AYN Thor.
I own multiple 3DS systems, but the Thor plays 3DS games at 4x resolution, supports texture packs, and offers a lot more flexibility overall. The only drawback is that some very touch‑sensitive games have a small amount of input lag around 120 ms on the Thor vs. about 55 ms on a New 3DS but in practice it’s barely noticeable for most titles.
The OLED screen on the Thor is a massive upgrade compared to even the IPS 3DS models. The difference is honestly night and day.
The stutters people mention are just shader compilation, and they disappear after a few minutes of gameplay. Load times are also much faster on the Thor, and you can use fast‑forward, which is something I really missed on the original hardware. One of the biggest reasons I switched was how slow my New 3DS felt when loading games.
On pokemon Platinum the Thor battery life was around 8 h before hitting the 15% threshold (the last % just melted away)
On a new 3ds with an old battery 3 hours and I needed to recharge it, maybe with a new battery he will take more time but I don't want to change it now
If you don't mind tinkering, get the thor. If you want every 3ds and ds game to play perfectly, get the 3ds (although ds games looks better on a ds lite or dsi).
Keep in mind that some games can be glitchy and stuttery with emulation no matter how much you tinker with the settings
edit: tbh, I haven't touched my 3dses after I got thor, but still use my dsi occasionally for touch screen heavy games
I have a modded 3ds and I just ordered myself a Thor, lol. I don't have it yet so I can't directly compare, but I figured I'd chip in because I love my 3ds but it comes with some specific limitations. The Thor's able to run games from significantly more advanced systems than the 3ds (at the very best you're getting some N64 and PS1 emulation on a New 3DS).
But a big thing for me is that it seems much more repair friendly than a 3DS too. Disassembly videos I've seen are relatively simple and it should be much easier to buy replacements for anything I may need even outside the warranty. Meanwhile 3DS replacement parts range from niche to nonexistent, and a lot of third party parts are lower quality than the original parts so they'll fail again faster. Plus it's essentially dissecting the whole lower half of the device to access the most common parts that need to be replaced (midframe, circle pad, buttons).
So in the year 2025 the Thor will probably be a safer investment unless you have extremely specific needs that it can't meet (games that use the built in cameras, infrared function, etc.). Bending a nintendo to your will and making it run Doom is satisfying, but every 3DS is to some degree on life support now and they're way more expensive than a decade+ old handheld should be.
I bought the Thor for Pokémon and Dragon Quest 3DS titles. Same for MGS3D. The turbo button is a life saver.
I own a 3DS as I traded in for the New 3DS XL a few months after it's launch. Then the switch dropped. I love the New 3DS XL. I use it strictly for stylus games and some classics like Zelda, Metroid, Luigi Dark Moon, and Mario 3D Land. The 3D is one of my favorite features.
But the Thor has a ton of bonuses that result in a vice. It is too capable of an emulator. Not every game works mind you. Dark Moon does not work and that drove me to try the switch version. That does work but my problem now is that switch is too amazing to not try.
Anyhow. I wanted to keep things simple and just go through the 3DS library of Zelda Ocarina, Majora's Mask, and I've beat A link between worlds on 3DS hardware. Amazing. I need to finish the metal gear, and dragon quest but the switch titles are something else.
Ayn Thor is too good. The battery with switch emulation is alright. 3DS and DS battery life on emulation is impossible to beat. You'll never drain it essentially.
Get both if you can but if you have to pick one it'll have to be the Thor. It can run PSP and Gamecube/Wii.
That'll save me the time and money of buying and modding a Vita for PSP games, then. I might get one anyway, just because, but that's good to know. Thanks!
unless you have overwhelming nostalgia for the 3DS and think that the games are unplayable without the 3D feature, camera, or resistive touchscreen then go with the thor, its better in almost every way
I tried a new 3DS one time in the demo section of a Target store, where they had Mario Kart 7 up and running. Mostly allured by the idea of having a ton of retro games on one closed-ecosystem console, but you're probably right about the Thor. With Steam support, it's basically the perfect handheld for smaller titles. Stardew Valley, here I come.
thats such a fair point!! you can use frontends to recreate that closed-off console feeling, it won't be exactly the same of course, but i've heard ES-DE is good, or Console Launcher
Excellent, I'll keep that in mind. I've never used an android handheld for gaming before, so I'm not all that familiar with the options. Still waiting on Steam OS for ARM devices, though.
AYN Thor.
I own multiple 3DS systems, but the Thor plays 3DS games at 4x resolution, supports texture packs, and offers a lot more flexibility overall. The only drawback is that some very touch‑sensitive games have a small amount of input lag around 120 ms on the Thor vs. about 55 ms on a New 3DS but in practice it’s barely noticeable for most titles.
The OLED screen on the Thor is a massive upgrade compared to even the IPS 3DS models. The difference is honestly night and day.
The stutters people mention are just shader compilation, and they disappear after a few minutes of gameplay. Load times are also much faster on the Thor, and you can use fast‑forward, which is something I really missed on the original hardware. One of the biggest reasons I switched was how slow my New 3DS felt when loading games.
Games beaten on it so far:
Pokemon FireRed
Pokemon Platinum
Pokemon HeartGold (In post game)
Beaten on Similar System:
Super Mario Sunshine
Pokemon Emerald
That's pretty awesome. Does the Thor default to 4x resolution scaling, or is that something you have to mess with the settings to activate?
It would be an emulator setting. Nothing to do with Thor itself other than its powerful enough to handle it.
Thor all the way unless you’re VERY peculiar about gameplay and perfection during gameplay And you need local play.
If both of those aren’t a big deal then Thor hands down Battery life alone outshines n3ds
Really? I'd've thought the 3DS battery would've outperformed the Thor by several hours.
The battery in a 3ds is limited due to the size of the battery compartment and ARM chips is very energy efficient.
Fancy.
On pokemon Platinum the Thor battery life was around 8 h before hitting the 15% threshold (the last % just melted away)
On a new 3ds with an old battery 3 hours and I needed to recharge it, maybe with a new battery he will take more time but I don't want to change it now
If you don't mind tinkering, get the thor. If you want every 3ds and ds game to play perfectly, get the 3ds (although ds games looks better on a ds lite or dsi).
Keep in mind that some games can be glitchy and stuttery with emulation no matter how much you tinker with the settings
edit: tbh, I haven't touched my 3dses after I got thor, but still use my dsi occasionally for touch screen heavy games
I have a modded 3ds and I just ordered myself a Thor, lol. I don't have it yet so I can't directly compare, but I figured I'd chip in because I love my 3ds but it comes with some specific limitations. The Thor's able to run games from significantly more advanced systems than the 3ds (at the very best you're getting some N64 and PS1 emulation on a New 3DS).
But a big thing for me is that it seems much more repair friendly than a 3DS too. Disassembly videos I've seen are relatively simple and it should be much easier to buy replacements for anything I may need even outside the warranty. Meanwhile 3DS replacement parts range from niche to nonexistent, and a lot of third party parts are lower quality than the original parts so they'll fail again faster. Plus it's essentially dissecting the whole lower half of the device to access the most common parts that need to be replaced (midframe, circle pad, buttons).
So in the year 2025 the Thor will probably be a safer investment unless you have extremely specific needs that it can't meet (games that use the built in cameras, infrared function, etc.). Bending a nintendo to your will and making it run Doom is satisfying, but every 3DS is to some degree on life support now and they're way more expensive than a decade+ old handheld should be.
I bought the Thor for Pokémon and Dragon Quest 3DS titles. Same for MGS3D. The turbo button is a life saver.
I own a 3DS as I traded in for the New 3DS XL a few months after it's launch. Then the switch dropped. I love the New 3DS XL. I use it strictly for stylus games and some classics like Zelda, Metroid, Luigi Dark Moon, and Mario 3D Land. The 3D is one of my favorite features.
But the Thor has a ton of bonuses that result in a vice. It is too capable of an emulator. Not every game works mind you. Dark Moon does not work and that drove me to try the switch version. That does work but my problem now is that switch is too amazing to not try.
Anyhow. I wanted to keep things simple and just go through the 3DS library of Zelda Ocarina, Majora's Mask, and I've beat A link between worlds on 3DS hardware. Amazing. I need to finish the metal gear, and dragon quest but the switch titles are something else.
Ayn Thor is too good. The battery with switch emulation is alright. 3DS and DS battery life on emulation is impossible to beat. You'll never drain it essentially.
Get both if you can but if you have to pick one it'll have to be the Thor. It can run PSP and Gamecube/Wii.
3DS runs DS and GBA/GBC virtual games only.
That'll save me the time and money of buying and modding a Vita for PSP games, then. I might get one anyway, just because, but that's good to know. Thanks!
unless you have overwhelming nostalgia for the 3DS and think that the games are unplayable without the 3D feature, camera, or resistive touchscreen then go with the thor, its better in almost every way
I tried a new 3DS one time in the demo section of a Target store, where they had Mario Kart 7 up and running. Mostly allured by the idea of having a ton of retro games on one closed-ecosystem console, but you're probably right about the Thor. With Steam support, it's basically the perfect handheld for smaller titles. Stardew Valley, here I come.
thats such a fair point!! you can use frontends to recreate that closed-off console feeling, it won't be exactly the same of course, but i've heard ES-DE is good, or Console Launcher
Excellent, I'll keep that in mind. I've never used an android handheld for gaming before, so I'm not all that familiar with the options. Still waiting on Steam OS for ARM devices, though.
https://youtu.be/2CNsN7CTI8M?si=IHoNzoNt39nCcODi
this will help you a ton!