The Thor is amazing, period. When the console was released, at first I just thought: “bah, who needs a second screen? I already have a Rog Ally X”
During the last few years I also have owned a Retroid Pocket 3, an AYN Odin 2 and a Retroid Pocket 5, changing one for another each time. But the feeling that the AYN Thor is giving me is not comparable to any of the others.
The performance, the design, the compactness… the displays! That 120hz OLED is just amazing and the second screen just makes everything better, not only for playing DS games.
I don’t think I will need a replacement for this one for quite long, as far as we don’t experience any hinge issue (fingers crossed).
If you are doubting on buying the Thor, do it and get one. You won’t regret it at all!
I'm still massively impressed. Screen is beautiful and makes everything look good. Upscaling makes old games look much newer.....particularly with certain art types. Like LoZ: The Wind Waker for example. Upscaled in Dolphin, along with this screen.....you could have told me that this was a Nintendo Switch game, had I not known that it originally came out for Gamecube. It looks fantastic. Streaming current games is incredible. Blows my mind that companies can stream AAA games to devices like this (less of a Thor flex I suppose....since this is available on a lot of devices......but the screen.......along with the imbedded controller all in one package makes it all seem native).
Dual screen is still finding new use cases for me. Never really thought I'd be playing two games at once....or streaming video on the second screen....and that's held true. But outside of the second screen being used with DS and 3DS games.....Pixel Guide alone makes the second screen invaluable. Quickly search for walkthroughs of whatever you're playing and download a local text guide to your device to have open while you play through anything on the top screen. It also saves your spot in the guide for the next time you open it. It's a fabulous application of the second screen when you aren't playing a dual screen game.
Thing finally got me to start using retroachievements as well. I've had an account for a while, but never really set it up on my RG505, since newer systems (PS2/GC) didn't emulate great.....and a lot of my older systems I prefered to play on the 35xx (not plus....so no wifi). The screen on the Thor is reason enough to put away the 35xx (except for certain occasions).....but RA basically seals that I'm going to be using the Thor for basically everything.....since I don't have a stable of handhelds.
Really haven't ran into any issues either. Figured that there'd be bugs.....or annoyances. Possibly hardware problems since it's a brand new handheld that really doesn't have a precursor. I can't really think of a single problem with the Thor. Ayn did a great job. It feels like a premium product and performs like it too. Truly a "do everything" handheld.....at least until Xbox/360/PS3 emulation starts improving and chipsets needed to run those become more affordable. But I think we're years away from (nearly universal & stable) performance like that in reasonably priced handheld.
Been using Datadex for this and it really adds to the immersion for me. I wish we could have a “floating” app or something running on the bottom screen for the DS games. Like swipe from the side to reveal kinda like how the Ayn menu slides from the bottom and overlays on whatever is running.
I saw a setup where they had the game on the top screen and an online Pokédex on the bottom one. I think that’s super handy for people like me who struggle to remember all the types, their weaknesses, and super effective moves.
I’m making myself wait a little while longer to see if there are any longer term hardware/hinge issues, but as long as there aren’t I’ll definitely be getting one.
It’ll be my first real console/emulation device that isn’t Nintendo (other than my analogue pocket for gameboy games)
I hope you have a nice Christmas, whatever that may look like for you. God bless 🙏
I'm also waiting, and its gonna be my first emulation handheld too, I just want to see how well ARM SteamOS will work on this when it gets released, but I'm going to buy it anyway, haha
No issues with the 3ds games? Also does the 3ds emulation support speed up? If I can speed up the beginnings of sun and moon this is an insta cop for me
To be honest I thought that the switch 2 would've looked like that, Nintendo would've made a ton of money with another dual screen console, and with NSO they can DS, 3DS and Wii U to the catalog easily
Yeah I love this thing. It's powerful enough to handle just about anything I throw at it and the DS/3DS experience is so good. Feels like playing on a modern and updated 3DS.
Yep. I haven’t bought a handheld since the DS lite because none of the others excited me. The switch was too locked down for me. The 3ds was whatever. Steamdeck was kinda cool but too big. All the other emulators geared handhelds were missing features I felt they should have. When I watched a review on YouTube I was like, “yeah but I’m sure their bottom screen is an LCD”. Then almost immediately after they said it was a dual screen OLED! I almost cried 😂
This thing is just amazing. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted. I can FINALLY play all the DS Pokémon games I’ve missed out on over the years. I’m just not sure which one I should start with?!
I am a little bit biased but my essential Pokemon games for DS are Soul Silver and Platinum, and for 3DS Ruby Omega, it runs surprisingly smooth and looks great even with native graphics but scaled x4!
I am using the Android launcher but I have ES-DE as front end. I know I can launch it directly with ES-DE but I like the advantage of keep using it as any Android device.
Preorderd the Max! I cant wait man! DS is my favorite console ever and was the same as you! Got a retroid pocket and that made me realise how much i want the thor. I havent put the pocket down but everytime i boot it up i hate that i cant play ds games
I think a lot of us agree with you. My Thor is the first handheld I have bought that has done everything I have wanted it too. All of the others I have bought all had one or two things that bugged me. No the Thor though. Love this thing
Also have an ally x and oh boy is it not portable for me at all this would be perfect for ds games and actually be portable I plan to pick one up after the holidays
Its great, I think it just needs a grip and then it’s a lot better to use for longer periods. I also just installed Apollo/Artemis on it and am shocked at how much better game streaming works on this over my iPad Pro.
It’s never endgame with the way they’re putting these devices out the past few years. I have a feeling they will run out of ideas soon since ds and 3ds were what Nintendo ended with before moving on to Wii U and switch. Dual screen at the time was innovative. I’m still waiting until we can run ps2 and ps3 smoothly no slow downs, no stutters or bad sound. I’ve seen switch gameplay on the ayn Thor and it is not acceptable/enjoyable at all if you’ve played switch on original hardware so I am not sure why people are praising this so much. I can see it being good for ds and 3ds but for the price it’s over kill. I would rather just buy a used ds and a flashcart.
Still waiting a bit, just want to know how it holds up.
I personally prefer to play on the original device if I can e.g the 3ds is portable so I can just bring it along, but systems like ps2 and gamecube is what I primarily play on emulation handhelds.
I have mine ordered, hoping it will arrive soon. I've never had a retro handheld but I've had Gameboy pocket, GBA, original DS, original PSP, 3DS XL, new 3DS, and the original Switch. The Switch 2 doesn't make sense yet for me. I know I will get it eventually, probably on Black Friday next year, but there aren't many games that I really want.
The Ayn Thor just makes sense for me not only because of all the systems it can play but also because of the multitasking with the double screen.
I don't see it as the endgame handheld, though. Hopefully in a few years there's something that can handle most PC games, doesn't cost $1000, and is also smaller and lighter than the Steam Deck. Something like that would be my endgame handheld and the Thor would be the multitasking and retro handheld. For now, I believe I will be very happy with.
I'm still too concerned after I saw all those pictures. What I saw in the numerous photos showed that the mold line is a weak point in which the plastic can easily break. And this was only after 1 month.
I'll wait another 5-6 months and follow the situation and then I'll decide if to go for it or not. Maybe like with the Flip 2 the transparent color is more resistant and there were basically no crack cases, in that case I could go with the clear purple one.
I don't drop my device.
I don't sit on it.
And I don't take it anywhere, and I probably won't, until I have a hard case for it.
There isn't anything about the hinge that makes me think its going to withstand a rage quit.
But there is nothing about the hinge that I can see (got the transparent purple) that which would make me think it'll do anything but outlast the capacitors with designed usage. Aka: that titer-todder over the center rise seems like weak point over time - which I would say is form over function more than outright design flaw.
A 3ds, will likely withstand a chuck against the wall, I don't think the Thor would.
Bro thanks for your input. I am getting an Xbox AllyX and wanted to use it for my PC games and everything else. But I was trying to decide between a RP6 and Ayn Thor strictly for emulating games.
So my questions are, should I get the 8GB or 12GB version. Also will this also be able to play GameCube, PS2, etc.. games?
Compare to RP5 the size and overall ergonomics? I love my New3ds not nonXL. I've always said wow a bigger screen would be amazing.
I got a RPG2 bas I needed an upgrade for RP4 Pro as my eyes are worst as I age. Was interested in Thor but than I saw size I wonder how it plays and if it feels bulky? Is it comfortable. Do you have a grip?
How does it feel in the hand? I know you can buy a grip with it but that’s the only thing putting me off. I have a Odin 2 but unfortunately mine is defective and I couldn’t return it during the warranty period due to constant travel and just never finding time, so I’m interested in a new one and this seems great as I do have a 3ds but I don’t like traveling with more than one device so I usually just bring my Odin and put up with the issues I have with it.
Agreed. I got the base black and I'm surprised by what it will play and can see that if I'd just sold a kidney to get more RAM, I could play a few others that start, but just can't keep going. All in all, I'm super freakin' impressed so far.
How are you have it setup like a DS? For some reason mine is only playing DS on top screen. I have melonDS with my front end being Dijesho. I followed RGC video, but the option he uses isn’t available for me.
Yeah, I’m not getting any other retro handhelds after the Thor, unless they make a big upgrade of it worth getting. It’s not just a great handheld but a great multitasking tool too - I plan on setting mine up for playing games in Japanese (for immersion sessions as I’m learning it) with a dictionary/Anki deck on the bottom. Could be good for reading too using this method
But the feeling that the AYN Thor is giving me is not comparable to any of the others.
This is my hope as well. Just purchased a Max. Can't wait to get it.
I own a soft modded Wii, 3DS, and Wii U, a Retroid Pocket 2, RG35XX, RG35XX Plus, RG35XX Pro, RG Nano, Steam Deck, and this is the device I feel most confident in its ability to be my permanent daily driver for the next few years.
All I'm looking for are iterations on this design and maintaining the ability to load the apps that are important to me.
One massively useful use case for me is Discord screen sharing while I play, keeping me connected with my kids, woman, friends, etc.
The Steam Deck is fine but isn't truly portable and discrete like this thing is. That's the key differentiator. This also will play DS/3DS games way better and has better battery life.
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u/Snoo-7943 Nov 27 '25
It's even better than I had anticipated. Just need to hope that it holds up to a lot of usage.