Is the R36s any good?

The R36S is one of the most popular budget retro handhelds of 2023/2024 — and for good reason. At $35–$45, it punches far above its price tag. But it’s not perfect. Here’s a balanced take:

✅ The Good

  1. Price-to-Performance King

    • Handles PS1, N64, PSP, Dreamcast, and some Saturn/DS games smoothly.

    • Powered by a quad-core Cortex-A35 CPU + Mali-G31 GPU (same as RG353PS).

  2. Great Display

    • 3.5-inch IPS 4:3 screen (640x480) — sharp, vibrant, perfect for 8/16-bit classics.

  3. Dual OS Support

    • Ships with ArkOS (highly customizable) + OpenDingux (simpler). Easy to switch.

  4. Solid Build for the Price

    • Plastic shell but feels sturdy. Includes dual analog sticks (uncommon at this price).

  5. Long Battery Life

    • 3300mAh battery = 5–7 hours for 16-bit/PS1 games.

⚠️ The Bad

  1. Cheap Buttons/D-Pad

    • Membrane buttons feel "mushy." D-pad isn’t as precise as Anbernic devices.

  2. No Wi-Fi/Bluetooth

    • Can’t scrape game art, update firmware, or use controllers wirelessly.

  3. Pre-Loaded Piracy

    • Ships with 5,000+ illegal ROMs. Ethical/legal red flag — delete these.

  4. No Touchscreen

    • Limits DS emulation (drastic-linux requires touch controls).

  5. Setup Required

    • Stock microSD cards fail quickly. Must replace with reputable cards (SanDisk/Samsung).

📊 Performance Breakdown

System Performance
PS1 Flawless (2x resolution)
N64 Mostly full-speed (Ocarina, Mario 64)
Dreamcast Playable (Sonic Adventure, MvC2)
PSP 80% games full-speed (disable vsync!)
Saturn/DS Hit-or-miss (requires tweaks)

🆚 Alternatives Near This Price

  • Miyoo Mini+ ($55–$65): Smaller screen, no analog sticks, but better build quality.

  • Anbernic RG35XX H ($55): Horizontal, Hall-effect joysticks, Wi-Fi.

  • PowKiddy RGB30 ($80): Unique 1:1 screen (perfect for PICO-8/Game Boy).

💡 Who Should Buy It?

  • Budget-first gamers who want max power under $50.

  • Tinkerers comfortable setting up custom firmware (ArkOS/RetroArch).

  • Casual players focused on PS1/16-bit and below.

🚫 Who Should Avoid It?

  • Those wanting "plug-and-play" (requires ROM setup).

  • Fans of N64/PSP/Dreamcast (expect some slowdowns).

  • Anyone uncomfortable deleting pirated ROMs.

🔧 Pro Tips

  1. Replace microSD cards immediately (stock ones corrupt fast).

  2. Install ArkOS for best performance (follow Retro Game Corps Guide).

  3. Use GarlicOS themes for cleaner UI.

  4. Overclock slightly for PSP/N64 (Settings → CPU).

The Verdict

Yes, the R36S is shockingly good for $40. It’s the best value retro handheld if you:

  • Can tolerate cheap buttons,

  • Willing to set up your own ROMs legally,

  • Stick mostly to PS1 and older systems.

Just avoid resellers charging over $50 — at that point, an RG35XX Plus or RGB30 is better.

(Note: If your store sells these, emphasize "empty" models + link to legal ROM setup guides to avoid copyright risks.)