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This cheap Android handheld could be an emulation beast
- A new Android gaming handheld has appeared on Indiegogo, starting at ~$195
- The Odin handheld console is equipped with either a Snapdragon 845 or Dimensity 1000C SoC.
Android-powered gaming handhelds are a solid alternative to the likes of the Nintendo Switch, offering access to a world of native Android games as well as emulators. With the exception of the GPD XP though, we haven’t seen any other major new releases though.
Now, new company AYN has revealed a cheap Android handheld called the Odin (h/t: Liliputing and Redditor berd95). The company’s IndieGogo preview page shows a device that will be available in three variants, namely the Odin Base, Odin Pro, and Odin Lite.
All three devices sport a 5.98-inch FHD LCD panel (16:9, Dragontrail Glass), Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, an HDMI-out, USB-C port, a headphone port, and stereo speakers. But there are several notable differences though.
| Odin Lite | Odin Base | Odin Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|
Screen | Odin Lite 5.98-inch IPS LCD 1,920 x 1,080 16:9 | Odin Base 5.98-inch IPS LCD 1,920 x 1,080 16:9 | Odin Pro 5.98-inch IPS LCD 1,920 x 1,080 16:9 |
Chipset | Odin Lite MediaTek Dimensity 1000C | Odin Base Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 | Odin Pro Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 |
RAM/storage | Odin Lite 4GB/64GB | Odin Base 4GB/64GB | Odin Pro 8GB/128GB |
Battery | Odin Lite 5,000mAh Non-removable | Odin Base 5,000mAh Non-removable | Odin Pro 6,000mAh Non-removable |
Operating system | Odin Lite Android 11 | Odin Base Android 10 | Odin Pro Android 10 |
The Odin Base and Lite variants have 4GB of RAM, 64GB of UFS 2.1 storage, and a 5,000mAh battery compared to the Odin Pro’s 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and 6,000mAh battery. Oddly enough, the Base and Pro models are shipping with Android 10, while the Lite variant comes with Android 11.
The Base and Pro models also offer a Snapdragon 845 chipset, while the Lite variant delivers a MediaTek Dimensity 1000C processor. It’s worth noting that MediaTek’s chipset has newer CPU cores, but we’re guessing that the Qualcomm processor’s GPU might be better.
Either way, this looks like a notable upgrade over most other Android handhelds on the market, which tend to offer lower mid-range specs. The Snapdragon 845 in particular powered 2018’s flagships, but it should still be capable of running many games in the Dolphin emulator.
In terms of the actual control inputs, you’ve got two staggered analog sticks here, a D-pad, four face buttons, four shoulder buttons (with two of them being analog triggers), and vibration support.
The AYN Odin IndieGogo campaign hasn’t kicked off yet, but the preview page shows that the Odin Lite has a standard retail price of HK$1,519 (~$195), the Odin Base will normally set you back HK$1,753 (~$225), and the Pro variant will have a standard price of HK$2,142 (~$275). However, early bird pricing is listed at HK$1,285 (~$165), HK$1,550 (~$199), and HK$1,940 (~$249) respectively.
We do recommend that you take this product with a large pinch of salt though as crowdfunding projects from unknown companies can be a big risk. In saying so, shipping is listed for November and December 2021, so you might not have to wait too long to see if this is worth a look.
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