R36S Specs: Full Spec Sheet and What It Means
Last updated: November 2026
The R36S is a vertical retro handheld built on a Rockchip RK3326 quad-core chip with 1 GB of RAM, a 3.5-inch 640 x 480 IPS screen, a removable 3,000 to 3,200 mAh battery and two microSD slots. It runs Linux with ArkOS and ships with a 64 GB or 128 GB card holding 15,000+ games. It has no Wi-Fi, no Bluetooth and no TV output.
What are the R36S specs?
| Spec | R36S | What it means in practice |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | Rockchip RK3326, quad-core Cortex-A35 (up to 1.5 GHz according to the maker), Mali-G31 MP2 graphics | A low-power chip. 8-bit, 16-bit, arcade and PS1-era games are comfortable; heavier 3D systems run game by game. See supported systems. |
| RAM | 1 GB DDR3L, on two chips (V21 or V30 board) | Two RAM chips are one of the signs of a real R36S board. Our original vs clone guide shows how to check. |
| Screen | 3.5-inch IPS, 640 x 480, 4:3, not a touchscreen | The 4:3 shape matches older games, so they fill the screen. Dual-screen handheld games are played with the right stick. |
| Controls | D-pad, A B X Y, two analog sticks, four shoulder buttons | The two sticks help with dual-analog games from the PS1 era. |
| Storage | No useful internal memory; two microSD slots (TF1 system, TF2 extra games) | Everything lives on the card. The second slot is optional. |
| Card included | 64 GB or 128 GB, preloaded with 15,000+ games | 128 GB gives you twice the room for your own additions. It does not make the console faster. |
| Software | Linux, ArkOS with RetroArch, EmulationStation menu | Systems built for the real R36S (dArkOS, ROCKNIX, AmberELEC) can be installed later if you want. |
| Battery | Li-ion, 3,000 to 3,200 mAh depending on the lot, removable through a hatch on the back | About 5 to 6 hours per charge, depending on brightness, volume and the system you play. |
| Charging | USB-C port marked DC; about 4 hours for a full charge at 1 A | Use a 5 V adapter of 1 to 2 A or a computer USB port. No wall adapter in the box. |
| Ports | USB-C DC (charging), USB-C OTG, 3.5 mm headphone jack | The OTG port can take a USB Wi-Fi dongle, depending on the system. |
| Audio | Mono speaker, headphone jack | Wired earbuds only; there is no Bluetooth audio. |
| Wireless | No Wi-Fi, no Bluetooth | Games are added from a computer through the card. See R36S Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. |
| Video output | None | It does not connect to a TV. |
| Size and weight | 13 x 8.3 x 3.5 cm (about 5.1 x 3.3 x 1.4 in), 187 g (about 6.6 oz) | Shorter than a 6.1-inch phone, a little wider. It fits in a jacket pocket. |
| Colors | Purple, white, orange, black, red | Same specs in every color. |
| In the box | Console, preloaded microSD card, USB-C cable, manual | First steps are in our R36S setup guide. |
64 GB or 128 GB: does it change performance?
No. Both versions use the same chip and the same RAM. The 128 GB card has twice the nominal space, which matters if you plan to add larger files later. Part of any card is taken by the system partitions, so the free space shown is always a little lower than the number on the label. More on cards in our R36S SD card guide.
R36S vs R36H vs R36 Max vs R36 Ultra: specs side by side
All four use the RK3326 chip and 1 GB of RAM, so none is more powerful than the others. Shape, screen, battery and Wi-Fi are what change.
| Model | Shape | Screen | Battery | Wi-Fi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R36S | Vertical | 3.5-inch, 640 x 480, 4:3 | 3,000 to 3,200 mAh | No |
| R36H | Horizontal | 3.5-inch, 640 x 480, 4:3 | 3,000 mAh | No |
| R36 Max | Vertical, dual grip | 4-inch, 720 x 720, square | 4,000 mAh | No |
| R36 Ultra | Vertical | 4-inch, 720 x 720, square | 3,000 mAh | Yes, 2.4 GHz |
On a square screen, 4:3 games keep their shape with bars at the top and bottom. The full comparison, with prices, is in R36S vs R36 Max vs R36 Ultra. For a hands-on verdict, read our R36S review and buying guide.
R36S specs FAQ
What are the specs of the R36S?
RK3326 quad-core chip, 1 GB of RAM, 3.5-inch 640 x 480 IPS screen, 3,000 to 3,200 mAh removable battery, two microSD slots, USB-C charging and a headphone jack. It runs ArkOS and weighs 187 g.
Is the R36S better than the R36 Max or the R36H?
Not in power: all three share the same chip and run the same systems. The R36 Max has a bigger square screen and a 4,000 mAh battery; the R36H is the same screen in a horizontal shell.
What size memory card does the R36S support?
It ships with a 64 GB or 128 GB card. We don't publish a maximum size. For most players, 128 GB is plenty.
Can the R36S connect to a TV?
No. The R36S has no HDMI or other video output.
How long does the R36S battery last?
About 5 to 6 hours per charge, depending on use. Details in our R36S battery guide.