- Short answer: which one should you buy?
- R36S vs R36 Max vs R36H vs R36 Ultra: the full table
- Three questions that settle it
- Which one fits you: buyer by buyer
- Your first retro handheld, or a gift on a budget
- You grew up with a controller in your hands
- Long trips and long sessions
- You like to tinker and add games without a computer
- Older eyes, or you want the biggest picture
- A family sharing one console
- What none of them can do
- FAQ
- Which R36 console is the best?
- Is the R36H better than the R36S?
- What is better, R36S or R36 Max?
- Is the R36 Max a clone?
- Which is best, R36 Ultra or R36 Max?
Last updated: November 2026
Short answer: which one should you buy?
All four run the same Rockchip RK3326 chip with 1 GB of RAM, so none plays more games than the others. Buy the R36S for 4:3 classics at the lowest price, the R36H if you prefer holding a controller, the R36 Max for battery and grip, and the R36 Ultra line if you want Wi-Fi. If a bigger picture on 4:3 games is the goal, only the Ultra X delivers it.
R36S vs R36 Max vs R36H vs R36 Ultra: the full table
| R36S | R36H | R36 Max | R36 Ultra (4″) | R36 Ultra X (4.5″) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Held | Vertical | Horizontal | Vertical, dual grip | Vertical | Vertical |
| Screen | 3.5″, 640 × 480, 4:3 | 3.5″, 640 × 480, 4:3 | 4″, 720 × 720, square | 4″, 720 × 720, square | 4.5″, 1024 × 768, 4:3 |
| 4:3 game on screen | Fills it | Fills it | Bars above and below | Bars above and below | Fills it, about 65% more area than the R36S |
| Chip and RAM | Rockchip RK3326, 1 GB on all five | ||||
| Battery | 3000 to 3200 mAh | 3000 mAh | 4000 mAh | 3000 mAh | 4000 mAh |
| Wi-Fi | No | No | No | 2.4 GHz | 2.4 GHz |
| Bluetooth, TV output | None advertised on any of them | ||||
| System shipped | Linux, ArkOS | Linux, ArkOS 2 | Linux, EmulationStation-style menu | Linux | Linux |
| Price with us, 64 GB | $79.99 | $80 | $86 | $92 | $103 |
| Price with us, 128 GB | $89.99 | $92 | $98 | $103 | See product page |
Prices as shown on our US pages in November 2026, free tracked shipping and duties included. Battery figures are rated capacities, not runtime tests.
Three questions that settle it
- Do you need Wi-Fi? Yes: only the R36 Ultra and Ultra X have it. It helps for file transfers and updates depending on the system, never for online play.
- Do you mostly play 4:3 games (8-bit, 16-bit, PlayStation)? Then avoid the square screens of the Max and the Ultra 4″: the picture ends up about the size of the R36S screen, with bars. Stay on the R36S or R36H, or step up to the Ultra X.
- How do you like to hold it? Vertical in one hand: R36S, Max or Ultra. Like a controller, with your hands on the sides: R36H.
Which one fits you: buyer by buyer
Your first retro handheld, or a gift on a budget
The R36S. It is the cheapest of the family with us, its 4:3 screen matches the classics, it ships with 15,000+ games on the card, and community firmware such as ArkOS, dArkOS and AmberELEC is built for it first. See the R36S.
You grew up with a controller in your hands
The R36H. Same screen, same chip and nearly the same price as the R36S, turned sideways. It is a matter of comfort, not performance, so choose it only if the vertical shape bothers you.
Long trips and long sessions
The R36 Max. Its 4000 mAh battery ties with the Ultra X for the largest in the family, with up to about 6 hours stated by the manufacturer, and the dual grip on the back fills larger hands. The trade-off: no Wi-Fi, and 4:3 games show with bars.
You like to tinker and add games without a computer
The R36 Ultra 4″. Built-in 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi lets you transfer files and update depending on the system, without pulling the microSD card. Note that it runs a different system family from the R36S, so R36S firmware guides do not apply as is.
Older eyes, or you want the biggest picture
The R36 Ultra X. Its 4.5-inch 4:3 screen is the only one that makes 4:3 games physically bigger, about 65% more area than the R36S, and it adds Wi-Fi and 4000 mAh. It is the most expensive of the five, and the higher resolution runs on the same chip.
A family sharing one console
The R36S again, with the 128 GB card if you plan to add your own games: the card size changes storage space, not speed. The 30-day return window covers you if the shape does not suit anyone.
What none of them can do
None runs PS2, GameCube, Wii or Switch games, none has Bluetooth, and none plays online. N64, PSP and Dreamcast work game by game on all of them. If one of those is a must, the R36 family is not the right buy, whichever model you pick.
FAQ
Which R36 console is the best?
There is no faster one: they share the same chip and RAM. The best one is the one whose screen, grip and battery match how you play. For most buyers, that is the R36S.
Is the R36H better than the R36S?
No, it is the same hardware turned sideways: same RK3326, same 3.5-inch 640 × 480 screen. Pick it only if you prefer a horizontal grip.
What is better, R36S or R36 Max?
The R36S for 4:3 classics and a lower price; the R36 Max for a 4000 mAh battery and a dual grip. They play the same games.
Is the R36 Max a clone?
It is not a fake R36S: it is its own model with a square screen and an "R36MAX" label. The community classes it with EmuELEC-style handhelds, so R36S system images are not made for it. See our original vs clone guide for the R36S itself.
Which is best, R36 Ultra or R36 Max?
Same square 4-inch screen and chip. The Ultra has Wi-Fi and 3000 mAh; the Max has no Wi-Fi but 4000 mAh and a dual grip, for less.
