AYN Odin 2 Portal VS AYANEO Pocket EVO (In-depth Comparison) 🎮⚔️

[@retrohandhelds]

Which one wins for you, or is another option better entirely? Notes: Portal is getting an ergo grip!! Looks awesome. Also, the Portal now has ARR up to 120hz working. Portal is shipping by end of January now. Evo has WiFi7, apparently, per IGG discussion. The speed results make more sense now!

[@Pridetoons]

The Odin Portal.

[@nintendork07]

@@retrohandhelds definitely prefer the AYN odin 2 portal over the AYANEO pocket evo for a few main reasons. better driver/game compatibility with the snapdragon 8 gen 2 over the G3x gen 2, much lighter body (430g vs 480g), more reliable software and support from AYN over AYANEO, and $100 cheaper for the base model. has the exact same panel & is apparently tuned slightly better. plus the headphone jack lol

[@stuon2]

Pocket Evo for the big sticks and Ergo!

[@lopgan121]

@@nintendork07 brother, 50 grams couldn't be less noticeable lol

[@corpingtons]

@@stuon2yes that’s why I bought it Odin 2 is not good for gaming android

[@GameTechTalk]

I stepped outside, looked up to the sky, the stars said it was going to be a special Friday, went back in, refreshed KZbin and this video showed up. The stars have not deceived me. THANKS STUBBS!

[@retrohandhelds]

Yessir! 😂❤

[@calvinmartin2025]

EVO! in my hands in 4 days! Starry black 256+12GB

[@jamesgerber4658]

Lol my order for the same got shipped today too.

[@davevayn]

I hope I'm in the next batch 🎉 1080 lol

[@tonyrosario1940]

Thanks Stubbs! Great to see more info on the Portal, I hope AYN will make the changes needed for the final version. 🍻🔥🤘🏼

[@retrohandhelds]

Yeah Tony! I think it's gonna be a real strong contender. Thanks for watching

[@bassderek]

Can't wait to get both! But I'm leaning toward EVO so far.

[@retrohandhelds]

Great minds sir!

[@seethruhead7119]

I orders the portal with 120hz black frame insertion in mind. Game changer for retro games. Oled with BFI closest you can get to crt

[@CellPhish]

Ayn announced today the adjustable refresh rate is good to go

[@retrohandhelds]

That's awesome, that was fast!

[@baka_ja_nai]

That test with simultaneous download was not a good idea since it makes devices fight for router bandwidth access. Results will be random.

[@I.M.T.S]

I am not buying either as I want my retro handheld to be pocketable. I have an Ayaneo Pocket S for high-end emulation. But if I were to buy one, I'd most probably choose the Evo. Based on my experience with Pocket S and Odin 2, Ayaneo's android OS feels more mature with visual customization and performance tuning. My complaints are- you can't adjust the sticks' dead zone and can't customize all those extra buttons Ayaneo has.

[@davevayn]

I emailed Aya about the two buttons, to me it should be a no brainer that extra buttons like M1 M2 on the Odin should be available in games but they locked them behind their functions. Hopefully they fix that soon cause giving a choice doesn't take away from their plans

[@Pridetoons]

Yeah I'm going to wait at least 6 months after the Retail Release to buy the Odin 2 Portal. I'm currently dealing with issues with my Loki Mini Pro I purchased last year. ☹️

[@marcusmclean4965]

👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿 Ohhh how I've been waiting for this review. Thank you 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@reryaa]

EVO for me, for home use comfort the ergonomics is just better.

[@jotaemept99]

Would love to see a video comparison between AYN Odin 2 (Pro/Max) and the new Retroid Pocket 5. Great video anyway.

[@Chaotikmusic]

There is no way AYN and Retroid are not the same company, the portal looks exactly like the RP5 just bigger with different stick layout and better specs lol

[@xanderflynn3434]

I believe they are owned by the same parent company.

[@okayman81]

They are. Both are subcompanies of moorechip

[@timothybrown8424]

Thanks Stubbs. I’ve been waiting for this video since the podcast.

[@retrohandhelds]

ah thanks Tim! Hope you enjoy!

[@timothybrown8424]

I did, it reinforced my decision on choosing the Odin 2 Portal over the Steamdeck and ROG Ally.

[@retrohandhelds]

@@timothybrown8424 ah hey, there you go

[@nihiltube]

Dpad on Odin 2 Portal is gorgeous, but sticks are pathetic vs Evo 🤣

[@jeremy__hopkins]

It doesn’t hurt unless it’s 165hz. Really looking forward to the Rob deep dive on which compatibility issues might exist with the G3x gen 2 versus the 8 gen 2. Also curious about seeing PC streaming over wifi versus 2.5ghz usbc to RJ45 connector. Thanks Stubbs and Russ!

[@retrohandhelds]

Absolutely, and can't wait for Rob's vid either!

[@duanearnold9220]

I’m going for the Portal. Between the price, the additional support, and AYNs stronger track record, it is the one to beat imo. Additionally, evo is chunkier than what I’m looking for.

[@DanielByon]

I have a Portal pro preordered, this video is making me want to order an Evo as well to compare in person 😅

[@Exit854]

You can side load those android games. I got you Ayaneo fam

[@retrohandhelds]

Ayyye, that's great to hear!

[@cocozimme]

The portal is now getting a grip shell so im so happy i bought it

[@retrohandhelds]

Ahhh that's right! I had a section about that, I forgot to include at the end 😅

[@MICKSKAI]

The customer support of AYN compared to ayaneo is unmatched. AYN has the best support. This has the greatest points for me than other key points.

[@supergooglelee]

I am waiting for my Portal while enjoying the Pocket Evo.

[@OGaccking]

Received my White product unit Evo on wednesday, so far liking most of it except for the speakers, a noticeable downgrade from my other handhelds. The screen is absolutely gorgeous! Let’s see which one I will ended up keeping when the portal arrives in January. If someone would just get linux or windows on arm running on these that would be a game changer.

[@retrohandhelds]

The speakers feel better than they sound, is the best way I can describe them. I like them but the down firing is a bummer at the same time 😅

[@jimmymac2292]

Watching this while waiting for my Ayn Odin 2 to get here tomorrow 😅

[@retrohandhelds]

Good choice!

[@jimmymac2292]

@retrohandhelds I debated between the RP5 and Odin 2 for a few days. With so many choices, sometimes picking the right device for you is the hardest part. Thank you for all your work in the community!

[@retrohandhelds]

@@jimmymac2292 Very happy to help! Let me know what you choose! I love seeing what people's thoughts are about all this stuff.

[@retrohandhelds]

Good choice! 😆

[@ajv6669]

Pre ordered the portal. And I'll start saving for the ayaneo 3!

[@cho-v4n]

I would pick the portal out of the 2 but I'm getting neither. Rp5 is it for me. Thanks stubbs

[@retrohandhelds]

Great choice!

[@ThomasTheTankEngine22]

NGL... The Evo is too damn expensive. For the prices they want (forgetting that fact that they'll get MORE expensive) im better off getting the y700. If only AYN started using actual joysticks 😭. It would've been a no brainer. I hate their sticks with a passion

[@cirmothe9]

They've confirmed to backers that the portal will be shipping in January and they're trying to get it out before chinese new year.

[@JsmashTech]

Should’ve put the Network speeds on in the android settings. Would’ve given you more info

[@retrohandhelds]

Ahhh good call! Thanks. I'm new to the benchmarking side of things, but I wanted to give it a shot for you all. Excited for Retro Tech Dad's vid.

[@JsmashTech]

@ for sure, great video btw loved every minute of it. Wanted to give you alittle tip for future videos, keep it up!

[@M4RC0Geek]

10:53 Barbies's Plumber Adventure ZX Spectrum I know what you did there and it's hilarious 🤣🤣. I'm not even comenting the name of the company so their bots can't find that.

[@retrohandhelds]

😂😂😂❤😅

[@M4RC0Geek]

- KZbin: Wanna watch a 30 minutes video comparing the new handheld that you've been googling with the main competitor? - Me: Yeah man I wanna do it.

[@retrohandhelds]

😂❤

[@davevayn]

The obsession is real

[@KatDoomsong]

For me it's the Portal, and not just because I already paid for it. It's also price-to-features, size, the existing support for the chipset, and, honestly, even for how similar they are, to me the Portal just looks better. I'm in wait and see mode as far as the grip shell. I've played with devices that have no grips, so I may be fine with it, but if not, I'll order the grip. I've considered the Steam Deck in the past, but it's too much of a tank. I'd like to see a measurement comparison, but I know the Deck is like 50% heavier.

[@thatdarnskag5043]

EVO’s got down-firing, more muffled-sounding speakers, and does not have a 3.5mm jack. It’s a chunky and more expensive device, surely Ayaneo could’ve found the space/licensing fees for one? I’ve moved on from needing one on a phone, but on a gaming handheld? Come on, I feel like the jack should be a staple.

[@darkyetlovely84]

@@thatdarnskag5043 they make type c headphones now. I recently bought some for my Galaxy phone and tablet since they don't have a headphone jack on them.

[@jonathanmatthew5451]

I canceled my Evo pre-order when the Portal was announced. Still sticking with that decision. AYN has a better track record when it comes to customer/post-purchase support and also has a larger community and mod support. Grip case that comes w/portal hopely takes the ergos from "good" to "great". I think I'd prefer the Evo if the controls were a little bit more offset, 3.5mm, ff speakers, headphone jack, and g3x g2 driver support was better. Also ayaneo customer support is lacking. I think the Evo looks better especially that retro colorway but odin2 portal will likely be the overall better device & is a bit cheaper.

[@garryw1974]

I might even wait until the new lenovo legion go strix point with oled comes out in January might be better option,especially for the money these two cost.

[@Time-Travelling-Lesbian]

That flashing at 120hz looks like the gamma shifting on oleds at different refresh rates. I think the the 120hz is buggy on the odin 2 portal and flicking back and forth from 16 to 8 ms

[@retrohandhelds]

ahhhh ok this makes sense, that's pretty interesting. Thank you!

[@JakeyT513]

I love the Odin portal but since I have a g cloud i don’t think I’m going to upgrade

[@retrohandhelds]

Yeah the G Cloud is still so dang solid

[@garryw1974]

I wonder why they didn't put the same chip the portal has in the evo. Sounds like the portal chip is more compatible over all.

[@retrohandhelds]

It is, I believe they might have a deal with Qualcomm for the G3x, like Razer did for their Edge handheld.

[@MankyGit]

I got a Portal, didn’t know about the Evo

[@TWDenizen7240]

Thank You to that anonymous KZbinr indeed

[@michaelbenny659]

So close to a Mikhailov with the “hard earned dollars”

[@Exit854]

I was thinking it. Haha. Everytime I buy something from him I think.. I am sending him my hard earned dollar bucks haha

[@twinreverb87]

I’m impressed with ayaneo. they take more risks and have a lot of interesting products but at a premium.

[@stuon2]

Per IGG discussion Evo is wifi 7

[@retrohandhelds]

@@stuon2 ahhhh ok this makes a lot more sense now, thank you!

[@stuon2]

Sure thing ​@@retrohandhelds, I asked the question and they responded wifi 7 and BT 5.3

[@checottv]

This sticks on the Odin Portal worry me. I’m contemplating canceling for something like the ROG Ally. Edit: not the X, the $400 model.

[@tonyha9059]

@@checottv awesome handheld. I have one and love using it.

[@cocozimme]

The sticks on the ally arent really better, Theyre probably pretty similar

[@tonyha9059]

@@cocozimme works for me jsut fine

[@davevayn]

The ally is super uncomfortable with those edges... I had it for a bit and their controls are all the way at the top, it makes you lift the device more than on the others, not my cup of tea. Plus getting android stuff to work was a pain, maybe it's cause wild rift uses a weird engine or they block emulators it didn't work for me but you just get so much weight and less battery. just get a pc plus an android handheld or like me get the legion go which is also a pc but you can use it for much more and then get Evo or portal as companion which you can use on the go easily for hours

[@davevayn]

​@@cocozimmethey're full size but from what I've seen Evo might top them, ally isn't even hall effect

[@Alibaba-r2y]

7:14 What's that game?

[@luvergod69]

Horizon Chase

[@davec7641]

All OLED now is AMOLED. The AM just means Active Matrix. No one is using passive displays anymore for these things.

[@retrohandhelds]

Thanks Dave! This is good to learn. I wonder what year the full cutover happened. Interesting deep dive for me later!

[@Bugside]

And January is still so far away

[@noelmunoz2571]

I like the portal 2 form factor a lot better. Don't like how wide evo2 is...might as well play my steam deck

[@quadzilla3326]

I was waiting for this. Thank you sir After now watching the the full video I could definitely go either way but I'm personally leaning towards the Portal Really it will come down to who will sell me there's first because they don't like some aspect of it like ergonomics or buttons. I'm pretty forgiving in those regards, I just adapt.

[@retrohandhelds]

Ah happy to help!! ❤

[@MsOniHime]

The camera wants the audience to see how handsome you are 😂

[@retrohandhelds]

Bahaha, ohhh youuu

[@nintendork07]

definitely prefer the AYN odin 2 portal over the AYANEO pocket evo for a few main reasons. better driver/game compatibility with the snapdragon 8 gen 2 over the G3x gen 2, much lighter body (430g vs 480g), more reliable software and support from AYN over AYANEO, and $100 cheaper for the base model. has the exact same panel & is apparently tuned slightly better. plus the headphone jack lol

[@reccazz]

I prefer Y700 s8gen 3 & G8 plus better than both.

[@davevayn]

how stable is it when gaming? I debated it but I tried razer kishi with an iPad before and it felt wobbly. The gamesir is wider on the back but the tablet is also 0.8 bigger hmmm

[@rafas9007]

Team Odin 2 Portal ✊ AYN is the best ✊

[@gregorybolivar5712]

TeaM A-O2 Pro... All Black Edition Since Dec.3rd.2023... Of Course... Going Portal...Soon... 🙃🧐🤓😎🤯

[@davec7641]

Evo wins because you can get them. The Portal has been delayed until late January, early February.

[@WulffDen]

damn who's that yappin while youre trying to make a video?

[@retrohandhelds]

Some long haired New Yorker! Can't believe this!!

[@protheus4723]

I would've sprung for the ayaneo, but not with that chipset. So for price to performance it's the portal for me. If the ayaneo had a better chipset along with everything else that it already comes with then it would be the only Android device to get for a very long time.

[@RetroGamerDesigns]

Agreed!

[@thatzaliasguy]

At this size and price; just get a Steam Deck.

[@retrohandhelds]

This chat needed this comment. Love my Deck!

[@davevayn]

😂 come on not another one bro

[@strongbad79]

I just can't get over the cutout on the Evo around the controls. Really ugly to me

[@retrohandhelds]

Yeah I could take them or leave them, one benefit is you won't get any button grind by having that space open, but design wise, yeah the look isn't as good.

[@ReneKluyskens]

Funny how personal taste differs. I love that part of the design. It places the buttons in the space. Kind of like a good carpet under the couch and coffee table 😁

[@davevayn]

You're not looking at your device, you're using it to game 😅 unless you're just a collector then I get it.

[@ReneKluyskens]

@@davevayn fair point, but one can still appreciate thoughtful design

[@citruesilver]

Neither. Got the odin 2. Lighter and without the stupid glassfront...

[@xkxxxx]

What the heck is stubbs wearing? I googled AI cult leader and this thumbnail came up.

[@retrohandhelds]

hahahaha, wellll legally speaking, we are NOT a cult. Religiously speaking, well, we'll see!

[@davevayn]

​@@retrohandheldshahaha

[@devoncalixte8194]

The Evo hands down is way more better and more innovative more ergonomic fort out of the box more premium unusual and different especially more powerful the thumb sticks and the thumb triggers and hand grips just way more better were as the portal is more trying to be the same as the pocket 5 just not innovative and don't like the ergonomics of it and not fort out of the box at all when it comes to design but not a bad design but the same design which is disappointing because I am a big ayn odin fan the portal the thumb sticks are to small and look uncomfortable don't like the thumb triggers they look fragile and they look like there gonna break and I'm not too keen on the hand grips they don't look comfortable enough I'm more of a big fan ayaneo and what they're doing so the pocket Evo definitely for me that's my opinion

[@steamdeckknights8978]

A 500+ android handheld that doesn't run everything android? Seen a bunch of Ayaneo commercials floating around getting out of hand what....justifies the price? Why pay 200-300 for a worse experience or better yet the same experience that's available now on cheaper handware....I was always convinced you guys do this just to collect free devices....

[@retrohandhelds]

Yeah that's a fair assumption really, I used to think the same thing before I started reviewing. It is just a very boutique design mission that AYANEO has been on, for usually a specific niche buyer. However, here we find the EVO is a more mainstream device finally, but if you're considering, i'd look at the base model to keep it under $400. I think that's the best value of their options, however the Portal still wins in value overall I feel like. The lack of full android game compatibility on the Evo is really lame though.

[@SteveWellsNZ]

The chipset in the Evo only goes up to 144Hz so not sure how/why the display is 165Hz. Doesn't make sense to me.

[@ThomasTheTankEngine22]

Where did you get that info from?

[@Zenmaster911]

Dude what do you put screen savers on a Glass Display 😂 evo needs to stay naked 😊

[@retrohandhelds]

Yeah, I agree with you normally, but then I remember I have kids 🤣

[@oscariinsane]

I was on the fence for a very long time since I currently have an Odin 2 Max, I ultimately bought the retro power Evo due to the ergonomics and look. I absolutely cannot wait, which ever one you get we all as retro gamers win! 🔥

[@krazykid2002k]

Evo full size sticks….cant play wreckfest and other android games 🤣🤣 fail pros and cars. I’ll take the portal