Best R36S Review 2026
★★★★★ 4.2 / 5 — After extensive testing, the R36S handheld game console earns our recommendation as the best budget retro handheld under $100 AUD. It's not perfect, but for what you pay, it delivers an incredible retro gaming experience.
📑 In This Review
⚡ Quick Verdict
The R36S punches well above its weight for under $80 AUD. It plays 8-bit and 16-bit games flawlessly, runs PS1 titles well, and has a surprisingly sharp IPS display. The dual analogue sticks, comfortable form factor, and pocket-friendly size make it a joy to use. If you're looking for an affordable way to relive retro classics, the R36S is the one to buy.
If the review has answered your question, this is the console it covers.
🎮 What is the R36S?
The R36S is a budget retro handheld game console powered by the Rockchip RK3326 processor. It runs a Linux-based operating system with EmulationStation as its frontend, and emulates 20+ classic platforms from the files you add — from the NES and Game Boy to PlayStation 1.
At $79 AUD, it's one of the most affordable ways to play classic games on the go. The R36S arrives with firmware installed and the folder structure ready for the files you add.
🏗️ Design & Build Quality
The R36S follows a vertical Game Boy-style form factor that feels natural in your hands. It's compact enough to slip into your pocket (about the size of a smartphone) and light enough for extended gaming sessions.
Available in multiple colours including transparent black, purple, blue, white, and red, the R36S has a satisfying polycarbonate shell with a slight texture that prevents it from slipping out of your hands.
The build quality is solid for the price — buttons feel clicky and responsive, the analogue sticks are smooth, and the D-pad has good tactile feedback. It doesn't have the premium feel of a $200+ handheld, but for under $80, it's impressive.
📺 Display Quality
This is where the R36S really shines. The 3.5-inch IPS display with 640×480 resolution is crisp, vibrant, and has excellent viewing angles. For retro games that were designed for lower resolutions, this screen is more than sufficient — pixel art looks fantastic.
Brightness is good for indoor use and acceptable outdoors in the shade, though direct sunlight does wash it out somewhat. Colour reproduction is surprisingly accurate, making classic games look exactly as you remember them.
🚀 Gaming Performance
The RK3326 chip with Mali-G31 GPU handles retro gaming like a champion. Here's how different systems perform:
| System | Performance |
|---|---|
| NES / Game Boy / Master System | ★★★★★ Perfect |
| SNES / Mega Drive / Game Boy Advance | ★★★★★ Perfect |
| PlayStation 1 | ★★★★★ Near-perfect |
| Nintendo 64 | ★★★★★ Hit-or-miss |
| Nintendo DS | ★★★★★ Good |
| PSP | ★★★★★ Mixed (lighter titles) |
| Dreamcast | ★★★★★ Hit-or-miss |
For 8-bit and 16-bit games (NES, SNES, Game Boy, Mega Drive), performance is flawless at full speed. PS1 games generally run at full speed.
N64 is hit-or-miss on this chipset: lighter games run, demanding ones stutter. PSP and Dreamcast are hit-or-miss — simpler games work fine, but demanding 3D titles can struggle.
🔋 Battery Life
The R36S packs a 3,200mAh battery that delivers 5-7 hours of continuous gaming depending on the system being emulated. 8-bit and 16-bit games last closer to 7 hours, while PS1 and N64 games drain the battery faster at around 5 hours.
Charging is via USB-C and takes approximately 2 hours from empty. The battery life is solid for commutes, travel, and casual gaming sessions.
🕹️ Controls & Ergonomics
The R36S features a full button layout including:
- D-pad with excellent tactile feedback
- Dual analogue sticks (essential for N64 and PS1)
- A/B/X/Y face buttons
- L1, L2, R1, R2 shoulder buttons
- Start, Select, and Menu buttons
The D-pad is one of the best in this price range — tight and precise, perfect for 2D platformers and fighting games. The analogue sticks are smaller than a PlayStation controller but functional enough for N64 and PS1 3D games.
For longer gaming sessions (1-2 hours+), the vertical form factor feels comfortable, though your hands may fatigue slightly compared to wider horizontal handhelds. For most people, this won't be an issue.
💾 Software & Firmware
The R36S ships with a Linux-based firmware that uses the EmulationStation frontend; many owners move to ArkOS or ROCKNIX. It's a clean, game-console-style interface where your games are organised by system.
Out of the box, the stock firmware works fine, but we strongly recommend updating to the latest firmware for better performance. Check out our R36S Custom Firmware Guide for step-by-step instructions.
Custom firmware options like ROCKNIX and the community-maintained ArkOS bring significant improvements including better emulator performance, simplified settings, and regular updates.
👍👎 Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Incredible value under $80 AUD
- Sharp 3.5" IPS display
- Full-speed 8-bit to PS1 emulation
- Dual analogue sticks
- Multiple colour options
- Active custom firmware community
- Expandable storage via microSD
- About 20 minutes to set up with our firmware guide
- Pocket-friendly size
- 5-7 hour battery life
❌ Cons
- Stock SD cards are low quality
- PSP/Dreamcast performance is limited
- No built-in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
- Stock firmware is outdated
- Analogue sticks are small
- No HDMI port; TV output depends on firmware and adapter
📋 Full Specifications
| Processor | Rockchip RK3326, Quad-Core ARM Cortex-A35 @ 1.5GHz |
|---|---|
| GPU | Mali-G31 MP2 |
| RAM | 1GB DDR3L |
| Display | 3.5" IPS, 640×480 resolution |
| Storage | Dual MicroSD slot (TF-OS + TF-Games) |
| Battery | 3,200mAh Li-ion (~5-7 hours) |
| Charging | USB-C, ~2 hours full charge |
| Controls | D-pad, dual analogue sticks, ABXY, L1/L2/R1/R2 |
| Audio | Built-in speaker + 3.5mm headphone jack |
| OS | Linux-based; runs ArkOS and ROCKNIX |
| Connectivity | USB-C (OTG). No built-in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth |
| Dimensions | ~14.5 × 6.5 × 1.8 cm |
| Weight | ~150g |
| Supported Systems | 20+ platforms; reliable up to PS1, N64/PSP hit-or-miss |
🤔 Who Should Buy the R36S?
Perfect For:
- 🎮 Retro gaming enthusiasts who want to replay NES, SNES, Game Boy, and PS1 classics
- 💰 Budget-conscious gamers looking for the best value under $100
- 🎁 Gift buyers — the R36S makes an excellent gift for gamers of any age
- ✈️ Travellers who want a pocket-sized gaming companion
- 🔧 Tinkerers who enjoy customising firmware and emulator settings
Not Ideal For:
- Gamers who mainly want PSP, Dreamcast or N64 (no R36 model handles these well; consider a more powerful device)
- People who want built-in Wi-Fi for online features
- Those who prefer a horizontal form factor (consider the R36H instead)
⚔️ R36S vs The Competition
| Feature | R36S | R36H | R36 ULTRA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | A$79 | A$89.95 | A$99.95 |
| Form Factor | Vertical | Horizontal | Vertical (newer body) |
| Screen | 3.5" IPS | 3.5" IPS | 4" IPS, 720×720 |
| Chipset | RK3326 | RK3326 | RK3326 |
| PSP/DC | Limited | Limited | Limited |
| Wi-Fi | No | No | Yes |
| Best For | 8-bit to PS1 | 8-bit to PS1 | 8-bit to PS1 |
💬 What Our Customers Say
★★★★★
"Good product. As advertised. Although I did have to install the new updated OS to get it to work properly. But other than that it's good."
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🏆 Final Verdict & Score
R36S Review Score
RECOMMENDED The R36S is the best retro handheld you can buy under $100 AUD. If you want to play classic games from NES to PS1, look no further.
🎮 Ready to Start Playing?
Get the R36S handheld console and relive your favourite retro classics today.
Shop R36S → See R36H → See R36 ULTRA →📚 Related
- R36S Custom Firmware Guide — Update your firmware for better performance
- R36S Storage Card — a quality microSD card for the system and your own files
- All R36S Products
- R36S Blog — Tips, guides and more
Retro gaming has experienced a massive revival in recent years. Learn more about the retrogaming movement and why millions of players worldwide are rediscovering classic titles.
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