R36S vs R36 Max vs R36 Ultra (and Ultra X)

Quick verdict by player type

R36S vs R36 Max vs R36 Ultra: specs side by side

Sources: Handhelds wiki R36S page for the R36S, maker listings for the other three, and the retrohandhelds.gg R36 Ultra review for the Ultra's weight and 3500 mAh figure. Prices other than the R36S are converted from euros and can move slightly.

Same chip, same games: where they actually differ

The RK3326 pairs a quad-core Cortex-A35 CPU with a Mali-G31 MP2 GPU, and every model here has 1 GB of RAM. Nothing in the specs gives one of them more processing power. A bigger screen is not faster emulation.

What runs on one runs on the others, so we skip game lists here. Our R36S game list guide covers them system by system. The real differences are the screen, the battery, Wi-Fi and the feel in your hands.

Screen: 4:3, square, or a bigger 4:3

R36S: 3.5 inches, 640 x 480, 4:3

The R36S panel is 4:3, so a 4:3 game fills it edge to edge, with no black bands.

R36 Max and R36 Ultra: 4 inches, 720 x 720, square

A sharp panel: retrohandhelds.gg puts the Ultra's panel at about 255 pixels per inch. The catch is the shape. Scale a 4:3 game to the full 720-pixel width and it is 540 pixels tall, so a quarter of the panel stays black, in bands above and below.

On a 4-inch square, that 720 x 540 picture measures about 3.5 inches diagonally, roughly the size of the whole R36S screen. On 4:3 games you gain sharpness, not picture size.

R36 Ultra X: 4.5 inches, 1024 x 768, 4:3

The only model that makes 4:3 games physically bigger: they fill the 4.5-inch panel edge to edge, at the family's highest resolution. If screen size is your main reason to upgrade from an R36S, this is the one that delivers it.

Battery: maker figures, not our measurements

The R36S carries 3000 or 3200 mAh depending on the production batch, per the Handhelds wiki. The R36 Max has 4000 mAh, and its maker quotes up to about 6 hours of play. The Ultra X also has 4000 mAh: on paper, these two carry the largest batteries.

The Ultra 4-inch is where sources split: 3000 mAh on the maker's sheet, 3500 mAh in the retrohandhelds.gg review, which estimates 4 to 5 hours. We have not timed any of the four, and capacity alone is not runtime.

Wi-Fi: only the Ultra line has it

The R36S has neither Wi-Fi nor Bluetooth. Nor does the R36 Max we sell; the "R36 MAX2" with Wi-Fi in our supplier's catalog is a different device.

Both Ultra models have Wi-Fi, 2.4 GHz on the 4-inch. If you have no use for it, Wi-Fi is not a reason to pay more. If you do, the R36S and the Max are out.

Out of the box, retrohandhelds.gg reports an EmuELEC-based firmware on the Ultra. The R36S runs community firmware such as ArkOS, AmberELEC or ROCKNIX, covered in our firmware guide.

In the hand

The R36S is a vertical handheld with two analog sticks, 13 x 8.3 x 3.5 cm and 187 g. The R36 Max is also vertical, with a double grip according to its maker, but no dimensions or weight have been published.

Retrohandhelds.gg lists the Ultra at about 14.5 x 8.4 cm and 204 g, a little longer and heavier than the R36S. No size or weight has been published for the Ultra X.

The Max comes in translucent smoke black, gray, red and blue shells, plus an opaque white.

Model by model: who it suits, who should skip it

R36S

Verdict: the simplest pick, with the right screen shape for 4:3 classics and the lowest price of the family.

Best for: a first retro handheld, a gift, or a library of mostly 4:3 games.

Skip it if: you need Wi-Fi, or you want a bigger picture. Then go straight to the Ultra X.

Get the R36S

R36 Max

Verdict: the battery pick. It has 4000 mAh and a 4-inch screen for about $7 more than the R36S.

Best for: long sessions, a sharper panel and a double grip.

Skip it if: your library is mostly 4:3 and black bands bother you, or you want Wi-Fi.

See the R36 Max

R36 Ultra (4-inch)

Verdict: the Max's screen with Wi-Fi added, in exchange for a smaller battery and a slightly higher price.

Best for: players who want Wi-Fi and like the square 720 x 720 panel.

Skip it if: Wi-Fi means nothing to you. The Max then gives the same screen and a bigger battery for about $5 less.

See the R36 Ultra

R36 Ultra X (4.5-inch)

Verdict: the biggest 4:3 picture of the family, with Wi-Fi, 4000 mAh and 4 GB of eMMC.

Best for: players upgrading from an R36S mainly for screen size.

Skip it if: budget comes first. It is the most expensive of the four, and the speed cost of its higher resolution is unmeasured.

See the R36 Ultra X

What retrohandhelds.gg said about the Ultra

“Another Solid RK3326 Clone”

In its review of April 21, 2026, retrohandhelds.gg titled the R36 Ultra "Another Solid RK3326 Clone". Asked whether the Ultra does enough to stand out, the reviewer answered "No, not really". Solid, then, but not a standout.

On the hardware we agree: same chip, same RAM as the R36S. But the Ultra is a variant of the RK3326 platform, not one of the weaker R36S copies the community wiki warns about (see our original vs clone guide).

Price with us, and what it covers

The R36S costs $79.99 with a 64 GB card or $89.99 with 128 GB. The R36 Max starts at about $87, the R36 Ultra at about $92 and the Ultra X at about $104. Check the product pages for today's price.

Every model ships free and tracked. Orders leave within 24 to 72 business hours and arrive 5 to 10 business days after shipping.

Returns are open for 30 days after delivery, with return shipping on you unless the device is faulty or we sent the wrong item. Warranty: 30 days.

You will find these models for less elsewhere. Google's summary of R36S reviews puts it at $25 to $50, and in April 2026 retrohandhelds.gg saw the Ultra at $35.69 on AliExpress, $59.99 on Amazon and $64.99 at Walmart. If price is all that matters, buy there and check what arrives.

FAQ

Is the R36 Max worth it?

Yes, if you want a 4-inch screen and a bigger battery without Wi-Fi: 4000 mAh against 3000 or 3200 mAh on the R36S, for about $7 more with us. No, if you mostly play 4:3 games: on the square 720 x 720 panel they show with black bands, at roughly the size of the R36S screen.

Is the R36S better than the R36 Ultra?

Neither is faster, since both use the RK3326 chip with 1 GB of RAM. The R36S is cheaper, its 4:3 screen shows 4:3 games without bands, and it weighs 187 g against about 204 g for the Ultra in one review. The Ultra adds Wi-Fi and a 4-inch square screen.

What's the difference between the R36 Max and R36 Ultra?

They share the chip, the RAM and a 4-inch 720 x 720 square screen. The Max has a 4000 mAh battery and no Wi-Fi. The Ultra has Wi-Fi and a 3000 mAh battery per its maker, or 3500 mAh per retrohandhelds.gg. With us, the Max is about $5 cheaper. The Ultra X is a different screen: 4.5 inches, 4:3.

Is the R36 Ultra a clone?

Not in the sense the Handhelds wiki uses for R36S clones, which are copies with weaker hardware, such as a single RAM chip instead of two. The Ultra is a variant of the same RK3326 platform with its own case, screen and Wi-Fi. Retrohandhelds.gg calls it "another solid RK3326 clone", meaning a look-alike of the R36S.

Which R36 model is the best?

No single best: they share the same chip. For 4:3 classics at the lowest price, the R36S. For a bigger screen and battery without Wi-Fi, the R36 Max. For Wi-Fi and the largest 4:3 picture, the R36 Ultra X. The 4-inch Ultra makes sense mainly if you want Wi-Fi with a square screen.

Mostly 4:3 classics? Start with the original R36S. For the Ultra versus Ultra X screens in more detail, see our R36 Ultra vs R36S comparison. Questions before you order: contact@r36s-console.com.