R36S battery: battery life, the right charger, charging and replacement

The R36S lasts around 5 to 6 hours according to the sources, longer on light games, less on demanding ones. It charges through the USB-C port marked DC, with a 5 V adapter rated 1 to 2 A and a USB-A to USB-C cable: allow about 4 hours for a full charge with a 1 A charger, according to the community wiki. Never charge a swollen battery: stop using it.

The R36S battery at a glance

Item	What the sources say
Type	3.7 V lithium battery, removable
Capacity	3,000 to 3,200 mAh depending on the batch
Size	804066, i.e. 8.0 x 40 x 66 mm
Connector	JST 1.25 mm, 2 pins
Access	Hatch on the back, held by a latch, no screws
Charging	USB-C port marked DC, 5 V adapter rated 1 to 2 A

Some sellers advertise 3,500 mAh for the R36S. According to the R36S wiki, that is wrong.

How long does the R36S battery last?

The published figures don't match from one seller to the next, so we won't promise you a number of hours. The range that comes out of the sources is around 5 to 6 hours.

• The only measured test we found, published by handhelds.wiki: 6 h 39 min until shutdown, on an original R36S after 17 months of use, brightness at 50 %, sound off, a Game Boy Advance game in x4 fast-forward. The low-battery light came on at around 5 h 30.
• Sellers advertise "up to 6 hours".

What changes battery life

Brightness, sound and the type of game matter most. So does the processor setting: ArkOS puts every system in "performance" mode by default, the most power-hungry one. "Powersave" mode gives the best battery life, but it can slow some games down.

If you want a bigger battery, the R36 Max (from 74,99 €) has a 4,000 mAh one. On that one too, real battery life depends on brightness, volume and the game.

The percentage on screen isn't reliable

The R36S wiki says it plainly: the system's battery indicator is very inaccurate. Tech Tactician reports jumps and sudden drops, most often caused by software. To show it in ArkOS: Start > UI Settings > Show Battery Status > "Icon and text".

Which charger for the R36S?

The console has two USB-C ports on the bottom. The one marked DC is for charging, the one marked OTG for accessories and file transfer. Always plug the charger into the DC port.

• The right pair: a 5 V wall adapter rated 1 to 2 A and a USB-A to USB-C cable.
• No adapter: a computer USB port or a power bank will do.
• In the box: our R36S comes with a USB-C charging cable, without a wall adapter.

Be careful with USB-C to USB-C cables. According to Tech Tactician, many USB-C to USB-C chargers don't charge the base R36S at all, because it lacks the resistors the USB-C standard requires. On fast chargers, the sources contradict each other. The simplest and safest option is still a USB-A to USB-C cable and a 5 V charger.

How long does a full charge take?

Allow several hours: about 4 hours with a 5 V, 1 A charger, according to the community wiki. On the original R36S it describes, the battery is full when the red charging light goes out. That light does depend on the motherboard and the system, though.

Charge it on or off?

Both work: Tech Tactician measured 4.2 to 4.7 W drawn with the console off, 5.5 to 5.7 W while playing. An original R36S shows no charging animation when it is off: that animation is a sign of a clone running EmuELEC, as our guide to R36S Pro, K36 and R40S clones explains.

Before an update or a system install, charge to 100 %, or at least 80 % according to Tech Tactician. One exception: during the first boot of a dArkOSRE install, its developers ask you to unplug the charger. Choosing a system is covered in our guide dArkOS, ArkOS or ROCKNIX on the R36S.

The battery light

In ArkOS and dArkOS, the light turns solid red below 20 % battery, then flashes red every second below 10 %. Otherwise, the color depends on the motherboard and the system. In dArkOSRE, on clones for example: blue in normal use, flashing purple and red when the battery is low, flashing pink and blue while charging.

My R36S won't charge: the steps

Black screen with white lines and a short voltage message at startup? The battery is empty: charge it. According to ArkOS4Clone, it's then better to plug in the charger before switching on: on an original R36S, the battery has to be above 3.3 V for the console to boot.

1. Check that the cable is in the DC port, not the OTG port.
2. Try another cable and another charger, preferably with a USB-A to USB-C cable.
3. Failing that, plug the console into a computer's USB port.
4. Let it charge for several hours before drawing any conclusion.

A lithium battery left flat for a long time can go into protection mode: its protection circuit cuts it off and it no longer accepts a normal charge. That is a general rule for these batteries, not a definite diagnosis for your console.

If nothing changes, the battery may be faulty. Screen staying black for another reason? Our diagnosis R36S black screen, it won't turn on goes through the other causes, in order. Otherwise, email contact@r36s-console.com with your order number, your name and a short video of the startup. Our customer service looks at each case under our returns policy, which does not replace the legal guarantee of conformity provided by the law of your country.

Worn or swollen battery: when to stop

Like any lithium battery, this one wears out: shorter battery life over time is not abnormal, notes Tech Tactician. The console cutting out mid-game can come from a worn battery.

A swollen battery is another matter. According to INRS, a battery is damaged if it is deformed, swollen, punctured or leaking. The damage is not always visible: it often comes from an impact, a fall or heat. The risks: thermal runaway, short circuit, fire, explosion.

• If the hatch or the shell is bulging out of shape, stop charging the console and stop using it.
• If the battery gets unusually hot, hisses or swells, move the device away from anything that can burn and set it on a non-combustible surface, advises Battery University.
• Never puncture, bend or crush a battery, and never let its wires touch.

Replacing the battery: possible, with care

The part is a 3.7 V battery in the 804066 size, sold with its 2-pin JST 1.25 mm connector already wired, for a few euros. Tech Tactician describes the job: open the hatch, take out the battery, unplug the connector while noting which way the wires go, plug in the new one the same way and all the way in, close up, switch on.

It is not risk-free. A battery plugged in the wrong way round can damage the console, warn Tech Tactician and Battery University. If in doubt, don't do it.

A bigger battery? No source shows a higher-capacity battery that fits in the original hatch. The R36S wiki describes a build with two 18650 cells in a printed shell and calls it dangerous: heat, plastic softening, thermal runaway if dropped. We advise against it.

The old battery never goes in the bin. Take it to a collection point, in a shop or at a recycling centre: in the US, The Battery Network (formerly Call2Recycle) lists drop-off sites, in the UK the Recycle Your Electricals locator does, and so does your local council.

Looking after the battery day to day

• Sleep mode drains the battery fairly quickly. Tech Tactician recommends the ArkOS setting START > Advanced Settings > "Switch Power Button Tap to Off" instead, with "Quick Mode": one press on Power switches the console off.
• Between 20 and 80 % when possible, again according to Tech Tactician.
• For long-term storage, as with any lithium battery: at around 40 to 50 % charge, somewhere cool.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the R36S battery last?

Around 5 to 6 hours according to the sources. A handhelds.wiki test measured 6 h 39 at half brightness, sound off, on a Game Boy Advance game.

Which charger for the R36S?

A 5 V adapter rated 1 to 2 A and a USB-A to USB-C cable, on the DC port. A computer USB port or a power bank work too.

How long does it take to charge?

About 4 hours with a 5 V, 1 A charger, according to the community wiki.

My USB-C to USB-C charger won't charge it, why?

According to Tech Tactician, many USB-C to USB-C chargers don't charge the base R36S. Switch to a USB-A to USB-C cable.

Can you replace the R36S battery?

Yes: hatch on the back, 3.7 V 804066 battery with a 2-pin JST 1.25 mm connector, to be plugged in the same way as the old one.