Which one wins for you, or is another option better entirely? Notes: - Portal is getting an ergo grip!! Looks awesome. If you already ordered one and want to add it to your order, email them at info@ayn.hk - Also, the Portal now has ARR up to 120hz working. - Portal is shipping by end of January now. There has been a shell re-design to accommodate the 8000mah battery. - Evo has WiFi7, apparently, per IGG discussion. The speed results make more sense now!
@@retrohandhelds definitely prefer the AYN odin 2 portal over the AYANEO pocket evo for a few main reasons. better driver/game compatibility with the snapdragon 8 gen 2 over the G3x gen 2, much lighter body (430g vs 480g), more reliable software and support from AYN over AYANEO, and $100 cheaper for the base model. has the exact same panel & is apparently tuned slightly better. plus the headphone jack lol
I stepped outside, looked up to the sky, the stars said it was going to be a special Friday, went back in, refreshed TH-cam and this video showed up. The stars have not deceived me. THANKS STUBBS!
I’m going for the Portal. Between the price, the additional support, and AYNs stronger track record, it is the one to beat imo. Additionally, evo is chunkier than what I’m looking for.
I canceled my Evo pre-order when the Portal was announced. Still sticking with that decision. AYN has a better track record when it comes to customer/post-purchase support and also has a larger community and mod support. Grip case that comes w/portal hopely takes the ergos from "good" to "great". I think I'd prefer the Evo if the controls were a little bit more offset, 3.5mm, ff speakers, headphone jack, and g3x g2 driver support was better. Also ayaneo customer support is lacking. I think the Evo looks better especially that retro colorway but odin2 portal will likely be the overall better device & is a bit cheaper.
youre crazy if you think they have a better track record or youre just new to the market lmfao knew i wouldnt have to scroll far to see an ignorant comment
There is no way AYN and Retroid are not the same company, the portal looks exactly like the RP5 just bigger with different stick layout and better specs lol
Yea it's not really a secret that they are owned by the same umbrella company, Moorechip Technologies. Ayn and Ayaneo are different divisions and serve slightly different use cases, so they will know exactly what the other one is doing. Ayn is their more budget friendly mainly Android setup. Whereas Ayaneo is more high end hardware side and also make ARM/ X86 i.e Windows handhelds as swell as Android.
Great video. I've had my Evo for a few days now and really love it. I love the design, the ergonomics are fantastic, i can dragkn punch easily and consistently on the d-pad and having proper big joysticks is brilliant. Only downsides for me are the relatively small face buttons, and the lack of the headphone jack (which i didnt realise when I backed it). I also think it sounds loud and full, the speakers sound great to me, and are placed so that your hands don't cover them. I cant see anyone who gets fhe Evo being disappointed.
Eh it was just for fun, I've never tried that before, but next time ill time them separately thats a good point. I also tried streaming them at the same time and Portal showed a bit more artifacting, but again, I don't think you can conclude much from that.
Thank you, great review I already ordered Odin 2 Portal!I was between these 2 before my order, but now I know I'm done right! I love Ayaneo,I have my Ayaneo 2 almost a year, great handheld, premium feel and look, front glass bezel less screen (on the top now!), very good grip, but...in the end I was very disappointed and lost trust in Ayaneo after my battery in Ayaneo 2 was swollen on my holiday plane trip, quite scary!!!! This is a warning for everyone.thx
Ayaneo is a very clever company, they don't need to make a completely new product, like competition,they take just what they already have, housing(shell) is from Ayaneo Geek and interior components are from Ayaneo pocket S, battery from Ayaneo Kun and that's it, only screen is new!😂😂😂😂
I ordered the Portal and meanwhile I sold my Odin 2. I was waiting for a higher refresh rate amoled screen since I do plenty of game streaming. The ergonomics should improve with the grip they designed to replace the tpu shell, but we'll have to wait and see.
As far as TH-cam comments go, this is going to be long... You have been warned. I am not a gamer, but I used to be. I pretty much quit gaming when Fallout Tactics was released. I pre-paid and it was so terrible on release that I pretty much just gave up on the hobby. Of course, by that time in my life I was running low on free time. I'm old. I predate video games. I was hatched in the fifties. Anyhow, I've been thinking about some retro gaming. I decided to look into the hobby. I only want to dip my toes in before investing time and money. I'm a Linux user and I'm aware that I can emulate anything on the computer. (More on that in a bit.) After a bunch of reading, I bought the dirt-cheap version. I went with the GB300 which, as I understand, will not even play SNES games smoothly. That's fine. It's just to wet my feet a bit. I chose it because it was like $6 and uses a TF card. That gives me a lot of choices for such a cheap device - and the other emulators work just fine for what it is. I know it will be a crappy device and a suboptimal experience. That's fine. I merely want to see if I'm even a little interested in it for more than a few hours, after which I never touch it again. So, this is just a test. If I do like it, my next step will not be a handheld but will be another test. I'll buy one of those drives that come with a ton of games. I've picked on that you just plug in and reboot - using the interrupt keys to tell the computer to boot the USB. (I do this whenever I want to install Linux, so I'm quite familiar with it.) Also, it uses Batocera which is a Linux operating system. So, I'll be comfortable there. I will need to buy a controller. By that time, I'll know if I like it. So, I won't skimp on the controller and will find something worth buying. I've binge-watched a ton of videos. I've read a lot. Now it's time to see if it's something I'll get into. It could happen. Yes, that's quite a novella. I type quickly and I'm not doing anything better while I watch your videos.
How much stronger is the base model for portal 2 than rp5? I love the rp5 but 5.5 inch screen i find is a little too small. Rp5 has some slowdown i find with Wii U. So wondering if base model is good enough with still a power upgrade..
Great comparison! Odin 2 owner here, I'm good with what I have for years ahead now but it's fun watching these things evolve. On the subject of refresh rates, I know companies are focusing on higher rates, but I actually wish there was more support for 50hz. I grew up with PAL micro systems as did many of my UK retro game friends, and I can only think of ONE handheld that supports this: the Analogue Pocket. Am I wrong there? This is something I never hear discussed and would love to hear you guys talk about! It's huge for me as I can't play Amiga or Commodore 64 games as I remember them, and they were my whole childhood. The only way it so play NTSC versions which run way faster and speed up music and audio in a way that's nothing like the original experience was. PAL games scrolling will stutter horribly on 60hz displays. Would love to hear your thoughts! Some day I dream I'll be able to play PAL Amiga Turrican accurately on one of these devices!
Thanks James! I think you'd need to step up to a Steam Deck or x86 handheld that can do custom refresh rates below 60 if you want true PAL. I never thought about this topic much, I'll need to consider it now! 🫡
Man..now I don't know what to get haha I have someone selling the Odin 2 pro in my local area for $400 cad. What do you recommend, me wait or go ahead with the Odin 2 pro?
I am not buying either as I want my retro handheld to be pocketable. I have an Ayaneo Pocket S for high-end emulation. But if I were to buy one, I'd most probably choose the Evo. Based on my experience with Pocket S and Odin 2, Ayaneo's android OS feels more mature with visual customization and performance tuning. My complaints are- you can't adjust the sticks' dead zone and can't customize all those extra buttons Ayaneo has.
I emailed Aya about the two buttons, to me it should be a no brainer that extra buttons like M1 M2 on the Odin should be available in games but they locked them behind their functions. Hopefully they fix that soon cause giving a choice doesn't take away from their plans
Received my White product unit Evo on wednesday, so far liking most of it except for the speakers, a noticeable downgrade from my other handhelds. The screen is absolutely gorgeous! Let’s see which one I will ended up keeping when the portal arrives in January. If someone would just get linux or windows on arm running on these that would be a game changer.
For me it's the Portal, and not just because I already paid for it. It's also price-to-features, size, the existing support for the chipset, and, honestly, even for how similar they are, to me the Portal just looks better. I'm in wait and see mode as far as the grip shell. I've played with devices that have no grips, so I may be fine with it, but if not, I'll order the grip. I've considered the Steam Deck in the past, but it's too much of a tank. I'd like to see a measurement comparison, but I know the Deck is like 50% heavier.
Oh man, yeah, this is super subjective so not the worst plan (except for the wallet). I also want both for different reasons, but ill likely only keep one in the end. 😅🤣
@ I ordered a 16GB+1TB black 🙃, and yea I’ll probably keep one after trying both out. I’ve been doing a lot of local Moonlight streaming on the couch lately, so I’m sure one of these will be perfect
Are they the same length or width, you didn't really compare their overall size. That retro power ayaneo case is awesome, does the Portal fit in there? I want to use a Nintendo branded case (switch size) but don't know if the Portal will be too long for that type of case. I'm getting so hyped to get my hands on the Portal, Great video Stubbs!
@ Thank you for the reply. At my age I find myself squinting and struggling to read in game text. I may have to wait for a device with a larger oled screen 😂
@@Spacecowboy2086 For sure! What's interesting is that text is a little sharper on IPS screens, so recently i've gone back to preferring IPS for my devices I want to read on. For gaming though, yeah OLED is just so good looking!
That flashing at 120hz looks like the gamma shifting on oleds at different refresh rates. I think the the 120hz is buggy on the odin 2 portal and flicking back and forth from 16 to 8 ms
2 great devices, i prefer the design language, ergos and the aya space software. However, ayn has bettee software support and the chipset is superior...but tipping point for me is the price. Unbothered about anything bigger and 8gb ram for Android use case and i can get a much bigger SD Card (prob 1TB) to use past the 128GB...So the same base models are respectively almost £80 difference in pricd🥶 for this i'll probably get the Portal
@retrohandhelds I debated between the RP5 and Odin 2 for a few days. With so many choices, sometimes picking the right device for you is the hardest part. Thank you for all your work in the community!
Yeah I'm going to wait at least 6 months after the Retail Release to buy the Odin 2 Portal. I'm currently dealing with issues with my Loki Mini Pro I purchased last year. ☹️
@tonyrosario1940 Basically what happened is I got a defective unit. I played with the Handheld for a few months, then put it in it's case for some months. Then I came back to it only to find out it won't turn on. I contacted an AYN representative and was told my warranty ended in October. This means I can't just send it back for a replacement. So right now I'm trying to get my Loki Mini Pro repaired with money from my pocket. Hopefully everything works out but I won't be jumping on AYN's Indiegogo Campaigns anymore. I'll wait for a couple batches to go by before buying their products.
The ally is super uncomfortable with those edges... I had it for a bit and their controls are all the way at the top, it makes you lift the device more than on the others, not my cup of tea. Plus getting android stuff to work was a pain, maybe it's cause wild rift uses a weird engine or they block emulators it didn't work for me but you just get so much weight and less battery. just get a pc plus an android handheld or like me get the legion go which is also a pc but you can use it for much more and then get Evo or portal as companion which you can use on the go easily for hours
definitely prefer the AYN odin 2 portal over the AYANEO pocket evo for a few main reasons. better driver/game compatibility with the snapdragon 8 gen 2 over the G3x gen 2, much lighter body (430g vs 480g), more reliable software and support from AYN over AYANEO, and $100 cheaper for the base model. has the exact same panel & is apparently tuned slightly better. plus the headphone jack lol
The lack of a front facing camera makes both a pass for me. It's clear they've castrated the android ecosystem to gaming only while they could be much much more...
Odin 2 Portal is the clear winner for me. In terms of the device I think there is nothing between them. But the fact that the base Portal is $100 cheaper makes it far better value. Also the Portal is going to have much better support and they have a far better track record than Ayaneo.
far better track record is a flat out uneducated statement . You must be new to the market if you think they actually have a better track record. Been burned far more times by Ayn than ive ever been by ayaneo.
@const3llations_370 Don't want to get into an argument. I have been in the hobby for a short while but it's clear to see when on the biggest retro handheld forums that the overwhelming majority prefer AYN. I have also seen a lot of problems already on the EVO. Such as games running upside down, not being able to map buttons properly etc. I know it might get fixed but it doesn't inspire confidence. The Odin 2 on the other hand already has lots of support and seems to be regarded as the best Retro handheld ever and the Portal is just an updated version.
I might even wait until the new lenovo legion go strix point with oled comes out in January might be better option,especially for the money these two cost.
10:53 Barbies's Plumber Adventure ZX Spectrum I know what you did there and it's hilarious 🤣🤣. I'm not even comenting the name of the company so their bots can't find that.
EVO’s got down-firing, more muffled-sounding speakers, and does not have a 3.5mm jack. It’s a chunky and more expensive device, surely Ayaneo could’ve found the space/licensing fees for one? I’ve moved on from needing one on a phone, but on a gaming handheld? Come on, I feel like the jack should be a staple.
@@thatdarnskag5043 they make type c headphones now. I recently bought some for my Galaxy phone and tablet since they don't have a headphone jack on them.
nobody realistically wants headphone jacks in their devices anymore. MAJORITY of people buying these devices are dominantly using bluetooth audio so youre not really making any sense.
@const3llations_370 I want headphone jacks. That's why I bought type c headphones. And guess what, alot of people still want wired headphones or else they wouldn't have started making the type c ones and people wouldn't be buying them. So, you're not making any sense. You and your preference is not everybody.
Portal for me I’m not waiting for the evo chip set to be compatible with many games could take a year by that time both items will be outdated . So let’s focus on what’s best for now .
compatiblility has been there. Redmagic and Ayaneo already have devices on the market with this chipset. I dk why everyone acts like this is the first device with the Gx3 chipset.
how stable is it when gaming? I debated it but I tried razer kishi with an iPad before and it felt wobbly. The gamesir is wider on the back but the tablet is also 0.8 bigger hmmm
@@retrohandhelds It happened a looooong time ago. The only places where passive displays are used (mostly LCD) is for cheap devices like handheld radios or digital read outs for industrial equipment and even there is is getting rare. The original Gameboy was passive LCD I think ... It is like now when people refer to LCD TVs as "LED TV". They are still LCD it is just that the backlight is LED but they all are now, they haven used fluorescent bulbs for TV backilghts for years. Every LCD TV is LED backlit now.
It doesn’t hurt unless it’s 165hz. Really looking forward to the Rob deep dive on which compatibility issues might exist with the G3x gen 2 versus the 8 gen 2. Also curious about seeing PC streaming over wifi versus 2.5ghz usbc to RJ45 connector. Thanks Stubbs and Russ!
the discussions already exist. did you forget there are several devices that have been available on the market with this chipset? THis isnt the first handheld with the Gx3 chip
@@const3llations_370 Yep, you got me, of course I forgot about the other AYA NEO handhelds with the Gx3 gen 2. Of course there's no one else who makes Winlater videos featuring the Pocket S. Must've been a mixture of the rum in the Christmas spirit egg nog and anticipation of Rob's "Oh nos," that made me forget. Or, since you seem like a person who enjoys semantics, I'll direct you to the key words that make Rob's videos excellent - "deep dive." See that's the opposite of superficial, shallow or casual. Maybe now you'll understand why I seek out and look forward to certain reviewers comparison videos. Make sense now?
I was on the fence for a very long time since I currently have an Odin 2 Max, I ultimately bought the retro power Evo due to the ergonomics and look. I absolutely cannot wait, which ever one you get we all as retro gamers win! 🔥
@@ThomasTheTankEngine22Just Google "G3x gen2 specs". First result should be Qualcomms specs page where it lists "FHD+ up to 144fps", so the extra 21Hz is largely going to waste.
The Evo hands down is way more better and more innovative more ergonomic fort out of the box more premium unusual and different especially more powerful the thumb sticks and the thumb triggers and hand grips just way more better were as the portal is more trying to be the same as the pocket 5 just not innovative and don't like the ergonomics of it and not fort out of the box at all when it comes to design but not a bad design but the same design which is disappointing because I am a big ayn odin fan the portal the thumb sticks are to small and look uncomfortable don't like the thumb triggers they look fragile and they look like there gonna break and I'm not too keen on the hand grips they don't look comfortable enough I'm more of a big fan ayaneo and what they're doing so the pocket Evo definitely for me that's my opinion
I would've sprung for the ayaneo, but not with that chipset. So for price to performance it's the portal for me. If the ayaneo had a better chipset along with everything else that it already comes with then it would be the only Android device to get for a very long time.
Yeah I could take them or leave them, one benefit is you won't get any button grind by having that space open, but design wise, yeah the look isn't as good.
Funny how personal taste differs. I love that part of the design. It places the buttons in the space. Kind of like a good carpet under the couch and coffee table 😁
@davevayn true. Looks aren't the most important thing but can't be completely ugly to me. I get other people like it but it's not my thing . But if I pull out a heldheld and immediately go ugh that's ugly I'm less likely to play it. I'll stick with my Odin 2 Pro.
NGL... The Evo is too damn expensive. For the prices they want (forgetting that fact that they'll get MORE expensive) im better off getting the y700. If only AYN started using actual joysticks 😭. It would've been a no brainer. I hate their sticks with a passion
A 500+ android handheld that doesn't run everything android? Seen a bunch of Ayaneo commercials floating around getting out of hand what....justifies the price? Why pay 200-300 for a worse experience or better yet the same experience that's available now on cheaper handware....I was always convinced you guys do this just to collect free devices....
Yeah that's a fair assumption really, I used to think the same thing before I started reviewing. It is just a very boutique design mission that AYANEO has been on, for usually a specific niche buyer. However, here we find the EVO is a more mainstream device finally, but if you're considering, i'd look at the base model to keep it under $400. I think that's the best value of their options, however the Portal still wins in value overall I feel like. The lack of full android game compatibility on the Evo is really lame though.
evo is clearly the winner here , what adult wants nintendo switch joysticks ? hard no for the odin . android systems are gonna be used mostly for streaming aaa games and emulators need real size buttons rule #1
Sounds fun but too expensive!! Maybe for later on if you’re bored 🥱 right now I have my ASUS Rog ally and Retroid pocket 5 also and I also have my win 600 Batocera!! lol:D
Which one wins for you, or is another option better entirely?
Notes:
- Portal is getting an ergo grip!! Looks awesome.
If you already ordered one and want to add it to your order, email them at info@ayn.hk
- Also, the Portal now has ARR up to 120hz working.
- Portal is shipping by end of January now. There has been a shell re-design to accommodate the 8000mah battery.
- Evo has WiFi7, apparently, per IGG discussion. The speed results make more sense now!
The Odin Portal.
@@retrohandhelds definitely prefer the AYN odin 2 portal over the AYANEO pocket evo for a few main reasons. better driver/game compatibility with the snapdragon 8 gen 2 over the G3x gen 2, much lighter body (430g vs 480g), more reliable software and support from AYN over AYANEO, and $100 cheaper for the base model. has the exact same panel & is apparently tuned slightly better. plus the headphone jack lol
Pocket Evo for the big sticks and Ergo!
@@nintendork07 brother, 50 grams couldn't be less noticeable lol
@@stuon2yes that’s why I bought it Odin 2 is not good for gaming android
I stepped outside, looked up to the sky, the stars said it was going to be a special Friday, went back in, refreshed TH-cam and this video showed up. The stars have not deceived me. THANKS STUBBS!
Yessir! 😂❤
Any ''mysterious drones'' while you were looking up there?
@@chilly6470 Wait a minute.... EVO, UFO... Is this a coincidence? 🤣
Thank god I went for the EVO, made an awesome decision to stick with my purchase. love the EVO. the King of Android Handhelds is now amongst us.
EVO! in my hands in 4 days! Starry black 256+12GB
Lol my order for the same got shipped today too.
I hope I'm in the next batch 🎉 1080 lol
@@davevayn when did you put your order in?
I’m going for the Portal. Between the price, the additional support, and AYNs stronger track record, it is the one to beat imo. Additionally, evo is chunkier than what I’m looking for.
Thanks Stubbs! Great to see more info on the Portal, I hope AYN will make the changes needed for the final version. 🍻🔥🤘🏼
Yeah Tony! I think it's gonna be a real strong contender. Thanks for watching
I canceled my Evo pre-order when the Portal was announced. Still sticking with that decision.
AYN has a better track record when it comes to customer/post-purchase support and also has a larger community and mod support. Grip case that comes w/portal hopely takes the ergos from "good" to "great". I think I'd prefer the Evo if the controls were a little bit more offset, 3.5mm, ff speakers, headphone jack, and g3x g2 driver support was better. Also ayaneo customer support is lacking.
I think the Evo looks better especially that retro colorway but odin2 portal will likely be the overall better device & is a bit cheaper.
youre crazy if you think they have a better track record or youre just new to the market lmfao knew i wouldnt have to scroll far to see an ignorant comment
Can't wait to get both! But I'm leaning toward EVO so far.
Great minds sir!
There is no way AYN and Retroid are not the same company, the portal looks exactly like the RP5 just bigger with different stick layout and better specs lol
I believe they are owned by the same parent company.
They are. Both are subcompanies of moorechip
Yea it's not really a secret that they are owned by the same umbrella company, Moorechip Technologies. Ayn and Ayaneo are different divisions and serve slightly different use cases, so they will know exactly what the other one is doing. Ayn is their more budget friendly mainly Android setup. Whereas Ayaneo is more high end hardware side and also make ARM/ X86 i.e Windows handhelds as swell as Android.
Ayn announced today the adjustable refresh rate is good to go
That's awesome, that was fast!
Great video. I've had my Evo for a few days now and really love it. I love the design, the ergonomics are fantastic, i can dragkn punch easily and consistently on the d-pad and having proper big joysticks is brilliant. Only downsides for me are the relatively small face buttons, and the lack of the headphone jack (which i didnt realise when I backed it).
I also think it sounds loud and full, the speakers sound great to me, and are placed so that your hands don't cover them.
I cant see anyone who gets fhe Evo being disappointed.
Thanks, and I absolutely agree here!
I orders the portal with 120hz black frame insertion in mind. Game changer for retro games. Oled with BFI closest you can get to crt
👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿 Ohhh how I've been waiting for this review. Thank you 🎉🎉🎉🎉
You are so welcome!
Thanks Stubbs. I’ve been waiting for this video since the podcast.
ah thanks Tim! Hope you enjoy!
I did, it reinforced my decision on choosing the Odin 2 Portal over the Steamdeck and ROG Ally.
@@timothybrown8424 ah hey, there you go
That test with simultaneous download was not a good idea since it makes devices fight for router bandwidth access.
Results will be random.
Exactly
Eh it was just for fun, I've never tried that before, but next time ill time them separately thats a good point. I also tried streaming them at the same time and Portal showed a bit more artifacting, but again, I don't think you can conclude much from that.
The portal is now getting a grip shell so im so happy i bought it
Ahhh that's right! I had a section about that, I forgot to include at the end 😅
TheThe Odin 2 Portal is just a grown up RP5 😂
Thank you, great review I already ordered Odin 2 Portal!I was between these 2 before my order, but now I know I'm done right!
I love Ayaneo,I have my Ayaneo 2 almost a year, great handheld, premium feel and look, front glass bezel less screen (on the top now!), very good grip, but...in the end I was very disappointed and lost trust in Ayaneo after my battery in Ayaneo 2 was swollen on my holiday plane trip, quite scary!!!! This is a warning for everyone.thx
Ayaneo is a very clever company, they don't need to make a completely new product, like competition,they take just what they already have, housing(shell) is from Ayaneo Geek and interior components are from Ayaneo pocket S, battery from Ayaneo Kun and that's it, only screen is new!😂😂😂😂
😁
Oh dang!!!
I ordered the Portal and meanwhile I sold my Odin 2. I was waiting for a higher refresh rate amoled screen since I do plenty of game streaming. The ergonomics should improve with the grip they designed to replace the tpu shell, but we'll have to wait and see.
As far as TH-cam comments go, this is going to be long... You have been warned.
I am not a gamer, but I used to be. I pretty much quit gaming when Fallout Tactics was released. I pre-paid and it was so terrible on release that I pretty much just gave up on the hobby. Of course, by that time in my life I was running low on free time.
I'm old. I predate video games. I was hatched in the fifties.
Anyhow, I've been thinking about some retro gaming. I decided to look into the hobby. I only want to dip my toes in before investing time and money. I'm a Linux user and I'm aware that I can emulate anything on the computer. (More on that in a bit.)
After a bunch of reading, I bought the dirt-cheap version. I went with the GB300 which, as I understand, will not even play SNES games smoothly.
That's fine. It's just to wet my feet a bit. I chose it because it was like $6 and uses a TF card. That gives me a lot of choices for such a cheap device - and the other emulators work just fine for what it is.
I know it will be a crappy device and a suboptimal experience. That's fine. I merely want to see if I'm even a little interested in it for more than a few hours, after which I never touch it again. So, this is just a test.
If I do like it, my next step will not be a handheld but will be another test. I'll buy one of those drives that come with a ton of games. I've picked on that you just plug in and reboot - using the interrupt keys to tell the computer to boot the USB. (I do this whenever I want to install Linux, so I'm quite familiar with it.) Also, it uses Batocera which is a Linux operating system. So, I'll be comfortable there.
I will need to buy a controller. By that time, I'll know if I like it. So, I won't skimp on the controller and will find something worth buying.
I've binge-watched a ton of videos. I've read a lot. Now it's time to see if it's something I'll get into. It could happen.
Yes, that's quite a novella. I type quickly and I'm not doing anything better while I watch your videos.
EVO for me, for home use comfort the ergonomics is just better.
How much stronger is the base model for portal 2 than rp5? I love the rp5 but 5.5 inch screen i find is a little too small. Rp5 has some slowdown i find with Wii U. So wondering if base model is good enough with still a power upgrade..
Great comparison! Odin 2 owner here, I'm good with what I have for years ahead now but it's fun watching these things evolve.
On the subject of refresh rates, I know companies are focusing on higher rates, but I actually wish there was more support for 50hz. I grew up with PAL micro systems as did many of my UK retro game friends, and I can only think of ONE handheld that supports this: the Analogue Pocket.
Am I wrong there? This is something I never hear discussed and would love to hear you guys talk about! It's huge for me as I can't play Amiga or Commodore 64 games as I remember them, and they were my whole childhood.
The only way it so play NTSC versions which run way faster and speed up music and audio in a way that's nothing like the original experience was. PAL games scrolling will stutter horribly on 60hz displays.
Would love to hear your thoughts! Some day I dream I'll be able to play PAL Amiga Turrican accurately on one of these devices!
Thanks James! I think you'd need to step up to a Steam Deck or x86 handheld that can do custom refresh rates below 60 if you want true PAL. I never thought about this topic much, I'll need to consider it now! 🫡
Man..now I don't know what to get haha I have someone selling the Odin 2 pro in my local area for $400 cad.
What do you recommend, me wait or go ahead with the Odin 2 pro?
Odin 2 Pro is a beast that retains its resale value. If IPS vs OLED screen isn't a big deal for you, I might go for that 🤔
What was the racing game you had on when showing the speakers
I would pick the portal out of the 2 but I'm getting neither. Rp5 is it for me. Thanks stubbs
Great choice!
Would love to see a video comparison between AYN Odin 2 (Pro/Max) and the new Retroid Pocket 5. Great video anyway.
I am not buying either as I want my retro handheld to be pocketable. I have an Ayaneo Pocket S for high-end emulation. But if I were to buy one, I'd most probably choose the Evo. Based on my experience with Pocket S and Odin 2, Ayaneo's android OS feels more mature with visual customization and performance tuning. My complaints are- you can't adjust the sticks' dead zone and can't customize all those extra buttons Ayaneo has.
I emailed Aya about the two buttons, to me it should be a no brainer that extra buttons like M1 M2 on the Odin should be available in games but they locked them behind their functions. Hopefully they fix that soon cause giving a choice doesn't take away from their plans
Received my White product unit Evo on wednesday, so far liking most of it except for the speakers, a noticeable downgrade from my other handhelds. The screen is absolutely gorgeous! Let’s see which one I will ended up keeping when the portal arrives in January. If someone would just get linux or windows on arm running on these that would be a game changer.
The speakers feel better than they sound, is the best way I can describe them. I like them but the down firing is a bummer at the same time 😅
Pre ordered the portal. And I'll start saving for the ayaneo 3!
For me it's the Portal, and not just because I already paid for it. It's also price-to-features, size, the existing support for the chipset, and, honestly, even for how similar they are, to me the Portal just looks better. I'm in wait and see mode as far as the grip shell. I've played with devices that have no grips, so I may be fine with it, but if not, I'll order the grip. I've considered the Steam Deck in the past, but it's too much of a tank. I'd like to see a measurement comparison, but I know the Deck is like 50% heavier.
Now that we have rumors of the Legion Go 2 having a 100wh battery, plus OLED, I can't imagine getting anything else.
Since I will be mostly using moonlight streaming, Evo is my choice. Hopefully, it ships soon.
I have a Portal pro preordered, this video is making me want to order an Evo as well to compare in person 😅
Oh man, yeah, this is super subjective so not the worst plan (except for the wallet). I also want both for different reasons, but ill likely only keep one in the end. 😅🤣
@ I ordered a 16GB+1TB black 🙃, and yea I’ll probably keep one after trying both out. I’ve been doing a lot of local Moonlight streaming on the couch lately, so I’m sure one of these will be perfect
@@DanielByon ooo nice! I need to mess with Moonlight streaming next, people have been raving about the experience to me lately
Are they the same length or width, you didn't really compare their overall size. That retro power ayaneo case is awesome, does the Portal fit in there? I want to use a Nintendo branded case (switch size) but don't know if the Portal will be too long for that type of case. I'm getting so hyped to get my hands on the Portal, Great video Stubbs!
How’s the sharpness compared to the steam deck oled?
Higher res, so both are sharper than the Steam Deck OLED, but I like the bigger screen on the OLED, just for my eyes.
@ Thank you for the reply. At my age I find myself squinting and struggling to read in game text. I may have to wait for a device with a larger oled screen 😂
@@Spacecowboy2086 For sure! What's interesting is that text is a little sharper on IPS screens, so recently i've gone back to preferring IPS for my devices I want to read on. For gaming though, yeah OLED is just so good looking!
They've confirmed to backers that the portal will be shipping in January and they're trying to get it out before chinese new year.
That flashing at 120hz looks like the gamma shifting on oleds at different refresh rates. I think the the 120hz is buggy on the odin 2 portal and flicking back and forth from 16 to 8 ms
ahhhh ok this makes sense, that's pretty interesting. Thank you!
2 great devices, i prefer the design language, ergos and the aya space software. However, ayn has bettee software support and the chipset is superior...but tipping point for me is the price. Unbothered about anything bigger and 8gb ram for Android use case and i can get a much bigger SD Card (prob 1TB) to use past the 128GB...So the same base models are respectively almost £80 difference in pricd🥶 for this i'll probably get the Portal
TeaM A-O2 Pro... All Black Edition Since Dec.3rd.2023...
Of Course...
Going Portal...Soon...
🙃🧐🤓😎🤯
Team Odin 2 Portal ✊ AYN is the best ✊
Watching this while waiting for my Ayn Odin 2 to get here tomorrow 😅
Good choice!
@retrohandhelds I debated between the RP5 and Odin 2 for a few days. With so many choices, sometimes picking the right device for you is the hardest part. Thank you for all your work in the community!
@@jimmymac2292 Very happy to help! Let me know what you choose! I love seeing what people's thoughts are about all this stuff.
Good choice! 😆
Yeah I'm going to wait at least 6 months after the Retail Release to buy the Odin 2 Portal. I'm currently dealing with issues with my Loki Mini Pro I purchased last year. ☹️
What's happening with your Loki?
@tonyrosario1940 Basically what happened is I got a defective unit. I played with the Handheld for a few months, then put it in it's case for some months. Then I came back to it only to find out it won't turn on. I contacted an AYN representative and was told my warranty ended in October. This means I can't just send it back for a replacement. So right now I'm trying to get my Loki Mini Pro repaired with money from my pocket. Hopefully everything works out but I won't be jumping on AYN's Indiegogo Campaigns anymore. I'll wait for a couple batches to go by before buying their products.
@@Pridetoons dang not great. I am on the fence, might cancel my Portal IGG and just wait, maybe even for something else entirely 😅🤦🏻♂️
damn who's that yappin while youre trying to make a video?
Some long haired New Yorker! Can't believe this!!
I am waiting for my Portal while enjoying the Pocket Evo.
This sticks on the Odin Portal worry me. I’m contemplating canceling for something like the ROG Ally. Edit: not the X, the $400 model.
@@checottv awesome handheld. I have one and love using it.
The sticks on the ally arent really better, Theyre probably pretty similar
@@cocozimme works for me jsut fine
The ally is super uncomfortable with those edges... I had it for a bit and their controls are all the way at the top, it makes you lift the device more than on the others, not my cup of tea. Plus getting android stuff to work was a pain, maybe it's cause wild rift uses a weird engine or they block emulators it didn't work for me but you just get so much weight and less battery. just get a pc plus an android handheld or like me get the legion go which is also a pc but you can use it for much more and then get Evo or portal as companion which you can use on the go easily for hours
@@cocozimmethey're full size but from what I've seen Evo might top them, ally isn't even hall effect
definitely prefer the AYN odin 2 portal over the AYANEO pocket evo for a few main reasons. better driver/game compatibility with the snapdragon 8 gen 2 over the G3x gen 2, much lighter body (430g vs 480g), more reliable software and support from AYN over AYANEO, and $100 cheaper for the base model. has the exact same panel & is apparently tuned slightly better. plus the headphone jack lol
I’m impressed with ayaneo. they take more risks and have a lot of interesting products but at a premium.
Should’ve put the Network speeds on in the android settings. Would’ve given you more info
Ahhh good call! Thanks. I'm new to the benchmarking side of things, but I wanted to give it a shot for you all. Excited for Retro Tech Dad's vid.
@ for sure, great video btw loved every minute of it.
Wanted to give you alittle tip for future videos, keep it up!
The lack of a front facing camera makes both a pass for me. It's clear they've castrated the android ecosystem to gaming only while they could be much much more...
You can side load those android games. I got you Ayaneo fam
Ayyye, that's great to hear!
7:14
What's that game?
Horizon Chase
Odin 2 Portal is the clear winner for me. In terms of the device I think there is nothing between them. But the fact that the base Portal is $100 cheaper makes it far better value. Also the Portal is going to have much better support and they have a far better track record than Ayaneo.
far better track record is a flat out uneducated statement . You must be new to the market if you think they actually have a better track record. Been burned far more times by Ayn than ive ever been by ayaneo.
@const3llations_370 Don't want to get into an argument. I have been in the hobby for a short while but it's clear to see when on the biggest retro handheld forums that the overwhelming majority prefer AYN.
I have also seen a lot of problems already on the EVO. Such as games running upside down, not being able to map buttons properly etc. I know it might get fixed but it doesn't inspire confidence.
The Odin 2 on the other hand already has lots of support and seems to be regarded as the best Retro handheld ever and the Portal is just an updated version.
- TH-cam:
Wanna watch a 30 minutes video comparing the new handheld that you've been googling with the main competitor?
- Me:
Yeah man I wanna do it.
😂❤
The obsession is real
Is it me but these handhelds don't change much from the prototype.
I love the Odin portal but since I have a g cloud i don’t think I’m going to upgrade
Yeah the G Cloud is still so dang solid
I might even wait until the new lenovo legion go strix point with oled comes out in January might be better option,especially for the money these two cost.
So close to a Mikhailov with the “hard earned dollars”
I was thinking it. Haha. Everytime I buy something from him I think.. I am sending him my hard earned dollar bucks haha
I wonder why they didn't put the same chip the portal has in the evo.
Sounds like the portal chip is more compatible over all.
It is, I believe they might have a deal with Qualcomm for the G3x, like Razer did for their Edge handheld.
10:53
Barbies's Plumber Adventure
ZX Spectrum
I know what you did there and it's hilarious 🤣🤣. I'm not even comenting the name of the company so their bots can't find that.
😂😂😂❤😅
The customer support of AYN compared to ayaneo is unmatched. AYN has the best support. This has the greatest points for me than other key points.
I got a Portal, didn’t know about the Evo
What's the point of having 24 gb of RAM on Android?
Bigger number better? It's not needed for a few years likely 😆
I want the EVO so bad.. but it’s just so much money.. 😢
Dpad on Odin 2 Portal is gorgeous, but sticks are pathetic vs Evo 🤣
EVO’s got down-firing, more muffled-sounding speakers, and does not have a 3.5mm jack. It’s a chunky and more expensive device, surely Ayaneo could’ve found the space/licensing fees for one? I’ve moved on from needing one on a phone, but on a gaming handheld? Come on, I feel like the jack should be a staple.
@@thatdarnskag5043 they make type c headphones now. I recently bought some for my Galaxy phone and tablet since they don't have a headphone jack on them.
nobody realistically wants headphone jacks in their devices anymore. MAJORITY of people buying these devices are dominantly using bluetooth audio so youre not really making any sense.
@const3llations_370 I want headphone jacks. That's why I bought type c headphones. And guess what, alot of people still want wired headphones or else they wouldn't have started making the type c ones and people wouldn't be buying them. So, you're not making any sense. You and your preference is not everybody.
I like the portal 2 form factor a lot better. Don't like how wide evo2 is...might as well play my steam deck
Portal for me I’m not waiting for the evo chip set to be compatible with many games could take a year by that time both items will be outdated . So let’s focus on what’s best for now .
compatiblility has been there. Redmagic and Ayaneo already have devices on the market with this chipset. I dk why everyone acts like this is the first device with the Gx3 chipset.
Thank You to that anonymous TH-camr indeed
And January is still so far away
I prefer Y700 s8gen 3 & G8 plus better than both.
how stable is it when gaming? I debated it but I tried razer kishi with an iPad before and it felt wobbly. The gamesir is wider on the back but the tablet is also 0.8 bigger hmmm
All OLED now is AMOLED. The AM just means Active Matrix. No one is using passive displays anymore for these things.
Thanks Dave! This is good to learn. I wonder what year the full cutover happened. Interesting deep dive for me later!
@@retrohandhelds It happened a looooong time ago. The only places where passive displays are used (mostly LCD) is for cheap devices like handheld radios or digital read outs for industrial equipment and even there is is getting rare. The original Gameboy was passive LCD I think ...
It is like now when people refer to LCD TVs as "LED TV". They are still LCD it is just that the backlight is LED but they all are now, they haven used fluorescent bulbs for TV backilghts for years. Every LCD TV is LED backlit now.
It doesn’t hurt unless it’s 165hz. Really looking forward to the Rob deep dive on which compatibility issues might exist with the G3x gen 2 versus the 8 gen 2. Also curious about seeing PC streaming over wifi versus 2.5ghz usbc to RJ45 connector. Thanks Stubbs and Russ!
Absolutely, and can't wait for Rob's vid either!
@@retrohandhelds what is Rob's channel name?
@@NeilSkaria @RetroTechDad
the discussions already exist. did you forget there are several devices that have been available on the market with this chipset? THis isnt the first handheld with the Gx3 chip
@@const3llations_370 Yep, you got me, of course I forgot about the other AYA NEO handhelds with the Gx3 gen 2. Of course there's no one else who makes Winlater videos featuring the Pocket S. Must've been a mixture of the rum in the Christmas spirit egg nog and anticipation of Rob's "Oh nos," that made me forget.
Or, since you seem like a person who enjoys semantics, I'll direct you to the key words that make Rob's videos excellent - "deep dive." See that's the opposite of superficial, shallow or casual. Maybe now you'll understand why I seek out and look forward to certain reviewers comparison videos. Make sense now?
The camera wants the audience to see how handsome you are 😂
Bahaha, ohhh youuu
Evo wins because you can get them. The Portal has been delayed until late January, early February.
I was on the fence for a very long time since I currently have an Odin 2 Max, I ultimately bought the retro power Evo due to the ergonomics and look. I absolutely cannot wait, which ever one you get we all as retro gamers win! 🔥
Neither. Got the odin 2. Lighter and without the stupid glassfront...
Great choice!
The chipset in the Evo only goes up to 144Hz so not sure how/why the display is 165Hz. Doesn't make sense to me.
Where did you get that info from?
@@ThomasTheTankEngine22From Qualcomms own chipset specifications.
@@ThomasTheTankEngine22Just Google "G3x gen2 specs". First result should be Qualcomms specs page where it lists "FHD+ up to 144fps", so the extra 21Hz is largely going to waste.
The Evo hands down is way more better and more innovative more ergonomic fort out of the box more premium unusual and different especially more powerful the thumb sticks and the thumb triggers and hand grips just way more better were as the portal is more trying to be the same as the pocket 5 just not innovative and don't like the ergonomics of it and not fort out of the box at all when it comes to design but not a bad design but the same design which is disappointing because I am a big ayn odin fan the portal the thumb sticks are to small and look uncomfortable don't like the thumb triggers they look fragile and they look like there gonna break and I'm not too keen on the hand grips they don't look comfortable enough I'm more of a big fan ayaneo and what they're doing so the pocket Evo definitely for me that's my opinion
“Way more better” is nasty work 😂
I would've sprung for the ayaneo, but not with that chipset.
So for price to performance it's the portal for me.
If the ayaneo had a better chipset along with everything else that it already comes with then it would be the only Android device to get for a very long time.
Agreed!
I canceled my EVO order when Portal was announced. Based on your feedback, I bought the grip.
Waaaaaaaaay better than ETA PRIME
GreaGrea
I watched this on 1.5x and lost it
😂
AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!!!!!
At this size and price; just get a Steam Deck.
This chat needed this comment. Love my Deck!
😂 come on not another one bro
Per IGG discussion Evo is wifi 7
@@stuon2 ahhhh ok this makes a lot more sense now, thank you!
Sure thing @@retrohandhelds, I asked the question and they responded wifi 7 and BT 5.3
I just can't get over the cutout on the Evo around the controls. Really ugly to me
Yeah I could take them or leave them, one benefit is you won't get any button grind by having that space open, but design wise, yeah the look isn't as good.
Funny how personal taste differs. I love that part of the design. It places the buttons in the space. Kind of like a good carpet under the couch and coffee table 😁
You're not looking at your device, you're using it to game 😅 unless you're just a collector then I get it.
@@davevayn fair point, but one can still appreciate thoughtful design
@davevayn true. Looks aren't the most important thing but can't be completely ugly to me. I get other people like it but it's not my thing . But if I pull out a heldheld and immediately go ugh that's ugly I'm less likely to play it. I'll stick with my Odin 2 Pro.
NGL... The Evo is too damn expensive. For the prices they want (forgetting that fact that they'll get MORE expensive) im better off getting the y700. If only AYN started using actual joysticks 😭. It would've been a no brainer. I hate their sticks with a passion
A 500+ android handheld that doesn't run everything android? Seen a bunch of Ayaneo commercials floating around getting out of hand what....justifies the price? Why pay 200-300 for a worse experience or better yet the same experience that's available now on cheaper handware....I was always convinced you guys do this just to collect free devices....
Yeah that's a fair assumption really, I used to think the same thing before I started reviewing. It is just a very boutique design mission that AYANEO has been on, for usually a specific niche buyer. However, here we find the EVO is a more mainstream device finally, but if you're considering, i'd look at the base model to keep it under $400. I think that's the best value of their options, however the Portal still wins in value overall I feel like. The lack of full android game compatibility on the Evo is really lame though.
What the heck is stubbs wearing? I googled AI cult leader and this thumbnail came up.
hahahaha, wellll legally speaking, we are NOT a cult. Religiously speaking, well, we'll see!
@@retrohandheldshahaha
Evo full size sticks….cant play wreckfest and other android games 🤣🤣 fail pros and cars. I’ll take the portal
Dude what do you put screen savers on a Glass Display 😂 evo needs to stay naked 😊
Yeah, I agree with you normally, but then I remember I have kids 🤣
With this size & price your into pc handheld territory no thanks
evo is clearly the winner here , what adult wants nintendo switch joysticks ? hard no for the odin . android systems are gonna be used mostly for streaming aaa games and emulators need real size buttons rule #1
android devices sucks
Sounds fun but too expensive!! Maybe for later on if you’re bored 🥱 right now I have my ASUS Rog ally and Retroid pocket 5 also and I also have my win 600 Batocera!! lol:D