Buy the AYN Odin 2 here: https://joeysrh.link/AYN_ODIN2
Looking for my review of the AYN Odin 2? Click here.
Recommended Accessories
- MicroSD Card: 512GB or 1TB (since the Odin 2 can play even Switch games, you want the largest you can afford)
- MicroSD Card Reader: UGREEN SD Card Reader
- Dock: Skull & Co. Jumpgate / Skull & Co. Jumpgate Pro
- Charger: UGREEN 65W Charger
Initial Setup Guide
- Prepare SD Card: You can prepare your SD card ahead of time. Follow the steps on this page, and that will get you all setup to get everything you need before getting your device.
- Setup Wizard: Follow the steps on screen to setup your device when you get it, when you get to the screen that asks about Selecting a launcher, you want to select the AOSP Launcher if you’ll be following my Daijisho guide to use that as a frontend. For Navigation, personal preference, but I prefer 3 button navigation.
Recommended Settings
- Over-the-Air Updates: In Android settings, go to System, Updater and check for an update.
- Play Store: Sign in to the Play Store and do any updates that are in the app.
- Performance Mode: My recommendation is Standard or Performance mode unless you’ll be doing Switch emulation in which case you’ll want to use High Performance in some cases.
- Fan Mode: My recommendation is Quiet, as long as you’re in Standard or Performance mode. In High Performance, I would keep it on Smart.
- Quick Panel: If you swipe down from the top, you get the Android quick panel. Floating Icon is the white bar that shows on the right in-game that allows you to see FPS, Temperature, Button Mapping and more.
- OdinTools: OdinTools is a fantastic application that adds a lot to the Odin 2. Click here for my setup guide.
Recommended Emulators
For a few of these emulators, Vita3K and RetroArch, you’ll want to use Obtainium to keep them up to date. Check out my Obtainium guide here.
RetroArch – PS1 & Under – Nightly (RetroArch_aarch64.apk)
For RetroArch, you want to use the Nightly build, not the version off the Google Play Store. RetroArch will be your emulator of choice for everything under and including Sony PlayStation 1.
Click here for my RetroArch setup guide, which includes recommended cores and more.
M64Plus FZ Pro – Nintendo 64
Unfortunately for Android, a lot of games are broken on RetroArch for Nintendo 64. It’s a shame as that’s the only way you can enable Retro Achievements. There are a few games that work just fine, Ocarina of Time, Super Mario 64 etc., but most games will have a lot of texture issues and more (Mario Golf, Pokemon Snap etc.)
You’ll want to use M64Plus FZ Pro off the Google Play Store, and the paid version over the free.
Click here for my M64Plus FZ setup guide.
MelonDS – Nintendo DS
For Nintendo DS emulation, the best emulator for Android is MelonDS from the Google Play Store.
Click here for my MelonDS setup guide.
PPSSPP – Sony PlayStation Portable
For Sony PlayStation Portable emulation, the best emulator for Android is PPSSPP from the Google Play Store. The paid version is only required if you want to support the developer, otherwise there’s no difference.
Click here for my PPSSPP setup guide.
Dolphin – Nintendo GameCube & Wii – Beta
For Nintendo GameCube and Wii, the best emulator for Android is Dolphin and the Beta version from the Google Play Store. It’s very important that you enable/enroll in the Beta version on the Play Store page, as that will give you the most up to date version of the emulator, which matches the development version on their website.
Click here for my Dolphin setup guide.
NetherSX2 – Sony PlayStation 2 – Current
For Sony PlayStation 2 emulation, the current and best version is NetherSX2 – Current.
Click here for my NetherSX2 setup guide.
