Odin 2 Gets Even Better With These Apps

AYN's Odin 2 is the best Android handheld product available. It is comfortable and provides a good mix of power and flexibility. Sincerely, the Odin 2 is my favourite Android throwback handheld; the only real rival is the combination of a telescopic controller and a foldable phone.

Since Odin 2 was released, AYN has published a few software upgrades to fix some faults and provide new features. However, because of the unexpected popularity, the community surprised everyone by releasing a few tools to enhance the experience. Although the first two are in that category, I've included two more "apps" for your enjoyment, even if you only use an Android phone or tablet to play games.

Odin Tools

The first application you should install on an Odin 2 is Odin Tools. Even though the default software has many options right out of the box, not all of them are available. With a "collection of utilities" that can enhance your Odin 2, Odin Tools fills the void and goes above and beyond.

My favourite feature is the ability to fool the software into believing I'm using a different button layout than the one that comes by default. Even the Quick Settings option makes it easy to accomplish this quickly. Swipe down to see your notifications, then tap the appropriate toggle to get started.

That's only a small portion of what Odin Tools offers. There is so much that we suggest simply clicking the button below and giving it a go. Be careful to back up everything just in case something goes wrong.

AmbiOdin

Unlike the other three on this list, AmbiOdin is the only app to download from the Play Store. This eliminates the need to manually load a fresh APK file each time an update is released. Later, though, more on that.

After the creator unveiled an early version of the program, AmbiOdin took the world by storm. The Odin 2 has LED lights encircling thumbsticks, and two LED light strips on either side. AmbiOdin goes above and beyond the standard customizing choices available. First, you don't have to tinker to set various lighting effects.

Nevertheless, the software allows you to have different lights that match the game's colour. Although it may not seem like a revolution, the community has stepped up to fill the void left by AYN's exclusion of functionality.

Obtainium

Obtainium is an app that has quickly risen to the top of the food chain. I first learned about Obtainium on the RH Discord, though I'm not confident. In any case, Obtainium's basic idea is to upgrade your apps straight from the source. Remember to return to the GitHub website to check if an app or emulator needs to be updated.

This is crucial given the abundance of apps and emulators unavailable on the Play Store. As soon as a new app version is available, Obtainium will download and install it instantly if you enter the source URL. Other features that Obtainium provides include rolling back to earlier versions, downloading "prereleases," and much more. It's one of the first apps I installed on any Android smartphone, and it has grown to be a handy tool in my toolbox.

EmulationStation (ES-DE)

There are many ways to connect with your library of games on the Odin 2. Although AYN has its front end, it isn't very engaging and doesn't provide many customization options. Daijisho, a well-liked substitute on the Android market, comes next. However, if you have been involved in the emulation scene for any time, you have probably encountered EmulationStation. When ES-DE appeared on Android earlier this year, it was instantly adopted as the front end for my Odin 2.

You can select from various themes, some offered on websites like GitHub. In essence, ES-DE improves the vintage handheld gaming experience on all compatible devices, and I'm thrilled to see that it has now arrived on Android.

I'm enthusiastic to use it on Android because ES-DE is constantly being developed and updated with new features. For example, more than ten distinct changes are already planned for version 3.0.2, which is already under development. One example is the ability to use the standalone Yaba Sanshiro 2 emulator and the Antutu build of Citra MMJ. Additionally, you may manually add Yuzu—or any other Android app—to the UI even though ES-DE no longer formally supports it.

What Did I Miss?

These are some of my favourite apps, but others enhance and complement the AYN Odin 2. Even the fact that I didn't mention EmuDeck may surprise you, but that's a whole other animal. Leave a comment below to tell us about your Odin 2 setup and the apps you use to enhance the greatest Android retro handheld!

You can purchase an Odin 2 straight from AYN or on Amazon if you don't already have one.