AYN Thor: A potential Nintendo 3DS killer with a shockingly low price
It's pretty wild how the handheld gaming scene is heating up, isn't it? Just when I thought AYANEO's Pocket DS was going to be the only contender to fill the void left by the Nintendo 3DS, AYN swoops in with their Thor device, and it looks like it could be a game-changer, especially when you look at the price tag.
I mean, we're talking about an early bird price of just $249 for the base model. That's insane! It comes with a Snapdragon 865 processor, which, let's be honest, is more than enough oomph to emulate older handheld consoles without breaking a sweat. You can get the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 version for a little more, and even the high-end model with a ton of storage is still relatively affordable. For a dual-screen device with this kind of power, it sounds like a steal.
AYANEO Under Pressure
However, this aggressive pricing definitely puts pressure on AYANEO. Their Pocket DS, while promising, starts at a significantly higher price point. Sure, it has a bigger screen and a slightly better chipset but is that enough to justify the extra cost? I'm not so sure. The real kicker for the Pocket DS, though, is the software. AYANEO has put a lot of work into making Android play nice with dual screens, which is something AYN might not be focusing on as much. Still, a good price is a good price, and you can't deny it's a big advantage.
Pre-orders for the AYN Thor are kicking off next week, so keep your eyes peeled. While we don't have a concrete shipping date, I'd guess it'll be a few months before these start landing in gamers' hands. It's definitely an exciting time if you're into handhelds and emulation. With the price of used 3DS consoles soaring, these new devices offer a compelling and affordable alternative. I am eager to see the reviews.
I should note that AYN has another trick up its sleeve: the Odin 3. We will have to wait a bit longer for more information.
Source: AndroidAuthority