TrimUI Brick Pro vs R36S: Which Handheld Should You Buy?

TrimUI Brick Pro vs R36S is the question we get asked most often, and the honest answer isn't "buy the expensive one". These two handhelds solve the same problem — playing retro games away from a TV — but they sit at genuinely different points on the price and polish curve. We stock both, so this comparison has no favourite to protect.

TrimUI Brick Pro vs R36S: the 30-second answer

Buy the R36S ($79) if this is your first retro handheld, if your library is mostly 8-bit through PS1, or if you want to spend the difference on a good storage card and a case instead. Buy the TrimUI Brick Pro (from $165.95) if you already know you love the format and want the version you won't feel like replacing — bigger sharper screen, drift-free Hall joysticks, and Wi-Fi built in.

Side-by-side specifications

Here is how the TrimUI Brick Pro vs R36S matchup looks on paper before we get into what the numbers actually feel like in the hand.

Where the TrimUI Brick Pro clearly wins

The joysticks. This is the difference that matters most over years rather than weeks. The R36S uses conventional potentiometer sticks, which wear and eventually drift — a well-known fate for every handheld and controller built this way. The Brick Pro uses Hall-effect sticks that read position magnetically, with no contact surfaces to wear out. If you've ever replaced a drifting stick, you already know what that's worth.

The screen. Half an inch sounds trivial written down; in the hand it isn't. Menus, RPG text and PS1-era HUDs all get meaningfully easier to read, and long sessions get less tiring.

Wi-Fi without a dongle. The R36S needs a USB Wi-Fi adapter ($9.95) to get online for PortMaster and firmware updates. The Brick Pro just connects — one less thing occupying the port and one less thing to lose.

Battery. 5000 mAh against 3500 mAh, roughly a 40% larger cell.

Where the R36S still makes more sense

Every TrimUI Brick Pro vs R36S comparison that stops at the spec table gets this part wrong — the cheaper device wins more often than you would expect, and for reasons that have nothing to do with cutting corners.

Price, obviously — but look at what the gap buys. The difference is around $87. Spent on the R36S side, that covers a 256GB storage card, a hard shell case and a screen protector with change left. A fully kitted R36S is a genuinely complete setup for less than a bare Brick Pro.

A 4:3 screen that matches the source material. Most retro consoles output 4:3, and the R36S's panel is natively that shape. It's a real advantage that spec sheets never show.

Colour choice. Eighteen colourways against three. Trivial to some people, decisive for others — especially when buying for a kid.

Lower stakes. At $79 the R36S is an easy thing to hand to a child, throw in a bag or take camping. Emulation performance for 8-bit, 16-bit and most PS1 titles is genuinely good; you aren't buying a compromised experience, you're buying a cheaper one.

Which one should you actually buy?

Choose the R36S if: it's your first retro handheld · you play mostly 8-bit to PS1 · you want budget left for accessories · you're buying a gift or a device for a child · the 4:3 screen shape appeals.

Choose the TrimUI Brick Pro if: you've owned a budget handheld and know you'll keep using it · stick drift has ruined a device for you before · you want Wi-Fi without dongles · your eyes prefer the larger panel · this will be your main device rather than an experiment.

Still deciding? Our Australian buying guide covers the whole range, and the R36 Max vs R36S comparison is worth reading if you're weighing a cheaper step up instead. If you want a vertical pocket format rather than a horizontal one, the TrimUI Brick Hammer is the same family in a Game-Boy-shaped body.

What both handhelds have in common

For all the ways a TrimUI Brick Pro vs R36S comparison splits them apart, these two devices share more than they differ on. Both run open-source Linux firmware, both expand over microSD, and both charge over USB-C. Both are also supported by the wider retro handheld community — the PortMaster project brings a large catalogue of free and open-source game ports to each of them, though the Brick Pro's extra headroom means more of the demanding ports run comfortably. Neither device ships with copyrighted games, and neither should: see our games guide for the legal ways to fill either one.

TrimUI Brick Pro vs R36S — quick questions

Is the TrimUI Brick Pro worth more than double the R36S?
If it will be your main device, yes — the Hall sticks alone remove the most common reason these handhelds get retired. If you're testing whether you enjoy the format at all, start with the R36S.

Do they play the same games?
Largely, yes — both handle 8-bit through PS1-era systems. The Brick Pro has more headroom for demanding PortMaster ports and heavier emulation.

Can I add Wi-Fi to the R36S later?
Yes, with a Type-C OTG Wi-Fi adapter ($9.95). It works well; it just occupies the port.

Which is better for a child?
The R36S — lower price, more colours, and less to worry about if it gets dropped or lost.

Do both ship free in Australia?
Yes. Both ship free Australia-wide with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

The verdict

There is no wrong answer to TrimUI Brick Pro vs R36S — there is only the question of whether this is a device you are trying out or a device you are committing to. Trying it out costs $79 and works properly. Committing to it costs around $166 and removes the two things that eventually make people put these handhelds in a drawer: a drifting joystick and a screen that is just slightly too small. Both ship free across Australia, and both come back to us within 30 days if you picked wrong.

Why buy from R36S AU: ✅ Free shipping Australia-wide & worldwide · ✅ 30-day money-back guarantee · 🕹️ Ready to play out of the box.

R36S AU is an independent retailer and is not affiliated with third-party console, game, or software publishers. Our handhelds are sold as gaming hardware for use with legally obtained files, public-domain software, homebrew and other content you have the right to use.