AYN has confirmed a major internal change for its two most anticipated handheld gaming systems, the Thor and the Odin 3. Instead of shipping with faster UFS 4.0 storage as originally planned, upcoming units will now come with UFS 3.1 storage. The company says the decision comes down to rising component costs and ongoing supply pressure, which have made UFS 4.0 too expensive to keep using at scale.
This update arrives shortly after AYN also raised prices on both devices. That increase was initially planned for April but was moved up to early March, signaling that the overall cost of parts and manufacturing has been climbing faster than expected. Now, the storage downgrade is the latest adjustment aimed at keeping production sustainable.
According to AYN, the combination of supply shortages and a significant increase in UFS 4.0 pricing forced its hand. While UFS 3.1 is still a capable and widely used standard, it’s slower than UFS 4.0, which generally delivers higher read/write speeds and quicker data access. In real-world terms, this could translate into longer game installs, slightly slower loading times in certain titles, and less headroom for the fastest possible data streaming—especially in demanding games or when moving large files.
Which AYN Thor models are affected by the storage change?
The switch to UFS 3.1 applies specifically to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2-powered versions of the AYN Thor, including:
– Thor Base (8GB RAM / 128GB storage)
– Thor Pro (12GB RAM / 256GB storage)
– Thor Max (16GB RAM / 512GB storage)
AYN’s Thor Lite, which uses the Snapdragon 865, already uses UFS 3.1 storage and will continue with that configuration. So, the key change is for buyers targeting the higher-end Thor models that were previously expected to pair the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 with UFS 4.0.
Which Odin 3 models are affected?
For the Odin 3 lineup powered by the Qualcomm Dragonwing Q8, every model is impacted by the move to UFS 3.1, including:
– Odin 3 Base (8GB RAM / 128GB storage)
– Odin 3 Pro (12GB RAM / 256GB storage)
– Odin 3 Max (16GB RAM / 512GB storage)
– Odin 3 Ultra (24GB RAM / 1TB storage)
In other words, no matter which Odin 3 configuration buyers choose going forward, the storage standard will be UFS 3.1 rather than UFS 4.0.
When does the switch happen?
AYN says the change begins with the next pre-order batches for each device:
– Thor: starting with Batch 6 pre-orders
– Odin 3: starting with Batch 7 pre-orders
AYN hasn’t shared the exact date when these new batches will open, but the company says it will be soon. Current shipping expectations indicate that Batch 6 for Thor and Batch 7 for Odin 3 are slated to start shipping in mid-June.
What this means for buyers
If you’ve been following the Thor or Odin 3 because you wanted top-tier handheld gaming performance paired with the newest storage tech, this is a meaningful spec shift. UFS 3.1 should still deliver solid performance for Android gaming, emulation, and everyday system responsiveness, but it won’t match the peak speeds and efficiency advantages typically associated with UFS 4.0.
For shoppers comparing handheld gaming consoles, portable emulation devices, or Snapdragon-powered gaming handhelds, the updated storage spec is now an important detail to factor in—especially if fast installs, rapid file transfers, and the best possible loading times were high on your priority list.
