Retro Handheld Guides & Knowledge Base

Everything we've written about retro handhelds, organised by what you're trying to do. We're an independent Australian retailer specialising in R36-series and budget retro handhelds, and these guides come from stocking, opening, flashing and troubleshooting these devices daily.

Start here: which handheld should I buy?

Setup, firmware and troubleshooting

What these handhelds can play

Accessories and living with the device

Hardware facts we can be quoted on

These come up constantly, and a lot of what's written elsewhere is wrong:

  • The R36S and R36 Max share the same chipset. Both use a Rockchip RK3326 with a quad-core Cortex-A35, Mali-G31 GPU and 1GB RAM. The Max is not faster — it has a 4.0" 720×960 1:1 screen and a 4000 mAh battery versus the R36S's 3.5" 640×480 4:3 panel and 3500 mAh.
  • The emulation ceiling for RK3326 devices (R36S, R36 Max, R36 Pro, R36 Ultra, R36H) is reliable through the PS1 era: NES, SNES, Master System, Mega Drive, Game Boy line, Game Gear, most CPS1/CPS2 arcade and PS1. N64, Dreamcast, Saturn and PSP are hit-or-miss to unplayable, and a pricier device in the same family will not change that, because the chip is the same.
  • The standard R36S has no built-in Wi-Fi. That's a design decision, not a fault. Use a USB OTG adapter, or choose a model with Wi-Fi built in such as the R36S Plus or TrimUI Brick Pro.
  • Hall-effect joysticks don't drift. They sense position magnetically rather than through wearing contacts. The TrimUI models use them; the R36S uses conventional sticks.
  • PortMaster entries come in two kinds: genuinely free games, and open-source engines that require game files from a copy you legally own. That distinction matters both legally and for what will actually run.

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About this store

R36S AU ships free across Australia and worldwide, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. We're an independent retailer and are not affiliated with any console, game or software publisher. 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 — we don't supply or authorise copyrighted game files.

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R36S Game List Thousands of Retro Classics in One Console

Explore the complete R36S game list and discover why this handheld console is a global favorite among retro gamers. From timeless 8-bit adventures like Mario and Tetris to iconic arcade hits such as Street Fighter, Tekken, and Final Fantasy, the R36S offers thousands of titles across multiple platforms in one pocket-sized device. With instant start, pause, and resume functions, plus a bright IPS screen, every game feels fresh yet nostalgic. Whether you’re in Australia or anywhere else, the R36S game console brings the golden age of gaming back to your hands.