AYN Thor Handheld Price Hike Hits Pre-Orders Amid Memory Costs, New Update Tackles Thermal Issues

The AYN Thor, the dual-screen Android gaming handheld that began shipping to early adopters in October 2025, is facing a price adjustment ahead of its third pre-order batch. Manufacturer AYN confirmed a $10-$20 USD increase across most models in its Discord channel, citing rising memory costs as the primary driver. This change coincides with a substantial software update targeting critical user-reported issues.

Revised Pricing Structure

Effective January 20th, when Batch 3 pre-orders open, the revised pricing will be:

• Thor Base (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, 8GB RAM, 128GB Storage): $309 (up from $299)
• Thor Pro (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, 12GB RAM, 256GB Storage): $369 (up $20)
• Thor Max (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, 16GB RAM, 1TB Storage): $450 (up $20)

The entry-level Thor Lite ($249), featuring a Snapdragon 865 processor with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage, remains unaffected by the increase. Batch 2 pre-orders—shipping January 15th—still offer the original pricing for Base, Pro, and Max models, representing a final opportunity at the launch rates.

The AYN Thor's clamshell design incorporates dual OLED displays. (Image source: AYN)

Software Update 1.0.0.360: Addressing Core Concerns

Alongside the pricing news, AYN has rolled out firmware version 1.0.0.360 via OTA update. This release tackles several prominent user complaints and introduces new functionality:

1. Enhanced Thermal Management: Users can now create custom fan speed curves within Smart Fan Mode. The update also removes a previous 70% speed cap and implements a more aggressive default profile to combat overheating, particularly in high-performance scenarios.
2. Wi-Fi Stability Fixes: Updated Wi-Fi firmware resolves connection failures and system crashes/reboots linked to specific networks.
3. OLED Screen Protection: Proactive measures against image retention and burn-in have been implemented.
4. Battery Health Features: New charge limiting options (80%, 5V/2A, 9V/2A) activate automatically when battery health drops below 80%, aiming to prolong overall lifespan.

Availability and Context

The price hike reflects ongoing volatility in memory markets, a factor impacting numerous tech sectors. While the Thor Lite avoids an increase, its Snapdragon 865 positions it below the performance tier of the Gen 2-powered models. Users who received devices from earlier batches should check for the OTA update immediately to benefit from the thermal and stability improvements.