With three different models of the Ayn Odin available for purchase, it’s easy to get lost when it comes to which console does what. If you don’t know your Lite from your Pro, or you’re looking to find out what the Lite can really do, or why it’s one of the best handheld emulator consoles out there, let’s jump into what’s what and settle which Ayn Odin console is right for you.
Ayn Odin Lite vs Odin Pro
One quick note before we start, both models of the Ayn Odin are constantly evolving and changing. If something isn’t liked or turns out to be unreliable, Ayn adjusts on the fly to compensate. For that reason, the specs of both the Odin Lite and the Odin Pro are always in flux. We’ll be working with the previously up-to-date specs for each console, but we’ve also spotted some areas aren’t lining up with what’s shipping – like how the battery for the Lite appears to have been given an upgrade.
Suffice to say, we’ve reached out to Ayn to try and get the latest info and will update as we hear back. Alternatively, if you’re thinking of picking up the new Retroid we’ve got a detailed guide to discuss whether the Retroid Pocket 2 or Retroid Pocket 3 is right for you.
Ayn Odin Lite Specifications
- CPU: Mediatek Dimensity D900 | Dual-core A78 @2.4GHz, six-core A55 @2.0GHz
- GPU: Mali-G68 MC4
- RAM: 4GB LPDDR4
- Storage: 64GB
- Screen: 5.98-inch IPS LCD dragonglass touchscreen
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Resolution: Up to 1080p at 1080×1920
- Video Output: HDMI
- Connectivity: Wi-fi 6 (a/b/g/n/ac/ax), Bluetooth 5.2
- Operating System: Android 11.0
- Size: 224 by 95 by 15
For the less tech-savvy, it’s easy to see the Lite as a lesser console, simply because its specs aren’t as powerful as its older brother the Odin Pro. This isn’t quite as simple as it looks, though.
Yes, the Odin Lite is less powerful than the Odin Pro, but the Odin Lite still packs in a truckload of power. For running Android and getting killer emulation compatibility, the Odin Lite can do all that and then some.
Where issues are likely to arise is when you think about removing Android and switching to something like Windows. 4GB of RAM just isn’t enough for Windows in my opinion. You could technically get Windows running on the Lite, but it wouldn’t be a fun experience. And when you want every kilobyte of RAM dedicated to emulation, running Windows alongside something like a PS2 emulator is not going to end well.
Ayn Odin Pro Specifications
- CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon SD845 | Quad-core Kyo Gold at 2.8GHz, quad-core Kyro Silver at 1.8GHz
- GPU: Adreno 630
- RAM: 8GB LPDDR4
- Storage: 128GB
- Screen: 5.98-inch IPS LCD dragontrail touchscreen
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Resolution: Up to 1080p at 1080×1920
- Video Output: HDMI, display port
- Connectivity: 2.4G, 5G, Wi-fi 802.11 (a/b/g/n/ac/), Bluetooth 5.0
- Operating System: Android 10.0
- Size: 224 by 95 by 15
- Battery: 6000mA
The Odin Pro is comfortably the more powerful system. Not only that, it’s also got double the storage, which is a factor if you plan on running games from the internal system rather than a micro SD card. If you’re looking to get PS2 games up and running, the extra space is sure to be welcome.
For older systems, like the SNES or Genesis/Mega Drive, 64GB is more than enough. When games are just a few megabytes in size, 64GB is hard to fill. But when gigabytes of data come into the mix, that 128GB internal storage is sure to come in handy.
It’s also worth noting, the Odin Pro is powerful enough to run Windows if you fancy turning it into a Steam Deck equivalent. Just keep in mind emulators for Windows systems may throw up some compatibility issues down the line when installing them on the Odin Pro.
So, what’s the point of putting Windows on the Odin Pro? With Windows, you can access your library of PC games, and yes, you can run them on the Odin Pro.
Now, don’t get too excited here. You won’t be able to play Cyberpunk 2077 on high settings. The Odin is amazing, but it’s not the Steam Deck. That said, you’ll be able to play indie games galore and what I’d call an ‘up to Xbox 360’ level of gaming. As always, compatibility is iffy and on a per-title basis, but if you want to play older PC games on a handheld, the option is there for those who dare. Plus if you don’t like it, you can always flash the Odin back to Android.
What About the Ayn Odin Base?
The Odin base exists as a kind of halfway house. It lacks the godly power of the Pro and doesn’t come with the Lite’s attractive price tag.
In short, the Odin Base is a mix of tech from both the Lite and the Pro, albeit with some modifications. Think of it like this, everything is the same as the Pro, except for RAM, storage, and the battery.
RAM for the base stands at 4GB – the same as the Lite, but half that of the Pro’s 8GB. Storage is capped at 64GB, again, the same as the Lite but less than the 128GB offered on the Pro. Lastly, the battery matches the Lite at 5000mA.
The Odin Base is still a solid prospect and a great console, but for many, the main hook of the Lite and Pro is the choice between affordability and higher power. For that reason, we won’t be including the Base version of the Odin when discussing which is the best version for potential owners. This fight is a two-horse race between the affordable Lite and the higher-specced Pro.
Ayn Odin Lite vs Odin Pro: What Can Each Do?
Right. This is where things get good. Both consoles are very similar in what they can do. The terms Lite and Pro make it sound like one is a moldy potato with a screen and the other is a gaming PC with eye-melting RGB lighting.
The truth is, the names aren’t indicative of what each Odin console can do. Both can run similar emulators and pull similar results. Where things differ is when we get higher up the emulation spectrum.
First, let’s start by comparing the Odin consoles with something like the RG305 from Anbernic. The RG305 can run emulators up to PS1. What it can’t do, and this is what puts the Odin console on a different plain, is modify older games to make them much more attractive.
For example, both the Odin Pro and Odin Lite can run up to PS1 with full 16:9 widescreen hacks with zero slowdown. They can also upscale up to 1080p. That’s where the power comes in – being able to take older stuff and make it feel that much more modern.
There are a lot of different handheld emulator machines out there and most don’t make use of a 16:9 screen. The Odin does, and that’s why people are so in love with Ayn’s console.
It’s not just up to PS1 that the Odin can emulate either. Whereas Anbernic devices mostly tap out at PS1, the Odin Lite and Odin Pro can both run a variety of systems above that threshold. N64, Saturn, and Dreamcast can all run with widescreen hacks and the result is just stunning. Mario 64 in particular looks better on the Odin consoles than it does on the Nintendo Switch.
It’s at this point where the differences between the Odin Lite and the Odin Pro start to show. Both systems can run PS2, DS, 3DS, Wii, and Wii U, but performance is going to vary depending on the system you choose. The Odin Pro is where it’s at with the harder to emulate systems. That said, the Odin Lite can still handle what’s being thrown at it. You will still have a wide range of compatibility with PS2, DS, 3DS, Wii, and Wii U on the Odin Lite, but those tougher games will struggle more than if they were on the Odin Pro.
It’s also worth noting, Nintendo Switch games can run on both systems (somehow!) but the 4GB of RAM seen in the Odin Lite limits what can launch. I’ve seen Sonic Mania running on both systems and it looks absolutely lush (and is slightly mind-blowing).
Odin Lite vs Odin Pro: Price
Obviously, there’s a clear winner in this department. The Odin Lite is the cheaper of the two. I know, shocking. The more powerful console costs more than the less powerful one. Who saw that coming?
- Odin Lite Price: $1,550 HKD/$187 USD/£158
- Odin Pro Price: $3,114 HKD/$396/£318 (only available via the Super Pack right now)
Conclusion
This all comes down to how much you want to spend. The Odin Pro is more future-proof thanks to its higher specs. It’s also possible when the console becomes more readily available, modders will take the Pro to levels the Odin Lite can’t reach.
The one thing I want people to take away from this is that the Odin Lite isn’t a lesser system in the way an N64 isn’t a Switch. It is less powerful, that’s a fact, but the tech it does have blows everything else in the market out the water bar the Steam Deck. The Odin Lite destroys anything Anbernic or Powkiddy has put out, and while it lacks the power of the Aya Neo range of consoles, it’s also not over $1000 so of course its specs aren’t as strong.
If you’re after a handheld console that can make older games look the best they can be while also being able to handle a selection of later systems, you won’t go wrong with either the Odin Lite or the Odin Pro.
If you decide to save some money and pick up the Lite, you’ll come away happy. Conversely, if you want to spend the extra money to ensure everything runs as well as it possibly can, the Odin Pro is right for you. It really is that simple.
