R36 Max in smoke black · front view
Illustrative game scenes.
R36 Max · square 4″ screen
Your R36 Max
A vertical body, a square 720 × 720-pixel panel and a 4000 mAh battery. Choose the shell, then the microSD card capacity.
Free delivery in 5 to 10 business days, taxes and customs duties included. Returns accepted within 30 days.
The real console, not a copy.
720 × 720Square laminated IPS panel
Up close.
Grip, screen, battery: swipe through, it’s all here.
In the hand
A dual grip
under your palms.
The front stays flat. On the back, the shell curves into two grips where your fingers rest. The L1, L2, R2 and R1 triggers line up along the back, just above.
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Stated dimensions: 83 × 153 × 35 mm, including 35 mm of thickness at the grips. The translucent shells let you see the circuit board.
Choose my R36 Max
4-inch IPS screen
A square screen.
Taller, just as wide.
The 4-inch IPS panel shows 720 × 720 pixels, about 254 pixels per inch. It is fully laminated (OCA) under the glass.
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A 4:3 game shown without stretching keeps its proportions, with bars above and below. Display options depend on the system and the emulator.
About 36% more screen area, calculated from the stated diagonals. The same 4:3 image, without stretching.
Physical controls
D-pad, ABXY, two sticks.
And four triggers.
The D-pad and the diamond of ABXY buttons sit at the top of the front, the two analogue sticks in the lower corners. In the centre: heart-shaped SELECT and START buttons, and a round FN button printed like a ball.
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Power and Reset are on the left edge, the volume control on the right edge.
Battery life
4000 mAh.
USB-C charging.
The 4000 mAh Li-Po battery is shown on the label on the back of the console. Battery life: up to about 6 h, as stated by the manufacturer. It varies with brightness, volume, emulator and game.
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Charging goes through the USB-C port marked DC. A USB-A to USB-C cable is included. Use a 5 V adapter rated at least 1.5 A: no mains adapter is supplied.
64 / 128 GB
Two microSD slots.
The system on one side, games on the other.
The TF1 slot, on the right, holds the system. The TF2 slot, on the left, takes the games. Choose a 64 or 128 GB card.
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128 GB doubles the nominal space without changing performance. The number of games depends on their size, and usable space after formatting is slightly lower.
Twice the space with 128 GB
| Design | Vertical, dual grip on the back |
|---|---|
| Screen | 4-inch laminated IPS · 720 × 720 (1:1) |
| Battery | 4000 mAh Li-Po |
| Processor | Rockchip RK3326, 4 Cortex-A35 cores up to 1.5 GHz |
| Graphics | Mali-G31 MP2 |
| RAM | 1 GB |
| Storage options | 2 microSD slots · 64 or 128 GB card |
| System | Linux, EmulationStation-style menu |
| Connections | USB-C (charging), USB-C OTG, 3.5 mm headphone jack |
| Wireless | No Wi-Fi, no Bluetooth |
| Dimensions | 83 × 153 × 35 mm (stated) |
| Touchscreen | No |
Compare the designs
Which R36 is for you?
Your questions answered
Before your
first game.
What people ask us before they order.
R36 Max or R36S: what’s the difference?
Both consoles use a Rockchip RK3326 and 1 GB of RAM. The R36 Max moves to a square 4-inch screen at 720 × 720 pixels, compared with 3.5 inches at 640 × 480 on the R36S. It adds a 4000 mAh battery, a dual grip on the back and four rear triggers.
R36 Max or R36 Ultra 4″: which should I choose?
They share the same square 4-inch screen at 720 × 720 pixels and the same processor. The R36 Ultra adds 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, with a 3000 mAh battery. The R36 Max does without Wi-Fi but carries 4000 mAh and a dual grip.
Does the R36 Max have Wi-Fi or Bluetooth?
No: no Wi-Fi, no Bluetooth and no video output to a TV. Depending on the installed system, a USB Wi-Fi dongle plugged into the OTG port may work. It is sold separately, and online play is not guaranteed.
What kinds of games can it emulate?
The RK3326 handles 8-bit and 16-bit consoles well, along with Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance, arcade classics and many PlayStation games. On N64, PSP or Dreamcast, results depend on the game and settings. PS2 is not supported. Only play games you own the rights to.
Can I change the system on the R36 Max?
The console ships with a Linux system and an EmulationStation-style menu. Community firmware exists, such as versions of ArkOS for the R36 Max. Installing it is at your own risk: always back up your microSD cards first.
Your next game starts here.
Choose my R36 MaxLast updated: November 2026
What is the R36 Max, and who is it for?
The R36 Max (often searched as R36MAX) is a vertical retro handheld with a square 4-inch 720 × 720 screen, a 4000 mAh battery and a dual grip on the back. It runs the same Rockchip RK3326 chip and 1 GB of RAM as the R36S, so it plays the same systems with the same limits. Pick it for longer sessions and a fuller grip; skip it if you want Wi-Fi or a bigger picture on 4:3 games.
R36 Max vs R36S: what changes
| R36 Max | R36S | |
|---|---|---|
| Screen | 4-inch laminated IPS, 720 × 720, square (1:1) | 3.5-inch IPS, 640 × 480, 4:3 |
| Battery | 4000 mAh Li-Po, up to about 6 h as stated by the manufacturer | 3000 to 3200 mAh depending on the batch, removable |
| Grip | Dual grip on the back, 4 triggers lined up at the back | Flat vertical body |
| Chip and RAM | RK3326, 1 GB | RK3326, 1 GB |
| Wi-Fi / Bluetooth | No / No | No / No |
| System | Linux, EmulationStation-style menu | Linux, ArkOS |
The square panel is sharper, but a 4:3 game keeps its proportions with bars above and below, so the picture is only slightly larger than on the R36S. Prefer side-by-side detail on every model? Read our R36S vs R36 Max vs R36 Ultra comparison.
Your questions about the R36 Max
Is the R36 Max real or fake?
It is a real model in its own right, with its own case, square screen and "R36MAX" model label, not a fake R36S. The community groups it with EmuELEC-style handhelds, so R36S system images do not install on it. One 2026 report describes units sold as R36MAX with a weaker board: an isolated case, which is why the seller matters.
Is the R36 Max better than the R36S?
Not faster: same chip, same RAM, same games. It is better if you want a bigger battery and a deeper grip. The R36S stays the simpler pick for 4:3 classics and costs less.
Is the R36 Max worth it?
Yes, if long sessions and comfort come first and you have no use for Wi-Fi. If you want Wi-Fi with the same square screen, look at the R36 Ultra.
Is the R36 Max legal?
The console and its emulators are legal software. Game files are copyrighted: only play games you own the rights to, and check the rules where you live.