R36S vs RG35XX: Which Retro Handheld Should You Buy in 2025?

If you're shopping for a retro handheld in 2025, you've probably narrowed it down to two devices: the R36S and the Anbernic RG35XX. Both are under $60, both play thousands of classic games, and both have passionate fanbases on Reddit and YouTube. So which one actually deserves your money?

I've spent hundreds of hours with both handhelds (yeah, my thumbs are sore), and I'm going to give you the honest breakdown. No corporate fluff, no paid sponsor nonsense—just a real comparison from someone who's played way too much Chrono Trigger on tiny screens.

Quick Specs at a Glance

Spec	R36S	RG35XX
Screen	3.5" IPS 640x480	3.5" IPS 640x480
CPU	Allwinner H700 quad-core	Allwinner H700 quad-core
RAM	1GB DDR4	1GB DDR4
Storage	Dual TF card (up to 512GB)	Single TF + internal 64MB
Battery	3200mAh (~6-8 hrs)	2600mAh (~5-6 hrs)
Weight	~165g	~165g
OS	Linux (ArkOS/custom)	Linux (GarlicOS/Batocera)
Price	~$35-45	~$35-50

On paper, they look almost identical. Same chipset, same screen resolution, similar weight. But the devil's in the details, and that's where things get interesting.

Design and Build Quality

Let's start with how they feel in your hands, because that's kind of the whole point of a handheld.

The R36S takes design cues from the PS Vita, with a wider body and slightly angled grips. It's comfortable for extended sessions—I've done 3-hour Final Fantasy VII marathons without any hand cramps. The buttons have a satisfying click, and the D-pad is responsive without being mushy.

The RG35XX goes for a Game Boy-inspired vertical layout. It's charming and nostalgic, but honestly? It's less ergonomic for longer play sessions. My hands start feeling cramped after about an hour of anything that requires the shoulder buttons. Anbernic's build quality is solid though—the plastic feels premium, and there's no creaking.

Winner: R36S. The horizontal layout is just more comfortable for extended gaming. If you're buying a retro handheld, you're going to be playing for hours. Comfort matters.

Screen Quality

Both sport 3.5-inch IPS displays at 640x480 resolution, and honestly, both look great. Colors are vivid, viewing angles are wide, and retro pixel art looks gorgeous at this resolution.

The R36S has a slightly warmer color profile out of the box, which I personally prefer for retro games. The RG35XX skews a bit cooler. Both are plenty bright for indoor use, though neither is amazing in direct sunlight (this is true for basically every budget handheld).

Winner: Tie. You'd need to put them side by side to notice any difference, and even then it's personal preference.

Controls

This is where the R36S pulls ahead significantly. The dual analog sticks are positioned perfectly for N64 and PSP games. The D-pad has a nice pivot point that makes fighting games feel responsive. The face buttons (ABXY) have a crisp tactile feedback.

The RG35XX in its base version doesn't have analog sticks at all. The RG35XX Plus adds them, but they're positioned awkwardly due to the vertical layout. For anything that requires analog input (N64, PSP, certain PS1 games), the R36S is clearly better.

Winner: R36S. Better analog stick placement and overall more versatile control layout.

Performance and Emulation

Same chipset means similar raw performance, but software optimization matters a lot. Here's what each handles:

Both handle perfectly:

• NES, SNES, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance
• Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, Master System, Game Gear
• Neo Geo, Atari, MAME arcade games
• Most PS1 games at full speed

Playable with occasional hiccups:

• N64 (Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time run well; GoldenEye is rough)
• PSP (2D games and simpler 3D games run fine; God of War struggles)
• Dreamcast (some games work, many don't)

The R36S has a slight edge here because its custom firmware community (ArkOS) has done excellent optimization work. Some PSP titles that stutter on the RG35XX run smoothly on the R36S with the right settings.

Winner: R36S by a hair. Better firmware optimization for demanding titles.

Battery Life

The R36S packs a 3200mAh battery compared to the RG35XX's 2600mAh. In real-world use:

• R36S: 6-8 hours of GBA/SNES gaming, 4-5 hours of PS1/N64
• RG35XX: 5-6 hours of GBA/SNES gaming, 3-4 hours of PS1

That extra hour or two is noticeable on long trips. Both charge via USB-C, and both go from empty to full in about 2 hours.

Winner: R36S. More battery means more gaming. Simple math.

Software and Community

Both handhelds have active communities building custom firmware, and this is honestly one of the best parts of the budget handheld scene.

The R36S runs ArkOS beautifully, with a clean interface, built-in scraping for box art, and excellent per-game settings. The community on Reddit (r/r36s) is incredibly helpful for newcomers.

The RG35XX has GarlicOS and Batocera, both excellent options. GarlicOS in particular is praised for its fast boot time and minimalist UI. Anbernic's community is larger overall since they've been in the game longer.

Winner: Tie. Both have excellent software support and passionate communities.

Price and Value

Here's where it gets real. Both handhelds cost roughly $35-50 depending on where you buy them. But there's a catch.

If you buy from AliExpress or random Amazon sellers, you're rolling the dice on:

• Which firmware version you get (some ship with broken builds)
• Whether the SD card is genuine or a fake with corrupted data
• 20-45 day shipping times
• Basically zero customer support if something goes wrong

If you buy the R36S from a dedicated retailer like r36s-console.com, you get it pre-configured with 15,000+ tested games, quality-checked hardware, and actual customer support in multiple languages. The price is a bit higher, but you're paying for a product that works out of the box instead of a project that requires hours of setup.

Winner: R36S from a reputable seller. The peace of mind is worth the small premium.

The Verdict

Look, the RG35XX is a fine device. If you specifically want that vertical Game Boy form factor and you're mostly playing GBA and SNES games, it'll serve you well.

But for most people, the R36S is the better buy in 2025. Here's why:

• Better ergonomics for extended gaming sessions
• Dual analog sticks for N64/PSP/PS1 games
• Bigger battery (3200mAh vs 2600mAh)
• Dual TF card slots for more storage flexibility
• Excellent firmware support with ArkOS

The R36S gives you more gaming capability, better comfort, and longer battery life—all at basically the same price point. That's hard to argue with.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the R36S play PS2 or Switch games?

No. Neither the R36S nor the RG35XX has enough power for PS2 or Switch emulation. For that, you'd need something like a Retroid Pocket 4 Pro (which costs $150+). Both handhelds max out at PS1/N64/PSP level emulation.

Do I need to set up the R36S myself?

If you buy from AliExpress, probably yes. The stock firmware is often outdated or buggy. If you buy from r36s-console.com, it comes pre-configured with 15,000+ tested games and optimized settings. Literally just charge it and play.

Is the RG35XX Plus better than the original?

Yes—it adds analog sticks and Wi-Fi. But even the Plus version has ergonomic limitations due to its vertical layout. The R36S is still more comfortable for extended sessions.

Which has better build quality?

Both are surprisingly well-built for the price. Anbernic has a slight edge in overall fit and finish since they're a larger manufacturer, but the R36S feels solid and I haven't had any durability issues after months of daily use.

Can I use my own ROMs?

Absolutely. Both handhelds support loading your own legally obtained ROM files via SD card. The R36S's dual card slot is especially handy—one card for the OS, one for your game library.