Same! I was all in on the Ayaneo Pocket S (pre-ordered it and all) then I saw this and the reviews for the Pocket S and cancelled my preorder and got this instead!
Russ called his subscribers "inside people" and here you are with the mini touching grass! Great to hear both perspectives! I have a RP Flip and havent decided on what Odin model I want yet. Maybe this is the answer and I will actually leave my house ;)
As an owner of the Odin 2 that 8000 mh battery is god tier idk if I’ll ever buy any other device that doesn’t have at least that. It’s such a damn nice feeling to not have to charge it for quite a while even with constant playing. Should be the new standard IMO.
Sometimes when new things come out and invalidates the old one but for me the mini is not something I lost a bit of sleepover. People talk about how the screen is better minus the vignetting but when I first looked at the Odin 2 coming from an LCD steam deck I thought it was an OLED. I think the LCD on the Odin 2 is fantastic and I am fully happy with the device. I am using it so much. Also everybody has trouble filming this screen and I don't. I have a lot a lot a lot of experience some professional with filming especially when it comes to exposure management so ping me if you would like to talk. Also vignetting is fixable, easily through software so they should fix it. There's a lot of screens that you don't realize that have vignetting problems. They are just resolved in software, the same way most lenses have distortion
Absolutely awesome display. A lot of reviewers are simply going "meh" at the screen, even going as far as saying it's "too bright". It's clearly a big upgrade over the Oden 2 screen in every imaginable way. Awesome to hear it does HDR as well!
Yeah Russ saying it was too bright was kinda like a wtf moment. I use my stuff on the go in taxis, the metro, trains, airports all the time. I ALWAYS want more brightness. Like....4000 nits is what I want.
okay I’ve been holding back on these handhelds for years now, but with this one’s ps vita like design I think I’m gonna pull the trigger honestly. Looks fantastic. Although android throws me off not being able to emulate xbox360 and ps3
Such a tease with the battery life test! I guess I'll find out the battery life on gc/ps2/etc with low brightness when it ships 😞 Thanks for the review 💜
So our use cases are certainly a little different since I mostly game at home when I'm resting, or on a school bus heading with my students to an event, but honestly, I can absolutely see the value in both. I can't justify the Mini now -- maybe some day, but as a big AYN fan, I look foward to what's next.
Thanks for the heads up. I’m going to have to cancel my pre-orders. I’ve got big hands. There’s no way I’ll be able to play my favorite super Mario games now unless I take the cap off and I’ll lose it.
I've been interesting in the Odin 2 for a while now ever since I found out about when I saw someone was playing MixingMeets(a fan revival of an official app for the Tamagotchi On/Meets) on an Anbernic RG353V(MixingMeets will not work on the Odin 2 nor mini cause it has issues with newer Android) leading to looking it up & falling down the android handheld rabbit hole until I found out about the Odin 2 I liked the fact it was a portable system that could not only play a few systems on the go but could play Wii games & had Switch as an option.(Just really want to play Animal Crossing Animal Parade on the go & that extra analog stick will be useful for that extra wii remote thing the game has for some reason) While I liked it I wanted something more pocket sized so the Odin 2 Mini is what I was hoping for. I'm a little sad that there's no other color options(before learning about the mini I was looking at an Odin 2 with colored buttons) but I'll settle for what's available, then again I'm not going to be ready to buy this anytime soon cause I have things to save up for so maybe there will be more options when I finally can buy it. A little annoyed the bag won't be free after pre-orders since I can't buy preorder but I guess I'll have to accept that I need to save up more or go see if someone is selling their Odin 2 mini bag for cheaper at a later point.
I don't know what to do 😅 ! I have the Odin 2 but I'm a 5' girl with tiny hands and reaching the triggers is kind of a problem. Plus I live in Europe, where 400$ is a lot of money since we earn so much less than in the US/Canada. I don't want to configure it again. But that form factor is awsome ❤.
I still prefer regular Odin 2 because of some reason: - IPS screen is indeed a little worse, but screen-burning worry free - significantly bigger battery - better grip (I own a vita so I know the mini has the same less-comfortable grip feel) - bigger screen for 3DS or DS emulation - bonus: a little bit cheaper
FU Joey!! 😁You've convinced me to buy this awesome device even though I have an Odin 2 Pro. A smaller, more pocketable version of what I have sounds nice.
@@TheNintenja Oh I'd never sell my Odin 2 Pro. Definitely the best android handheld for retro emulation. I'd get the mini just for riding the train to work and being outside. At home I'd use the bigger screen of the O2 Pro
One of the Anbernics back in the day, someone on Etsy made these weird thumbstick replacemetns that I kind of LOVED. I want to say it was the 353 series, and it was basically they removed the "STICK" part of thumbstick, and had a knurled dome. I only used it on the right side, since most of my games don't use the right thumbstick and when I needed it, for the few PS1 games out there that that line could play, it was great to have and it didn't hinder my play ability. I wonder if I could buy them again.
One thing about the price ... the Odin 2 is cheaper because it's on "sale" ... both the Odin 2 base and the Odin 2 Mini base are listed on Ayn's site at $339 but the Odin 2 base is "discounted" to $299. You wonder if - after the hype dies down - the Odin 2 Mini's also going to go to $299 ... or perhaps $309 which was the initial discount price they gave to a few customers.
I'm with you on that one, when people say "As low as" or "Right now" for $299 instead of saying its on sale it comes off as misinforming. Not a big deal if you do the research but still :/
@@JoeysRetroHandhelds None of them have versions listed, for example Nethersx 1.9 just came out which claims to do some performance improvements but its hard to know from the video if you are using 1.8 or the newer one etc.
Great review Joey very thorough and balanced. Looking forward to a white pro as well! Going to replace my Odin1 Lite that hasn’t got much use since the sticks were meh and 6in screen was a tad big for retro games
Another way to decide: if you have a Steamdeck or handheld PC, the Odin 2 Mini is probably the way to go of the 2. You’ll then have more flexibility in bringing a device on the go depending on portability constraints. If you don’t have either, then like he said the best value would be Odin 2 [I am here, but considering a base Steamdeck as well] If you have a Switch, let that guide you also, if you had the Lite and just found it a bit flat, the Mini might be perfect as it’s a similar size but more ergonomic. If the screen felt too small, then get the Odin 2.
Lost me at no backlights. Although I doubt they'll ever lower the price, I'll be picking up the original Odin in the next couple weeks. $199 can't beat that for what you get!
Thanks for the great review. I know these things take a ton of time, but just as a "real life scenario" reference I would have loved to see battery results for 50% brightness and fans on a balanced mode. As a dad I don't really have a ton of time to play games anyways, so even the worst case scenarios are more than enough for me anyways.
The closer we get to having a device that can emulate everything in one the more I'm willing to buy. PS2 running full library and speed for me is a big one. Having vita and psp would be amazing. The 3ds on it was certainly interesting although a weird formactor for that emulation for me. The switch emulation would be cool. Really I want that full sony lineup pocketable. Really REALLY just want that full PS2 library though. Can't imagine carrying that in my bag every day.
Cool....normal Odin looks like a chonky beast. I like the slick black and hope it looks all matt finish like the demo model you have. I liked the Vita more for the hardware than the actual games, though I was admittedly a clutz trying to control any game requiring dexterity on that device. Now my Vita is just a collectors item that I don't actually use.
Great video very good information and honest.....I started going through a few reviews with devices that didn't turn out as advertised like the RP4 pro......Your video was THE only one that never felt like a advertisement......EVERYONE Kai's.... Rerto Tech Dad .....EVERYONE else reviewed this soooooo positively and it was a RP3++ just crap it's funny how many will get these "free" review units and never buy one to support the crap they are giving glowing reviews to and lie about performance and we as consumers paid supporting these crappy devices thx for NOT BEING A SHILL IM CALLING OUT ALL OTHER REVIEWERS BC THEY ADVERTISED DOG CRAP IF THEY GET SOMETHING FREE!!!
Nah, not everyone. Taki's a real one. I don't really have any problem with The Phawx, but he's too busy. Sometimes makes me Gamers Nexus sleepy. When I'm serious about something, I watch, read everything, even the ones, in the do not watch because of reasons. I aggregate. You shouldn't rely on only a single reviewer regardless, because even the best miss something and even watching, reading everything, there's still unseen parts of the iceberg. Russ (RGC) is pretty transparent, he does invest in some things. He's been pretty up front about his point of view and why he doesn't delve into somethings. I'm not saying he's flawless, but you have enough information to know where his blindspots are.
It is not a Odin 2 mini, if it was, it should look just like the odin 2 but smaller. It is not a smaller more portable odin 2. I think it should have its own name. Use the white foam cutout that came with the device when opening it up.
Random gripe, I actually super don’t like M1/M2 buttons on the back of the hand grips. I never use them and I’m always pushing them and making clicking sounds I don’t want. Just annoying to me. 😅🤦🏻♂️
Very, very nice device and very nice review as always. I would prefer the mini odin over the original. The size and shape are perfect. As of the Dpad placement .. my humble opinion is that people are buying too many devices for playing the same systems and all that happens is stockpiling tons of rarely used devices just for owning them, kinda of addiction not even using their full potential (unless upgrading, which will involve to dispose/gift/sell the device not in use)... feel free to disagree😊
One big caveat you are missing. Without those two back buttons from the Odin 2, you aree going to have a much more difficult time playing N64 games. The two bsck buttons give you 6 face buttons. Basically the back buttons would be (C) Left and (C) Right. While "Y" becomes (C) Up and "B" is (C) Down. Otherwise, you are looking at having to configure every N64 games individually, and even then, some games will feel just awkward. Just a heads up.
I've got a small question regarding the screen if you don't mind; How far into the red does it go with Androids night mode/ bedtime/ wind down (or whatever its exactly called)? The OG Odin does a somewhat okay job at it for me but I'm craving something smaller 😓It's probably a feature no one really cares about, but for me it's kind of a potential dealbreaker, especially if the screen is still bright at lower brightness settings :( Thanks :)
@@samsungfan1982 Yep, and you really can't beat that battery. Small can be cool, but I think the Odin 2 Pro is the better overall device, and it's still pretty damn compact.
@@samsungfan1982 yeah I'm done buying handhelds for a while. After I sold my Steam Deck I picked up an Rg353v, Odin 2 Pro, and recently ordered a TrimUI Smart Pro to tinker with just because it was only $50. Won't buy anything else until Steam Deck 2, or Switch 2 if it's backwards compatible (which it won't be lol).
@JoeysRetroHandhelds I know! A while back techdweeb said he was working through the interesting ones in the GBA library. I'd love to hear his list at the end of that 'tunnel'. The GBA is fantastic.
GBA is really like that. If u use retroarch and like the HD-2D try shaders "Scalefx-9x" for prettiness or "BRZ-freescale" for zero latency semi-prettiness. They're amazing for any pixel-art game.
I'm just waiting for consistency or battery life. For me overall it's ergonomics, battery life, blue tooth, and to what level of gaming. I mostly and playing for old school rpgs.
I was in the same boat. When ayaneo announced more 1440p screen version with improved dpad are available, i jumped on it. The 1440p screen is so much better for integer scaling/ shaders.
I was pleasantly surprised to see the Xbox/Dreamcast/Playstation-US button layout on the Mini when the announcement came out. Wouldn't think of messing that up with the Nintendo arrangement. 🙃
I found that the shoulder buttons on the PS Vita kinda rocked when pressed on the outer edges of the buttons. Is that an issue for the Odin 2 Mini, or are they stiffer?
I have a hard time seeing things on the RP 4pro, so I imaging I will have the same problem here. I'm not that young anymore. I wish they could kept the screen size of the Odin 2's screen. We don't need the damn bezel.
i have a crazy question. The joystick LED rings. How are they attached? to the motherboard or to the joystick itself? If its part of the joystick assembly then could it be swappable with the regular Odin 2 joystick? Im only speaking for myself but i could solder some power wires and bring led joysticks back. im sure the software is there for it to control it too. thanks sorry its a crazy question lol just curious.
Which would work better, traveling for work trips if I fly a lot for a conference to play in a hotel? I'm looking for something that can pack well and travel well in my backpack. I already own a Steam deck at home and avoid traveling with it because I would hate to lose it and seems bulky.
Does the colored button kit , d pad and sticks available on their site for the Odin 2 work for the mini also? I know the shoulder triggers and start select buttons are different but it would be awesome to have the colored buttons , gray d pad & sticks on the white.
I’m just here confirming I want something I’ve already purchased lol.
I'm the same prob gonna drop my odin 2 for this or keep both😂😂
Lol same
Lol fr,this would be my main emulation handheld since I mainly use my win3 to play WW and steam games at home.
@@larryjacobs1280the sbc gamer in you is telling you to keep both. It is for me lol
Same!!! 😂
Man… taking that apart looked like a nightmare thank you for your sacrifice lol 🙏
So many things!
I'm basically just watching these videos while I wait for mine to come in
Thanks for being alive my dude
Nice review bud. I sold my Odin 2 max today for this. I just wanted something more pocketable with the same power!
Gonna be my first AYN device. Preordered already. Hope they ship ot earlier than promised dates.
Same! I was all in on the Ayaneo Pocket S (pre-ordered it and all) then I saw this and the reviews for the Pocket S and cancelled my preorder and got this instead!
You will not be disappointed
You match my opinion and preferences more than 9 times out of 10.
Russ called his subscribers "inside people" and here you are with the mini touching grass! Great to hear both perspectives! I have a RP Flip and havent decided on what Odin model I want yet. Maybe this is the answer and I will actually leave my house ;)
I'm with you in the sound section. The mini sounds clear, the Odin 2 audio seems muffled.
…the ayn odin 2 is the best sounding handheld device out there at the moment…crisp…clear…loud…full…rich…dynamic…
As an owner of the Odin 2 that 8000 mh battery is god tier idk if I’ll ever buy any other device that doesn’t have at least that. It’s such a damn nice feeling to not have to charge it for quite a while even with constant playing. Should be the new standard IMO.
Agreed man. As I'm always on the road, battery is king for me.
More about size for me this will finally solve my problem of taking my Ayaneo 2 6800u to work
See I don't care too much because I always carry a 145 fast charging battery pack everywhere I go.
@@cheeeeezewizzz same I usually have like 2 to 3 different ones
@@cheeeeezewizzz yes, everyone has battery packs. There is still a huge amount of value in a device that doesn't NEED one for an entire day.
How dare you say the Odin 2 is garbage and belongs in the garbage and all people who like it are garbage. I trusted you.
Sometimes when new things come out and invalidates the old one but for me the mini is not something I lost a bit of sleepover. People talk about how the screen is better minus the vignetting but when I first looked at the Odin 2 coming from an LCD steam deck I thought it was an OLED. I think the LCD on the Odin 2 is fantastic and I am fully happy with the device. I am using it so much.
Also everybody has trouble filming this screen and I don't. I have a lot a lot a lot of experience some professional with filming especially when it comes to exposure management so ping me if you would like to talk.
Also vignetting is fixable, easily through software so they should fix it. There's a lot of screens that you don't realize that have vignetting problems. They are just resolved in software, the same way most lenses have distortion
Absolutely awesome display. A lot of reviewers are simply going "meh" at the screen, even going as far as saying it's "too bright". It's clearly a big upgrade over the Oden 2 screen in every imaginable way. Awesome to hear it does HDR as well!
Yeah Russ saying it was too bright was kinda like a wtf moment. I use my stuff on the go in taxis, the metro, trains, airports all the time. I ALWAYS want more brightness. Like....4000 nits is what I want.
I've been trying to decide if I want to buy one of these. This might be the video that convinces me to do it.
I've been waiting for this video. Let's go!
I'm holding on to upgrade for that Odin 2 Flip (or DS) lol... That will be killer.
Love the long-form reviews!
okay I’ve been holding back on these handhelds for years now, but with this one’s ps vita like design I think I’m gonna pull the trigger honestly. Looks fantastic. Although android throws me off not being able to emulate xbox360 and ps3
Such a tease with the battery life test! I guess I'll find out the battery life on gc/ps2/etc with low brightness when it ships 😞 Thanks for the review 💜
I ordered the wite one too... 😭 I can't wait to get it already!!!
So our use cases are certainly a little different since I mostly game at home when I'm resting, or on a school bus heading with my students to an event, but honestly, I can absolutely see the value in both. I can't justify the Mini now -- maybe some day, but as a big AYN fan, I look foward to what's next.
How comfortable is using the dpad in this form factor. I feel like PSP was comfortable given the location of the dpad given its form factor
It honestly looks more premium than the original tbh
Another review?? This is a pleasant surprise. 😊
Thanks for the heads up. I’m going to have to cancel my pre-orders. I’ve got big hands. There’s no way I’ll be able to play my favorite super Mario games now unless I take the cap off and I’ll lose it.
Joystick on bottom is the only thing I hate about the RP4. This seems like a dream.
Excellent review
And I'm glad I ordered the mini now instead of the original one
I've been interesting in the Odin 2 for a while now ever since I found out about when I saw someone was playing MixingMeets(a fan revival of an official app for the Tamagotchi On/Meets) on an Anbernic RG353V(MixingMeets will not work on the Odin 2 nor mini cause it has issues with newer Android) leading to looking it up & falling down the android handheld rabbit hole until I found out about the Odin 2
I liked the fact it was a portable system that could not only play a few systems on the go but could play Wii games & had Switch as an option.(Just really want to play Animal Crossing Animal Parade on the go & that extra analog stick will be useful for that extra wii remote thing the game has for some reason) While I liked it I wanted something more pocket sized so the Odin 2 Mini is what I was hoping for. I'm a little sad that there's no other color options(before learning about the mini I was looking at an Odin 2 with colored buttons) but I'll settle for what's available, then again I'm not going to be ready to buy this anytime soon cause I have things to save up for so maybe there will be more options when I finally can buy it. A little annoyed the bag won't be free after pre-orders since I can't buy preorder but I guess I'll have to accept that I need to save up more or go see if someone is selling their Odin 2 mini bag for cheaper at a later point.
I don't know what to do 😅 ! I have the Odin 2 but I'm a 5' girl with tiny hands and reaching the triggers is kind of a problem. Plus I live in Europe, where 400$ is a lot of money since we earn so much less than in the US/Canada. I don't want to configure it again. But that form factor is awsome ❤.
I still prefer regular Odin 2 because of some reason:
- IPS screen is indeed a little worse, but screen-burning worry free
- significantly bigger battery
- better grip (I own a vita so I know the mini has the same less-comfortable grip feel)
- bigger screen for 3DS or DS emulation
- bonus: a little bit cheaper
Price is a big disappointement for me, i'll keep my Odin 2
No need to worry about burn in on mini led, its lcd, just with backlight split in pieces.
FU Joey!! 😁You've convinced me to buy this awesome device even though I have an Odin 2 Pro. A smaller, more pocketable version of what I have sounds nice.
@@TheNintenja Oh I'd never sell my Odin 2 Pro. Definitely the best android handheld for retro emulation. I'd get the mini just for riding the train to work and being outside. At home I'd use the bigger screen of the O2 Pro
Thanks joey. I was right in thinking this over the news cast this week!
New subscriber here and I like your takes on things, Joey! Glad I found your channel and eager to see more content from you!
👏👏👏
Oh yeah! Surprise video! 🍻🔥🤘🏼
One of the Anbernics back in the day, someone on Etsy made these weird thumbstick replacemetns that I kind of LOVED. I want to say it was the 353 series, and it was basically they removed the "STICK" part of thumbstick, and had a knurled dome. I only used it on the right side, since most of my games don't use the right thumbstick and when I needed it, for the few PS1 games out there that that line could play, it was great to have and it didn't hinder my play ability. I wonder if I could buy them again.
One thing about the price ... the Odin 2 is cheaper because it's on "sale" ... both the Odin 2 base and the Odin 2 Mini base are listed on Ayn's site at $339 but the Odin 2 base is "discounted" to $299.
You wonder if - after the hype dies down - the Odin 2 Mini's also going to go to $299 ... or perhaps $309 which was the initial discount price they gave to a few customers.
I'm with you on that one, when people say "As low as" or "Right now" for $299 instead of saying its on sale it comes off as misinforming. Not a big deal if you do the research but still :/
@@manis77 It's never not been on sale though since it came out. It won't ever cost more than $299 it's just their marketing tactic
$299 is the actual price however, they won't be raising the price.
It's not misinformation, the price is $299 and won't be changing.
@@odanrov It's the same tactic KB Toys got sued for a couple of times before they finally went bankrupt.
Great video, I think this is the best review you have done so far! Just some feedback, please mention the emulator version in the showcase section.
Besides Switch, did I miss one?
@@JoeysRetroHandhelds None of them have versions listed, for example Nethersx 1.9 just came out which claims to do some performance improvements but its hard to know from the video if you are using 1.8 or the newer one etc.
@@ListogreOfficial It's not performance updates, just applying automatic fixes, that's all GameDB does. But no, this was Nether v1.8.
The vignetting and thumbstick getting in the way of the X A button is enough for me to decide on the Odin 2.
The stick only gets in the way if you hold it weird
Great review Joey very thorough and balanced. Looking forward to a white pro as well!
Going to replace my Odin1 Lite that hasn’t got much use since the sticks were meh and 6in screen was a tad big for retro games
Odin 2 mini is just the perfect form factor for me personally im definitely gonna get it
You gotta squint just to see it. To small for me
Am I the only 1 that just uses left analogue stick for most things instead of dpad?
It's fine for most games for me.
Another way to decide: if you have a Steamdeck or handheld PC, the Odin 2 Mini is probably the way to go of the 2. You’ll then have more flexibility in bringing a device on the go depending on portability constraints.
If you don’t have either, then like he said the best value would be Odin 2 [I am here, but considering a base Steamdeck as well]
If you have a Switch, let that guide you also, if you had the Lite and just found it a bit flat, the Mini might be perfect as it’s a similar size but more ergonomic. If the screen felt too small, then get the Odin 2.
2:57 see you on the next video bud 😊
Does the Odin2 mini fit the Odin2 Superdock or is it too thick?
Nvm looked back the initial video, used a jumpgate pro
I don't really care about the lower battery compared to Odin 2. 4.5 hrs of GameCube is insane coming from Steam Deck which usually gets
This just makes me think the OG Odin 2 is such good value
I got the OG Odin 2, good to know it's not worth the upgrade.
thanks joey a good unbiased review
Lost me at no backlights. Although I doubt they'll ever lower the price, I'll be picking up the original Odin in the next couple weeks. $199 can't beat that for what you get!
Thanks for the great review.
I know these things take a ton of time, but just as a "real life scenario" reference I would have loved to see battery results for 50% brightness and fans on a balanced mode. As a dad I don't really have a ton of time to play games anyways, so even the worst case scenarios are more than enough for me anyways.
I have an unreasonable hate for the font that Ayn used on the Odin 2 buttons, so I'm glad that they were more reasonable on the Mini.
Waiting on a a deal for a preowned Odin 2 now that this is out. Bigger screen and battery wins for me.
Well well well, good review !
Let's GOOOOOO mini.
The closer we get to having a device that can emulate everything in one the more I'm willing to buy. PS2 running full library and speed for me is a big one. Having vita and psp would be amazing. The 3ds on it was certainly interesting although a weird formactor for that emulation for me. The switch emulation would be cool. Really I want that full sony lineup pocketable. Really REALLY just want that full PS2 library though. Can't imagine carrying that in my bag every day.
Very temping, but I think I'll pull the trigger on an OLED Odin 3
Cool....normal Odin looks like a chonky beast. I like the slick black and hope it looks all matt finish like the demo model you have. I liked the Vita more for the hardware than the actual games, though I was admittedly a clutz trying to control any game requiring dexterity on that device. Now my Vita is just a collectors item that I don't actually use.
I kinda wish they would've launched the mini 1st. oh well love my full size odin 2 regardless.
“I’m not a Sega person.” Channel cancelled!
I wish the Odin 2 mini had lights on the sides and sticks like the Odin 2.
Great video very good information and honest.....I started going through a few reviews with devices that didn't turn out as advertised like the RP4 pro......Your video was THE only one that never felt like a advertisement......EVERYONE Kai's.... Rerto Tech Dad .....EVERYONE else reviewed this soooooo positively and it was a RP3++ just crap it's funny how many will get these "free" review units and never buy one to support the crap they are giving glowing reviews to and lie about performance and we as consumers paid supporting these crappy devices thx for NOT BEING A SHILL IM CALLING OUT ALL OTHER REVIEWERS BC THEY ADVERTISED DOG CRAP IF THEY GET SOMETHING FREE!!!
Nah, not everyone. Taki's a real one. I don't really have any problem with The Phawx, but he's too busy. Sometimes makes me Gamers Nexus sleepy.
When I'm serious about something, I watch, read everything, even the ones, in the do not watch because of reasons. I aggregate. You shouldn't rely on only a single reviewer regardless, because even the best miss something and even watching, reading everything, there's still unseen parts of the iceberg.
Russ (RGC) is pretty transparent, he does invest in some things. He's been pretty up front about his point of view and why he doesn't delve into somethings. I'm not saying he's flawless, but you have enough information to know where his blindspots are.
It is not a Odin 2 mini, if it was, it should look just like the odin 2 but smaller. It is not a smaller more portable odin 2. I think it should have its own name. Use the white foam cutout that came with the device when opening it up.
Random gripe, I actually super don’t like M1/M2 buttons on the back of the hand grips. I never use them and I’m always pushing them and making clicking sounds I don’t want. Just annoying to me. 😅🤦🏻♂️
I only really used them for streaming apps.
I think the dimishing battery life is because of the up time, the longer the up time the more energy the screen will eat up.
For anyone wanting to play vita games that aren't compatible, try the switch ports most Vita games have switch ports and switch emu is more advanced
What switch emulator is good these days on android? Sudachi?
@@Jabbernut-games a lot of different ones now and some run games that others don't
Very, very nice device and very nice review as always. I would prefer the mini odin over the original. The size and shape are perfect. As of the Dpad placement .. my humble opinion is that people are buying too many devices for playing the same systems and all that happens is stockpiling tons of rarely used devices just for owning them, kinda of addiction not even using their full potential (unless upgrading, which will involve to dispose/gift/sell the device not in use)... feel free to disagree😊
the vignetting looks very noticeable on camera.... it appears much more on darker scenes with movement, not on a white screen
I mean, Im guessinghere, but the mini-led is still probably an IPS, just with a miniled backlight with full array
One big caveat you are missing. Without those two back buttons from the Odin 2, you aree going to have a much more difficult time playing N64 games.
The two bsck buttons give you 6 face buttons. Basically the back buttons would be (C) Left and (C) Right. While "Y" becomes (C) Up and "B" is (C) Down.
Otherwise, you are looking at having to configure every N64 games individually, and even then, some games will feel just awkward.
Just a heads up.
Never used them.
I've got a small question regarding the screen if you don't mind; How far into the red does it go with Androids night mode/ bedtime/ wind down (or whatever its exactly called)?
The OG Odin does a somewhat okay job at it for me but I'm craving something smaller 😓It's probably a feature no one really cares about, but for me it's kind of a potential dealbreaker, especially if the screen is still bright at lower brightness settings :(
Thanks :)
Do you use the Twilight app? It's an overlay/affects screenshots but it gets very red and dim!
@@backandforththemusical3783 Wait theres an extra app that can make the screen even more red/ amber?? That might be a lifesaver 🥺
Man I just got the Odin 2 Pro. As much as I like the form factor I’ll have to skip this time. Awesome review as always!
I honestly think you're better off.
I think so too. The comfort and screen size of the full size is tops.
@@samsungfan1982 Yep, and you really can't beat that battery. Small can be cool, but I think the Odin 2 Pro is the better overall device, and it's still pretty damn compact.
The battery never dies for real! I may charge it once a week and I use it daily!! have all the handhelds I need for a while too.
@@samsungfan1982 yeah I'm done buying handhelds for a while. After I sold my Steam Deck I picked up an Rg353v, Odin 2 Pro, and recently ordered a TrimUI Smart Pro to tinker with just because it was only $50. Won't buy anything else until Steam Deck 2, or Switch 2 if it's backwards compatible (which it won't be lol).
I need a top 20 GBA games list from you Joey. That's my most played system too.
Oh that's difficult lol
@JoeysRetroHandhelds I know! A while back techdweeb said he was working through the interesting ones in the GBA library. I'd love to hear his list at the end of that 'tunnel'. The GBA is fantastic.
@@JoeysRetroHandhelds Golden Sun better be in the top 20!
Cant wait to get mines!
Hell yea! Thank you.
Great video Joey! I would have considered the Mini only if it was around $50 less...
GBA is really like that. If u use retroarch and like the HD-2D try shaders "Scalefx-9x" for prettiness or "BRZ-freescale" for zero latency semi-prettiness. They're amazing for any pixel-art game.
All of these years people wished they could run Android on PS Vita someday, and now we got an Android device that runs PS Vita instead 😅
Nothing plays the vita games better than a vita same with a 3ds
I'm just waiting for consistency or battery life. For me overall it's ergonomics, battery life, blue tooth, and to what level of gaming. I mostly and playing for old school rpgs.
Care to speculate if/when a Odin 3 would be coming?
Wind waker settings? Looks way better on yours than mine. Thx!
I didn't get. What else will I lose after the pre purchase? Baterry Life? Screen? Back Buttons? Didn't get it... The Device will be another?
I can't decide between this and the Pocket S 😢
I was in the same boat. When ayaneo announced more 1440p screen version with improved dpad are available, i jumped on it. The 1440p screen is so much better for integer scaling/ shaders.
The right stick in the way of the buttons is the biggest problem for me. I’d want a reviewer put this in pocket with a phone like I do with my vita
Let's go!!!!!! CH3 dunna dun dun dunna dun dun
I was pleasantly surprised to see the Xbox/Dreamcast/Playstation-US button layout on the Mini when the announcement came out. Wouldn't think of messing that up with the Nintendo arrangement. 🙃
Hi Joey is it possible to change the thermalpad of the Mini? Thanks
Which handheld device is the best for ps1 & ps2 games?
Mini if you like smaller better looking screen
i can't decide if i want the regular size or the mini... U.U also I don't know if I should buy one now or just wait until end of year
I found that the shoulder buttons on the PS Vita kinda rocked when pressed on the outer edges of the buttons. Is that an issue for the Odin 2 Mini, or are they stiffer?
I have a hard time seeing things on the RP 4pro, so I imaging I will have the same problem here. I'm not that young anymore. I wish they could kept the screen size of the Odin 2's screen. We don't need the damn bezel.
What about the input lag? Can you do the Cadence of Hyrule test? I cant enjoy my Odin 2 because the input lag. Looking for an option
i have a crazy question. The joystick LED rings. How are they attached? to the motherboard or to the joystick itself? If its part of the joystick assembly then could it be swappable with the regular Odin 2 joystick? Im only speaking for myself but i could solder some power wires and bring led joysticks back. im sure the software is there for it to control it too. thanks sorry its a crazy question lol just curious.
But does it get warm? A dealbreaker for me since I have a higher temperature
It does get Very warm compared to the Odin 2
@@robras2850 rip
@@robras2850 well.... i desparately wanted to love this device rip...
Which would work better, traveling for work trips if I fly a lot for a conference to play in a hotel? I'm looking for something that can pack well and travel well in my backpack. I already own a Steam deck at home and avoid traveling with it because I would hate to lose it and seems bulky.
1000% Mini then.
Does the colored button kit , d pad and sticks available on their site for the Odin 2 work for the mini also? I know the shoulder triggers and start select buttons are different but it would be awesome to have the colored buttons , gray d pad & sticks on the white.
please pocket test with a phone in the same pocket also i need this info for the rp2s how does it compare to the rg35xx h
what launcher is being used at 11:28?
Beacon!
The title I read:
Odin 2 MIN review =)))
Handheld space has gone nuclear
Thank you i wanted someone to make a video on it already