GoKawiilAYN
TL;DR AYN will ship forthcoming Odin 3 and Thor batches with slower UFS 3.1 storage instead of UFS 4.0 due to supply shortages and higher costs.
The storage downgrade could mean longer load times, slower installs and updates, and reduced power efficiency for the handhelds.
AYN is also introducing another Thor configuration with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage for $469, while increasing the price of the top-end model once again.
It’s been a tough start to the year for Android gaming handheld companies, and there’s no sign of the pain abating. The likes of AYN have already implemented a series of price increases to its Odin 3 and Thor devices due to ballooning component fees. Now, the company has been forced to downgrade the specs of these devices as well.
Per an update issued by the company Thursday via Discord, the next production batch of Odin 3 and Thor models (batch 7 and 6, respectively) will not receive UFS 4.0 storage due to “supply shortages and significant cost increases.” Instead, gamers will have to settle for UFS 3.1.
Have you bought a gaming handheld in 2026? 17 votes Yes, I have. 12 % I was going to, but I've changed my mind. 18 % Not yet, but I'm still planning to. 29 % No, I bought one last year. 24 % No, I don't want or need a gaming handheld. 18 %
That’s a pretty notable performance downgrade, especially if you’re playing titles that are sensitive to read and write speeds. It could mean longer waits between loading screens, installations, updates, and saves, and could also affect handhelds’ overall power efficiency. Nevertheless, it’s clear that AYN’s hand was forced — UFS 4.0 “is no longer available at a sustainable level,” the company notes.
AYN
There is some semi-sweet news, though. The Thor is getting a new Max configuration, complete with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage for $469. This is priced lower than the 16GB/1TB model, which does see another price jump from $489 to $549. More bittersweet, then?
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