R36 Ultra vs R36S: the comparison

R36 Ultra vs R36S: same RK3326 chip and same 1 GB of RAM, so the same games and the same limits. The Ultra adds 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and a bigger screen: a 4″ square screen on the Ultra, a 4.5″ 4:3 screen on the Ultra X. Only the Ultra X really makes 4:3 retro games bigger.

Comparison based on the stated specifications, not laboratory performance testing.

Same chip: a bigger screen doesn’t make a faster handheld

The R36S, the R36 Ultra and the R36 Ultra X all run on a Rockchip RK3326 with 1 GB of RAM. It’s this chip that decides what can run, not the screen size.

As a result, no game will run better on the Ultra. 8-bit and 16-bit consoles, the Game Boy Advance and the PlayStation run well on all three. Nintendo 64, PSP, Dreamcast and Saturn remain partial, game by game. PlayStation 2 and GameCube run on none of the three. In fact, compatibility lists tested on the R36S should apply to any device with an RK3326, according to handhelds.wiki on its R36 Ultra page.

Card capacity, 64 or 128 GB, doesn’t change performance either: it only changes the available space. What you pay extra for with the Ultra is the screen and the Wi-Fi.

R36 Ultra vs R36S: the table

None of the three models lists TV output or Bluetooth, and none has a touchscreen. We don’t list internal storage for the Ultra X: the sources contradict each other.

The Ultra 4″ square screen: sharper, barely bigger

On paper, the Ultra 4″ panel measures about 72 × 72 mm, versus 71 × 53 mm for the R36S. But look at the width: it’s almost identical. The square screen gains height, not width.

And most retro home console games are 4:3: NES, Super Nintendo, Genesis (Mega Drive), PlayStation. Without stretching, they keep their proportions and leave a bar at the top and bottom. The math gives a picture about 2% bigger than on the R36S, but with about 27% more pixels: it’s sharper, not bigger.

The gain becomes clear on handhelds with a near-square format, such as the Game Boy and Game Boy Color: about 47% more surface area than on the R36S.

The Ultra X, on the other hand, keeps the 4:3 format. Its 4.5″ screen gives about 65% more surface area than the R36S on a 4:3 game, and 2.56 times as many pixels. It’s the only one of the three that makes your home console games clearly bigger.

R36 Ultra or Ultra X: which should you choose?

The Ultra 4″ has a 720 × 720-pixel square screen and a 3,000 mAh battery. The Ultra X has a 4.5″ 4:3 screen at 1024 × 768 pixels and a 4,000 mAh battery, according to the supplier. For a 4:3 game, the picture is about 62% bigger on the Ultra X than on the Ultra 4″. The processor stays the same.

Get the Ultra 4″ if you want to spend less: at the same capacity, it costs €10 less than the Ultra X, with the same Wi-Fi. Get the Ultra X if you mostly play 4:3 home console games, or if a bigger battery matters to you. Both versions are on the same product page: the R36 Ultra in 4″ or as the 4.5″ Ultra X, from €79.99 to €99.99 depending on size and card.

Built-in Wi-Fi: what it does and doesn’t do

Both Ultra models have built-in 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. Make sure your router broadcasts a 2.4 GHz network.

It lets you transfer files without removing the card, update the system, download box art, and use RetroAchievements or PortMaster. These features depend on the installed system.

It isn’t for online play like on a modern console. RetroArch netplay is available on a local network, but it works unevenly according to published reviews. And Wi-Fi doesn’t provide any games.

The R36S has no built-in Wi-Fi. A compatible USB Wi-Fi dongle, plugged into the OTG port with an adapter, can add it depending on the system. If you copy your games over once and for all, you won’t need it.

A model from the K36 clone family: what that means

The R36 Ultra is not a modified R36S. It’s a different model, from a different manufacturer, with its own name. handhelds.wiki places it in the “EmuELEC/K36 clones” family. Clone doesn’t mean counterfeit: it’s the name the community gives to these consoles that are close to the R36S.

The difference mostly shows if you want to change systems. Images made for the original R36S are not meant for it. Community systems exist for the Ultra: ArkOS4Clone, dArkOSRE in beta, and ROCKNIX in an experimental version for clones. Always keep the original card before trying. Our guide to telling an original R36S from a clone covers these families in detail.

If you keep the system it ships with, nothing changes day to day.

R36S, Ultra or Ultra X: who is each one for?

• The R36S if budget matters, if you mostly play 4:3 games in a compact format, or if you want the model best supported by alternative systems. It’s available from €69.99.
• The R36 Ultra 4″ if you want built-in Wi-Fi at the lower price of the two Ultra models, a sharper picture than on the R36S, and Game Boy games about 47% bigger.
• The R36 Ultra X if you want a truly bigger 4:3 picture and the biggest battery of the three.
• The R36H if it’s the grip that bothers you rather than the screen: same screen as the R36S in a horizontal body. See our R36H vs R36S comparison.

Weighing the R36 Max as well? Our R36S vs R36 Max vs R36 Ultra comparison puts all three side by side.

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, R36S or R36 Ultra?

Neither is better for gaming: same chip, same limits. The R36S is the cheapest and the best supported by alternative systems. The Ultra adds Wi-Fi and a sharper square screen. For a bigger 4:3 picture, go with the Ultra X.

Is the R36 Ultra better than the R36S?

Not in power: RK3326 and 1 GB of RAM on both. It does better on the screen, which is sharper, and with built-in Wi-Fi. Its 3,000 mAh battery is comparable to the R36S battery.

What do reviews say about the R36 Ultra?

We don’t know of any full independent review of the R36 Ultra. Documented strengths: a 720 × 720 laminated square screen, 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, RGB-lit sticks, and the same tested game lists as the R36S. Documented limits: bars on 4:3 games, a mono speaker, and alternative systems that are often in beta or experimental. handhelds.wiki classifies it among the EmuELEC/K36 clones and doesn’t count it among the R36S alternatives it recommends.

R36 Max vs R36 Ultra: which one should you get?

Same 4″ square screen and same chip. The Ultra has built-in Wi-Fi and 3,000 mAh. The R36 Max, from €74.99, has no Wi-Fi but a 4,000 mAh battery and a dual grip on the back.

Does the R36 Ultra have Wi-Fi?

Yes, both versions, on 2.4 GHz. It’s for transfers, updates and box art, not for online play.

Are the “R36S Ultra” and the “R36 Ultra” the same console?

Yes: the supplier uses both names for the same 4″ model. It’s not an R36S: always check the stated screen size, 4″ square, or 4.5″ for the Ultra X.