A company has introduced a new handheld console. However, the secret strength of the device lies in a different feature.
Handheld devices provide an alternative to gaming PCs or stationary gaming consoles for many gamers. The Nintendo Switch is the most successful device here, and many are waiting for the announcement of a Pro version.
With the Steam Deck, a second powerful handheld has now appeared, which is getting great reviews from many testers.
The Odin Pro is now another interesting handheld. However, its strength does not lie in games for Windows, but elsewhere.
The Odin Pro relies on Android and a Full HD display
What hardware does the handheld use? Ayn Technologies relies on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 for the Odin Pro. This is a former high-end processor from the smartphone sector. The processor was originally launched in 2018.
The nearly 6-inch display offers you a Full HD resolution. Depending on the model, 4–8 GB of RAM and up to 128 GB of system storage are installed.
What operating system does the Odin Pro use? The device runs on Android 10. So you won’t get a handheld with Windows and therefore cannot directly play all your Windows games.
However, the handheld uses a processor based on the ARM architecture. You normally cannot install Windows on that. Ayn Technologies, however, has stated that they support “Windows on ARM.” This means that with some effort, you can install a Windows version that supports this architecture.
Who is the device aimed at? The Odin Pro is clearly not a replacement for a gaming PC. Android restricts you too much for that. However, if you’re looking for a device that allows you to use streaming services like Game Pass or GeForce Now, then the Odin Pro could become a hidden gem.
And above all, the device could also be an alternative for those who want to play old classics from the era of the PS2 or Dreamcast again.
With the Odin Pro, you can easily get ancient classics running
What is the special feature? Through the Google PlayStore, you can conveniently download and install various emulators. How well the emulators run on the Odin Pro is shown, for example, by John Walker, who writes for the news magazine Kotaku (via kotaku.com).
In his short test, he tried both N64, PS2, and Dreamcast games. All games ran smoothly and with a stable frame rate, but not entirely problem-free. For example, Spider Man 2 for the PS2 struggled with graphical glitches. GoldenEye from the N64 times also played a bit strangely with the Odin Pro’s controller.
Another game, Crash Bandicoot, runs very well on the device, as another tester reports.
So if you want to relive your past and bring back the early 2000s, then the Odin Pro could be well-suited as a basis for emulators.
