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| The AYN Thor is the latest victim of the memory price surge. |
If you've been eyeing the innovative AYN Thor dual-screen Android handheld, you might want to finalize that purchase decision soon. AYN has just announced the date for its next wave of pre-orders, and it’s bringing a noticeable price increase with it. Here’s the full breakdown of the new costs, the reason behind them, and a significant new software update rolling out to devices.
The New Pre-Order Date and Why Prices Are Rising
In an announcement made on the company’s official Discord channel, AYN confirmed that the third batch of pre-orders for the AYN Thor will open on January 20th. This follows the first batch, which shipped in October 2025, and the second batch, which is slated to start shipping to customers on January 15th.
The less welcome news is the price adjustment. Citing the ongoing memory price surge affecting the broader tech industry, AYN has increased the cost across three of the Thor’s four variants. The company states the rise in RAM and storage component costs has made the move necessary.
Here’s the new pricing structure effective for Batch 3 pre-orders:
- AYN Thor Base (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, 8GB RAM, 128GB storage): $309 (up from $299)
- AYN Thor Pro (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, 12GB RAM, 256GB storage): $369 (a $20 increase)
- AYN Thor Max (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, 16GB RAM, 1TB storage): $450 (a $20 increase)
The AYN Thor Lite model, which features a Snapdragon 865 processor with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage for $249, is not affected by this increase. This model only just opened for pre-orders for the very first time a few days ago.
A crucial note for interested buyers: The window for the second batch of pre-orders is still technically open until January 15th. This means there is still a brief opportunity to secure the Base, Pro, or Max models at their original, lower launch prices before the increase takes effect on January 20th.
For full specifications and to check current availability, you can visit the official product page here: AYN Thor Handheld.
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| The AYN Thor Lite (available in only black) retains its launch price of $249. |
Major System Update Adds Crucial Features and Fixes
Alongside the pricing news, AYN has begun rolling out a substantial over-the-air (OTA) update for the Thor handheld, labeled version 1.0.0.360. This update addresses several user-reported issues and introduces valuable new functionality, particularly around system health and customization.
Key highlights from the changelog include:
- Enhanced Fan Control: Users can now fully customize the fan speed curve in Smart Fan Mode. The update also makes the smart fan algorithm "a bit more aggressive" to better tackle overheating during high-performance gaming sessions. A bug that previously limited manual fan speed to 70% has been fixed.
- Wi-Fi Stability Improvements: Updated firmware aims to resolve frustrating connectivity issues where certain Wi-Fi networks would cause failed connections, system freezes, or reboots.
- OLED Screen Protection: New features have been added to preserve the longevity of the handheld’s displays, including dynamic anti-image retention and anti-burn-in protection.
- Battery Health Management: New charging limit options give users more control over long-term battery health. You can now set limits for 80% charge, 5V/2A, and 9V/2A charging, especially when the battery’s state of health drops below 80%.
The OTA update is currently in the process of being pushed out. Thor owners are encouraged to check their device’s system update section to download and install it.
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| The AYN Thor has a clamshell design and two OLED displays. |