What's your gadget buying tactic? Example, marry one of these form-factors to one of these ecosystem/operating system: Form-factors: Phone, Tablet, Laptop, Desktop, TV Screen. Ecosystems: Apple/iOS/iPadOS/macOS Google/Android/Gtv/ChromeOS Microsoft/Windows 10/Phone Open-Source/Linux/Etc Proprietary/Locked-down/PlayStation
The AYN Odin2 makes a lot of sense for an iPhone user. You get to have an entry way into Android Apps and Ecosystem, and have something kickarse. Especially if they diversify their gadgets, instead of getting locked in to arbitrary limitations or walled gardens.
The battery life is genuinely incredible on this device. I just did a playthrough of Pokemon heart gold and I think I only had to charge my Odin 2 base once during the whole 25+ hour playthrough
That for me is a huge benefit to overpowered devices with large batteries. You can actually run a game like that full speed even with battery saver mode extending the battery and device life a lot more.
I used my tax break to buy the the clear blue Pro model and man was it worth it. During the Spring, Summer and Fall months, I work in places deep in the bush with little to no internet. I always have my switch and my laptop to play offline games but to have my entire emulation catalog at my finger tips playing as smooth as the Odin 2 does is just amazing. Well worth the price
The only trouble I have with all this is that I dont have time to play this awesome device. If you decide to buy it, be aware it will take alot of your time....
This channel somehow manages to post the exact video I’m looking for every single time. I must say that for a beginner in the world of emulation, channels like this make starting this journey so much easier. I’m looking forward to getting mine soon!
For sure! This channel has come a long way in a very short time. Russ really hit the right approach to retro handhelds and I love seeing how much his channel has grown.
It’s amazing how emulation has gone from mostly video game collectors and enthusiasts to a more broad casual market in such a short period of time, and mostly on the back of these wonderful handheld devices. It’s great to see
Russ, you nailed it perfectly. I am a firefighter and used the original Odin and now Odin 2 in between calls when everything else had been accomplished for the day. In between retro emulation, Switch and remote playing PS5 via the PsPlay app it is the perfect device! My only ask would be a bigger screen in the same form factor, maybe with the Odin 3.
@@jarredwilliams7948 it's not. Specially for the oled model where the weight distribution is very optimal. If you take it in hands you'll understand immediately. I also used to think it was too big and heavy but when I tried my OLED I changed my mind.
I had planned to upgrade my android handheld from the Retroid 3+ at some time in 2024, but when the Yuzu drama went down, and after Russ's last Odin video (titled "I freaking love my Odin 2") I said screw it and got an Odin 2 Pro. Its fantastic and I find myself wanting to play it more than my steam deck
I know my Steam Deck will run whatever I want, but I enjoy using a smaller form factor 90% of the time. Not TOO small, Odin/RP3+ is just about perfect size.
@declanmalone1279 Yes it is. In fact, I would have gotten the RP4 since it doesn't cost as much and does what I want, but the screen size was the deal breaker.
man it amazes me how you put out quality videos so often, these are the types of videos that youtubers would typically release like twice a month and here you are making them every few days. bravo!
I picked one up based on your recommendation. I love my Odin 2. Your setup and update videos have been super helpful so thank you for that. Nice work man.
@@BASSstarlet why tho? Its super easy to set that stuff up and I'm probably the least knowledgeable person on emulation and overall tech stuff yet I used to get roms on my PSP way back in the day.....
@@BASSstarletThe point of these handhelds if to be able to play all kinds of games and emulators, and this one absolutely kills it. Getting the games are the easiest part of all of that. Remember that this is not a "Console", but more like a phone with a controller (better suited for gaming, tho)
The Windows emulation scene on the Odin 2 makes things much more crazy. With the latest version of Winlator some games runs pretty amazingly good (Fallout 3, GTA IV, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and more). A storm is coming.
Thats very impressive. I started on android handhelds but moved to linux only and then x86 64 running linux. Win600 and then steam deck. Because you can run PC games in even Batocera on x86 64 handhelds this was a plus. But with winulator on android this sounds good. However theres still systems on android that simply isnt available to emulate which you can on x86 64 handhelds. Wii U,Naomi 2,xbox, 360 and ps3 for eg. Course ps3 and 360 are very high end, steam deck doesnt run that many 360 but runs quite a bunch of ps3. At least in my testing.
I bought my Odin 2 because of your recommendation. I set it up perfectly because of your videos, and I absolutely love my device! I appreciate everything you are doing. My Odin 2 has made my life great.
I wonder if there's a service that will powder coat electronics for us, like if you send all of your shells to them, they'd power coat it and send it back to you.
@@ScottWozniak Ahh true true! I used to work for one back in the early 2000's, we didn't do it then but I'm sure they do them now. I also worked for Protech chemical, a powder coating company, there's a special coating and treatment only for plastics. We can't exactly powder coat plastics the same for metal, especially when it comes to curing. Autobody shops might not be able to do that, I'm not sure. But it just got me thinking since I worked in that field, there's gotta be some online service that specializes in powder coating electronics/plastics. I tried to find but after 5 minutes I gave up lol.
The Odin 2 is my favorite handheld of all time easily, I can play all the games I had as a kid and also the ones I could not afford and always wanted to play. I can play most GC with HD Textures and 60fps cheat codes. I can play 3DS at 1080p with 4K Textures, I can play Switch. I have all the nostalgia at the palm of my hand with the best battery life on any handheld currently for the price.
@@donniedarko4497 it's a lot easier for an android system that also runs a arm processor to translate whatever the switch is doing than a completely different instruction set like x84. Heck, the SOC on the switch was originally made for android devices.
Was so close to buying a Retroid Pocket 4+ before you convinced me to spend more and go with the Odin 2 instead-and I love it! My favorite handheld of all time, hands down. Thanks RGC!
Edit: Nevermind: Just saw in the vid where base vs pro doesnt really matter for what it can/cant do, etc Have fun with your pro. I am looking forward to picking one up soon.
Saw this and ended up snagging one used today. It's awesome, just the right size and feels great. Thanks for coming back to something you already reviewed!
I was going to get the RP4 Pro back when preorders were running, ended up cancelling and grabbing a base model Odin 2 because of your great reviews and constant updates on the device, and I’m glad I did. I went with base and got the TPU shell, carrying case and tempered glass, I really can’t put it down, it’s just amazing.
@@giuliano. how long did it take for them to respond? So you recommend a steam deck over the odin? I'm just trying to play games up to switch with upscale room
@@rottentomatoes5171 It took around a week or so. Absolutely, go for a Steam Deck, you won't regret it, maybe wait until Black Friday (end of the month) for a better deal but really, nothing beats it.
@@aestheticpetal yeah I can buy the Odin 2 but I gotta wait "until I can afford two" to get my first one The steam deck prices are dropping like crazy so the process is really worth the wait.
I got a refurbished steam deck(after saving up) recently and I love it. I'd like to get an Odin 2 but.....the steam deck does EVERYTHING. In no way can I justify buying the odin 2 haha. Highly recommend checking valve for refurbished 64gb steam deck though. After taxes and everything it was $300.
@@glazedbelmontthe first Odin Pro has had sales down to $199. Give this device another year and it will start to see similar discounts. I at least expect it to drop to 250 eventually at least on sales.
Steam deck is going for 300$ (used) from time to time. Its really hard to beat it for that price. Just wish it was smaller or they made a Steam deck mini
I bought it in December, with a dock and carrying case. It's been simply amazing. First game I tested it with was FFX. Played it at double speed and 3x upscaled, by far the best way to play that game
Just a bit too chonky for me, I switched to a RP4p but I can't deny it's by far the best product on the market for it's price/performance but I can pocket the RP4P
I absolutely love my Odin 2 Pro. Worth the high cost. Had it since January and haven't put it down yet. I originally had a 405M which was great, metal finish, pocketable - but to all the points Russ made the Odin became my main device. Bought a cheap Switch case and I'm good to go.
I hope people realize how great it is that you decided to make a TH-cam channel. Ever since the beginning of your channel it's always been such a great avenue for information. The way you lay out information and tutorials is extremely easy to consume and makes it very easy to follow along. I can telly you growing up I would have loved to have these devices and this information lol I don't think people get just how incredible the Odin 2 is. We grew up with displays that when on have less visibility than the Playdate and it uses e-ink! I can't believe a device like this exists at the same price as the original switch! The sheer amount of what you can play with this really is a pretty solid one stop shop for all your games! I mean you can play Super Mario 2 but then also play Hades with little to no time to jump in between them! As you stated it opens the entire catalogue of so many of these systems!! There are literally lifetimes worth of games all available to people for the same price! Just wanted to send a little thank you for everything you do. You offer all these resources and make it easy to consume. For someone who is just not that bright ha ha like me it's very very helpful so I can play my favorites all over again. Like you said with Jax and Daxter and all that I haven't played them so if I had an Odin 2 I'd be glued to it ha ha
I decided to pick up an Odin 2 Base and have zero regrets. It does all the emulation I'd ever want, is like half the size and weight of the Steam Deck with the 4nm SD8Gen2 and gets amazing battery life. I don't even mind the black shell because it's a lot less conspicuous to take out and game on.
Hey Russ, I love your stuff! I decided to get the Odin 2 after watching your videos, especially the Japan trip one. My wife and I are going to Japan in November and I wanted something portable for travel and this checked all the boxes. Thanks for creating such awesome videos!
Over the past 25 years I have been an avid collector of handhelds and have gone from GP32, Tapwave Zodiac, OpenPandora (I still think the D-Pad on that thing is king) as well as Xperia Play - dipping my toes into everything I could get. I believe at this point I own more than 75 of these devices and to this day my Odin 1 is by far the best of these devices I have ever used. They completely knocked it out of the park and the competition doesn't even come close. This is also a rare time for me when the second version of the device doesn't justify an upgrade because they got so much right the first time.
I'm glad you brought up the comparison to the Steam Deck. I got the Odin 2 Pro for its smaller form factor, but I actually ended up selling my Odin 2 Pro because I thought the Deck had more customization options like screen colors, etc. When I compared the same game on both Steam Deck and Odin 2 Pro, I preferred how they looked on the Deck. Both devices are great though.
I bought the Steam Deck OLED 1TB. I am a first time deck owner and very excited. One of my main reasons for getting the deck is for emulation purposes. If I didn't buy the Steam Deck I believe Odin 2 would of been my next choice other than ROG ally. But Rog ally kinda sketches me out with the melting sd cards and what not. Odin 2 looks so amazing and I wouldn't mind having one
I just cannot justify buying this when I already have the ROG Ally. I had the Odin 1 and sold it for the Ally. Now I wish I had a low end emulation device with great battery life. Instead, I opted to use my S24 Samsung phone with a controller attachment for emulation up until PS2/Wii/GameCube. That way I always have something to play while I'm on the go. ROG ally for PC and demanding games such as PS3 and switch. Phone for mostly GBA and anything else. It's always with me and has small form factor, very portable, great battery and performance. I think I will wait for the next leap in gaming for an upgrade
I just commented something similar. I don't see the point on this android devices. Just strap a controller to your phone. Maybe I can understand the appeal on having a dedicated gameboy-like device like the RG35 which is only $50-60. But spending 300 on this? I don't see the point
Your S24 works great as a replacement. A little low on storage, no SD, but you get to pick just your very favorites. I have 1.5T sd card on my Odin 2 and still need more. Switch emulation eats huge storage. Will have to get even more space if ever WiiU and PS 3 emulation come to Andriod.
@@santukagameplays5862in my case I don't like playing with a touch-only device which needs external controllers, it's just not the same thing as playing on a device made specifically for gaming, having built-in controls is a big thing, plus the battery is better, the aspect ratio is better for gaming than the ones used on modern phones, and you don't need to worry about not playing to save the battery for tasks like calls, finding an uber, etc. like you need when on a phone,
I bought the Odin 2 during launch and I'm loving it. I was recently on a vacation and had it with me to play during flights/transit. And I usually find myself playing for hours on weekends. It plays everything I want (PS2/GC and before) with a great battery life, simply Amazing.
It trips me out when people are asking questions like, "should I get the rg556 or spend a little more and get an Odin 2". It's like, yeah man, get the Odin 2.
The Odin 2 costs almost twice as much. That's more than "a little" more. Definitely if you can afford it, the O2 is hands down a better package, but if you're price sensitive, the RG556 gives a lot of bang for your buck.
To be fair, it's not necessarily a "little" more. It's at least $100 more, and for some that extra hundred-plus just puts it outside of what they're willing to spend on retrogaming. That said, if the cost of the Odin 2 base isn't a problem but you only want to get one Android emulation handheld, get the Odin 2.
@@benc.5558 It's absolutely worth it, though. Theres not even really a competition: you'd be better off saving the extra and getting the 02 than getting the RG556
I got my Odin2 because of your videos. And let me tell you, such a great decision. Does everything I want it to do AND more. Thanks, Russ. This device is tough to beat.
I have a Steam Deck, an Anbernic Rg35xx and a Retroid Pocket 4 Pro and my go to system for all retro games is my Pocket 4 Pro. Mind that it want to play high end system that's a no go, but rather than that you can trow it all out. You can play ps2, Wii, Gamecube, Dreamcast, 3ds and even some Switch games (like Dave the Diver, and that pixalated games) and all works like a charm, and to top it all off is slightly bigger than my RG35XX. So yeah, you did good
If it makes you feel any better, I got my Odin 2 before the RP4 Pro was released, and while I love it, sometimes I wonder, "man, the RP4 Pro is so much smaller, I like that it has the dpad on top, it's a hundred bucks cheaper..." The grass is always greener. (:
Knew about the Odin 2 (much thanks to this channel!) but wasn't planning on getting one, mostly because of the price and not being sure if I'd actually like or use it enough. But when a local listing went up and there was an opportunity to not have to pay import taxes or wait for it to spend weeks stuck in customs, I pulled the trigger. SO glad I did! Haven't used and been so pleased with a handheld since the DS Lite(!), and I've had a fair few over the years although no Switch (which in hindsight I might've enjoyed - super bummed I missed out on F-Zero 99! - but coming off the Wii and 3DS which both collected dust I couldn't justify the gamble) or Steam Deck (a little too bulky for my use, and I simply do most of my Steam gaming on PC anyway). Although it's not entirely apples to apples and both excel at different things, the Odin 2 _has_ already seen more use than my launch Analogue Pocket too. Finally an emulation handheld that doesn't just tread water and struggle with the same systems/games most have for years and years, and doesn't have any other silly dealbreaking flaws. Expensive, but what many of us always wanted and a way overdue technological push forward the market needed. Played so much Vampire Survivors on PC last year, and after a break this was the perfect excuse to get sucked back in, works so well on this, I'm hooked again! Also been emulating some of the easier to control DOS favorites using Magic DosBox. RetroArch CRT shaders for consoles look amazing, currently halfway through replaying Super Castlevania IV and the vibes are just right.
There have been some promising posts on the Odin subreddit about Winlator. Looking forward to someone who thinks onions are gross to make a video about it.
I had it for two months and I gotta say that it's the best handheld device that I ever had. This takes anything you throw at. My only gripe that I have is setting up emulators (mainly MAME) Emudeck really needs to have a dedicated Android app. The setup holds it back for me. Besides that, this device is king to me. Just get the Base model.
Circa 2005, I let my eldest cousin who is about 4-5 years older than me borrow my PS2 and OG Xbox for a month. I was the one who insisted. The only gaming device he had owned at that time was the OG GBA. The one without a backlight. GBA was the first gaming device he owned since the NES. He never owned any console or handheld between the NES and GBA. He usually would play a Genesis or SNES at a friend’s house. He was the first in my family to own an NES or “Nintendo” was what we called it at the time. He would later get a PSP slim by 2008 and then get a Raspberry Pi to emulate retro games on his PC. So I ask him back in 2005 if he enjoyed playing my PS2 and Xbox? He said, “Yeah.” He enjoyed playing Gran Turismo 4 since he’s into cars as he was studying to be a mechanic. But he said something interesting I never forgot and he said it almost passively. He told me they’re cool but they’re not portable. He prefers portable due to convenience. Now this was before iPhone changed the world and turned us into zombies. I remember thinking how my cousin made a great point because I did have a Dreamcast, PS2, Xbox, and GameCube hooked up to my Sony WEGA TV at the time and got so fed up with all the cords at the back. Each of those consoles needed two things plugged to it. One connected to an outlet to power it on and one to connect to the back or front of a TV (composite cables or S-video). I even had one of those octopus cables for the PS2, Xbox, and GCN, but it still got messy. Add the fact I went out a lot with my girlfriend at the time. So I rarely did play any of my consoles when I finally got home. Fast forward to Nov 19, 2006. I get a launch day Wii I pre-ordered a week before. Great fun in the beginning but didn’t touch it for several months after that initial gimmicky novelty wore off. That was the last home console I would own until May 6, 2017. After I won some money from the Kentucky Derby, I bought a PS4 slim from Best Buy for $200 because I had a $100 credit from a previous LG G5 / Sprint deal. And 6 days later, I bought a used Vita. The Vita started my exclusivity at sticking to only portables. I haven’t powered on my PS4 slim in 5 years. My cousin already had the foresight of going only portable since the mid 00s well before the smartphone revolution. I finally decided to follow his path with that. Every gaming device I will ever purchase from now on must be portable. And must be played without an Internet connection, so no to streaming devices. I sold my Switch OLED because I didn’t want it or my Lite always needing a brief Internet connection if one of them wasn’t set to primary. PlayStation Portal has zero appeal to me because I don’t plan to ever buy a PlayStation 5. When PS5 came out late 2020 during the pandemic, I had zero anticipation and excitement for it. I was good with my Vita. Now a lot of people are saying Sony should release another true handheld but that’s easier said than done. Look who Sony will go against if say their handheld gets released in 2-3 years…. Successor to the Switch Steam Deck (or it’s successor) ROG Ally (or it’s successors, in plural) Legion Go (or it’s successors) Smartphones Tablets Many Chinese retro handhelds Possible Xbox handheld Sony tried getting into portables with the PSP and Vita and lost badly each time. Nintendo is practically unbeatable in the handheld space dating back to 1989. And it’s weird to say PSP being a flop when it still sold 82M. That’s more than NES, SNES, N64, GameCube, Wii U, and every Sega console and handheld sold. That’s more than the 3DS. Vita sold around 15M which would be a number Valve would love to reach with their Steam Deck. We know Asus and Lenovo are hardware manufacturers and can release another PC handheld almost annually like they do with their laptops and phones. They want to sell as much hardware as possible. By the time this Sony handheld is released, it would be D.O.A. They always had the stronger hardware over Nintendo’s handhelds and Sony always lost. The weaker DS outsold the PSP by 2:1. The weaker 3DS outsold the Vita by 5:1. Steam Deck is the winner for me. I say between Vita vs. Switch vs. Deck, I use the Deck 90% of the time. Then 8% for the Switch and 2% for the Vita. And I prefer my Vita slim more than my Switch Lite as an overall device and for sentimental reasons but I rarely play it for games except if I want to play SSF2 because it has a great d-pad like my PSP slim. My last save for Final Fantasy X on my Vita was back in Feb 2019. I rarely play it. It sucks I have to wait another 2 years to play Final Fantasy VII Rebirth on a Steam Deck but there should be plenty of other games to entertain me by then considering I missed out on a lot since 2007 thanks to me being more into cell phones at that time. I know the Steam Deck isn’t perfect. It has it’s share of hardware and software limitations. But it fulfills most of my gaming needs. + Affordable + Great ergonomics + Great customer support + Great community support Steam Deck is the greatest handheld ever made. A game-changer and life-changer the same way the original iPhone was.
Thank you for sharing. And yes I also shared this sentiment. My first real purchase is the no backlit purple GBA, and it really does affect all my decision in buying game console. Beside the consoles gifted to me. Only Nintendo Switch that I really bought with my own money to play on TV because it's portable. I also absolutely love my Steam Deck.
Hi Russ, after your first videos of the Odin 2 I decided to order one. After about three weeks it arrived and I didn't really use it for another month or two because I was finishing up games on other consoles. Now I finished Revelations: Persona PS1 and I am playing Persona 2: Innocent Sin PS1 on it and I love it! After P2 Eternal Punishment and P3 FES I will take a break to play P4 Golden on Switch. I hope to see good PS3 emulation within 5 years so that we can finally utilize the performance mode hehe. Thanks for the in-depth guide and I will keep following you!
Steam deck plays PC games so there is really no contest unless you don’t want that . I have a ton of retro games on my SD but 99% of the time I’m playin PC games.
Just got my cold grey pro last Monday and I have used it nonstop. Coming from a RP4P, this is a huge upgrade to which I gave to someone who graduated from basic training.
You realize this is MUCH cheaper than a Steam Deck and isn't even comparable, right? It doesn't play PC games lmao. Also has 5 times the battery life of a Steam Deck.
Today I'm starting three months of paternity leave. I already have a Steam Deck, but I'm looking for something smaller, with more battery life for emulating and tackling retro achievements, while being with the little one. Your videos on the Odin 2 have made me decide to likely pull the trigger and place an order. Thanks for your time and passion.
@@const3llations_370 not a dumb decision at all. Odin 2 has way better ergonomics, the Pocket S only has 1 USB-C port vs Odin 2 having a USB-C port, headphone jack and HDMI port, Ayaneo's first Android handheld was just mid, the Pocket S' extra performance doesn't mean much if you want to focus on emulation, and depending on your personal preference, the Odin 2 looks better (I personally like the SNES look).
Loving the Odin 2. Watching my kids play SOR2 one minute and Metroid the next is awesome. But for me it's the level of tinkering I got to do with the advice.
Bro stop tempting me. I'm working very hard right now to earn money for a ROG ALLY, which is OBVIOUSLY better than the Odin 2. I keep having to tell myself, "Odin 2 can't run Windows. It's lacks Steam games. It's much less powerful. The ROG ALLY is better. The ROG ALLY is worth it. Don't let the world tell you otherwise" 😢
ROG Ally is a great device. I really love playing with it, amazing analog, comfy form factor, marvelous screen, and wonderful performance. Just one gripe about it, barely functional suspend and resume feature. And I got 2 hours to play Monster Hunter Rise on it.
ordered an odin 2 pro today based on this video (and your other odin 2 content) - have been waiting to see what "premium" handheld to get and i think the odin 2 is the right pick for me. glad it's held up over time.
When Russ got to the part when he said he doesn’t have time to play all these games, he’s being 100% real on that. He happens to also be a husband and dad, so how can he find that time to play all those games? We have so many games from so many handhelds/smartphones that we will never find the time to play a majority of them. I think it’s kinda pointless if Russ is playing Balatro on a $300+ emulation device. And I’m kinda done wanting to emulate PS2 and GameCube games. We got $150-$200 handhelds/smartphones capable of handling PS2 and GameCube. Odin 2 doesn’t play OG Xbox which the Steam Deck can easily do. And Wii emulation is excellent thanks to the trackpad to move the pointer. I don’t want to keep playing PS2 and GameCube forever. Give me Final Fantasy VII Remake and Uncharted 4 on the go. Give me Unreal Engine 4 graphics. Give me some AAA titles released within the last 10 years. Not AAA titles from 20 years ago that’s starting to have very dated graphics especially coming from the muddy, dull graphics of a PS2. GameCube graphics are still nice but it’s nowhere as nice as the Switch or PS4 era. PC handhelds has pretty much eliminated the need for a Chinese retro handheld unless you want that smaller form factor.
I'm an Odin 2 user, and it should be noted that (for me) the wi-fi on this thing is ass. So if you're planning on buying it for device streaming, you should avoid doing so. Apart from that issue it's still pretty good. Edit: I should add, I've only tried using Steamlink, rather than Sunshine/Moonlight. Maybe I should try experimenting more?
@Game4Lord yeah you're right. Weirdly I researched it on the odin2 reddit, and other people had similar issues. I'm not sure if my Odin 2 is defective or something. Either way my wi-fi is not bad or anything. I just thought I should warn people just in case. I have found a solution by using a USB c to ethernet cable adapter and plugging it into my odin 2. So when I want to stream I need a cable.
Russ, where are your Cat breaks, i miss them, but continue the good work, and making new owners of Handhelds, able to set them up, as nice as your systems are. We all Love you Russ
No hate whatsoever, but I truly don't understand why anyone would waste hundreds on all these devices when you can just get an ASUS ROG Ally and put Emudeck and EmuStation on it, while also getting a full contemporary gaming experience with all the AAA titles as well. You can play literally everything ever with a handheld PC.
Battery life. Size. The fact that if I want to play AAA new games I'll play on my 4080 rig or stream it to my phone on my 6ghz connection. And the fact that I'm not gaming seriously when I'm out and about. I really want to reemphasize: 2 hour battery life
I have a rog ally too and I do that but I also have an RG35XX just because it's something I can put in my pocket and is small enough to have it during waiting rooms. The ally is portable but I can't pocket it.
After seeing the processor on this and seeing the price of a phone with that processor it was a no brainer for me. Did a lot of research on processors before coming to the conclusion of getting this one and I’m so glad I did !
I'm sitting here trying to replay Jak and Daxter, sly racoon and racket and Clank on my Odin 2 aswell and it's all thanks to you! You have made my Odin feel so amazing! Thanks again!
I think your "scrap" Odin 2 has the best color combination lol, those white buttons on the clear blue shell look amazing IMHO. I might have to steal the look If I decide to get one.
Hey everyone, if you're on the fence as to which handheld to get... Just do yourself a favour and get this. It's so good. I've got other handhelds, I don't play them because of this. Russ is absolutely right in his first comments about forcing himself not to keep using the Odin 2.
New subscriber here and super happy I found your channel. I've been looking for a good handheld unit to get back into gaming and just bought the Odin 2 based on your videos. Can't wait to get it and get things set up and use your setup video. Keep up the good work.
Very personal preference- I have the deck, the odin2 and the ally, I would almost always take the Odin2. It’s light in weight, compatible, it plays all kinds of games, you could play retro gaming with no internet outside of course, and you could even hook a hotspot and play steam games from pc, ps5 remote etc.( if you really wanted) it’s quite, and it last forever. Ally last 2 hours with genshin impact which is alright but personally I just couldn’t stand having to think about battery
Still rocking my PS Vita 1000 for most of my emulation and still enjoying it, but the Odin 2 does look awesome, I'll admit. Might save up and get one for Christmas. Great vid as usual, Russ!
I’ve been really into playing on the psp again. I ended up finding the old one my wife got me back when we were dating and got it all set up for emulation. I was getting so much enjoyment out of that little handheld that I order 2 PS Vitas so my kids could play. It’s amazing what all these handhelds can do.
The Steam Deck OLED as a compliment to my Desktop PC has been a perfect companion device. I emulate all consoles up to when PC ports tended to get good so I can't think of a game I don't have access to that I want. That said it is a bit of a chonker and a perfect device for me would be what the steam deck oled offers but in the form factor of the Odin 2. Here's hoping we get there in the next 4-5 years.
Odin 2 is monster. I take it to work and when I have an hour or two available I game on it with a 8bit controller. I replaying a lot of retro games I played as a kid that I didn't finish or try to new ones. The battery life is fantastic since a full charge last the whole day. Odin 2 is the ultimate retro handheld king no doubt about it.
I go back and forth between my Switch Lite and Odin 2 Pro. I really enjoy going back to PS2 and GameCube and now I'm exploring Wii. Super Mario Galaxy on the Odin 2 looks fantastic and is so much fun to play once you get the controls setup.
I have both the Steam Deck and the Ayn Odin 2, and I have ended playing the steam games in the Ayn Odin 2 through GeForce NOW, which I pay monthly to play in the computer already or you can use Steam Link, which works incredibly well. The GeForce NOW route lets you play even some GOG and Epic games.
I have a Steam Deck, but its really tempting to get an Odin 2 just for the smaller size. The Steam Deck is pretty massive, and a bit harder to daily drive.
I remember the time where so many people were all sour about the release of the Odin2 while I was absolutely amazed by it with the "BUT THE SD CAN EMULATE BETTER, PLAY WINDOWS GAMES, etc." argument. While I still play daily today with my Odin2 (the base version, not even pro or max!), my SO playing anything but Odin2 still shuffles in search of that perfect device, ending up leaving all consoles bough (including SD, Switch, etc.) gathering dust doing nothing. Although I wish the Odin2 would be a bit lighter, I still play it and it was 100% worth every penny for the power/price ratio. It really is a great all around device and have 0 regrets buying it and enjoying despite people going "Don't waste your money, buy a SD instead!". The only thing I kinda find weird is that you never considered streaming your Steam games on your Odin 2 (with Sunshine + Moonlight). I installed WiFi6 in my home and I do it ALL THE TIME! The experience is amazing as well! Of course, this does not make Steam gaming portable outside of your home, but it's an interesting option !
It's a legitimate argument. I did have to end up finishing my last Champions of Norrath playthrough on my Deck because it does in fact emulate PS2 better than the Odin 2 does. And being able to play my Steam collection on a portable (a huge collection ... thank you Steam sales) *without* having to stream is, in fact. awesome. The Odin 2 has top-class battery life and a smaller form factor (without being TOO small and cramp-inducing like the Retroid devices) going for it. Best thing is to simply have 'em both.
I couldn't for the life of me get hold of the pro model. I ended up lowering my expectations and getting an RG556.. I have to say the handheld overall has been great and wanted to thank you for the review. Still coming to the channel to enjoy all your other golden content. Keep it up sir.
I don't understand why people keep buying Ambernic devices or Powkiddy's. Their Dpad/s are average at best and thumbsticks are always garbage, they are Switch's sticks. These two points combined should always be a deal breaker for any hand held.
@@jakesmith5278 the only horizontal device under 100$ that is not anbernic's or powkiddy's it's the retroid pocket 2s at 99$ so there you have your explanation. You've no better value of a RG35XXH at 40$ (now with aliexpress discounts). But sure above 150$ Anbernic quality is not the best I guess
I picked up the Odin 2 Pro and I love it. I just have two things I wish it did. 1. I wish I could play my Steam games natively on it. 2. I wish the screen was a bit bigger and OLED. I have so many games loaded on it that I would never be able to play all it in my life time.
I purchased Odin 2 pro for my husband. Set it up and tried it. I really liked the device (performance, confortable). I’m jealous now because i only have a RG405V (which is very good for price but Odin 2 is reaaaaally much better and confortable 😅). I’m waiting for a Odin 3 with better screen oooor maybe I can steel Odin 2 from my husband 🤔🤔🤔.
Yesss thanks. But I love big screen (it’s for use at home, not often bring out). Very tempting though > I Will wait the tests and see after. Thank you 🎉
After exclusively owning consoles, I finally decided to invest in an Odin 2. Setting it up and tweaking configurations took hours, leaving me with hardly any gameplay time-my fault, plus being a dad of two doesn't help with time constraints! Cool feature of the Odin 2 is its compatibility with PlayStation Remote Play and Xbox Game Pass. However, the comfort aspect leaves something to be desired, prompting me to debate whether I should also invest in a PlayStation Portal. Decisions, decisions! Ha.
I've definitely been happy with my Odin 2, minus a few small issues that will apparently not be fixed: 1) Early on, there was an issue with the audio that made volume levels inconsistent within games - more subdued parts in music got quieter, but then the volume would get louder at "busier" parts in the music. They did eventually fix this for *most* games - but not for older systems like NES, Gameboy, and Sega Genesis. I concluded that the fix they came up with only affected games that used stereo sound, but the issue continued in games using mono. I let them know about this several times, but they eventually wrote back and said: "Our technical team found that if we continue to optimize this sound issue, it will lead to weak three-dimensional sound and overall sound quality." I'm guessing it's more that they didn't make it a priority because probably very few people use this incredible device to play such low-end games, and so almost no one will even notice it. Sucks for me. So I just have to use headphones when playing those older games or output them to my TV, since the problem only exists when using the device's speakers. 2) This is a far more minor one, but for some reason if "Touch Feedback" isn't turned on, no rumble ever happens with the device in any game - so in order to use rumble, that has to stay on. Which means that I get that tiny little annoying rumble every time I touch something on the screen. I let them know about this too, but again, apparently very few others care about it, so it's not getting fixed. Other than those relatively minor things, though, my Odin 2 has been well worth what I paid for it. :-)
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I love when youtubers make videos reinforcing my poor spending choices
Lol we have been there lmao
Exactly 😂
Whoops, same
What's your gadget buying tactic?
Example, marry one of these form-factors to one of these ecosystem/operating system:
Form-factors:
Phone, Tablet, Laptop, Desktop, TV Screen.
Ecosystems:
Apple/iOS/iPadOS/macOS
Google/Android/Gtv/ChromeOS
Microsoft/Windows 10/Phone
Open-Source/Linux/Etc
Proprietary/Locked-down/PlayStation
The AYN Odin2 makes a lot of sense for an iPhone user. You get to have an entry way into Android Apps and Ecosystem, and have something kickarse. Especially if they diversify their gadgets, instead of getting locked in to arbitrary limitations or walled gardens.
The battery life is genuinely incredible on this device. I just did a playthrough of Pokemon heart gold and I think I only had to charge my Odin 2 base once during the whole 25+ hour playthrough
God tier bro!!
Yeah the battery on my Odin Lite lasts way longer than my phone does, especially on DS games.
That for me is a huge benefit to overpowered devices with large batteries. You can actually run a game like that full speed even with battery saver mode extending the battery and device life a lot more.
Yeah no emulation handheld touches it when it comes to battery life and pc handhelds are not even worth bring up battery life wise 😂
I would hope it's doing a ds emulation. lol
I used my tax break to buy the the clear blue Pro model and man was it worth it. During the Spring, Summer and Fall months, I work in places deep in the bush with little to no internet. I always have my switch and my laptop to play offline games but to have my entire emulation catalog at my finger tips playing as smooth as the Odin 2 does is just amazing. Well worth the price
you coud'lve had it sooner if you didn't overpay in taxes lol
The only trouble I have with all this is that I dont have time to play this awesome device. If you decide to buy it, be aware it will take alot of your time....
how long did the shipping take?
@@taji4092 China to a small city in Canada. So 3 weeks
@@djkehoe4480 oh alright thanks man
This channel somehow manages to post the exact video I’m looking for every single time. I must say that for a beginner in the world of emulation, channels like this make starting this journey so much easier.
I’m looking forward to getting mine soon!
For sure! This channel has come a long way in a very short time. Russ really hit the right approach to retro handhelds and I love seeing how much his channel has grown.
I love his detailed starter guide for the Odin 2.
It’s amazing how emulation has gone from mostly video game collectors and enthusiasts to a more broad casual market in such a short period of time, and mostly on the back of these wonderful handheld devices. It’s great to see
Russ, you nailed it perfectly. I am a firefighter and used the original Odin and now Odin 2 in between calls when everything else had been accomplished for the day. In between retro emulation, Switch and remote playing PS5 via the PsPlay app it is the perfect device! My only ask would be a bigger screen in the same form factor, maybe with the Odin 3.
Agree. They could just remove the bezel and increase the screen size to match.
Nobody will judge you for being honest and saying you skip alarms to play Zelda. They have insurance anyways.
if you want bigger screen the Steam Deck OLED is a no brainer I think
@@Tonno7steam deck is too damn heavy imo
@@jarredwilliams7948 it's not. Specially for the oled model where the weight distribution is very optimal. If you take it in hands you'll understand immediately. I also used to think it was too big and heavy but when I tried my OLED I changed my mind.
I had planned to upgrade my android handheld from the Retroid 3+ at some time in 2024, but when the Yuzu drama went down, and after Russ's last Odin video (titled "I freaking love my Odin 2") I said screw it and got an Odin 2 Pro. Its fantastic and I find myself wanting to play it more than my steam deck
I know my Steam Deck will run whatever I want, but I enjoy using a smaller form factor 90% of the time. Not TOO small, Odin/RP3+ is just about perfect size.
I have a Retriod Pocket 3 but find the screen too small. Is the Odin 2 screen a bit bigger?
@declanmalone1279 Yes it is. In fact, I would have gotten the RP4 since it doesn't cost as much and does what I want, but the screen size was the deal breaker.
Love these casual videos with reflections and comparisons! So cool to see how well the Odin 2 has been received.
literally setting up my brand new odin 2 right now watching your starter guide...
man it amazes me how you put out quality videos so often, these are the types of videos that youtubers would typically release like twice a month and here you are making them every few days. bravo!
I picked one up based on your recommendation. I love my Odin 2. Your setup and update videos have been super helpful so thank you for that. Nice work man.
Mine just came in yesterday. I absolutely LOVE it! 100,000% worth the price tag.
Does it actually have games installed? The official site says it doesn't :/
@@BASSstarletnah im pretty sure it doesnt you would have to set it up yourself and install the emulators and get the roms etc
@@bealert1728 Then it's a deal breaker...
@@BASSstarlet why tho? Its super easy to set that stuff up and I'm probably the least knowledgeable person on emulation and overall tech stuff yet I used to get roms on my PSP way back in the day.....
@@BASSstarletThe point of these handhelds if to be able to play all kinds of games and emulators, and this one absolutely kills it. Getting the games are the easiest part of all of that. Remember that this is not a "Console", but more like a phone with a controller (better suited for gaming, tho)
The Windows emulation scene on the Odin 2 makes things much more crazy. With the latest version of Winlator some games runs pretty amazingly good (Fallout 3, GTA IV, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and more). A storm is coming.
Thats very impressive.
I started on android handhelds but moved to linux only and then x86 64 running linux.
Win600 and then steam deck.
Because you can run PC games in even Batocera on x86 64 handhelds this was a plus.
But with winulator on android this sounds good.
However theres still systems on android that simply isnt available to emulate which you can on x86 64 handhelds.
Wii U,Naomi 2,xbox, 360 and ps3 for eg.
Course ps3 and 360 are very high end, steam deck doesnt run that many 360 but runs quite a bunch of ps3.
At least in my testing.
What do you do for a mouse on all those Windows games? Just right control stick?
As a new Odin 2 owner, I wasn’t aware of Winlator. Thanks for bringing it to my attention!
Stalker? Really? Damn
Does this winlator strengthen the case for the Max or Pro is still the sweet spot?
I bought my Odin 2 because of your recommendation. I set it up perfectly because of your videos, and I absolutely love my device! I appreciate everything you are doing. My Odin 2 has made my life great.
If only they had a Gameboy DMG style colourway 😭😭
Or transparent orange... That would be wild
I see TechDweeb and I upvote. 🎉
I wonder if there's a service that will powder coat electronics for us, like if you send all of your shells to them, they'd power coat it and send it back to you.
@@KyleRuggles Some auto body shops will do that for you. You just have to ask.
@@ScottWozniak Ahh true true! I used to work for one back in the early 2000's, we didn't do it then but I'm sure they do them now. I also worked for Protech chemical, a powder coating company, there's a special coating and treatment only for plastics. We can't exactly powder coat plastics the same for metal, especially when it comes to curing. Autobody shops might not be able to do that, I'm not sure.
But it just got me thinking since I worked in that field, there's gotta be some online service that specializes in powder coating electronics/plastics. I tried to find but after 5 minutes I gave up lol.
The Odin 2 is my favorite handheld of all time easily, I can play all the games I had as a kid and also the ones I could not afford and always wanted to play. I can play most GC with HD Textures and 60fps cheat codes. I can play 3DS at 1080p with 4K Textures, I can play Switch. I have all the nostalgia at the palm of my hand with the best battery life on any handheld currently for the price.
How do you play switch when my steam deck barely runs them?
@@donniedarko4497 it's a lot easier for an android system that also runs a arm processor to translate whatever the switch is doing than a completely different instruction set like x84. Heck, the SOC on the switch was originally made for android devices.
Was so close to buying a Retroid Pocket 4+ before you convinced me to spend more and go with the Odin 2 instead-and I love it! My favorite handheld of all time, hands down. Thanks RGC!
Same here
Thanks for showing the names of the games you're playing. I'll get an Odin 2 eventually.
I just ordered an Odin 2 a couple days ago!! Can't wait to put your guides to use!! Thank you for all your hard work with this stuff Russ!
how long did it take to arrive?
@@timvenus5186 im currently wondering this as well, their website is the only place i can find the odin 2 besides amazon, but they only have the max.
@@timvenus5186 Still waiting!
Odin 2 and the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro are good always enjoyed them
I have the rp4 pro and it's great but don't like analog placement and screen is too tiny, how is the Odin 2 compared to rp4?
I just got my Odin 2 Pro, this video is perfect timing lol
I'll be watching your starter guide tonight to finish setup
Edit: Nevermind: Just saw in the vid where base vs pro doesnt really matter for what it can/cant do, etc
Have fun with your pro. I am looking forward to picking one up soon.
@@Ozzie314 yea, the Pro is only really needed if you want a different color, or don't want to use an SD card for some reason
Saw this and ended up snagging one used today. It's awesome, just the right size and feels great. Thanks for coming back to something you already reviewed!
I was going to get the RP4 Pro back when preorders were running, ended up cancelling and grabbing a base model Odin 2 because of your great reviews and constant updates on the device, and I’m glad I did.
I went with base and got the TPU shell, carrying case and tempered glass, I really can’t put it down, it’s just amazing.
How did you cancel? I'm on the same boat also. I'm trying to cancel my rp5
@ Email support and ask for a refund, that’s pretty much it. I’ve also ended up selling my Odin 2 and got a refurbished Steam Deck, way better lol
@@giuliano. how long did it take for them to respond? So you recommend a steam deck over the odin? I'm just trying to play games up to switch with upscale room
@@rottentomatoes5171 It took around a week or so.
Absolutely, go for a Steam Deck, you won't regret it, maybe wait until Black Friday (end of the month) for a better deal but really, nothing beats it.
The steam deck and the Odin 2 are both dream handhelds for me and I hope to eventually get both.
Same here, good thing I'm saving up for em!
@@aestheticpetal yeah I can buy the Odin 2 but I gotta wait "until I can afford two" to get my first one
The steam deck prices are dropping like crazy so the process is really worth the wait.
You're pretty much covered on all emulation and gaming needs once you have both
If money is no matter for you go for both but if it is to be spent wisely, please try to get one, remember you only have enough time...
I got a refurbished steam deck(after saving up) recently and I love it. I'd like to get an Odin 2 but.....the steam deck does EVERYTHING. In no way can I justify buying the odin 2 haha. Highly recommend checking valve for refurbished 64gb steam deck though. After taxes and everything it was $300.
This one will be hard to beat. Just hope the price starts dropping soon so I can get my hands on one
I don't think it will ever drop sadly, the hardware's value isn't going to drop anytime soon
@@glazedbelmontthe first Odin Pro has had sales down to $199. Give this device another year and it will start to see similar discounts. I at least expect it to drop to 250 eventually at least on sales.
Yeah, it's either this or the Steam Deck for me since I mainly want to emulate...
Steam deck is going for 300$ (used) from time to time. Its really hard to beat it for that price. Just wish it was smaller or they made a Steam deck mini
It's good value given the hardware.
Thanks for bring us high quality content, Russ
I bought it in December, with a dock and carrying case. It's been simply amazing. First game I tested it with was FFX. Played it at double speed and 3x upscaled, by far the best way to play that game
Just got my Odin 2 a week or so ago and I LOVE IT!!
Same shake hands
wHERE DID U BUY IT? whats best website to buy it?
Because of your previous video about ODIN 2 I purchased it and YES I do not regret it at all. I am so happy to own it and feel its' power
Just a bit too chonky for me, I switched to a RP4p but I can't deny it's by far the best product on the market for it's price/performance but I can pocket the RP4P
True that. It's why I got both.
I absolutely love my Odin 2 Pro. Worth the high cost. Had it since January and haven't put it down yet. I originally had a 405M which was great, metal finish, pocketable - but to all the points Russ made the Odin became my main device. Bought a cheap Switch case and I'm good to go.
I hope people realize how great it is that you decided to make a TH-cam channel. Ever since the beginning of your channel it's always been such a great avenue for information. The way you lay out information and tutorials is extremely easy to consume and makes it very easy to follow along. I can telly you growing up I would have loved to have these devices and this information lol I don't think people get just how incredible the Odin 2 is. We grew up with displays that when on have less visibility than the Playdate and it uses e-ink! I can't believe a device like this exists at the same price as the original switch! The sheer amount of what you can play with this really is a pretty solid one stop shop for all your games! I mean you can play Super Mario 2 but then also play Hades with little to no time to jump in between them! As you stated it opens the entire catalogue of so many of these systems!! There are literally lifetimes worth of games all available to people for the same price!
Just wanted to send a little thank you for everything you do. You offer all these resources and make it easy to consume. For someone who is just not that bright ha ha like me it's very very helpful so I can play my favorites all over again. Like you said with Jax and Daxter and all that I haven't played them so if I had an Odin 2 I'd be glued to it ha ha
I decided to pick up an Odin 2 Base and have zero regrets. It does all the emulation I'd ever want, is like half the size and weight of the Steam Deck with the 4nm SD8Gen2 and gets amazing battery life. I don't even mind the black shell because it's a lot less conspicuous to take out and game on.
Hey Russ, I love your stuff! I decided to get the Odin 2 after watching your videos, especially the Japan trip one. My wife and I are going to Japan in November and I wanted something portable for travel and this checked all the boxes. Thanks for creating such awesome videos!
Over the past 25 years I have been an avid collector of handhelds and have gone from GP32, Tapwave Zodiac, OpenPandora (I still think the D-Pad on that thing is king) as well as Xperia Play - dipping my toes into everything I could get. I believe at this point I own more than 75 of these devices and to this day my Odin 1 is by far the best of these devices I have ever used. They completely knocked it out of the park and the competition doesn't even come close. This is also a rare time for me when the second version of the device doesn't justify an upgrade because they got so much right the first time.
Best purchase I made. Perfect for traveling. I call this my "Backpack handheld".
Great assessment. Just made 3 months with my unit last week and its been just as much fun tinkering it to my liking as it is playing games
I'm glad you brought up the comparison to the Steam Deck. I got the Odin 2 Pro for its smaller form factor, but I actually ended up selling my Odin 2 Pro because I thought the Deck had more customization options like screen colors, etc. When I compared the same game on both Steam Deck and Odin 2 Pro, I preferred how they looked on the Deck. Both devices are great though.
I bought the Steam Deck OLED 1TB. I am a first time deck owner and very excited. One of my main reasons for getting the deck is for emulation purposes. If I didn't buy the Steam Deck I believe Odin 2 would of been my next choice other than ROG ally. But Rog ally kinda sketches me out with the melting sd cards and what not. Odin 2 looks so amazing and I wouldn't mind having one
I just cannot justify buying this when I already have the ROG Ally. I had the Odin 1 and sold it for the Ally. Now I wish I had a low end emulation device with great battery life. Instead, I opted to use my S24 Samsung phone with a controller attachment for emulation up until PS2/Wii/GameCube. That way I always have something to play while I'm on the go. ROG ally for PC and demanding games such as PS3 and switch. Phone for mostly GBA and anything else. It's always with me and has small form factor, very portable, great battery and performance. I think I will wait for the next leap in gaming for an upgrade
I just commented something similar. I don't see the point on this android devices. Just strap a controller to your phone. Maybe I can understand the appeal on having a dedicated gameboy-like device like the RG35 which is only $50-60. But spending 300 on this? I don't see the point
Your S24 works great as a replacement. A little low on storage, no SD, but you get to pick just your very favorites. I have 1.5T sd card on my Odin 2 and still need more. Switch emulation eats huge storage. Will have to get even more space if ever WiiU and PS 3 emulation come to Andriod.
@@santukagameplays5862in my case I don't like playing with a touch-only device which needs external controllers, it's just not the same thing as playing on a device made specifically for gaming, having built-in controls is a big thing, plus the battery is better, the aspect ratio is better for gaming than the ones used on modern phones, and you don't need to worry about not playing to save the battery for tasks like calls, finding an uber, etc. like you need when on a phone,
What about the RP4-Pro? I think it's $200, plays most of the GC and PS2 library, a fair bit smaller than the Odin2 and Ally. Good battery life.
I bought the Odin 2 during launch and I'm loving it. I was recently on a vacation and had it with me to play during flights/transit. And I usually find myself playing for hours on weekends. It plays everything I want (PS2/GC and before) with a great battery life, simply Amazing.
It trips me out when people are asking questions like, "should I get the rg556 or spend a little more and get an Odin 2". It's like, yeah man, get the Odin 2.
The Odin 2 costs almost twice as much. That's more than "a little" more. Definitely if you can afford it, the O2 is hands down a better package, but if you're price sensitive, the RG556 gives a lot of bang for your buck.
To be fair, it's not necessarily a "little" more. It's at least $100 more, and for some that extra hundred-plus just puts it outside of what they're willing to spend on retrogaming.
That said, if the cost of the Odin 2 base isn't a problem but you only want to get one Android emulation handheld, get the Odin 2.
In my country, the Odin 2 price is double than RG556.
I agree I always get the best!
@@benc.5558 It's absolutely worth it, though. Theres not even really a competition: you'd be better off saving the extra and getting the 02 than getting the RG556
Picked up the Odin 2 after watching your review of it for what felt like the zillionth time. I must say it is pricey but all well worth it.
I got the Max for $400 with early bird + promotional offer. Best purchase I've made for an emulation handheld.
Max for the best device now or for future proofing?
@@openinfinity Will be good for PC games since more RAM is always better for PC games.
I got my Odin2 because of your videos. And let me tell you, such a great decision. Does everything I want it to do AND more. Thanks, Russ. This device is tough to beat.
I just ordered the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro... hoping I don't regret it over just paying that extra for an Odin 2 or Steamdeck...
I have a Steam Deck, an Anbernic Rg35xx and a Retroid Pocket 4 Pro and my go to system for all retro games is my Pocket 4 Pro. Mind that it want to play high end system that's a no go, but rather than that you can trow it all out. You can play ps2, Wii, Gamecube, Dreamcast, 3ds and even some Switch games (like Dave the Diver, and that pixalated games) and all works like a charm, and to top it all off is slightly bigger than my RG35XX. So yeah, you did good
The pocket 4 Pro is a great device. There might be some compatibility issues with some of the higher end ps2 games but you'll be fine.
If it makes you feel any better, I got my Odin 2 before the RP4 Pro was released, and while I love it, sometimes I wonder, "man, the RP4 Pro is so much smaller, I like that it has the dpad on top, it's a hundred bucks cheaper..."
The grass is always greener. (:
If you care for pocketibility, nothing can beat the RP 4 pro right now. Make sure to get the grip, your hands will thank you very much.
You’ll still have more games than you can play in this lifetime + an extra $170 (because let’s be real, we want those color ways) :)
Knew about the Odin 2 (much thanks to this channel!) but wasn't planning on getting one, mostly because of the price and not being sure if I'd actually like or use it enough. But when a local listing went up and there was an opportunity to not have to pay import taxes or wait for it to spend weeks stuck in customs, I pulled the trigger. SO glad I did!
Haven't used and been so pleased with a handheld since the DS Lite(!), and I've had a fair few over the years although no Switch (which in hindsight I might've enjoyed - super bummed I missed out on F-Zero 99! - but coming off the Wii and 3DS which both collected dust I couldn't justify the gamble) or Steam Deck (a little too bulky for my use, and I simply do most of my Steam gaming on PC anyway). Although it's not entirely apples to apples and both excel at different things, the Odin 2 _has_ already seen more use than my launch Analogue Pocket too.
Finally an emulation handheld that doesn't just tread water and struggle with the same systems/games most have for years and years, and doesn't have any other silly dealbreaking flaws. Expensive, but what many of us always wanted and a way overdue technological push forward the market needed.
Played so much Vampire Survivors on PC last year, and after a break this was the perfect excuse to get sucked back in, works so well on this, I'm hooked again! Also been emulating some of the easier to control DOS favorites using Magic DosBox. RetroArch CRT shaders for consoles look amazing, currently halfway through replaying Super Castlevania IV and the vibes are just right.
There have been some promising posts on the Odin subreddit about Winlator. Looking forward to someone who thinks onions are gross to make a video about it.
WTF
I love my Odin2. Nice upgrade from the original Odin! Thanks Russ for your setup guides and recommendations!!
Russ, I'd be honored to help you with your troubles. Send some of those items my way! 😊
I had it for two months and I gotta say that it's the best handheld device that I ever had. This takes anything you throw at. My only gripe that I have is setting up emulators (mainly MAME) Emudeck really needs to have a dedicated Android app. The setup holds it back for me. Besides that, this device is king to me. Just get the Base model.
Some day you'll get past the opening area of Narshe in Final Fantasy 6 Advance. Keep at it! :P
Maybe one day!
I picked up an odin 2 a couple of months ago. it's been fantastic!
Circa 2005, I let my eldest cousin who is about 4-5 years older than me borrow my PS2 and OG Xbox for a month. I was the one who insisted. The only gaming device he had owned at that time was the OG GBA. The one without a backlight. GBA was the first gaming device he owned since the NES. He never owned any console or handheld between the NES and GBA. He usually would play a Genesis or SNES at a friend’s house. He was the first in my family to own an NES or “Nintendo” was what we called it at the time.
He would later get a PSP slim by 2008 and then get a Raspberry Pi to emulate retro games on his PC. So I ask him back in 2005 if he enjoyed playing my PS2 and Xbox? He said, “Yeah.” He enjoyed playing Gran Turismo 4 since he’s into cars as he was studying to be a mechanic. But he said something interesting I never forgot and he said it almost passively. He told me they’re cool but they’re not portable. He prefers portable due to convenience. Now this was before iPhone changed the world and turned us into zombies.
I remember thinking how my cousin made a great point because I did have a Dreamcast, PS2, Xbox, and GameCube hooked up to my Sony WEGA TV at the time and got so fed up with all the cords at the back. Each of those consoles needed two things plugged to it. One connected to an outlet to power it on and one to connect to the back or front of a TV (composite cables or S-video). I even had one of those octopus cables for the PS2, Xbox, and GCN, but it still got messy. Add the fact I went out a lot with my girlfriend at the time. So I rarely did play any of my consoles when I finally got home.
Fast forward to Nov 19, 2006. I get a launch day Wii I pre-ordered a week before. Great fun in the beginning but didn’t touch it for several months after that initial gimmicky novelty wore off. That was the last home console I would own until May 6, 2017. After I won some money from the Kentucky Derby, I bought a PS4 slim from Best Buy for $200 because I had a $100 credit from a previous LG G5 / Sprint deal. And 6 days later, I bought a used Vita. The Vita started my exclusivity at sticking to only portables. I haven’t powered on my PS4 slim in 5 years.
My cousin already had the foresight of going only portable since the mid 00s well before the smartphone revolution. I finally decided to follow his path with that. Every gaming device I will ever purchase from now on must be portable. And must be played without an Internet connection, so no to streaming devices. I sold my Switch OLED because I didn’t want it or my Lite always needing a brief Internet connection if one of them wasn’t set to primary.
PlayStation Portal has zero appeal to me because I don’t plan to ever buy a PlayStation 5. When PS5 came out late 2020 during the pandemic, I had zero anticipation and excitement for it. I was good with my Vita. Now a lot of people are saying Sony should release another true handheld but that’s easier said than done. Look who Sony will go against if say their handheld gets released in 2-3 years….
Successor to the Switch
Steam Deck (or it’s successor)
ROG Ally (or it’s successors, in plural)
Legion Go (or it’s successors)
Smartphones
Tablets
Many Chinese retro handhelds
Possible Xbox handheld
Sony tried getting into portables with the PSP and Vita and lost badly each time. Nintendo is practically unbeatable in the handheld space dating back to 1989. And it’s weird to say PSP being a flop when it still sold 82M. That’s more than NES, SNES, N64, GameCube, Wii U, and every Sega console and handheld sold. That’s more than the 3DS. Vita sold around 15M which would be a number Valve would love to reach with their Steam Deck.
We know Asus and Lenovo are hardware manufacturers and can release another PC handheld almost annually like they do with their laptops and phones. They want to sell as much hardware as possible. By the time this Sony handheld is released, it would be D.O.A. They always had the stronger hardware over Nintendo’s handhelds and Sony always lost. The weaker DS outsold the PSP by 2:1. The weaker 3DS outsold the Vita by 5:1.
Steam Deck is the winner for me. I say between Vita vs. Switch vs. Deck, I use the Deck 90% of the time. Then 8% for the Switch and 2% for the Vita. And I prefer my Vita slim more than my Switch Lite as an overall device and for sentimental reasons but I rarely play it for games except if I want to play SSF2 because it has a great d-pad like my PSP slim. My last save for Final Fantasy X on my Vita was back in Feb 2019. I rarely play it.
It sucks I have to wait another 2 years to play Final Fantasy VII Rebirth on a Steam Deck but there should be plenty of other games to entertain me by then considering I missed out on a lot since 2007 thanks to me being more into cell phones at that time. I know the Steam Deck isn’t perfect. It has it’s share of hardware and software limitations. But it fulfills most of my gaming needs.
+ Affordable
+ Great ergonomics
+ Great customer support
+ Great community support
Steam Deck is the greatest handheld ever made. A game-changer and life-changer the same way the original iPhone was.
That's what I call a good post. And why is your opinion about Odin2 and prediction for nex 2 years? Will it handle the competition?
Thank you for sharing. And yes I also shared this sentiment. My first real purchase is the no backlit purple GBA, and it really does affect all my decision in buying game console. Beside the consoles gifted to me. Only Nintendo Switch that I really bought with my own money to play on TV because it's portable. I also absolutely love my Steam Deck.
Ma’am this is a Wendy’s.
Hi Russ, after your first videos of the Odin 2 I decided to order one. After about three weeks it arrived and I didn't really use it for another month or two because I was finishing up games on other consoles. Now I finished Revelations: Persona PS1 and I am playing Persona 2: Innocent Sin PS1 on it and I love it! After P2 Eternal Punishment and P3 FES I will take a break to play P4 Golden on Switch. I hope to see good PS3 emulation within 5 years so that we can finally utilize the performance mode hehe. Thanks for the in-depth guide and I will keep following you!
Steam deck plays PC games so there is really no contest unless you don’t want that .
I have a ton of retro games on my SD but 99% of the time I’m playin PC games.
Just got my cold grey pro last Monday and I have used it nonstop. Coming from a RP4P, this is a huge upgrade to which I gave to someone who graduated from basic training.
When I finished Army Basic Training in 1990, I bought a Gameboy. 😊
@@glennshoemake4200 thank you so much for your service!
Damn the battery life is mind blowing. All the portable PCs have terrible battery life imo.
I've almost got both now. Steam Deck for all my PC games, Odin 2 for PS2 and below. I love my Odin 2. It is awesome for travel use as well l.
Seriously find this hard to choose over the steam deck, Steam deck just does so much more
deck is a complete beast but yet I'll end up getting this one too.
Like what
You realize this is MUCH cheaper than a Steam Deck and isn't even comparable, right? It doesn't play PC games lmao. Also has 5 times the battery life of a Steam Deck.
Today I'm starting three months of paternity leave. I already have a Steam Deck, but I'm looking for something smaller, with more battery life for emulating and tackling retro achievements, while being with the little one.
Your videos on the Odin 2 have made me decide to likely pull the trigger and place an order. Thanks for your time and passion.
I pulled the trigger on the Odin 2 over the new Pocket S based on your reviews.
That’s exactly what i was going back and forth between
Dumb decision. The pocket s isn't even fully out yet nor have any full fledged reviews dropped for it yet.
@@const3llations_370 the price is released and it looks uncomfortable af
@@const3llations_370 not a dumb decision at all. Odin 2 has way better ergonomics, the Pocket S only has 1 USB-C port vs Odin 2 having a USB-C port, headphone jack and HDMI port, Ayaneo's first Android handheld was just mid, the Pocket S' extra performance doesn't mean much if you want to focus on emulation, and depending on your personal preference, the Odin 2 looks better (I personally like the SNES look).
I have the Odin 2 Pro and it is BEAST! Another amazing video Russ! 🎉🎉🎉
I want to be one of those guys who buys the premium model and tells everyone how it performs so much better LOL
There is a niche for it in PC emulation, the extra ram will open more options for you.
Loving the Odin 2. Watching my kids play SOR2 one minute and Metroid the next is awesome. But for me it's the level of tinkering I got to do with the advice.
Bro stop tempting me. I'm working very hard right now to earn money for a ROG ALLY, which is OBVIOUSLY better than the Odin 2. I keep having to tell myself, "Odin 2 can't run Windows. It's lacks Steam games. It's much less powerful. The ROG ALLY is better. The ROG ALLY is worth it. Don't let the world tell you otherwise" 😢
Good luck with the 30 minute battery
ROG Ally is a great device. I really love playing with it, amazing analog, comfy form factor, marvelous screen, and wonderful performance. Just one gripe about it, barely functional suspend and resume feature. And I got 2 hours to play Monster Hunter Rise on it.
@@kevinmartinez996 Thank you! I'm very excited. 😁
Look into the steam deck, thing is a beast.
@@mart182003 Steam Deck is a beast, but Ally is a monster. 😉
ordered an odin 2 pro today based on this video (and your other odin 2 content) - have been waiting to see what "premium" handheld to get and i think the odin 2 is the right pick for me. glad it's held up over time.
When Russ got to the part when he said he doesn’t have time to play all these games, he’s being 100% real on that. He happens to also be a husband and dad, so how can he find that time to play all those games? We have so many games from so many handhelds/smartphones that we will never find the time to play a majority of them.
I think it’s kinda pointless if Russ is playing Balatro on a $300+ emulation device. And I’m kinda done wanting to emulate PS2 and GameCube games. We got $150-$200 handhelds/smartphones capable of handling PS2 and GameCube. Odin 2 doesn’t play OG Xbox which the Steam Deck can easily do. And Wii emulation is excellent thanks to the trackpad to move the pointer.
I don’t want to keep playing PS2 and GameCube forever. Give me Final Fantasy VII Remake and Uncharted 4 on the go. Give me Unreal Engine 4 graphics. Give me some AAA titles released within the last 10 years. Not AAA titles from 20 years ago that’s starting to have very dated graphics especially coming from the muddy, dull graphics of a PS2. GameCube graphics are still nice but it’s nowhere as nice as the Switch or PS4 era.
PC handhelds has pretty much eliminated the need for a Chinese retro handheld unless you want that smaller form factor.
Mine just arrived yesterday currently following your set-up guide 😊
I'm an Odin 2 user, and it should be noted that (for me) the wi-fi on this thing is ass. So if you're planning on buying it for device streaming, you should avoid doing so. Apart from that issue it's still pretty good.
Edit: I should add, I've only tried using Steamlink, rather than Sunshine/Moonlight. Maybe I should try experimenting more?
It has Wifi 7 support. What are you going on about it being "ass"?
@@Game4Lord Agreed. Streaming via steamlink works quite well for me.
@@Game4Lordsupport and utilize are 2 differnt things.
Router issue
@Game4Lord yeah you're right. Weirdly I researched it on the odin2 reddit, and other people had similar issues. I'm not sure if my Odin 2 is defective or something. Either way my wi-fi is not bad or anything. I just thought I should warn people just in case. I have found a solution by using a USB c to ethernet cable adapter and plugging it into my odin 2. So when I want to stream I need a cable.
Russ, where are your Cat breaks, i miss them, but continue the good work, and making new owners of Handhelds, able to set them up, as nice as your systems are.
We all Love you Russ
No hate whatsoever, but I truly don't understand why anyone would waste hundreds on all these devices when you can just get an ASUS ROG Ally and put Emudeck and EmuStation on it, while also getting a full contemporary gaming experience with all the AAA titles as well. You can play literally everything ever with a handheld PC.
Ah, I found the intelligent person in the comment section!
Well the Ally is more expensive and has bad battery life. Also size matters for comfort.
Battery life. Size. The fact that if I want to play AAA new games I'll play on my 4080 rig or stream it to my phone on my 6ghz connection. And the fact that I'm not gaming seriously when I'm out and about.
I really want to reemphasize: 2 hour battery life
Oh and the extreme ally is almost twice as expensive
I have a rog ally too and I do that but I also have an RG35XX just because it's something I can put in my pocket and is small enough to have it during waiting rooms.
The ally is portable but I can't pocket it.
After seeing the processor on this and seeing the price of a phone with that processor it was a no brainer for me. Did a lot of research on processors before coming to the conclusion of getting this one and I’m so glad I did !
I can't be a king when it only goes up to PlayStation 2
I think 95% of people would be better off with a steam deck. Fun vid, but I wouldn't be swayed. Glad you enjoy it 😊
I'm sitting here trying to replay Jak and Daxter, sly racoon and racket and Clank on my Odin 2 aswell and it's all thanks to you! You have made my Odin feel so amazing! Thanks again!
Where do you get PS2 roms
@@omegamanGXE google is your best friend
@@Jakcoon sorry I can’t I have ligma
@@omegamanGXE have you heard about Nintendo trying to sue the website vimslair? You should check that out 👍
I think your "scrap" Odin 2 has the best color combination lol, those white buttons on the clear blue shell look amazing IMHO. I might have to steal the look If I decide to get one.
Hey everyone, if you're on the fence as to which handheld to get... Just do yourself a favour and get this. It's so good. I've got other handhelds, I don't play them because of this. Russ is absolutely right in his first comments about forcing himself not to keep using the Odin 2.
I just bought myself the Odin 2 pro. My decision was based on your videos. Thank you.
I picked up an Odin 2 Pro, and have not regretted it one bit. It's the best hand held I have used.
New subscriber here and super happy I found your channel. I've been looking for a good handheld unit to get back into gaming and just bought the Odin 2 based on your videos. Can't wait to get it and get things set up and use your setup video. Keep up the good work.
The steam deck is also not available in a lot of countries, you can buy it, but reselled at an absurd price. So the odin 2 was a no brainer for me.
Best retro handheld I've owned so far. The battery life is insane!
Very personal preference- I have the deck, the odin2 and the ally, I would almost always take the Odin2. It’s light in weight, compatible, it plays all kinds of games, you could play retro gaming with no internet outside of course, and you could even hook a hotspot and play steam games from pc, ps5 remote etc.( if you really wanted) it’s quite, and it last forever. Ally last 2 hours with genshin impact which is alright but personally I just couldn’t stand having to think about battery
I picked up the odin 2 base and have loved it, amazed at how it can play everything like you said
Still rocking my PS Vita 1000 for most of my emulation and still enjoying it, but the Odin 2 does look awesome, I'll admit. Might save up and get one for Christmas. Great vid as usual, Russ!
you must be psyched for the odin 2 mini
I’ve been really into playing on the psp again. I ended up finding the old one my wife got me back when we were dating and got it all set up for emulation. I was getting so much enjoyment out of that little handheld that I order 2 PS Vitas so my kids could play.
It’s amazing what all these handhelds can do.
The Steam Deck OLED as a compliment to my Desktop PC has been a perfect companion device. I emulate all consoles up to when PC ports tended to get good so I can't think of a game I don't have access to that I want. That said it is a bit of a chonker and a perfect device for me would be what the steam deck oled offers but in the form factor of the Odin 2. Here's hoping we get there in the next 4-5 years.
Odin 2 is monster. I take it to work and when I have an hour or two available I game on it with a 8bit controller. I replaying a lot of retro games I played as a kid that I didn't finish or try to new ones. The battery life is fantastic since a full charge last the whole day. Odin 2 is the ultimate retro handheld king no doubt about it.
One of the best purchases, retro gaming, modern emulation and cloud Xbox gaming. Rolls it all up, never any issues. It's a beast!
I’m happy with my quirky Pimax portal for now. But I love seeing all the videos for the Oden too. It looks like a great device
I go back and forth between my Switch Lite and Odin 2 Pro. I really enjoy going back to PS2 and GameCube and now I'm exploring Wii. Super Mario Galaxy on the Odin 2 looks fantastic and is so much fun to play once you get the controls setup.
I have both the Steam Deck and the Ayn Odin 2, and I have ended playing the steam games in the Ayn Odin 2 through GeForce NOW, which I pay monthly to play in the computer already or you can use Steam Link, which works incredibly well. The GeForce NOW route lets you play even some GOG and Epic games.
I have a Steam Deck, but its really tempting to get an Odin 2 just for the smaller size. The Steam Deck is pretty massive, and a bit harder to daily drive.
I remember the time where so many people were all sour about the release of the Odin2 while I was absolutely amazed by it with the "BUT THE SD CAN EMULATE BETTER, PLAY WINDOWS GAMES, etc." argument. While I still play daily today with my Odin2 (the base version, not even pro or max!), my SO playing anything but Odin2 still shuffles in search of that perfect device, ending up leaving all consoles bough (including SD, Switch, etc.) gathering dust doing nothing. Although I wish the Odin2 would be a bit lighter, I still play it and it was 100% worth every penny for the power/price ratio. It really is a great all around device and have 0 regrets buying it and enjoying despite people going "Don't waste your money, buy a SD instead!".
The only thing I kinda find weird is that you never considered streaming your Steam games on your Odin 2 (with Sunshine + Moonlight). I installed WiFi6 in my home and I do it ALL THE TIME! The experience is amazing as well! Of course, this does not make Steam gaming portable outside of your home, but it's an interesting option !
It's a legitimate argument. I did have to end up finishing my last Champions of Norrath playthrough on my Deck because it does in fact emulate PS2 better than the Odin 2 does. And being able to play my Steam collection on a portable (a huge collection ... thank you Steam sales) *without* having to stream is, in fact. awesome.
The Odin 2 has top-class battery life and a smaller form factor (without being TOO small and cramp-inducing like the Retroid devices) going for it.
Best thing is to simply have 'em both.
I couldn't for the life of me get hold of the pro model. I ended up lowering my expectations and getting an RG556.. I have to say the handheld overall has been great and wanted to thank you for the review.
Still coming to the channel to enjoy all your other golden content. Keep it up sir.
I don't understand why people keep buying Ambernic devices or Powkiddy's. Their Dpad/s are average at best and thumbsticks are always garbage, they are Switch's sticks. These two points combined should always be a deal breaker for any hand held.
@@jakesmith5278 the only horizontal device under 100$ that is not anbernic's or powkiddy's it's the retroid pocket 2s at 99$ so there you have your explanation. You've no better value of a RG35XXH at 40$ (now with aliexpress discounts). But sure above 150$ Anbernic quality is not the best I guess
I picked up the Odin 2 Pro and I love it. I just have two things I wish it did.
1. I wish I could play my Steam games natively on it.
2. I wish the screen was a bit bigger and OLED.
I have so many games loaded on it that I would never be able to play all it in my life time.
Hey Russ, huge fan. Was just lmao thinking that around the 14:08 mark is probably how you got on Nintendo’s naughty list 😅
I purchased Odin 2 pro for my husband. Set it up and tried it.
I really liked the device (performance, confortable).
I’m jealous now because i only have a RG405V (which is very good for price but Odin 2 is reaaaaally much better and confortable 😅). I’m waiting for a Odin 3 with better screen oooor maybe I can steel Odin 2 from my husband 🤔🤔🤔.
Idk if you know, but , they are coming out with an Odin 2 mini. It’s basically an Odin 2, but smaller and has a better screen.
Yesss thanks. But I love big screen (it’s for use at home, not often bring out). Very tempting though > I Will wait the tests and see after. Thank you 🎉
After exclusively owning consoles, I finally decided to invest in an Odin 2. Setting it up and tweaking configurations took hours, leaving me with hardly any gameplay time-my fault, plus being a dad of two doesn't help with time constraints!
Cool feature of the Odin 2 is its compatibility with PlayStation Remote Play and Xbox Game Pass. However, the comfort aspect leaves something to be desired, prompting me to debate whether I should also invest in a PlayStation Portal. Decisions, decisions! Ha.
The settings is the game. Congratulations on your achievement 🎉
I've definitely been happy with my Odin 2, minus a few small issues that will apparently not be fixed:
1) Early on, there was an issue with the audio that made volume levels inconsistent within games - more subdued parts in music got quieter, but then the volume would get louder at "busier" parts in the music. They did eventually fix this for *most* games - but not for older systems like NES, Gameboy, and Sega Genesis. I concluded that the fix they came up with only affected games that used stereo sound, but the issue continued in games using mono. I let them know about this several times, but they eventually wrote back and said: "Our technical team found that if we continue to optimize this sound issue, it will lead to weak three-dimensional sound and overall sound quality." I'm guessing it's more that they didn't make it a priority because probably very few people use this incredible device to play such low-end games, and so almost no one will even notice it. Sucks for me. So I just have to use headphones when playing those older games or output them to my TV, since the problem only exists when using the device's speakers.
2) This is a far more minor one, but for some reason if "Touch Feedback" isn't turned on, no rumble ever happens with the device in any game - so in order to use rumble, that has to stay on. Which means that I get that tiny little annoying rumble every time I touch something on the screen. I let them know about this too, but again, apparently very few others care about it, so it's not getting fixed.
Other than those relatively minor things, though, my Odin 2 has been well worth what I paid for it. :-)