I Freaking Love My Odin 2 (Three Months Later)

[@Khalmoon]

The Odin 2 is next level, I haven't gotten a shred of productivity done in weeks. I feel like a kid again.

[@shto4782]

I wonder what you gonna do if you had steam deck

[@Mr.NiceGuy1986]

I have the legion go and that's strictly for PC PS3 and Xbox emulation. Everything else I play on my Odin2 2. If I want to play PC style games on my Odin2 I just pull up game pass. Can play for hours on this device.

[@Rickidaone]

@@shto4782Not everyone wants to haul around a giant device with inferior battery life

[@bulletpunch9317]

​@@shto4782keep it tethered to a huge powerbank.

[@shto4782]

@@Rickidaone you get giant battery life when emulating. Even playing demanding aaa games on 15w tdp you get 2,30hr of gaming which is enough if you have a life

[@daylightsilence1]

Fun fact. You don't actually need to swap controllers for psychic mantis fight. They tell you if you can't swap you can shoot the statues faces in the room. It's a backup method

[@shigshug8581]

interesting...

[@cosmicgamingunlimited]

You remove the memory card as well. There is multiple ways to beat him.

[@seikkv4371]

You can simply bruteforce him with kicks, there is one point in the animation that always hit.

[@CaliforniaRaisens]

I have had my Odin 2 for a month and love it. Have not touched my Steam Deck since I got it. The size and weight is perfect, not to mention the immense power it has to play through PS2, GC and Switch games.

[@Learnjapanesefromsomeguy]

How have you find the overall Switch emulation experience with your Odin 2?

[@CaliforniaRaisens]

@@Learnjapanesefromsomeguy I would say a good 70% of games I tried work fine. 2D games have all work, it's only some 3d games that are not compatible or optimised yet, like tears of the kingdom. This is more an emulator issue rather than hardware. Will only get better with time.

[@Learnjapanesefromsomeguy]

@@CaliforniaRaisens Thanks for the input.

[@ninhosensei]

Same here, but not touching my rog ally

[@-boost-]

I am new to handheld gaming and emulation. Is there a video guide or master document that teaches how to install these games? Thank you anyone who responds

[@joe8090]

Dude I don't personally know you but you really seem like you are the nicest person.

[@hotchoclateguy]

ikr

[@RynoDBones]

I opened mine on the 1st of January and have actually finished a few NES games already. I’m absolutely loving it…plus about 75% of the native android games I’ve purchased over the past decade work on it with controller support. This is the best gaming system I’ve owned.

[@oliwek70]

NES with an Odin 2 ? Isn't that a bit overkill ?😄

[@RynoDBones]

@@oliwek70 Fans going full blast the entire time.

[@SWOTHDRA]

​@@RynoDBones😂

[@mn9ajas]

What are your favourite native android games on it (with controller support)?

[@glennwwicks]

How is input lag / latency with NES games? That's my favorite system and input latency is always something I consider when buying retro handhelds. Playing mega man 2 with even the teensiest bit of input lag ruins the experience for me, having learned to play the original game on a real NES console + a crt tv.

[@SpaceChicken]

Goodness, man. I came in to see the Odin in action and saw my favorite destination, Leavenworth. Hope you and your family had a great time!

[@skyemegakitty]

I got two pro odin 2s for my siblings for christmas and used your guide to set them up. You saved me so much time and equipped me with the experience to set everything up so they (as less technical users) don't have to know anything too technical.

[@nefariou5]

damn wish I had a sibling like you! I got a cup

[@michaelharvest931]

Damn. You’re an awesome sibling! Good to hear you take care of your kin so well!

[@chrismisc7856]

I got one of these for my birthday. I went with the Pro. I love it. Super high quality and excellent performance. Battery life is awesome as well. Thanks Russ. Love the channel and you help me get the most from my devices.

[@ChrisCoelho]

I’m seeing these listed for like $900 ……is that the actual price?

[@dont_panic_de]

​@@ChrisCoelhono, it's 370 USD at the AYN store.

[@mwitters1]

My family used to take a trip to leavenworth every christmas on the 22nd or 23rd, it's soo cool during the holidays. great childhood memories. I think I'll take a trip there next yr. I havent been since the early 90s except passing through I wonder how much it's changed. it was a really small cozy little bavarian town back then.

[@Stormryx]

Got mine based off your reviews and I'm over the moon about it. Love it!

[@sunrisesunset1734]

You got duped if you think that the ROG Ally can't play 7 watt games like these for hours upon hours on end.

[@sunrisesunset1734]

At least 3 hours for SNES games and the like.

[@Stormryx]

@@sunrisesunset1734 why do you keep replying to me with this stuff?

[@-BarathKumarS]

@@Stormryx lol i think he works for rog ally.

[@omegamanGXE]

@@sunrisesunset1734moar liek ZOG Ally amirite

[@JuanHMartinez]

I did the same thing, went to a different country on a family vacation, only brought the Odin 2 and could not be happier. It was amazing, especially for game variety and battery life.

[@sergiovazquez7620]

Hey my friend, do you play any Dreamcast, PS2, psp, N64, GameCube, Wii if so, how well do they play? I hope you can answer.

[@JuanHMartinez]

@@sergiovazquez7620 I played Dreamcast, N64, Gamecube, and they all played great. I have to test ps2. Not interested in wii for it.

[@georgeblack2749]

Finally pulled the trigger and bought mine. I am very excited.

[@waytube]

I play my Odin 2 every day. It’s my favorite handheld, and I have too many of them. The biggest surprise to me is Switch emulation. I thought I might just try it for a laugh but didn’t think I’d do more than that. Now I’m playing so many Switch games (that I already own!) with mods and cheats and it’s a blast. It’s also the best Dolphin experience I’ve had. Your guide graphics helped me sort out Wii controls once and for all, so thanks!

[@thebocop]

Are we talking solid framerates tho? Sometimes you ppl can somehow play games at 20 FPS.

[@waytube]

@@thebocop “you ppl”?? Yikes. Frame rates are very good and consistent. I don’t enjoy emulation with poor performance, which is why I basically gave up on my original Odin pro. It was good but not good enough. Odin 2 is amazing, though it needs to be configured properly.

[@thebocop]

listen, you ppl (Chi-NA handheld fans) will say anything is good with 10 frames of input lag playing Mario Sunshine at 15 frames a sec. @@waytube (jk lol) 😂

[@zanfear]

Do ROMs or emulators automatically have cheats, or do you have to find files for them and input them into the system?

[@waytube]

@@zanfear It varies by app. For example, Dolphin has a native feature to download and activate Action Replay or Gecko codes easily, while apps like Yuzu and AetherSX2 require you to manually load files with specific file names into specific folders.

[@zeeejay]

Washington native, hope you enjoyed our state! It’s absolutely beautiful!

[@MrLevy1986]

Hey mate, I've had mine for about a week now, and holy crap is it good. thanks for the setup guide. I've held off getting one since the 351p as I didn't see much point but this thing is a beast and we'll worth it. the best parts are the size, power and quality of this thing. my switch has officially retired

[@tigerfight85]

I was on the fence about getting an Odin 2, but I really enjoyed your review of the Odin 2 Pro, which is the model I ended up ordering last night. I absolutely cannot wait for the it.

[@shandawg111]

Awesome! Didn’t know you were a fellow Washingtonian! My wife is from Hawaii and we live in the Olympia/Lacey area as well. Actually did a family vacay to Leavenworth just last year. Lots of fun with the kids and great beer and brats! Love the channel.

[@OzymandiasWasRight]

Leavenworth is for when you want bratwurst for Christmas in August.

[@chrisumali9841]

Thanks for the demo and info, your reviews are concise and awesome. Have a great day

[@stfc4619]

I love my Odin 2 so much. Yuzu and Daijisho combined. My steam deck is not used lately. I love the size. I finally got the case and meenwhile my steam deck never leaved the house, my odin follow me a lot more.

[@JeffjeffAleman]

I live in Tacoma, WA and I LOVE the shoutouts to Washington state, Leavenworth and just your whole story about being out here for the holidays.

[@wopino]

I picked up a cold gray Pro model and added a 1tb card and I love it. I was previously using my Galaxy S22 ultra with my 8bitdo pro controller and the clip they sell with it so I was ready to upgrade. Man I'm glad i did because this thing is dope! Can't wait to see the RP4 Pro vid, thanks Russ.

[@ElementalTJ]

Just ordered my purple pro! Thanks Russ for all you do!!

[@Paki-san]

Beautiful video (and beautiful holiday), you're great Russ, greetings from Italy.

[@BCastillo718]

Ordered the pro yesterday I can’t wait ! Great review as always

[@christiangai5981]

Actually I'm very happy with my Odin 2, i jumped back in my teenager days playing again my favourite ps2/gc generation games and the fact i can play them better than they were it's amazing. Like you mentioned it's great have some cheats to use I'm playing Dark chronicle again and have an help in the dungeons focusing on the story is what I need.

[@vidman5000]

You've been knocking it out of the park for 2024. Cheers!

[@jocksterwocks]

I love my Odin 2. Honestly am super satisfied with it. My only complaint is that most front-ends I use aren’t updated for android 13 yet and don’t work automatically.

[@michaeltam4171]

Recently I'm using Yuzu v184 to play Skyrim with the FSR in graphical setting and unlocked FPS limit by the mod. It still has a little graphical glitch, but overall is way better than that running on my switch OLED! I'm so satisfied about the sleep mode, battery life, and all around balance design. The Odin 2 is amazing.

[@alvaroruizruiz7538]

Have u tried playing totk?

[@jorge.palomo]

what version did you get? pro or max?

[@michaeltam4171]

@@alvaroruizruiz7538 No, but I tried Outcast, Burnout Paradise, Salt & Sacrifice, Star Ocean. They work perfectly.

[@michaeltam4171]

@@jorge.palomo I got the Max version.

[@tacotone]

I've play this this 4-5 times a week which is a lot more than my Odin Lite. I really love this thing, ironically I've just been playing Pokemon but hey it's an overpowered pokemon device for me. I absolutely love this thing

[@justiceo1791]

I ordered mine because of you and ETA Prime. I was doubtful that they could deliver it to Nigeria but it got in 2 mos after I placed the order. Great device thus far. I just need to follow your emulation guide for PS2 to finish my setup.

[@RichardHamiltonIII]

Absolutely loving my Odin 2, which I decided to back because of your video. Honestly, I've mostly used it for Hades, and have zero regrets. Amazing game, and runs beautifully at 1080p. Can't wait to revisit other games, mostly GC and PS2. I was a Sega and Xbox kid, so I'm excited to play some of the Nintendo and Sony exclusives that I missed out on...

[@timking4662]

Leavensworth is a great time. I live near Seattle! Pretty cool you’re from the area as well. Love your videos Russ!! Very helpful informative and fun to watch.

[@AeronNL]

Great video as always! My Odin 2 was delivered yesterday and I am having a blast with it. I followed your guide and got it all setup. For me personally this is really an endgame retro handheld. Absolutely loving it.

[@albyx]

I’ll have to watch the RP4 review before I pull the trigger on a new device. Great video as always!

[@AwesomeTechTeam]

I purchased two of the pro models for my partner and I. The retro and the white variants. We both really don't like the massive size of all the x86 handhelds and the battery trade off of the smaller ones. I work in the film industry so I'm already carrying around a ton of gear. I wanted something small, powerful, and could last a long time while I'm running around on set. This thing has been a dream! I can honestly fit it fairly comfortably into my coat pocket so it's been nice just to grab quickly when I have a few minutes of downtime and pick up right where I left off. I've already got a gaming PC at home and a MacBook with an iPad that I carry around in my bag so I felt comfortable skipping the Steam Deck and ROG Ally. If I really want to play PC games, I just stream it - no problem. The Odin 2 gets a 10/10 from me. I've also heard they're working on a Linux version?? 😮

[@DoubleDragon5180]

EXACTLY! And the main reason to pick it up over the Steam Deck. When it comes to Emulation, it outperforms the Steam Deck while being way more efficient and better battery life. Plus, it’s significantly lighter and smaller than the Steam Deck like you mentioned. If it is the only device that you have, meaning no cellphone, no PC, no tablet, etc., it would make sense to get the Steam Deck for that console/hybrid PC. However, if you already have a gaming PC, then there is no reason for the Steam Deck as the Odin 2 can stream it via Steam Link app or any other streaming app to your PC and boom you have a device that outperforms the Steam Deck in AAA games and streaming does not take that much battery life. If the Odin 2 had a OLED 120hz screen with a 4g/5g modem built inside, that would be a day one buy for me and definitely will complement my ROG ALLY that is modded to hell now lol.

[@davidsapir3764]

About 7 months ago I picked up the RG556. It's a great hand held that does a lot for a great price. That was my first experience playing PS2 on a hand held, and it blew me away so much I upgraded again to the Odin 2 Pro Rainbow variant. So glad I did. It's as close to perfect as Android hand helds get, and the PS2 emulation is spectacular. Wow do I love this thing.

[@GregLopes]

Man this is making me miss when I was station in Washington, up in Silverdale. I LOVED taking trips to Leavenworth. Such a beautiful area of the country! And now you’re making me really consider an Odin 2.

[@omegamanGXE]

moar liek Goldendale amirite

[@michaelpaoletti8588]

I have this in my cart right now but was hoping you'd drop the RP4 + review soon. I'm glad I held off. Cant wait for your impressions.

[@azenyr]

13:00 - "But then I remembered I have the switch version of the game already so I can emulate it instead" - yes, ofc we only emulate games that we own, otherwise we say "oh no, that's too bad" and don't play it, right? RIGHT?

[@mrrolandlawrence]

ordering the pro. every video i see about the device - people just love it.

[@CrazyForBeingSane]

My Odin 2 is great, but because I'm a truck driver, I still find myself using my g cloud with its flip case skin for a lot of my retro gaming on the go. The bigger screen and sweet joysticks on it just work really well for me. However, when I want to do PS2 at 1080p or 4k out, I just plug my Odin 2 into my 65 inch flat-screen at home and have a ball. Tomb Raider Anniversary was a great play thru. I beat chains of Olympus on it with it hooked to my TV. Pretty cool

[@LuisPerez-5]

Playing above native resolution has always seemed weird to me. It won't look any better. I just play native(2x at most) and just boost the framerate

[@turbochargedfilms]

​@@LuisPerez-5it literally does though, i hope you've been keeping up on your eye care

[@LuisPerez-5]

@@turbochargedfilms It doesn't but you keep thinking it does if it makes you feel better

[@jacobbillups4715]

I’ve only ever messed with emulators on PC but I’m curious about what the experience is like hooking into the tv or a monitor can you elaborate a bit? None of the vids I’ve seen on these consoles ever mention it and I wonder if there is input lag or weird distorted ratios visually

[@CrazyForBeingSane]

It's plug and play if you have a micro HDMI cord that runs from the device to your TV.

[@Playerdrew10]

Love the use of Google Earth in your footage and the b-roll! Thanks for the obtanium tip!

[@kyles3335]

I received my Odin 2 base before the scheduled shipping date and it's only gotten better from there. Couldn't be happier with it. ***Edit - New OTA update dropped last night(1/17) and it made my odin 2 base worse. It now has huge lag spikes on BOTW and sometimes will completely freeze requiring a hard reset. I've noticed RAM usage is up ~10% higher after this latest update while playing any give game. Also I noticed while playing skyrim that when I use the trigger to fire an arrow it acts like I quickly tapped the button instead of keeping the bow drawn. It happens about 50% of the time when firing arrows. This thing was perfect after the first OTA update. I should not have updated it without seeing what others experience was. If you have the base odin 2, do not install the latest update!

[@mytigger1957]

Still trying to figure out which handheld to get. This channel is great as these reviews are great.

[@Gallacherboy]

I must say I really enjoyed this one Russ, you spoke more about gaming and your experience with it on a handheld that being the Odin 2. I have been watching your videos for a good year and a bit and it was because of your videos I made the decision to get the Anbernic RG552 which was a perfect fit for me at the time and it’s still a really cool handheld but I would want to upgrade to the Odin 2 and with the past videos you have done, I am itching to get one. With all your written guides and set up guide videos, it’s been really helpful to have these walkthroughs to make the process a lot easier and faster in terms of set up. So I am very confident to say that I will be buying the Odin 2 but I can assure you that your videos on it, I will be buying something that is a good fit for me as I did with the RG552. Thanks again man and it’s nice to see you bring out your insight and experience with these games. It’s comforting to know that even though you work so hard to write up guides and do videos, you get to play games and enjoy, share your experiences. Now I want to explore the games you played.

[@GameMiestro]

I played through the entirety of R-type Tactics (PSP version) this past week on my Odin 2 in preparation for the remake of the game being released later this year and it was a great experience, the resolution upscaling made the 3D models and animations notably more crisp while the horizontal controls layout and screen ratio made it really capture the original feel of playing this title and other PSP games in general. I think my only complaint with the system is their having the headphone jack and charging port on the bottom instead of the top like on the Steam Deck and other systems- it jams into my stomach when I'm trying to play this while laying on the couch- but upside is that the battery life on the Odin 2 is so good that it doesn't have a problem playing emulated games for long stretches while unplugged as long as I charge the system beforehand. I'm definitely glad to hear that the Switch performance on Yuzu has improved and I'm looking forward to trying some games out on it in the near future.

[@epicjuicebox]

I'm still waiting for my Odin 2 to arrive. Checking the tracking every couple hours to see if it's moved, haha. All the positive press is really helping me feel validated in spending the money. I ordered a Pro model. Can't wait to play it!

[@shto4782]

Bro steam deck is the goat, i hope you didn't choose between those devices

[@-BarathKumarS]

​@@shto4782two completely different devices with completely different needs, it's not even the same size and has worse battey life so no point in comparing right of the bat

[@RobertJLessard]

How long have you been waiting after ordering? I've been thinking of ordering.

[@Spaceninjax]

Its great!! Just got a 512gb memory card to put switch games on

[@shto4782]

@@Spaceninjax it will not handle all switch games so pretty useless

[@dbozgt]

Hi Russ I ordered a Odin 2 device thank you for the Review help me decided to get one.

[@justinstoddard8823]

I picked up an Odin 2 Pro on your recommendation and I absolutely love it. It's my primary emulation machine now, which frees up my Steam Deck for more PC games.

[@MasDouc]

Oh man I cant wait for that Retroid Pocket 4 Pro review - thats the one ive been eyeing. I only have the Powkiddy RGB30 yellow version at the moment and I love it but im ready for an upgrade.

[@MagnusFr33]

I'm really glad to see more and more competitive gaming handhelds come out, although i'd use an android device for emulation mainly and i'd prefer to have the dpad above, just like the Retroid Pocker 4 Pro you mentioned at the end

[@ESTENT-cu7qd]

I just wanna say you are right about the Odin 2 it’s the best handheld I own and I have a SD oled rog ally and retro pocket 4 pro

[@thatsgoodpocky]

I had seriously considered getting a Odin 2 but the price kept making me pause. I ended up preordering a Retroid Pocket 4 pro instead as it made more sense for me in terms of size, cost and capability. I’m really looking forward to your first impressions look at the RP4 pro to get an idea of if I made a good choice!

[@gazetronix]

Do you think you made a good choice?

[@K3nVV]

I plan to get a retroid 4...but, the Odin 2 has been a fantastic experience so far, no regrets

[@nefariou5]

@@gazetronixRuss is doing his review tomorrow

[@nefariou5]

out of curiosity why would you get both?@@K3nVV It seems like a rp4 would be fairly redundant if you have an odin2 to me

[@Whatsup_Abroad]

​@K3nVV why get a retroid when you already have an odin?

[@thefuture269]

I'm seriously thinking of getting myself one of these. On an unrelated note, I've passed by Leavenworth not too long ago and it looks like a very neat place! I don't live too far from there so I may give it a proper visit in the future!

[@QuarbitW]

I'm torn between placing an order for either the Odin 2 or RP4 Pro. The Odin 2 looks amazing and I love the extra power and larger screen size, but I was concerned when you said that the d-pad is awkward to use. As someone who plays a lot of 2D platformers, an accessible and comfortable d-pad is very important to me.

[@YouJGSousa]

Based on my experience with retroid and the Odin 2 reviews …. Just go with Odin 2 . Safer.

[@jordanperosiel-williams7236]

Get the Odin 2 don't even waste your time on the RP4

[@iTheBeep]

I believe you should wait for reviews on the RP4 Pro.

[@tacotone]

I'm not a big fan of the D-Pad, but I have an RG35XX if I really need to do some D-Pad heavy games.

[@sidequest_studio]

If the platformers you’re focused on are retro, I highly recommend the MiyooMini+. It’s super clean and feels like an official Nintendo device in build quality and controls.

[@realOmegasMovie]

when I bought Odin pro, I thought it was too expensive, but I’m taking all that back because I have been using this thing entire year and I have enjoyed a lot of video games.😄❤️ I used this thing more than my Nintendo Switch. Just playing my old good old PlayStation, two games anywhere is wonderful because I didn’t have any money when I was a kid so it was really rare. I got a new PlayStation 2 game but now I can play any game I want on this thing. I will maybe buy the Odin 2 soon, but for now, I will wait and see if they make something even more powerful

[@GurlDreamer54]

I Iike how Russ doesn't just review a device and forget about it. It's nice that he updates his audience on the updates and changes with the OS , etc. I enjoy his reviews.

[@stuartdarling1620]

I've just ordered an Odin 2 having enjoyed my Odin 1, but also having had smaller devices let me say that having a bigger screen and more comfortable controls is a factor which I think is absolutely worth paying for, even when emulating older games.

[@user.asleep]

I`ve been waiting for a handheld like this for long years to play PS2 and GC games with a great battery life. Even though I have a powerful PC, playing those old games on the go just feels different.

[@cyberspacedweller637]

Trouble with a PC is you’re stuck at your desk. I spend 8-10 hours a day programming so a good handheld is freedom. Think I’m going to sell my gaming PC and keep both Steamdeck and Odin 2

[@steelzepplin2012]

mine came in the mail yesterday, I cannot wait to find time to tinker with it! (base model)

[@KaossTG]

I bought my Odin 2 after seeing your first review - and I’m absolutely loving it, after spending a chunk of time setting it up I now have a device I can just pick up and use without worrying about crashing or having a bad time.

[@Zarnubius]

4:06 oh damn! I visited my mom in leavenworth over the holiday too! I may have walked right by you and never known lol. It gets packed so the odds are small but that's still neat. Come hang at the post office next time it's a chill spot. Unfortunately I came alone so did all of the driving myself so no road vidya. I did get deep in my MM+ at night in bed though, extremely comfy playing old PS1 games cozy inside while there's a winter wonderland pouring snow outside. I also got that MM+ after stumbling on your videos, so thanks!

[@ModestJoke]

First, I love your videos and your clear and direct style of narrating them without a lot of fluff. I want to buy an emulation handheld, and I'm going to go back to your 2023 roundup to help me choose. I just have to say that I laughed outloud at your choice of words regarding Sea of Stars when you said, "I am hooked. I can't wait to finish this game". That's like saying "I can't wait until this game is over." 😂 It's something I would say if I felt compelled to complete a game that I wasn't really enjoying. I just thought that was funny phrasing. Keep up the excellent videos! You are a treasure!

[@Raphtor13]

Great video - Looking forward to hearing about the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro!

[@theMeshtar]

That settles it, Odin 2 it is for my birthday in April. I've been putting the dough on the side for either Odin 2 or Deck.

[@steelzepplin2012]

just got mine in the mail yesterday but havenet had the time to tinker yet!

[@Ravager_93]

This review is rad, you just gained a subscriber and a purchase for the product

[@RayneRad]

I have had my Odin 2 Max for almost two months now and am loving it. At this point I still prefer my Switch for Switch games but am having a blast playing my favorite Wii games on a handheld for the first time. Yes the 16GB of RAM in the Max is overkill for my current use but I'd rather futureproof a little and have the extra RAM and not need it than the other way around. Oh I also got the form fitting case from Ayn with my Odin 2. A very unique and compact case. This is the pinnacle of retro gaming so far!

[@FLAMEOHOTMAN15]

Does the Odin 2 max play rogue leader perfectly. That Damn game makes most things struggle

[@RayneRad]

Sorry, I don't know. I haven't tried that one.@@FLAMEOHOTMAN15

[@GilbertoPaulo1970]

Just tried pc emulation using the new Winlator 8.0... Man, Kane & Lynch 2 runned without a single hiccup. This machine took everything I threw at it until now... I absolutely love this machine... damn

[@joelbergsma7019]

Was really considering the Odin 2 - but found a asus rog ally open box excellent for $340 and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to run PS3 and Xbox 360.

[@ninjason57]

For the Z1 extreme or non extreme? That's a great price.

[@awesomereviews1561]

Good deal

[@joelbergsma7019]

It’s the non. I think the cheapest I saw an extreme during the Best Buy sale was $550. I heard of a few get them for $500. I have a personal cap of $350 for my use case of handhelds. Plus I’ll usually have power since it’s for work travel (plane, hotels) After my gaming test though. On the non-extreme I’m able to run Warzone at 60fps 1080p low settings. Red Dead 2 at 40 fps 1080 low settings. Which for a handheld that’s also a full pc @350 is amazing deal. Once FSR 3 gets added both games will see big jumps too. Makes me super excited for the next version of these handhelds. And to see the current gen fit better into the pricing around 300 and 500 respectively for the two ally’s

[@reydesonic]

This video convinced me to get this device. I already have a RP4+ on the way but... I saw the pro model could ship to me in 1 day and that was... Really enticing. So I did it. Only because I want the quality now, even if a Steam Deck would’ve been better at that price (which honestly what differentiates it is the size and I love smaller sizes) I feel having the Steam Deck, Odin 2 and RP4pro will fit my moods whenever I want to use something depending on the size. Steam Deck to me is like a console/PC that you don't have to plug in immediately. The Odin is the best balance of power and battery and the RP4pro will be the smallest most pocketable one with the biggest power for its size.

[@teejayylamont6932]

I opted to get the odin 2 pro over the steam deck for the battery and the portability. It comes in today 😊

[@Mr.NiceGuy1986]

Plus they are making smooth strides already in getting Linux up and running on the Odin 2

[@Dracossaint]

Hell yeah, I'm happy for ya!

[@frankrenan1]

​@@Mr.NiceGuy1986 Do you think it will be able to run steam games?

[@Mr.NiceGuy1986]

@@frankrenan1 eventually some day

[@frankrenan1]

@@Mr.NiceGuy1986 is the odin 2 even powerful enough to play steam games?

[@little_fluffy_clouds]

I picked up an Odin 2 Pro Max at launch and it has quickly become my favourite handheld emulation device to the extent where I sold off all my other assorted Android and Linux handhelds. It has no significant weaknesses and a lot of strengths, essentially it does everything well. I still kept my Steam Deck OLED for native PC games and EmuDeck, but that’s it. Now that ES-DE is available for Android, I don’t use the Deck for emulation any more

[@HardcoreTanoshii]

It is basically perfect, but the input lag is an absolute Achilles Heel and I wish people would take Ayn to task for it. The fact that they didn't improve it after the original is baffling to me.

[@Tommy2425]

My brother-in-law used to live about 30 minutes from Leavenworth! Fun place to visit, I remember going to the cheese shop (forget name) and sampling everything.

[@bpurkapi]

I like that there are now so many options, but I think the cost is a bit high. As Russ mentioned, you are getting very close to the price of a steam deck which is very powerful and opens up PC games. I had my previous android phone laying around and got a gamesir galileo and have been emulating with that. Considering trade in value would be low, its been an economical option for re-using something that would have sat in my drawer.

[@sassproton]

very cool

[@SWOTHDRA]

PC is overrated and will be destroyed by ARM in the near future

[@MarcSpctr]

I guess Qualcomm is finally allowing companies to use their chips in Handhelds now. Hopefully we keep getting more of these Qualcomm based HandHelds.

[@dan47483]

First time I've ever heard CT referred to as a grind. It's pretty beloved for not requiring any grinding at all.

[@foolofdestruction]

Great video! Love my Odin 2 to.

[@notime2d8]

Don't know if I want an Odin 2 or to go on vacation. 🤔 Think I need both. 😮‍💨

[@notime2d8]

Being honest with myself. The Odin 2 seems too perfect. I like to tinker and set stuff up more than I like playing games. 🙃

[@shto4782]

I also have that problem. And I don't like that at all, i want to play games thats all. Ive been tinkering stuff too much in my life

[@Mrfrerob]

Vacation. Always go with vacation.

[@bobcake8904]

@@notime2d8bro as a fellow tinkerer, you gotta try some minecraft mod packs with pjov! Or some Mari0 portal remake. Or the rivvution patch for mariokart Wii that adds 200 tracks.

[@ivan.mezzacapa]

Man, I bought Odin 2 MAX, and I'm loving it too! He's absurdly good!

[@AntilleanConfederation]

Dude lives in Hawaii and gets to review game consoles for a living…. You win bro

[@javierpicard5532]

Olympia resident here too bro!

[@torquethunder8404]

Is my odin 1 pro totally outclassed by the 2? Does Ayn let you trade in the old one for the Odin 2?

[@tdata545]

Yes, it's outclassed, and no no one lets you trade up. AYN is too small for that. Since I would love these companies to offer that option especially if this is going to be a YEARLY thing. Though, I'll wait for the 8Gen4 since that should be a crazy bump in graphics compared to this 8Gen2 in my Odin2. THOUGH, if you want a bit of HAPPY MEDIAN, then get the new Retroid Pocket 4, it's about on par with a Snapdragon 870 which is quite the bump up from the 845. Meaning it should do some Switch Emulation while breezing through Gamecube/PS2/Wii/PSP. The first three up to Native Full Speed 60, and PSP up to 720P 60 even for God of War. Since you still need quite a bit of RAM for high end emulation, and the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro should suffice that need at just under $200. Since you need at least 8GB of RAM for the big guys like Gamecube/PS2/Wii/Switch.

[@Dracossaint]

Going from the original Odin to the Odin 2. Is like going from a Honda Accord race car to an actual race car.

[@benc.5558]

Do you want to play PS2, GameCube, and Wii? Then yes, the difference is night and day with most games. It's the difference between "maybe if I use the PAL version and turn on every weird glitchy speed hack or cycle skip or underclock settings it will run at almost 90% speed most of the time" and, "2-3x rez on everything, 4-8x anti-aliasing, throw on an HD texture pack if you wanna, let's go." With some of the very hardest games you might have to drop down to "only " 2x rez no anti-aliasing. It's pretty incredible.

[@captainthunderbolt7541]

I didn't think the blue Odin looked that good on the website, so I got a purple one instead. Seeing your blue unit makes me regret not getting that one though, because it looks a lot better in the video. I still love my Odin though.

[@salitz91]

Can't wait to hear this. I am totally satisfied with my Steam Deck OLED, but curious how this measures up since some models are priced close to the low end Decks.

[@tamim4235]

Steam Deck oled is the best handheld on the market. I own Odin 2 pro and Steam Deck Added: Odin 2 is absolutely incredible and I love it to bits! I just wished the screen was 7“ at least.

[@anaguma90]

The Steam Deck OLED is mindblowingly good. I got a Retroid 2S as a smaller secondary device I can keep in my pocket and love that too, if I need PS2 games I'll just do them on the deck.

[@salitz91]

@anaguma90 yeah I have barely touched my RP3+ since I got my Deck last year, and not at all since I upgraded to OLED. It is just so good. That's why I was so curious about Russ' perspective since the Deck OLED exists haha

[@nashtatersgaming7450]

@@tamim4235that’s what she said, but on a serious note, steam deck is best on market for a reason, portability is a thing but I am not the type to play games on lower resolution and things like that if they are not intended that way. Saying something is as good means it is not as good. Sounds lame but best simply means best.

[@ens0246]

Great video! Personally, if you like the FMVs, the best way to play Chrono Trigger is on SNES with an MSU-1 patch. You get the crisp audio from the SNES (you can choose an orchestral patch if you like but for me the fanmade orchestral versions completely ruin Mitsuda's brilliant use of world instruments by replacing them with standard orchestra ones)

[@BBB_bbb_BBB]

I've held off on buying a handheld emulator until now. I think I am still going to hold off until the Retroid Pocket 4 comes out. The Odin 2 seems to be everything that I want, but I want to see reviews for the Pocket 4 before I make any decisions. It's a very silly reason, but my game boy pocket was my favorite gaming device I've ever had and I really like the name Pocket, lol.

[@NeroVingian40]

One thing about Retroid that you have to remember is how often they churn out new devices. A new model being announced right after the previous unit you ordered arrived in your doorstep is a common occurrence. Happened with Retroid Pocket 3 and 3+. I would actually wait for the 4+/4Pro+ here, since mid-gen devices usually had better hardware refinements.

[@BBB_bbb_BBB]

@@NeroVingian40 in general I'm of the mindset that I'll be waiting probably 4 months before I'd purchase it since I prefer to wait until there are updates out for the device so that when I get it it's a better experience. And if they announce a new model then I'd wait for that instead. I do the same thing with video game releases, where I generally wait a year for patches, complete editions, discounts, etc.

[@Popm3lon]

The Odin 2 is far more powerful.

[@NeroVingian40]

@@BBB_bbb_BBB should be good then

[@kakashi99908]

@@NeroVingian40 Yeah but when something is literally around the corner it is best to wait instead of randomly buying something

[@Alucardeye]

That I-90 footage is so nostalgic as someone who lived near Leavenworth over in Wenatchee.

[@parski]

Ever since I had kids I've been playing handhelds with sleep/wake type sessions. Steam Deck was transformational gor me but Odin 2 is what I brought on our holiday trip too. It's such a unique handheld and I like it a lot. I played Super Mario Galaxy 2 mostly. Great experience for the most part.

[@danbogart]

Love Leavenworth in the winter! They have a great Oktoberfest every year too.

[@detonator000]

Was hoping that from all the other Odin 2 reviewers, you would be the one to review or talk about the value/performance of this device when it comes to new, upcoming and currently available high end Android games. Also there is some talk about Google play services not working and SD cards getting damaged. Really wish you could cover these 3 points somehow for us who prefer to get this for Android games more than retro emulation.

[@anaguma90]

Let's be honest though, this is an emulation machine.

[@SaltyAdvisor]

I miss living in the Pacific Northwest. Leavenworth, WA is pretty cool during Oktoberfest

[@PJP-DJP]

12:22 for the Psycho Mantis fight what ive done is simply turn on all 4 controller ports and map all their buttons to the odin buttons. This way, there's actually no disruption in the fight, and technically, you have all 4 controllers active simultaneously.

[@awesomereviews1561]

Easier method: fail and call the colonel multiple times. He will tell you to shoot the statues with Psycho mask. Once done, you can defeat him easily.

[@dodrio1000]

In my case, i live in Ecuador and in my country there is an import limit of 400 an 8 lb in order to not pay a 50% tax on sale over console like devices. Also there are no ways of buying from steam directly and Amazon and ebay prices are on par if not more than odin 2. The odin 2 is just below that threshold and i already own a decent gaming pc r5 with 6700xt also have my old gaming laptop i5 4 core with a 1060 max q. The odin is a decent steam deck replacement in my eyes.

[@nerdraged411]

I can't imagine using the steam deck for a prolonged amount of time; it's just too heavy. The O2 is the perfect weight, very comfortable to use and end-game powerful for an Android device.

[@MrBrunomalo1]

Rog Ally IS incredible for me, play AAA games from PC IS absolutely amazing. The battery is the only problem but you can fix that using a power bank.

[@kennabbe8395]

Love all you work. I have purchased my last 5 retro handhelds from your reviews and suggestions. Now I have an Odin 2 Pro and am loving it as well. Though I noticed that Daijisho seems to have gone stagnant... and was expecting to see you using a different frontend. Is the playstore version still the best, or is there another source these days.

[@Overtorange]

You forget just how much being able to quickly turn on a device and jump into a game adds to the experience. I’ve almost had to de-learn my instinct to hover around electrical outlets in fear of running out of battery too. ARM devices are truly the future. Imagine if the next Switch used this processor, or the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, and if developers optimized games for it.

[@TatsuMakiSeppuKyaku]

I didn't get an Odin 2 because I got a refurbished Steam Deck for $260, and at that price point there's just absolutely no comparison since the size and portability of the device is not a factor for me.

[@tabletaccountforyoutube]

You also don't have to deal with Android and the poor state of emulation there. Huge win no doubt.

[@-BarathKumarS]

​@@tabletaccountforyoutubeyou are compromising definitely on the battery life,100%

[@divinedlink90]

Could you possibly talk about the "charging separation" or "battery bypass" feature that people often talk about for the Odin 2? It'd interesting to see what is actually going on there! Anyway, thank you for the thorough review! I truly enjoy your content!