360 for my oden pro. There is a workaround to play Switch games on yuzu but it's not as good as the odin 2 of course.
Another banger of a review. I'm looking forward to my Odin 2 even more than I was before. I just hope AYN doesn't delay too much this time. I'm not holding my breath on that point though.
The fact that they sent out review units is a good sign that they could hit the target date. With the Odin 1, they were delayed for months before they sent review units. That was mostly because of covid, which is less of an issue now
how long did you wait for it to arrived to your place?
I'm kind of people who already own a Steamdeck, doesn't want to buy any other handheld but still curious to other handheld, that's why I'm watching your videos. 😅
I own a steam deck and this is a perfect in between
Das me
Great information here, thank you. The Odin 2 hits all my marks, so I am going for it. The Retroid Pocket 3+ ALMOST got me, but I am glad I waited. I'll gladly pay a bit more for this improved experience.
Same in reference to the RP3+. Glad I waited
I bought the RP3+, which cost me approximately $275 by the time I paid import duties in Mexico. It’s ok, but it doesn’t run my favourite PS2 games perfectly, the analog sticks feel bad (like a Switch), and the sleep mode battery drain is really bad, something like 40% per day. PS4 streaming on it is also broken, as it won’t connect to the PSN server to let me log into my account. On the plus side, it’s pocketable.
I can’t justify ordering the Odin 2 right now, especially since the cheapest model would be in the region of $400-$450 for me by the time I paid shipping and import fees, but it definitely would have been a better choice.
Yeah if you want the ps2 and gcn stuff you have to get something more powerful than the rp3+.
@donovanleemurphy9349 You have better chances of looking for used odin 1s on ebay. Idk how shipping works for ebay in Mexico. But odin 1s do pretty okay for game cube and streaming.
And I play on the OLED Switch so often, the step down to the RP3 screen would be a disappointment.
I have a Steam Deck and I never really find myself picking it up because it's so huge, I have small hands and I just don't find it comfortable. I preordered the Odin 2 last week after seeing all the hype for it, and have been flip-flopping all week about whether I should cancel or not! This review helped me decide to keep my preorder and I am so excited to receive it :)
yea.. i have quite big hands (tho skinny..just big) and i still find thr steam deck so bulky and heavy while holding it up for long.
the Switch's size and weight are soo much better. And then you play the Vita and realize how mega light it is!
sell your STEAMDECK...
Crazy take. Fr
Ofc you did
By now, how are you holding up? Steam deck still or enjoying this more?
I didn't originally watch this review because I felt the Odin 2 was out of my price range for a first timer but after having bought and sold the pocket 4 pro (too small) and the anbernic rg556 (bad analogue sticks) I'm now convinced this is the model everybody should own.
Change the analog sticks, is impossible/expensive?
@@BASSstarlet not expensive but can be tricky - basically it's taking it apart and putting it back together the same way. Id recommend watching Joey's retro handhelds, he did a video on it and it was helpful
Now the goal is whether we'll have them ship on time or wait half a year
Until units ship then everybody is hater but once delays crop up then they were right all along and backers were fools for thinking this time would be different, lol
@@Mister_Phafanapolisthis time is already different as they've sent review units earlier than last time. The biggest cause for the delays before was covid, which is less of an issue now
I think this time is different as they are ahead of schedule. Only question will be is how long it takes them to ship out to all the backers as this campaign got a lot of interest. They might not actually have units hit retail until April.
@@Mister_Phafanapolisa fool is a fool until it doesn’t I guess
Oh, I'm sure all of the super objective, totally impartial retro gamer UA-camrs would let us know if there were any shipping delays in a company's past *honk honk*
I'm excited. AYN seems to somehow get the best price for performance and it seems like they're on time this time. *Knock on wood*
Literally started this whole journey because I saw a post on instagram talking about the miyoo mini plus being able to play ps1 games & now I'm here! Life is pretty funny that way. Anyway, this device seems perfect for my needs & I definitely am gonna look into to getting one next month in that amazing translucent purple! Never been more sold in my life!
As a first minutes backer, thank you for starting off with that intro, helps me to sit back and just get excited over the review.
Also, that RPG HP game is amazing. Stuff like that is really creative and actually properly answers the question of should I get X or Y since it really is personal preference. Great review as always, I'm hyped.
Was bummed when I decided to cancel my Loki device earlier this year because I couldnt afford it/couldn’t wait. All my excitement came flooding back with the Odin 2 because it is everything I wanted the Loki devices to be in the first place at a pricepoint I can manage and hopefully shipping within a timeframe I can definitely afford to wait. Thanks so much for your coverage on it!
Did you purchase the Odin 2 already? By now you’re probably using it already. How’s it so far for you now that you have it? :)
Hands down the best reviews in the genre. Don’t ever change, Russ 🙌🏻
Amazing review as usual! I have an Odin Lite and it’s my favorite device currently.. I myself am stuck choosing between an Odin 2 or a SteamDeck. I might just grab a SD now and then see if Ayn ships the Odin 2 on time and grab one of those too. So many decisions in the handheld market these days and I love it! Ayn is really stirring up the handheld market!
Diehard here, came for the validation. I've been refreshing your channel all week waiting for this video, knocked it out of the park again! Thank you
Hey Russ, I just wanted to say that the addition of the Buying RPG is one greatest additions to your videos. Despite you being extremely in-depth and honest in your reviews (which is appreciated), it often boils down to how does this device fit into my current handheld landscape. I often get excited about a new device as I watch these videos, but the Buying RPG aspect offers a more tangible idea of whether I truly need (want) the device. It brings me down to earth at the end of each video. Cheers.
5th category of people: just here to listen to Russ’ voice
fr I just love how relaxed and in depth the videos are, plus we get cat breaks sometimes too!!!!
Came here to say this! Not interested in getting another handheld right now and was just wanting to listen to Russ and learn something!
Its when he started showing is face that really got me. Now i cant just listen 😅.
@@bb_louhonestly the decrease in cat breaks has been deeply noticed!
That's me!
As someone who works in QA I gotta say… your input latency testing table is incredibly impressive. Great approach and data share.
One of the most accurate rewiew ever made, thank you. I've liked the idea you left very useful hints to give players a bunch of reasons why they should buy this console or not.
It's also fascinating this device gives us the highest performance at the lowest possible price. Competitors like anbernic or retroid from now have to be very impressive to convince us to buy their products.
10 hrs of PS2 or GC level games for a handheld is pretty insane. One of my biggest gripes with handheld PC is the abysmal battery life. The device may be portable but your essentially stuck to a wall outlet with their 2 hours battery life. I have my Odin 2 pre ordered and can't wait. We now have a affordable Retro device that makes GC and PS2 fully playable and I am overjoyed.
Did you pre order on the official website for odin 2?
I'm going to Jamaica in April; the battery life sold me on this 100%
your reviews remain some of the most thorough and helpful. I'm an AYN Odin 1 person considering the upgrade, so this helped me with the comparison, thank you!
Thank you, Russ! I love the Venn diagram at the end, it makes my decision so much easier. I have a Steam Deck, a ROG Ally, a Switch and a plethora of other little handhelds, but I have found that the one thing I do the most by far is stream from my consoles and cloud game. I was looking for something that would do a little bit of emulation but would allow me to play play from anywhere in the house and jumping on the couch when I wanted a large gaming experience. I love the little device BUT know you have shown me another one that calls my attention, the Ayaneo Pocket Air. Now I have to run some comparison. Thanks!!!
Good review! Man, I already have a Retroid Pocket 3 Plus and Steam Deck, but this device really is tempting. In some ways, I wish I had not pulled the trigger on the Retroid Pocket 3 Plus as having PS2/GameCube emulation on a comfortable handheld is a huge draw for me. I suppose I could just sell the Retroid Pocket 3 Plus and put the money towards an Odin 2.
The slice of productivity between the Retroid and the Steamdeck exists, the Odin fits in it, but I don’t believe anybody needs those three devices as there is so much overlap between what they can all do.
That's exactly what my situation is. I have a retroid pocket 3+, which has been great, but this is the pinnacle of what I've always wanted, the ability to emulate any and all consoles AND upscale them to boot. I'm just going to sell my retroid pocket once the odin 2 is delivered.
@@kurtisrinker1202 I'm heading in that direction as well. The Odin 2 just seems like such an amazing handheld that it would just make my Retroid Pocket 3 Plus obsolete.
The Odin 2 is still larger than the RP3+, so less portable. Soon the Aya Neo Pocket S will also come out being smaller and slimmer than the Odin 2 but also just as powerful, maybe even a bit more, and will have an oled screen instead of an LCD.
I admit the PS2 emulation would be tempting for me too, but with the Odin 2 being double the price of the RP3+ (for now at least), I'll stick with my RP3+ and its so-so PS2/GC capabilities. With half an eye on an Odin 2 price drop next year perhaps... Of course, by then we might have an RP4 with the same specs, who knows!
I have the anbernic rg351mp, and I'm not even in the market for another device, but you give great breakdowns!
Russ, you are such a godsend to the gaming community. Every single video you put out just packs too much information that I'm all set for a whole week. Dang, you are like the Wikipedia of video game emulation. Thank you so much for all your hard work in making excellent quality content. I will support your channel til we grow old and deaf. LOL love ya buddy!
Odin 2 Pro will be my first handheld emulator.
Looking forward to never watching another review again, checking out from this part of the internet and spending the next half a decade or more playing thousands of games I have never played before. 😘✌️🎮
In one of the reviews of the original Ayn Odin, Russ said something about how if a device like that was the first one he ever purchased then he would not have bought another device. That spoke to me. That’s what I want; buy the best thing I can afford and get to using it. Have spent enough time “researching” on UA-cam or Reddit, all I want is to buy a good produce once and not have to think about upgrading for a very long time.
I'm the exact same way, I think you made the perfect choice
Out of curiosity how is it working out for you? Ordered a pro last night and now im scrambling to hold off the buyers remorse lol
@@chickendelight1316 My interest in this genre of UA-cam has drastically decreased. However, my vidya playing has not increased. Most nights the Odin sits unplayed.
its over
I don't what you did to the audio for the gameplay section but it showcased the passive soundstage of my headphones in a way I have not experienced in the 8 months that I've owned them. I had to take off my headphones to make sure no sound was playing from my monitor! Awesome experience!
As always, great review! You've made the wait even more intense for the delivery of the console ordered after your first review ;-) I would love to see your material on the exact configuration of emulators on this console, especially the button mapping you recommend. I started in 1985 with Commodore 16 and Atari 65XE and later I had only a PC. I completely slept through the console era - now I want to go back to them ;-).
We can only hope that this time they will keep the order fulfillment deadline and that for Christmas each of us will have our own console in our hands. Otherwise, customers will turn away from them.
I am of the 5th group. Your therapeutic voice helps very much with sleep.
I just finished binge watching your Odin 2 content. I think it's some very good content and will be very helpful in choosing whether to buy this or not.
I'm somewhere between the second and third type of person who's watching these videos. I have what I feel is a nice handheld gaming and emulation setup using my old LG V35 paired with a GameSir X2 Pro I won in a giveaway by the DameTech channel. So, while I don't own a modern retro handheld I'm in no hurry to buy because I'm in a pretty good place. But; this Odin 2 is really testing my resolve.
Value is important to me. Not necessarily cheapness; something can be expensive and be a good value. For example; a $7k Grand Seiko watch is an excellent value compared to a Rolex, not just because it costs less, rather because it offers superior craftsmanship and engineering. The fact that it costs less, relatively - it's still several thousand dollars, is icing on the cake. I feel like most of the handhelds Russ covers are a good $50 too expensive for what one gets. I like them; but, my desires to buy one go away after I finish commenting under that day's video. The Odin 2 has deeply impressed me. In raw terms, $300+ isn't cheap by most standards, but, when one looks at what they're getting for the money and just how future proof it is, well...
This comment went way too long. Sorry to anyone who read all the way through expecting some great insights. Haha.
Hey, another watch and handheld device appreciator, great combo ;)
I am part of the first two groups and can't wait for it to be shipped!
Fair warning about AYN. There's a lot of us having issues with touchscreens becoming nonresponsive on the original Odins. Pretty much exactly one year later. They've also refused to address it, forcing customers to either mail in their device for repairs, or having you buy a shell and screen to repair yourself.
Edit: Just to clarify, customers have to pay for the repair if you mail it in.
good to know!
Thank you for the heads up, nobody ever talks about these devices outside of the first two or so weeks they release, so long term quality issues like this always fly under the radar.
If you mail in your device are they repairing it under warranty? If yes, that is addressing it, even if it is not your preferred solution.
Still thanks for sharing the life span of these screens are suspiciously low.
@@BusterbalzThat’s why I always join a forum or Reddit for whatever device I buy.. plenty of people talking about the pros and cons for a while.
Are you talking about the first batch of the Odin Base/Pro? Or any of the original Odins such as the Lite too? I own a Lite and haven’t had issues and I don’t see many people talking about it in the Odin subreddit. Not saying it’s not true but just wondering what you meant by “original”.
not looking to buy an odin 2. but your videos are just such a joy to watch even if im not looking to buy the product you do an amazing job
First off thanks for these in depth reviews. I love watching them and contemplating what I will purchase next.
The future of these handhelds whether Android or Windows seems bright.
The battery life on these Android devices are quite impressive. I wish AMD could get the x86 to sip power like that. I’m hoping Zen 8000 strix APU series will bring these handhelds to the next level with power efficiency and gaming performance.
I'm so excited for it. I also ordered the blue Pro. Thanks, Master Chief!
Yeah this is going on my shopping list - I only have 4:3 emulation devices now (yes okay also a steam deck) and this is what'll complete my collection. Marvelous video as per usual - I remember discovering you at like 500 subscribers, man am I happy I did!
How and where will you be using this over the Steam Deck?
@@bipbop3121not the OP, but I’ll use it for an emulator I can actually fit in my bag. I love my Deck, but it’s massive!
If you have a Steam Deck I don't know why you'd buy this thing. The Deck can already emulate mostly everything out there. Nerds and wasting money lol
@@deatman5843Some of these guy’s “collections” are insane. Why do you have half a dozen of the same thing?
_“This one is only for Pokémon, this one fits in my 5th pocket, this one stays in the bathroom (lol, so random), this one is my on-the-couch device, this is my out-of-the-house device, this one I take on vacations (metal body is more durable), this one stays plugged into my TV…”_
@@deatman5843deck is pretty large and battery isn't the best, this lasts longer and is smaller even if you can't play as many games
oh man your videos are SO GOOD! Thank you for doing this kind of comparison, i bought a RP3+ this year and your videos helped me on my decision because you detailed every corner of the device.
Yes!!!! Hope mine ships December!
First, your videos are way too great for us! Keep it going!
What we really can hope for is a handheld console with 15W TPD max, N2 TSMC process, and can deliver them performance 200% as the Snapdragon 8 gen 2.
This matters because it can be a future device that can run more graphic-demanding games.
Right now the Snapdragon 8 gen 2 has a maximum performance at 11.8W. This is very impressive, and I hope Qualcomm is going in the right direction for their Snapdragon Gx chips.
Russ!!!!! Come on!!!! Why are you such a good salesman😭😭😭 I shouldnt have watched this video!!!!
In all seriousness this device is right up there with the steam deck as far as value goes. This is crazy, just really gets me pumped for how much further the scene can go. Competition and innovation like this is great
You talked me into the 1st Odin and now the second! Solid video.
Thanks to your first impressions video I preorder the 16/512 one. I have an RG 350M, a Steam Deck and the ROG Ally. This one covers the bigger than the 350M, smaller than the pc handhelds, and with enough juice to emulate nearly everything.
If I was only going to get either a steam deck, or this in this video- which one would you recommend? Does the deck emulate PS2 as well as this reportedly does?
@@alwaysardent1125 Only one? The Deck.
@@valrond thanks!
Just bought the Odin 2 Pro I am so excited! Never owned one of these devices before so itll be a completely new experience for me setting it all up. If anyone has any tips for a complete beginner I am all ears!
I just did the exact same thing and I’ve never owned a handheld either! I was stuck between the RP5 (Retroid pocket 5) and Odin 2. Odin 2 is just even better in almost every way ( button layout, battery life, CPU, GPU, Snapdragon Gen2, emulation power,) so it cost me $100 more but that’s okay. I have a fully loaded 2tb modded Wii with 450 GameCube games and 720 Wii games haha bouta pop in the SSD cards 😂.
Really wish Snapdragon SBCs were more accessible. Would love to build my own handheld with a 4:3 screen that can be modular and used as the brain and screen for a cyberdeck.
I got my Odin 2 Pro in the mail just around 2 weeks ago, and yeah, it’s ABSOLUTELY the handheld to get. I adore mine to bits, and I love every little thing about it
Once my Odin Pro 2 arrives, how will I play the game I've logged more hours into than anything else: Tinkering with Settings
Best comprehensive video out there on this device thank you so much man!
after watching this and other reviews, i ended up actually ordering the base version. i wasn't really expecting i'd be getting another android handheld since i was holding out for a x86 handheld and figured my retroid pocket 3+ would be the last android system i would get. But it just seemed too good to pass up at $300. the performance, screen size, resolution, size, buttons, ergonomics, size, and battery life seem to be exactly what i have been wishing for a handheld.
Did your ayn odin 2 show up if so how is it working for you pro's and cons?
@@kingd3001 it was delivered today. i'm loving it. the 6" screen is a really nice balance between a bigger device (like steamdeck) or having to squint (retroid pocket). controls feel right, especially the sticks, they have smooth motion. and so far, everything just runs, ps2, gamecube, wii. i still have to finish setting it up, but from my initial impressions, i'm going to love this thing. a bit heavier than i had expected, but in no way problematic.
also, i ordered the base and the box said "base" they shipped me the pro version! talk about a lucky break
Seeing Champions of Norrath running so well has got me super excited!
I think this is the first high end ARM handheld that makes more financial sense than buying a phone and controller. Very nice hope to see more on the future.
If it's a S8G2 phone and controller , then it's likely the same price if not cheaper...
@@HughesyTech a very decent controller is like 60 these days, where can you find s8g2 phones that cheap? What models?
@@horacegentleman3296 give me a bit to find it
Errr that's how it works because it's SD8GEN2 not the "+" chip. Qualcomm works in this pattern where the "+" chip gets released in the second half of the year with higher clock speeds. Therefore the older chips get depreciated by a few hundred dollars at the very least, in china the pricing effects can be even larger.
@@horacegentleman3296i guess he meant if you already own a 8g2 phone, then a good quality control is around $50-100. Otherwise it makes no sense.
@@bulletpunch9317 exactly.
A monster of emulation content. Congratulations, Russ.
While I already have a Steam Deck, size and battery life alone make this a superior choice unless your main interest is PC gaming. I already reach for my Odin Pro exclusively for retro gaming just because of the insane battery life, and AYN being able to move up to a current gen Snapdragon while maintaining that same range of battery life is just further validating my decision to pre-order the Odin 2 Pro.
The only question left is whether AYN can get these out the door on schedule, and they don't exactly have the best track record there. The fact that they've got final build quality review devices out there a couple months ahead of release is a good sign though.
Yup, after years of waiting in a hand held.
This one was a no brainer!
Thanks for all your work
ps2 emulation has really come so far regarding accessibility for modern hardware, pretty impressive
Great work as always! My usual, not-exactly-on-topic question: you mentioned the difficulty in converting Wii Mote controls to a handheld/controller like this, and I couldn’t agree more, I wonder if you might be willing to do a walkthrough/tutorial with how you typically map your controls with the rationale to help some of us along who often are discouraged from even trying given the difficulty curve?
I've managed to get an FPS(ish) game like Elebits running decently despite the challenges. It's not perfect and I need some tweaking now that I've hit some more challenging levels but it's possible. It's just annoying if you're switching between lots of different Wii games and constantly adjusting controls. Worth it if you're playing the one game all the way through.
I watched this review and your other one "why odin 2 is still king". I just ordered my Odin 2 Pro in the rainbow color! Amazing reviews.
Thanks so much for doing input lag testing. Regardless of actual frames/ms, your ranking seems to match well to others' ranking, and confirms the Odin devices lagging way behind. Run ahead is interesting but I'm not sure yet if I trust that it will be consistent.
Other people have rankings for it?
Could you please share such rankings? I'm genuinely interested.
yes please can u share
@@iTheBeep I don't know of any officially compiled table per se. But researching the latency of different devices well before this video, both from anecdotal reports as well as some people's measurements in ms, as well as my own testing from analyzing videos, I can basically just say that his ranking here is very accurate.
Ive ordered one due to this video. Cheers russ you're the man.
Going from an Anbernic product, this could be a really nice upgrade. But going from the original Odin, I'm not sure if I could justify the new device. I'll probably wait until the next generation.
Idk man that gen 2 snapdragon is a pretty nice difference. If you could sell your OG odin for 100-200 and use that for the Odin 2 sounds like it would definitely be worth it.
Very helpful video. I have a PS Vita but am thinking of getting this as my next machine. I think this video has nudged me a little closer to getting it.
Loving the channel more and more with every new video and revisiting older ones! 🙂🤩
Another thing to keep in mind is that AetherSX2 is not being developed anymore, so if your favorite PS2 games won't work on the app now, that isn't going to change anytime soon, maybe never. PCSX2 has 97% of the ps2 catalog listed as playable and is only available on a pc, or the Steam Deck.
What I saw in the master list was 88.8% playable, 4.3% unplayable & 6.9% trouble. Where did the 97% list come from?
The 97% is for PCSX2 (PC/Linux/Steam Deck) not AetherSX2 (Android).
Wierdly ive found a game that i cant run on pcsx2 but it works on aethersx2 its the grappler baki game i think the localised version is called fighting fury
The steam deck is linux...@@jaymel4691
im on the fourth group (high af watching random reviews, love your videos bro)
The input lag methodology was quite solid IMO, but you should run it a number of times (maybe around 10x per device) and use the average, to account for the run-to-run variances that can occur for different reasons.
In general, great video as always. Greetings from Sweden!
Russ, I think you forgot a group. Those of us who love this hobby and love Retro Game Corps and just want to grab our favorite snack and watch you do your thing.
I just got my RP4 Pro and I've already decided to sell it foe the Odin 2. I also own the RGB30 and I just don't find the RP4 Pro to be much better. I'm going with the Odin 2 because it's still portable, good ergonomics, and definitely far more powerful than the RGB30.
Really here because you are ocdly satisfying to watch. Im considering because of your review of devices.thanks for making my decision making easier lml
Group 6: those who have an Odin Pro and want to know if it's worth hocking it for the sequel
Since pro''s SD 845 & not 865, then mostly likely yes.
depends on your use case to be honest. if you play low power games then its fine but if you want to play ps2 and switch games then yeah
Great intro delivery, your quality content is why I keep watching your videos even If I have no idea what the device is.
Just how in hell did they get that chip in a device in this price range??? HOW?!
Great video Russ !! I ordered the Odin 2 Pro in black. I have the transparent purple Odin and love it !! Thanks for confirming my purchase.
For what's promised, Odin 2 is a much better deal than the crappy Sony PS portal.
But the PS Portal has a better screen, and haptics
The PS Portal is just a monitor with controllers. Not to mention it’s the same price for WAY less.
@@JuliusGrohlthere’s no way you’re justifying the portal lmao. Any handheld at that price range will destroy it because it can do anything other than stream lol.
Thanks for this, Russ!
I think you've actually convinced me that I don't need it.
Who knows how I'll feel in a weeks time - It's such a pretty device and I'm a sucker for 'nice things'.
I have an Odin Pro and enjoy it, but I've been disappointed with the thumbsticks and wished it was better with PS2 and GC. Because of that, I had been looking at the Steam Deck, but as I've seen more with the Odin 2, it's looking more attractive to me. The one thing I really wish it had was parallel thumbsticks. I'm a long time PS player and prefer in line sticks, which is one thing that at like about the SD. But I'm still leaning towards the Odin 2
I'm so disappointed to hear this. I ordered and Odin Pro two weeks ago because I thought it would be everything I need because I heard it did PS2 and GameCube greatly. Now I hear that it doesn't do that much better than the $140 Anbernic that I have. Dang it
I was in the first category and I'm waiting on my Odin 2 pro I the mail. It seems to Be exactly what I was hoping for
many thanks for the steam deck comparison and venn diagram. i think this cements my decision to refund my odin 2 backing and stick to my steam deck.
the odin 2 rpg is hilarious and great
if i was a bigger gamer, and had money to spare, i'd probably have got the odin 2 alongside the steam deck, but there's just not enough justification for me to get it in addition to a deck, and if i didnt have the deck, the pros of the deck outweigh the pros of the odin 2 for me
I really cant wait to see what the retroid pocket 4 will look like - if it's a $150 slightly beefed up android device at the same size, i think they'd scratch the itch the odin 2 promises to fulfill at a less of an investment price
I love the hit point decision matrix. Keep this moving forward!
On the input latency tests, its very easy perform this is via Retroarch.. You can assign the frame advance function to say any button on your device.. you can then load up Mario, pause the game, HOLD UP on the controller, and hit the frame advance button WHILE holding the UP button (we're trying to make Mario look up in this case) and you can hit the frame advance button over and over to see exactly how many frames it took for Mario's head to look up. For example, I used this method on my Miyoo Mini and most SNES games were about 2 frames slow on input latency.. I then went into Retroarch's settings and offset the input latency (i can't remember the exact area or what it's called, I think frame time or something maybe) and you can mitigate and eliminate input latency completely on most handhelds that use Retroarch anyways.. or at least on certain cores, I don't know that you can "fix" it on every core. Hope this makes sense! I then continued watching your video and you already spoke on it "Run ahead" feature.. I do know that it can also break a lot of games with the feature too.
Perfect review. Literally everything explained. Keeping my pre order for sure after having doubts on pricing.
I'm kind of upset with myself for getting the Odin Lite and not holding out for a revision. But I guess that means I'll just have to set aside some money and grab myself one of these after they start shipping, assuming they actually ship on time.
yes and my odin lite has had a lot of issues as well, and their customer support is terrible.. which makes me hesitate even more
Today I bought the transparent blue version of the Pro because of you! I’ve been watching your videos for months, but I finally bought something! I really like your videos and never thought I’d actually buy anything, but this one being perfect on PS2 games is what did it for me. I almost bought the first version of this device, and I’m really glad I waited!!! Perfect PS2 emulation, but lighter and better battery than the Steam Deck. This is what I wanted! I don’t really play Steam games or PC games, so this will be perfect for me!
Nice overall review, but I think you really should have mentioned that AYN has never shipped a product on time. Especially with your hypnotical 3rd group, they would have no idea that if you take AYN's track record for releases into account, that they will probably be waiting almost a year to get the Odin 2.
Ouch
Probably just get a rp3+
bro, this is so much work just for a video, just too good. congratz, you deserve much more suscribers
For others who have previously owned Odin devices, how noticeable is that input latency when playing platformers or any other games that require precise inputs?
Most reviews don’t mention it but some forumites seem to either have particularly laggy devices or are extremely sensitive to the matter and have dismissed the entire company.
In my unscientific and unprofessional opinion: probably not a problem for most people.
Yes android is laggy.
It's horrible, man.
I ended up selling my odin because of that, triple digit latency on fast paced games and plaformers is really bad.
I even tested the real latency, it's between 120 and 150ms.
shelfed my odin when i felt it. would only unshelf just to see if updates would fix it
Finally something to replace my RG552, I'm looking forward to this shipping in December.
i'd really like to see more about the weaker model, i just bought a samsung galaxy s23 base and i wonder how it competes with the odin 2
The phone will underperform in gaming.
The problem is the cooling solution, the Odin has active cooling with a decent heatsink. My Odin Lite barely gets warm.
On the other hand, my S22 Ultra gets really warm to the touch, so the device might end throttling sooner or later. The Odin might throttle too, but it will take a LOT longer to get there, if it even does.
I know Samsung throttles the performance a bit to help battery and prevent the phone from getting too hot. Odin 2 shouldn't have those issues with a cooling system.
@@Algray_ the S22 devices had the sd8gen1 made by SAMSUNG foundry which was really inefficient, got hot incredibly quick which also lead to lower battery life. SD8GEN2 uses TSMC's much better foundry and it behaves much better even on phones with passive cooling
but for prolonged use the ODIN will still be better, at a certain point phones will throttle and the battery will also take some heat
@@jesusbarrera6916 Heh, good to know that my S22 Ultra underperforms and has poor battery life thanks to that.
Although it doesn't change the fact that those phones just aren't made with gaming or prolonged screen on times in mind.
Fantastic review, you covered all the bases I could think of! It reminds me a lot of the shining recommendation Taki had for the original Odin one year ago (i.e., "Odin exists.") - which also makes for an awesome realization of how much of a jump the Odin 2 is in that short time, no doubt thanks to that Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. We finally have a no-compromises, Android-based, portable PS2/GC. It's looking like AYN is gonna knock it out of the park if they can deliver on time. Great job on this one Russ!
I was THIS CLOSE to buying this on the Indiegogo this week but I decided that I don't really need PS2/GC emulation. I mean it's nice to have but what's the point really? So I went for the RGB30 because it genuinely seems more interesting to me. The Odin 2 looks so good but I think I'd spent 99% of the time just configuring it and having fun with that. Whereas the RGB looks like it'll be great for Pico-8 and vert arcade games/DS stuff.
Yep. At this price this thing is DOA to me because of factors many people don't seem to grasp. They are treating this purchase as if it's a steam deck. But this is a chinese handheld being shipped from china. You will have questionable customer support and big hassles if anything goes wrong. There's just literally no way I would ever spend this much on a chinese product. But GL to all the big money purchasers and I honestly hope you have a lot enjoyment with your device, and that nothing ever goes wrong with it.
@@patsk8872 I understand the costumer service argument but don't get this "China" argument.... 99% of your stuff and handhelds are made there already
@@jesusbarrera6916Yes, but they are sold by U.S. (for me) companies. So the customer service is usually different. I've heard nothing but good things about AYN customer service though.
Just ordered pro version. Watched this video multiple times to really let it marinate and just caved watching this video again this morning 😅
I am interrsted, but at 300 dollars before any acessories like SD cards, carrying cases or screen protectors, I just cant justify this when i already have a steam deck. Still waiting for that magical sub 200 device that has PS2 capable power and is pocketable.
Nice to see a worthy successor, I'll stick to my og Odin for now mainly because cash is tight but it does the job and I don't use it as much as I'd like.
The battery life is INSANE.
EDIT: Thank you SO much for making an input latency test. This matters so much for retro gaming.
Android is notably bad for latency.
@@Ruslan.88266To be fair to Android as a platform, the 405M and RP3+ are Android devices too.
Your latency test at 18:00 is _much_ appreciated! - Thanks a lot! :)
In my case for the Odin 2 not having an oled panel is a plus not a minus. I’m very sensitive to Oled’s PWM flickering (as seen on this video when the Aya neo pocket air is shown).
"There are probably 4 types of people watching this video."
Sorry Russ, there's at least 5 groups - the one you didn't forsee is the group I'm in - I simply crave your detailed and thorough reviews. 😃
Sidenote, I can't wait for pocketable PS2 devices.