Same. 0 interest in either of these. Want an OLED screen device. But not the size of a Steam Deck. Still contemplating RP5. But I still love my RP4 Pro so much. And I also have an Odin 2.
Never have i stopped ordered from Aliexpress so fast to grab a snack and drink.Also the potential tariff increase just makes me wanna drink no snack required.
AYA neo: $200 more, Thermal pad issue, no headphone jack, poor audio, poor compatibility AYN: $15 for grip and $5 for taller thumb caps. Not a hard decision.
I've had nearly 20 devices...I put controls and ergonomics at a premium. I'm familiar with that Ayaneo shell from the 2S and the Geek, so I chose the Evo. The thermal pad issue is largely fixed, I don't care about a headphone jack, and there's only a few android games that have compatibility issues, and that doesn't affect emulation and streaming. The audio is definitely poor on the Evo...there's no getting around that.
At the price it's asking the EVO's sound quality and no headphone jack is pretty damn shocking. There's some points I disagree with like I'd swap the control rating around for example but they're both solid handhelds.
Yeah, the portal dpad seems like a pretty big improvement, and the dpad is fundamental for retro gaming and 2d platforming. Also, I don't like that sharp edge on the evo, looks like something that could get painful over time. But I don't have one to judge.
Hey Russ, very well made comparison between these 2 devices! :) The only thing I highly disagree on is the battery score! 2h50min on the Portal is a HUGE plus to only 2 hours on the AYANEO. Having like 40% extra battery life is big. You said "its not better by that much" what I think doesnt match the results. The little extra charging speed on the Pocket EVO doesnt matter at all. The Odin 2 definitely should have gotten a better score in the battery category imo.
The odin 2 has by far the most input lag of any android handheld by a large margin, it's not even close to acceptable. The last time input lag was that terrible was in killzone 2 where input lag exceeded 200ms.
@@IchmagFakten It's not. Easy well to tell if someone is sensitive to input lag. They will tell you hundreds of times, even when it has fuck all to do with the topic.
@@arcticowl1091odin 2 (regular) definitely had complaints about input lag, but the Odin 2 Portal has been reported to have way lower input latency, due to the Oled and 120 hz refresh rate.
@@arcticowl1091Odin 2 input lag is horrible, Odin 2 Portal input lag is best in class (Probably along with the Aya Neo, haven't seen tests for that one)
Russ is thorough as alway BUT that self-repair heat sink/thermal pad issue should have really been mentioned in the performance section instead of quickly breezed over at the very end. I know they say it’ll be addressed going forward but that’s not proven yet and many have no interest in repairing a device like this themselves.
I actually like that there is choice in the shape/ergo of the Portal. I know it was entirely unintentional, that the grip case came about after initial reviews, but because of that, it now works for people who don't want it so chunky, as well as those who do. If it was just shaped like the grip from the beginning, it wouldn't work as well for people who like it slimmer. I'm actually in both camps. If I'm playing on the couch or sitting the grip is on. but if I'm playing reclining, like in bed, the bottom corners of the grip press into my palms and cause my hands to go numb. which doesn't happen if I take the grip off.
Love to see nuanced takes like this, and I’m right there with you. Yeah, it’d be swell if there was a form factor that worked perfectly for me in every situation, but I really like that Ayn has seemed to embrace ergo mods so that we can pick and choose our playing experience.
It being 2mm thicker wouldn't have never been a point if no sale..... AYN realized their console eas t comfortable so they aold upu the solution and you just gobble it up.... Making excuses for getting fleeced out of your money
The audio fault of the Pocket EVO would be the game changer (no pun intended) for me were I looking to get an Android handheld. Audio is nearly half of my gaming experience, so the terrible sound kills the EVO. But I have a Steam Deck. I won’t be looking for an Android handheld anytime soon anyways.
For me it’s more that it doesn’t make a huge difference to me that one has better battery life, because they both have more battery than I conceivably need. Both are at that threshold where I don’t have to think about the battery.
@ But not when you are emulating switch (what many people do) or use winlator. I love you Ross, watch every video from you, but this doesnt make much sense for me. 😅
@@IchmagFakten one of the last points I made in the video is that even if you disagree with any of my scores, I hopefully gave you enough data to come to your own conclusions. Sounds like it did the trick :) The charging element is also a big one for me, since the EVO charges about 35-40% faster than the Portal. So each device has their tradeoffs in that category, but for me it all comes down to that they are both an excellent experience!
I'm no conspiracy nut, but ever notice Russ and Tech Dweeb are NEVER on at the same time? Suspicious AF...one and the same? Hmmmmmm... Is Russ like the Batman of retro gaming? If we add a nasal voice filter and raid his closet, will there be an orange and black Tech Dweeb shirt there?
I actually have both of these, both in white. Pro for the Portal and the 12GB of ram model for the Evo. I have replaced the caps on the Portal and I have the indigo grip, which looks great with the white, and I agree with almost everything you said except I use the Evo more because of the comfort. The texture on the Portal grip is irritating to me and the Evo just feels better. It reminds me a lot of the G Cloud which is great to hold and still my favorite way to play PSP games.
As a current Pocket Evo owner, this has me even more excited to finally get my Portal. I will say the Evo has been a great horizontal handheld for me tho. Haven't touched my RP5/Odin2 since it came in earlier this year. Great video as always!
The conversion from S/D to 5/1 is actually generous. I would argue that D grade equals a negative number and if you convert it that way, then the final score looks even worse for the pocket Evo.
I'm still happy with my Odin 2, and my Mrs couldn't be more thrilled with her Retroid Pocket 5. Still, awesome handhelds shown here (even if they are outrageously expensive) 😂
Prior to falling in love with the Retroid Pocket 5 (and its surprising capabilities), I was a total PC handheld snob that could not be bothered to indulge Android handhelds. I own a Steam Deck and a GPD Win Max (2024), and enjoy both devices. I only picked up the RP5 on a lark, and sudden the whole Android handheld world is sucking me in. Seriously considering the Odin 2 Portal (and getting my head checked as there are more handhelds in my household than people). As always, great work, Russ!
@ great question! I wish someone would have talked me through this, so happy to lend you my perspective. Of course, your mileage may vary, and I still love my PC ecosystem more than Android, so keep that in mind, too. For me, the Retroid Pocket 5 has been my go-to since I got it primarily because of its size and screen. It’s just so much easier to pick up and play, to take to unsavory spaces like the bathroom, and the screen has to be seen to be believed. What also surprised me is that the RP5 can emulate Switch games reasonably well-I play a lot of lower grade titles like Ultra Street Fighter 2, but it even handles Breath of the Wild and Super Mario 3D World really, really well. That sort of leads me to what keeps the system interesting and what has expanded my mind a bit about Android-the scene is vibrant and almost PC-like in what they are doing. For example, Winlator is making strides in playing Windows games on Android (the RP5 isn’t the best suited here, but I can play older titles like Tomb Raider Underworld and the fan made Streets of Rage Remake without issue), and developments on the Wii U and Switch end are ongoing. Playing around with Turnip drivers can be considered tedious, but it also lends that dash of anticipation about how devs might squeeze more out of the ecosystem. So all of that bit to say that it scratches my tinker inch in an unexpected way, and with ES-DE, it’s like I’m on my desktop anyways. That’s a lot-apologies-but I hope it gives a little bit to chew on. Money doesn’t grow on trees, and sometimes taking a dive feels pretty deep. So ask away, I’ll answer as best I can!
Considering how hard RUclipsrs pushed the RP5, it’s a shame the RP5 now almost gets zero use time from me compared with both of these. As for between the Portal and Pocket Evo, I am more on Techdweeb’s side this time. The thermal issue sucks but it is the first time ever I have opened and tinkered with any handheld device - successfully getting it close to 5000 in Wild Life Extreme loop actually made me very happy.
I have both, I love them both, yes the audio on the Evo is bad, but I will say both aren’t perfect and community has done so much for both devices to fix a lot of what’s wrong with them. The chip holds the Evo back, but if you got the retro power 24gb ram and 1tb model, it should future proof the device more and let you do more higher emulation that is to come later on like Xbox or gamehub pc gaming.
I like the look of the Evo more but the price, customer support, game compatibility and audio are huge points in favor of the Portal -- If I had to choose one, I would go for the Portal. I'll just stick with my Deck OLED LE though.
We should start a snack and drink roundup, friends. Whatchu snacking on? Me: I'm having breakfast, so soft scrambled eggs and cheese on buttered toast and an apple 😁
Very off topic for this video, but will you be making a review for the magicx mini zero 28?? I cant decide between that and trimui brick (or possibly miyoo flip) for an edc pocket size gameboy
19:55, that made me pause the video because I’m sorry what? I can forgive the terrible audio, but not having the option to use 3.5mm headphones? At $459($499 directly), that’s not acceptable and the Odin 2 Portal is $30 cheaper with 12GB(vs 8GB) of RAM and QUADRUPLE THE INTERNAL STORAGE(512GB vs 128GB). That is a dealbreaker for me and Odin 2 Portal automatically wins.
I'm surprised how many people still have wired headsets since no phones come with them anymore. Although, I suppose there is more latency with Bluetooth which can be an issue for some games
@ It’s not about technology, it’s about sound. People have headphones that still sounds great to them to a point that doesn’t need upgrading. When it comes to Audio, the tech community only see tech improvements and view any audio upgrades to better sound as fools money, knowing that having the latest and greatest Bluetooth and audio codec is fools money as well.
I have an Odin 2 [looking forward to Batocera now it's being developed!] but if I didn't have the Odin 2 already I'd still be going for the Portal over the Ayaneo due to previous customer service and build quality issues for the cost they demand compared to Ayn.
@@blackpepper2610 Brilliant. Emailed them regarding shipping options and how that would work with import charges, and not only did they respond quickly but even gave me the option of changing shipping options post-ordering if I wanted to. It arrived and then because the official case I ordered with it had thread baring issues, they sent a new one immediately. But more importantly, the device itself had no issues compared to the casing and trigger issues I've heard about Ayaneo over the years.
In the performance section....the ayaneo chip isn't properly supported with some android games like call of duty, Fortnite, grid etc You won't get great performance and higher graphics options will either not be available or the FPS will be capped. The 8gen 2 in the Odin portal will be fully supported due to all the phones that already have that chip set
I believe the portal at least has delayed shipping due to tariff concerns. Really annoyed by that. So everyone considering between these might want to wait.
I prefer the colors of the Odin 2 Portal display from this video anyways. The Ayaneo has a slightly yellow tint as if a very low night mode is turned on. And my god, those speakers are worse than my Pixel which honestly does not gave great speakers by any means haha
I have an Odin 2 Portal and HAD a Pocket DMG and honestly the driver support for the Snapdragon G3X G2 is LOL at best....making upper end emulation much more an issue compared to the widely supported Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Portal which made me decide with the Portal....also the fan noise for the DMG the coil whine is horrendous and the Portal the Odin 2 and the Mini which I own all three has been absolutely fantastic even on max settings it's a woosh sound that's more white noise then the bzzzzz sound which is the DMG coil whine....and my god streaming locally on the Portal is sooooo good cause it's so light compared to a PC gaming handheld my wrists thanks me all the time when I stream with the Portal
I read what you wrote and... That talk about upper emulation... I don't know wtf are you talking about. The Evo is by far better performing than the Odin. Turnip driver support since 24.3. the fan you can just turn it off or lower the speed. You have much more control in the Evo than the Odin. Let's talk about streaming... Both are great but the Evo has lower latency than the Portal... There's no debating that. The best experience that you can get right now. Android gaming that's where you can complain. The lack of support for this Soc makes some games unplayable or playable at lower settings. Spoofing resolves some of the problems but not all.
If I was a top content creator I would put up a challenge where I'd pay anyone $1M if they can reliably and empirically prove that they can see a difference between 120hz and 160hz on an 8inch screen.
I just got an odin 2 pro, and I've been wondering if I needed to feel a sense of FOMO, but it seems the portal isn't anything more than a screen upgrade. This also makes me feel like the Aya Neo wasn't anything I was missing out on either. (Even though the shoulder button came off...)
The odin is still far from the ultimate device. No full size sticks! Bad ergonomics. 16:9 instead of 16:10 - which is a severe drawback with such a large screen. Also the abxy buttons should be larger, domed instead of flat, and also glossy instead of matte. D-pad position should also be adjusted somehow to be more usable for retro games. There needs to be options for dual boot into linux. The wait continues. Maybe the next valve handheld will check all the boxes, trumping any android device.
without watching it all the way, I have a feeling Odin 2 Portal will win lol. I have both and I prefer Pocket EVO. I've never seen Russ praised AYANEO lol
welp, I lost betting on aya neo pocket evo, odin portal 2 has the crown again, only the aya neo pocket evo has the advantage of being the console winner in having 24gb ram
“Ayaneo EVO price = C” What retro handhelds would get a “D” or “F” for pricing then? Thank you for calling out that these companies lock the best pricing behind the higher price tiers. It rubs me as super sleazy to ask consumers to pay upwards of $50 more just to color they want, especially when, as pointed out, 8gb of RAM is more than enough for almost everyone, and micros SD cards are make larger internal storage a not-compelling feature.
the price for these things is murders it. At this point, just get a steam deck. It may not be as portable, but it's going to do everything you want that these cannot really. And there are cheaper devices that do the things you'd want to do that don't require the higher specs.
I have a Steam Deck and it gets zero use time compared to these two. Battery life matters and the higher resolution makes these Android devices an easy pick, especially if you have a high end PC and good connection to stream games to these gorgeous devices.
I have a steam deck but I’d rather have one of these for streaming and moving around the house. I already grab my Odin 2 more than my steam deck because I’m mostly streaming and it’s just easier with the resolution and battery life to use the Odin 2. The portal will make the steam deck almost never used for me.
@@joelman1989 yeah I don't use my steam deck at all. The size difference is very noticeable between the portal and the deck. Also the battery life in sleep mode is much better on the portal, I never have to turn it off and boot it back up. These steam deck broz just don't GET it.
Watching a video that compares 2 handhelds Im not considering buying at all? Yes
Yeah man, I wanna do it.
SAME! 😀😀 (and pretty much every one of Russ' videos)
Same. 0 interest in either of these. Want an OLED screen device. But not the size of a Steam Deck.
Still contemplating RP5. But I still love my RP4 Pro so much. And I also have an Odin 2.
Here here
yep im just here and im even picking sides lol
Never have I stopped ordering from AliExpress so fast to watch a video.
Never have i stopped ordered from Aliexpress so fast to grab a snack and drink.Also the potential tariff increase just makes me wanna drink no snack required.
AYA neo: $200 more, Thermal pad issue, no headphone jack, poor audio, poor compatibility
AYN: $15 for grip and $5 for taller thumb caps.
Not a hard decision.
And better game compatibility!
Word bro might as well call the grip included
Well, just because AYANEO blew it early on with the Evo, doesn’t mean the Portal is that great either.
I've had nearly 20 devices...I put controls and ergonomics at a premium. I'm familiar with that Ayaneo shell from the 2S and the Geek, so I chose the Evo. The thermal pad issue is largely fixed, I don't care about a headphone jack, and there's only a few android games that have compatibility issues, and that doesn't affect emulation and streaming. The audio is definitely poor on the Evo...there's no getting around that.
@@x100bullets except that the Odin is great. I have one and it's the best emulation gaming handheld I currently own.
This was the video I realized AYN and AYANEO are different companies…
Welcome to the world of handheld gaming!
Lol
Dude! I only found out a couple months ago when I tried to find the Odin 2 on the Aynneo website!
Me too. I thought Ayn is the short form for ayaneo lol
AY(A)N(EO)
I am happy he said, "snack and drink." It's back
Yeah, I was famished last time.
AyaNeo just sucks, they asked me if it sucks and I said "Yeah man, it sucks".
At the price it's asking the EVO's sound quality and no headphone jack is pretty damn shocking. There's some points I disagree with like I'd swap the control rating around for example but they're both solid handhelds.
yeah, no headphone jack really surprised me
Right! I was not expecting that and honestly a dealbreaker for me. That should be standard on gaming handhelds period.
Even older cheaper handheld have better sound quality and headphone jack. Huge L from AyaNeo...
Yeah, the portal dpad seems like a pretty big improvement, and the dpad is fundamental for retro gaming and 2d platforming. Also, I don't like that sharp edge on the evo, looks like something that could get painful over time. But I don't have one to judge.
is the Ayaneo Evo like, the first big handheld ever to NOT have a headphone jack?
Hey Russ, very well made comparison between these 2 devices! :)
The only thing I highly disagree on is the battery score! 2h50min on the Portal is a HUGE plus to only 2 hours on the AYANEO. Having like 40% extra battery life is big. You said "its not better by that much" what I think doesnt match the results. The little extra charging speed on the Pocket EVO doesnt matter at all.
The Odin 2 definitely should have gotten a better score in the battery category imo.
The odin 2 has by far the most input lag of any android handheld by a large margin, it's not even close to acceptable. The last time input lag was that terrible was in killzone 2 where input lag exceeded 200ms.
@@arcticowl1091 But how is that related to my comment? :D
@@IchmagFakten It's not. Easy well to tell if someone is sensitive to input lag. They will tell you hundreds of times, even when it has fuck all to do with the topic.
@@arcticowl1091odin 2 (regular) definitely had complaints about input lag, but the Odin 2 Portal has been reported to have way lower input latency, due to the Oled and 120 hz refresh rate.
@@arcticowl1091Odin 2 input lag is horrible, Odin 2 Portal input lag is best in class (Probably along with the Aya Neo, haven't seen tests for that one)
Russ is thorough as alway BUT that self-repair heat sink/thermal pad issue should have really been mentioned in the performance section instead of quickly breezed over at the very end. I know they say it’ll be addressed going forward but that’s not proven yet and many have no interest in repairing a device like this themselves.
I actually like that there is choice in the shape/ergo of the Portal. I know it was entirely unintentional, that the grip case came about after initial reviews, but because of that, it now works for people who don't want it so chunky, as well as those who do. If it was just shaped like the grip from the beginning, it wouldn't work as well for people who like it slimmer. I'm actually in both camps. If I'm playing on the couch or sitting the grip is on. but if I'm playing reclining, like in bed, the bottom corners of the grip press into my palms and cause my hands to go numb. which doesn't happen if I take the grip off.
Love to see nuanced takes like this, and I’m right there with you. Yeah, it’d be swell if there was a form factor that worked perfectly for me in every situation, but I really like that Ayn has seemed to embrace ergo mods so that we can pick and choose our playing experience.
It being 2mm thicker wouldn't have never been a point if no sale.....
AYN realized their console eas t comfortable so they aold upu the solution and you just gobble it up.... Making excuses for getting fleeced out of your money
Choice is clear.... Odin 2 portal
The audio fault of the Pocket EVO would be the game changer (no pun intended) for me were I looking to get an Android handheld. Audio is nearly half of my gaming experience, so the terrible sound kills the EVO.
But I have a Steam Deck. I won’t be looking for an Android handheld anytime soon anyways.
Thank you so much Russ for all your hard work. You are really helping us to decide which is better. So many details in the video. You're the best
I got the Odin 2 Portal Pro because I really wanted the Indigo model.
finally!! I found someone else with this logic 😂
Yup same here but I went with the max 😂😅
My Odin 2 Portal experience has been awesome, I really love the device.
So glad I went with the Portal after watching this! 🎉 Got the grip and bigger analog sticks so I'm sure it'll play like a dream
The grip is AMAZING. absolutely changed the device and arguably needed since it's a little too "smooth plasticy" without it. Can't put it down.
Watching your content for the first time. 7secs of that intro playing thru my favorite pair of headphones... SUBSCRIBED.
Looooove your intro!
Ummm….this one has 25-30% more battery life but since this one charges slightly faster so they get the same score???
Yea, it doesnt make any sense...
For me it’s more that it doesn’t make a huge difference to me that one has better battery life, because they both have more battery than I conceivably need. Both are at that threshold where I don’t have to think about the battery.
@ But not when you are emulating switch (what many people do) or use winlator. I love you Ross, watch every video from you, but this doesnt make much sense for me. 😅
@@IchmagFakten So you can give the portal an S, who cares how he scored it, he covered all you need to know.
@@IchmagFakten one of the last points I made in the video is that even if you disagree with any of my scores, I hopefully gave you enough data to come to your own conclusions. Sounds like it did the trick :)
The charging element is also a big one for me, since the EVO charges about 35-40% faster than the Portal. So each device has their tradeoffs in that category, but for me it all comes down to that they are both an excellent experience!
Oh man, was I waiting on your review for these two handhelds, Ayn 2 portal will be my go too,Thanks
I'm no conspiracy nut, but ever notice Russ and Tech Dweeb are NEVER on at the same time?
Suspicious AF...one and the same? Hmmmmmm...
Is Russ like the Batman of retro gaming? If we add a nasal voice filter and raid his closet, will there be an orange and black Tech Dweeb shirt there?
Ask the dark cube
They both talk with their hands. The cover up is their location, Canada vs Hawaii.
@@KarcusKorpse lol "Canada" .... riiiiiiight...
A fusion of both would be amazing. Evo controls and ergonomics with Odin audio and screen, and you have an amazing device
Pretty sure they’re both using the same screen
Russ, you need to start your own line of snack and drinks.
Thanks for allowing me to eat again Russ, I’ve been starving for weeks
That sound at this price point is a deal-breaker - nothing saves Pocket Evo 😂
The Etsy link to taller portal sticks is dead. Can we get an updated link?
Same question
Great comparison, as always! 🤩
I actually have both of these, both in white. Pro for the Portal and the 12GB of ram model for the Evo. I have replaced the caps on the Portal and I have the indigo grip, which looks great with the white, and I agree with almost everything you said except I use the Evo more because of the comfort. The texture on the Portal grip is irritating to me and the Evo just feels better. It reminds me a lot of the G Cloud which is great to hold and still my favorite way to play PSP games.
ayn odin 2 portal at least the base model is really value for money.
ayaneo is too expensive and the price point is near steamdeck oled model.
It’s really disappointing that AyaNeo has made roughly 1500 different handhelds and still can’t punt decent speakers in any of them.
As a current Pocket Evo owner, this has me even more excited to finally get my Portal. I will say the Evo has been a great horizontal handheld for me tho. Haven't touched my RP5/Odin2 since it came in earlier this year. Great video as always!
Have zero thought of getting an EVO yet here I am lol
Can't wait for my Odin 2 Portal MAX to ship! 🥲
Would choose Ayn all day, but retroid is still my jam
The conversion from S/D to 5/1 is actually generous. I would argue that D grade equals a negative number and if you convert it that way, then the final score looks even worse for the pocket Evo.
I'm still happy with my Odin 2, and my Mrs couldn't be more thrilled with her Retroid Pocket 5. Still, awesome handhelds shown here (even if they are outrageously expensive) 😂
Prior to falling in love with the Retroid Pocket 5 (and its surprising capabilities), I was a total PC handheld snob that could not be bothered to indulge Android handhelds. I own a Steam Deck and a GPD Win Max (2024), and enjoy both devices. I only picked up the RP5 on a lark, and sudden the whole Android handheld world is sucking me in. Seriously considering the Odin 2 Portal (and getting my head checked as there are more handhelds in my household than people). As always, great work, Russ!
In similar boat. What sucked you into Android handhelds? What advatages vs my steam deck?
@ great question! I wish someone would have talked me through this, so happy to lend you my perspective. Of course, your mileage may vary, and I still love my PC ecosystem more than Android, so keep that in mind, too. For me, the Retroid Pocket 5 has been my go-to since I got it primarily because of its size and screen. It’s just so much easier to pick up and play, to take to unsavory spaces like the bathroom, and the screen has to be seen to be believed. What also surprised me is that the RP5 can emulate Switch games reasonably well-I play a lot of lower grade titles like Ultra Street Fighter 2, but it even handles Breath of the Wild and Super Mario 3D World really, really well. That sort of leads me to what keeps the system interesting and what has expanded my mind a bit about Android-the scene is vibrant and almost PC-like in what they are doing. For example, Winlator is making strides in playing Windows games on Android (the RP5 isn’t the best suited here, but I can play older titles like Tomb Raider Underworld and the fan made Streets of Rage Remake without issue), and developments on the Wii U and Switch end are ongoing. Playing around with Turnip drivers can be considered tedious, but it also lends that dash of anticipation about how devs might squeeze more out of the ecosystem. So all of that bit to say that it scratches my tinker inch in an unexpected way, and with ES-DE, it’s like I’m on my desktop anyways. That’s a lot-apologies-but I hope it gives a little bit to chew on. Money doesn’t grow on trees, and sometimes taking a dive feels pretty deep. So ask away, I’ll answer as best I can!
AYN wins. Flawless victory. 😅
I watched the whole video even when I am very happy with the consoles I have now.
Considering how hard RUclipsrs pushed the RP5, it’s a shame the RP5 now almost gets zero use time from me compared with both of these. As for between the Portal and Pocket Evo, I am more on Techdweeb’s side this time. The thermal issue sucks but it is the first time ever I have opened and tinkered with any handheld device - successfully getting it close to 5000 in Wild Life Extreme loop actually made me very happy.
I have both, I love them both, yes the audio on the Evo is bad, but I will say both aren’t perfect and community has done so much for both devices to fix a lot of what’s wrong with them. The chip holds the Evo back, but if you got the retro power 24gb ram and 1tb model, it should future proof the device more and let you do more higher emulation that is to come later on like Xbox or gamehub pc gaming.
Will you make a review on the new MagicX Mini Zero 28 ??
I like the look of the Evo more but the price, customer support, game compatibility and audio are huge points in favor of the Portal -- If I had to choose one, I would go for the Portal. I'll just stick with my Deck OLED LE though.
Maybe it's just me, but this "premium glass front" when black makes all these devices feel so cheap. Reminds me of cheap glossy plastic.
Gimmick.
I'm staying with my Odin 2 until something better comes out. Skipping portal.
We should start a snack and drink roundup, friends. Whatchu snacking on?
Me: I'm having breakfast, so soft scrambled eggs and cheese on buttered toast and an apple 😁
I got an Odin 2 mini second hand and I love it. The portal is just a bit too big for my needs.
Very off topic for this video, but will you be making a review for the magicx mini zero 28??
I cant decide between that and trimui brick (or possibly miyoo flip) for an edc pocket size gameboy
I up this!!
It’ll likely be my next video.
@@RetroGameCorps you rule Russ
I already bought the portal
"you MAY wanna grab one" love it
End Game Handhelds 🤤
19:55, that made me pause the video because I’m sorry what? I can forgive the terrible audio, but not having the option to use 3.5mm headphones? At $459($499 directly), that’s not acceptable and the Odin 2 Portal is $30 cheaper with 12GB(vs 8GB) of RAM and QUADRUPLE THE INTERNAL STORAGE(512GB vs 128GB).
That is a dealbreaker for me and Odin 2 Portal automatically wins.
I'm surprised how many people still have wired headsets since no phones come with them anymore. Although, I suppose there is more latency with Bluetooth which can be an issue for some games
@ It’s not about technology, it’s about sound. People have headphones that still sounds great to them to a point that doesn’t need upgrading.
When it comes to Audio, the tech community only see tech improvements and view any audio upgrades to better sound as fools money, knowing that having the latest and greatest Bluetooth and audio codec is fools money as well.
Odin portal will be in my hand by spring 😊
I have an Odin 2 [looking forward to Batocera now it's being developed!] but if I didn't have the Odin 2 already I'd still be going for the Portal over the Ayaneo due to previous customer service and build quality issues for the cost they demand compared to Ayn.
how's your experience with ayn customer service?
@@blackpepper2610 Brilliant. Emailed them regarding shipping options and how that would work with import charges, and not only did they respond quickly but even gave me the option of changing shipping options post-ordering if I wanted to. It arrived and then because the official case I ordered with it had thread baring issues, they sent a new one immediately.
But more importantly, the device itself had no issues compared to the casing and trigger issues I've heard about Ayaneo over the years.
i just recived my odin 2 portal and fyi if you never buy the grip on the odin your missing out... especially if your hands are on the bigger side
The price of the Pocket EVO combined with that awful audio should be criminal 🥴
Wow - uploaded 43 seconds ago! But will watch in full tomorrow with snack and drink 😂😂
I couldn't help myself and got both. Personally, I much prefer the Evo for the ergonomics, controls and general design.
Me personally I would choose the PS Vita
In the performance section....the ayaneo chip isn't properly supported with some android games like call of duty, Fortnite, grid etc
You won't get great performance and higher graphics options will either not be available or the FPS will be capped. The 8gen 2 in the Odin portal will be fully supported due to all the phones that already have that chip set
I get 140fps in warzone mobile on the evo
@geenogolden407 Ive seen videos on the evos chip not being properly supported in android games, unless there's been an update?
@ it’s powerful we just can’t use high quality graphics
Interested to compare this to Tech Dweeb’s video
Yeah some of his stuff feels very paid
I avoid ayaneo like the plague so thats never a choice for me. Both of these will soon become very difficult to get with the tariffs either way.
what is the es-de theme used in the thumbnail on the left??
Do either have a built in mic? Very useful for android, and even some ds games like Zelda.
Yes they do
Well that’s one decision sorted, now I need to know whether I get the portal or a steam deck?!?!
The Super Bowl Episode!!!
You should ironically review the Zeenix
Snack and drink pre-prepared!
odin portal for me...waiting for delivery
I believe the portal at least has delayed shipping due to tariff concerns. Really annoyed by that. So everyone considering between these might want to wait.
Wish you added the retroid pocket 5 or a steam deck to this haha, great video though :)
Can you do a video on how to keep these handhelds clean?
Microfiber cloth and rubbing alcohol for gunk. Ez
I believe that battery life is significantly more important than charging speed.
I don't get why AYN didn't make the Odin 2 Portal with that grip integrated on the body instead of using an external piece of plastic.
I prefer the colors of the Odin 2 Portal display from this video anyways. The Ayaneo has a slightly yellow tint as if a very low night mode is turned on.
And my god, those speakers are worse than my Pixel which honestly does not gave great speakers by any means haha
Nice will you review the ayaneo 3? Please
I have an Odin 2 Portal and HAD a Pocket DMG and honestly the driver support for the Snapdragon G3X G2 is LOL at best....making upper end emulation much more an issue compared to the widely supported Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Portal which made me decide with the Portal....also the fan noise for the DMG the coil whine is horrendous and the Portal the Odin 2 and the Mini which I own all three has been absolutely fantastic even on max settings it's a woosh sound that's more white noise then the bzzzzz sound which is the DMG coil whine....and my god streaming locally on the Portal is sooooo good cause it's so light compared to a PC gaming handheld my wrists thanks me all the time when I stream with the Portal
I read what you wrote and... That talk about upper emulation... I don't know wtf are you talking about. The Evo is by far better performing than the Odin. Turnip driver support since 24.3. the fan you can just turn it off or lower the speed. You have much more control in the Evo than the Odin. Let's talk about streaming... Both are great but the Evo has lower latency than the Portal... There's no debating that. The best experience that you can get right now.
Android gaming that's where you can complain. The lack of support for this Soc makes some games unplayable or playable at lower settings. Spoofing resolves some of the problems but not all.
Yes Master Russ
If I was a top content creator I would put up a challenge where I'd pay anyone $1M if they can reliably and empirically prove that they can see a difference between 120hz and 160hz on an 8inch screen.
You can easily see the difference on a cell phone, why would an even bigger screen be any different?? Stupid challenge.
Portal anyday
Are going to consider the Pocket evo cooling problems?
he did mention it briefly through the video
RIP ayaneo
Ugh man the sticks say they're sold out on Etsy already 😭 I shoulda jumped on it soon as the video came out haha.
My recommendation: Get a Retroid Pocket 5
No device from AYANEO ever make sense if you consider the price on the equasion. Sadly the Pocket EVO seems to be another example of this.
Would the Odin 2 guide be the same for the portal 😅
Which has a better d-pad: Steamdeck or Portal?
I just got an odin 2 pro, and I've been wondering if I needed to feel a sense of FOMO, but it seems the portal isn't anything more than a screen upgrade. This also makes me feel like the Aya Neo wasn't anything I was missing out on either. (Even though the shoulder button came off...)
Nice shirt
i can’t believe we can not equalize evo’a sound
can they goes out at 120fps 4K hdmi with geforce now?
I’m waiting for device like that but with snapdragon 8 elite, for now rp5 it’s perfect for me.
The odin is still far from the ultimate device.
No full size sticks!
Bad ergonomics.
16:9 instead of 16:10 - which is a severe drawback with such a large screen.
Also the abxy buttons should be larger, domed instead of flat, and also glossy instead of matte.
D-pad position should also be adjusted somehow to be more usable for retro games.
There needs to be options for dual boot into linux.
The wait continues. Maybe the next valve handheld will check all the boxes, trumping any android device.
waspy handhelds, great Video.)
Russ is a mewithoutYou fan? ❤
without watching it all the way, I have a feeling Odin 2 Portal will win lol. I have both and I prefer Pocket EVO. I've never seen Russ praised AYANEO lol
welp, I lost betting on aya neo pocket evo, odin portal 2 has the crown again, only the aya neo pocket evo has the advantage of being the console winner in having 24gb ram
“Ayaneo EVO price = C”
What retro handhelds would get a “D” or “F” for pricing then?
Thank you for calling out that these companies lock the best pricing behind the higher price tiers. It rubs me as super sleazy to ask consumers to pay upwards of $50 more just to color they want, especially when, as pointed out, 8gb of RAM is more than enough for almost everyone, and micros SD cards are make larger internal storage a not-compelling feature.
*lock the best colors behind higher price tiers
Ordered the Portal around 11/20 and still waiting for it to be shipped 😥😢
Snack and drink in hand and ready!
the price for these things is murders it. At this point, just get a steam deck. It may not be as portable, but it's going to do everything you want that these cannot really. And there are cheaper devices that do the things you'd want to do that don't require the higher specs.
The battery life in these things is better and portability is a big factor in why people get them
@@shortanimationzthey're not that much smaller than the steamdeck though
I have a Steam Deck and it gets zero use time compared to these two. Battery life matters and the higher resolution makes these Android devices an easy pick, especially if you have a high end PC and good connection to stream games to these gorgeous devices.
I have a steam deck but I’d rather have one of these for streaming and moving around the house. I already grab my Odin 2 more than my steam deck because I’m mostly streaming and it’s just easier with the resolution and battery life to use the Odin 2. The portal will make the steam deck almost never used for me.
@@joelman1989 yeah I don't use my steam deck at all. The size difference is very noticeable between the portal and the deck. Also the battery life in sleep mode is much better on the portal, I never have to turn it off and boot it back up. These steam deck broz just don't GET it.
Name of theme on game launcher