R36S Review: Is It Worth It in 2025?

I've been carrying the R36S in my jacket pocket for about three weeks now. It's been on the subway, on the couch, in waiting rooms, and honestly in bed way too many times at 2 AM telling myself "just one more level." So yeah, I think I've used it enough to give you an honest review.

The short version? For under $40, this thing is absurdly good. But it's not perfect, and I'm going to tell you exactly where it falls short so you can make an informed decision.

Unboxing and First Impressions

The R36S comes in a simple cardboard box with the handheld, a USB-C charging cable, and a small instruction manual that you'll never read. No carrying case, no screen protector, no extras. At this price point, that's expected.

Picking it up for the first time, I was genuinely surprised by how solid it feels. It's not heavy, about 200 grams, but it doesn't feel cheap either. The plastic has a slightly matte texture that resists fingerprints, and there's no creaking or flex when you squeeze it. I've seen $80 handhelds that feel flimsier than this.

The 3.5-inch IPS screen is the first thing that grabs your attention. It's bright, colors pop, and the viewing angles are excellent. At 640x480 resolution, retro games look absolutely crisp. This is a far cry from the washed-out TN panels that plagued budget handhelds just two years ago.

Build Quality Deep Dive

Let's go through each component because build quality makes or breaks these devices.

Screen

The 3.5-inch IPS display is genuinely one of the best I've seen at this price. Brightness is adjustable across multiple levels, and even at 50% it's perfectly visible indoors. Outdoors in direct sunlight, you'll need to crank it up, but it's usable. Colors are vibrant without being oversaturated, which matters for games designed for CRT televisions.

D-Pad

The d-pad is... good. Not amazing, not terrible, but good. It has a satisfying click to each direction, and diagonal inputs register reliably. I've played through several hours of Street Fighter II and Mega Man X without feeling like the d-pad was fighting me. It's better than the Switch Joy-Con d-pad, which admittedly isn't a high bar.

Buttons

The ABXY face buttons are responsive with good travel distance. They're a bit small compared to something like the RG35XX, but perfectly functional. The shoulder buttons (L1/R1/L2/R2) are decent, though L2 and R2 feel slightly mushier than I'd like.

Analog Sticks

Two analog sticks on a device this cheap is impressive. They're small nubs rather than full-size sticks, and they work adequately for N64 and PS1 games. They're not going to give you the precision you'd need for competitive gaming, but for casual retro play, they're fine.

Overall Ergonomics

The R36S is comfortable for sessions up to about 90 minutes. After that, my hands start to cramp slightly because the device is quite compact. If you have large hands, this might be an issue. For average-sized hands, it's perfectly fine, and the light weight means fatigue isn't a problem.

Specs at a Glance

Component	R36S Spec
Screen	3.5" IPS, 640x480
CPU	Allwinner H700 Quad-Core Cortex-A53
GPU	Mali-G31 MP2
RAM	1GB DDR4
Storage	Dual TF card slot (up to 512GB each)
Battery	3200mAh (~6-8 hours)
Charging	USB-C, ~2 hours to full
Weight	~200g
Dimensions	161 x 73 x 18mm
OS	Linux (Stock or ArkOS/muOS/MinUI)
WiFi/Bluetooth	No
HDMI Out	No
Speaker	Mono, front-facing

Performance by Console

This is the section most people care about, so I tested every major emulated system and I'm going to be completely honest about performance.

8-Bit Systems (NES, Game Boy, Master System, Game Gear)

Flawless. Every game I tested ran at full speed with no issues whatsoever. This is expected: these consoles had such simple hardware that even a calculator could emulate them at this point. Grade: A+

16-Bit Systems (SNES, Genesis/Mega Drive, GBA, TurboGrafx-16)

Also flawless. Super Mario World, Sonic the Hedgehog, Pokemon Emerald, all buttery smooth. SNES games with enhancement chips (Super FX, SA-1) also run perfectly. Yoshi's Island plays great. Grade: A+

PlayStation 1

This is where the R36S really earns its price tag. PS1 games run beautifully. Final Fantasy VII, Crash Bandicoot, Metal Gear Solid, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, all at full speed with no audio issues. I played through several hours of FFVII and didn't notice a single frame drop. Grade: A

Nintendo 64

Here's where things get more nuanced. Simple N64 games like Super Mario 64, Mario Kart 64, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time run well, probably 85-90% of full speed. You'll notice the occasional frame dip, but they're absolutely playable.

More demanding games are a different story. GoldenEye 007 stutters significantly. Perfect Dark is basically unplayable. Conker's Bad Fur Day struggles. If your main interest is N64, the R36S will play the hits but choke on the heavy hitters. Grade: B-

PSP

PSP emulation is genuinely hit or miss. 2D games and simpler 3D titles work fine. Persona 3 Portable plays well. God of War: Chains of Olympus runs but with noticeable slowdown. Gran Turismo is a slideshow. If PSP is your primary target, you need a more powerful device. Grade: C+

Arcade (MAME, FBA, Neo Geo)

CPS1, CPS2, CPS3, and Neo Geo games run perfectly. Metal Slug, Street Fighter III: Third Strike, The King of Fighters, all excellent. Heavier MAME titles (Tekken Tag, Soulcalibur) won't work, but the classic arcade library is fully accessible. Grade: A

Battery Life

Shopify's spec page says 3200mAh, and in practice I'm getting about 6-8 hours depending on what I'm playing. NES and Game Boy games at low brightness? Closer to 8 hours. PS1 games at full brightness? More like 6. Either way, it's excellent. I charge it every two or three days with moderate daily use.

Charging takes about 2 hours via USB-C, and you can play while charging without any issues. The device doesn't get hot during charging, which is something I can't say for every handheld I've tested.

Software Experience

The stock firmware that comes preloaded is functional but basic. It boots up, shows your game list organized by console, and lets you play. It works, but it's not pretty and navigation can be clunky.

The real transformation happens when you install a custom OS. ArkOS is the most popular choice, and it's easy to see why. The interface is clean and fast, emulator performance improves noticeably, and you get features like save states, fast-forward, rewind, and shader support. The setup process takes about 15 minutes if you follow a YouTube guide.

muOS is another excellent option that's even more minimalist. MinUI strips things down to the absolute bare essentials. The fact that you have these options is one of the R36S's biggest strengths, and the community behind these custom firmwares is incredibly active and helpful.

What I Love

• Value: At under $40, the price-to-performance ratio is unmatched in the retro handheld market
• Screen: The IPS display is bright, sharp, and colorful. Games look fantastic on it.
• Battery: 6-8 hours means I rarely think about charging
• Build quality: Feels solid and well-constructed for the price
• PS1 performance: Flawless emulation of one of gaming's best libraries
• Custom firmware support: ArkOS/muOS/MinUI community is incredible
• Dual SD card slots: One for OS, one for games. Expandable up to 512GB.
• Preloaded games: 15,000+ games ready to go out of the box

What Could Be Better

• No WiFi or Bluetooth: Can't do RetroAchievements or wireless controllers without a dongle
• N64 is inconsistent: Major titles work, but demanding games struggle
• PSP is weak: Only simple PSP games are playable
• No HDMI out: Can't connect to a TV
• Mono speaker: The single speaker is fine but not great. Use headphones for the best audio experience.
• Stock firmware is meh: You'll want to install ArkOS eventually
• Ergonomics for large hands: Compact size may cause cramping in long sessions

Who Should Buy the R36S?

You should get the R36S if you want a low-risk entry point into retro gaming. If you've never owned a retro handheld and you're curious, this is the device to start with. The price means you're not making a significant financial commitment, but the quality means you're not going to feel like you bought a toy.

It's also perfect if you primarily want to play 8-bit, 16-bit, and PS1 games. For those systems, the R36S performs as well as devices costing two or three times more.

Who Should Skip the R36S?

If N64, PSP, or Dreamcast are your primary consoles of interest, you'll want something more powerful. The Retroid Pocket 4 or Anbernic RG556 will serve you much better for those platforms.

If you need WiFi for RetroAchievements or HDMI for TV output, the R36S doesn't have those features. Look at the RG35XX Plus or similar devices with those capabilities.

Final Verdict: 9/10

The R36S is, without exaggeration, the best value in retro gaming right now. For under $40, you get a device that plays thousands of classic games beautifully, lasts all day on a single charge, and has an enthusiastic community creating custom firmware that keeps getting better.

It's not perfect. N64 and PSP performance are limited, there's no WiFi, and the ergonomics could be better for larger hands. But at this price point, those compromises are more than acceptable.

If you're on the fence about getting into retro gaming, the R36S removes every excuse. It's cheap enough to try without stress, and good enough that you might never feel the need to upgrade. That's a rare combination.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the R36S better than the RG35XX?

For the price, yes. The R36S costs $15-20 less and offers comparable performance. The RG35XX has slightly better build quality and button feel, but the R36S's dual SD card slot and lower price make it the better value overall.

Does the R36S come with games?

Yes, it comes preloaded with 15,000+ games across multiple consoles on the included SD card. You can play immediately out of the box without any setup.

Can I add more games to the R36S?

Absolutely. You can add games to the SD card from your computer. The file structure is organized by console, so you just drop ROM files into the appropriate folder. It takes about 30 seconds per game.

How long does shipping take?

Most sellers ship from China with delivery in 7-14 days. We ship worldwide with tracking included and aim for the fastest possible delivery to your door.

Is the R36S good for kids?

It's excellent for kids. No internet, no microtransactions, no online strangers. Just classic games. The controls are simple enough for kids 6+, and the build is sturdy enough to handle some drops. At $40, it won't break the bank if it does get damaged.