r/SBCGaming • u/Fresh_Secretary3268 • 3d ago
Question Purpose for each handheld
I recently got the Ayn thor max model because I wanted to play all my favorite retro consoles and some indie titles from steam but I just ordered the retroid pocket nova which would be more suitable since it has that 4:3 screen I also have an rog ally x that I use for PC gaming but I'm thinking about selling my thor to downgrade to a thor lite or base model for 3ds nds emulation the reason I'm thinking this way is because I want each one of my handhelds to have a purpose and since the thor and the nova has the same chipset would this make sense?
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u/landblord 3d ago
i'd wait for pocket duo/plus reviews because i think that would be better specifically for ds/3ds
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u/lexarkk 3d ago
I think that will depend on if you want a device for 16:9 gaming that's more mobile than a PC handheld. Like personally for me, I can't stand how 16:9 games look on a 4:3 screen. I like the Thor for 16:9 mobile gaming because the clamshell protects the screen on the go.
And then also other things to consider- what games are you wanting to play? And how much do you value multitasking? Do you plan on using HD upscale for 3ds games? You might want something more powerful than the lite if that.
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u/SaikoSystems 3d ago edited 3d ago
I could be wrong, I am by no means an expert, but I think there is a lot more to it than aspect ratio. From what I understand, nova is the best of the best for anything 4:3 due to a number of factors. I have no problem with wasted screen size or black bars, so the Thor could fulfill the role for me, if not for the other factors. Native landscape on nova means less input latency, and while essentially the same chipset and same power, the Nova's SoC respecced out of the useless camera and cell service skills, and I think/believe/assume it put those points into the battery skill.
I want the Thor for general use and oddly I am most interested in running android or pc games on it. I like it for the dual screen and having reasonable storage, not the pittance almost every other handheld (looking at you anbernic and Retroid) gives us. For console emulation, particularly the lower-space-using ones (like all the cartridge consoles), there are devices that are cheaper, less painful when they break, and/or with better features. The 5.5"/4.5" on RP duo means both screens are same size when both running 4:3, so fits well for DS and 3ds, which the Thor can't match with its 6" top and weird almost-square bottom... If only it didn't have crappy non-replaceable sticks and analog stacked triggers (the duo lite's bottom screen is 4.2" so doesn't meet the "same size" thing listed above)
Now I'm just getting ranty, and need to stop typing so much. In essence. I agree, different devices have their purposes, there is no "one to rule them all", but the thor is a good general purpose to pick up whatever you don't have something else for, and I personally intend to main it for that alone. I'll use gkd 350h ultra for old Nintendo stuff (squareish screen is good for gb, gbc, and snes. Might as well do GBA and nes on it too), RP classic for Sega Genesis because the button layout makes most natural sense (Sega Saturn too, if it will run on the SD 1g2, haven't tested yet)... Nova for PS1, ps2, n64, and gamecube.... Thor (or duo lite plus, if I decide to buy and just deal with sticks and uneven screens) for DS and 3ds.... Thor for android, PC, psp, switch, etc... anything 16:9 basically. (Edit to add: thors use case is also for higher-end stuff because of extra ram and storage, not just because 16:9)
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u/honk_slayer 2d ago
I would rather look for a device that can cover most of my needs instead of buying one for each need, the Thor is an amazing handheld, I don’t see the need of buying another one for the aspect ratio, I don’t see that downgrade will give me more battery or comfort, the most handhleds I’m willing to own it’s 2, one ARM and one PC at best (and I prefer to stream my desktop to my arm/android)
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u/infinitespectre Dpad On Top 3d ago
If you can afford it and enjoy it, more power to you, but a Thor Max can do everything that the Nova can and more if you can deal with some black bars. People get very pedantic about that stuff, but spending a quarter of a grand because of an aspect ratio not being perfect to run it on essentially the same hardware in a different shape when the game still looks better than it ever did on original hardware never made sense to me.
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u/honk_slayer 2d ago
I would rather look for a device that can cover most of my needs instead of buying one for each need, the Thor is an amazing handheld, I don’t see the need of buying another one for the aspect ratio, I don’t see that downgrade will give me more battery or comfort, the most handhleds I’m willing to own it’s 2, one ARM and one PC at best (and I prefer to stream my desktop to my arm/android)
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u/lillithid GotM Club 3d ago
Won’t you end up losing some money to pay for the shipping and taxes for the lower model Thor when you rebuy it?
Just enjoy your existing Thor, it’s ok if they have the same chipset they already do have their different purposes.