Introduction
The R36S is a compact, Linux-based retro handheld that delivers a solid gaming experience straight out of the box. It comes preloaded with thousands of classic titles and supports dozens of emulators, all wrapped in a clean interface powered by ARC OS.
It's a great choice for casual and dedicated retro gamers alike — but there are a few quirks and important buying tips you should know before hitting that purchase button.
Package Contents
- R36S handheld console
- USB-C charging cable
- 64GB microSD card with 10,000+ preloaded games
- Basic instruction leaflet
Note: A power adapter is not included.
Features & Specifications
The R36S is powered by a quad-core RK3326 processor running at 1.5GHz, paired with a Mali-G31 MP2 GPU. It runs on ARC OS, a user-friendly Linux-based system that makes switching between emulators and tweaking settings easy, even for beginners.
Its 3.5-inch IPS screen is crisp, with a native resolution of 640x480, making it ideal for pixel-art classics. The console supports OpenGL ES 3.2, which allows for decent performance on more demanding systems like N64, Dreamcast, and PSP — though performance can vary depending on the game.
Design & Build
Physically, the R36S is lightweight and feels comfortable to hold. Measuring 130mm wide, 82mm tall, and just 22mm thick, it weighs only 183 grams — perfect for gaming on the go. The build quality feels solid for the price, though a few things stand out.
The dual joysticks are clickable and feel decent, while the main face buttons (X, A, B, Y) are responsive. The rear shoulder buttons (R1/R2 and L1/L2) are placed well but produce a noticeably loud click when pressed. The same goes for the Select, Start, and Function buttons on the front.
The D-pad is serviceable, but diagonals are difficult to hit cleanly, which can be frustrating in certain games. That said, this is something that can be fixed fairly easily with a button mod, and there are plenty of guides online if you want to improve it.
The console comes in a range of fun colours including white, sky blue, pink, transparent black, violet, and transparent purple.
Additional Specifications
Battery life is excellent. The 3000mAh battery delivers up to 8 hours of playtime on a single charge, and it recharges fully in around 2 hours using the USB-C port. The device draws a maximum of 5 watts, making it energy efficient as well.
Alongside the charging port, you'll find a 3.5mm headphone jack and a USB OTG data port. That OTG port is handy — it supports USB game controllers, Wi-Fi dongles, and even Bluetooth adapters, since the R36S has no built-in wireless connectivity.
There are two SD card slots: one for the operating system and one for game storage. Just note that the included SD card is usually low quality and should be replaced early on to avoid corruption or lag.
The speaker situation is a bit misleading. There's a single mono speaker hidden behind the front panel — it works fine, but there are two additional speaker grills on the bottom of the console that are purely cosmetic. No sound comes out of those.
Emulators & Games
The R36S supports an impressive range of emulators, including MAME, N64, PS1, NEOGEO, NES, SNES, Mega Drive, CPS1/2/3, Amiga, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, and many more. Thanks to the open-source nature of ARC OS, users can easily add additional emulators or update existing ones.
The 64GB SD card comes preloaded with over 10,000 games. While some duplicates and low-quality ROMs are common, there’s still a lot to explore without needing to add anything yourself. For retro fans, it’s hard to beat this much plug-and-play value.
Final Thoughts
The R36S offers a ton of features and performance for its price. The bright IPS screen, strong battery life, and versatile OS make it a great handheld for retro gaming. You can tell it’s made for tinkering — with support for modding, theme customization, and controller tweaks, it gives you a lot of room to make it your own.
But it’s not without flaws. The loud button clicks, stiff D-pad, and lack of built-in wireless might be dealbreakers for some. And the included SD card should be replaced right away if you want reliability.
It’s also important to mention that there are many clones of the R36S on the market that look nearly identical but don’t come with ARC OS or have lower-quality hardware. Even if you’re using a recommended link, be sure to double-check the listing and verify the specs before buying.
All that said, the R36S is still one of the best entry-level retro handhelds out there. If you're okay with a bit of DIY and don’t mind a few quirks, it’s a fun and affordable way to revisit classic games on the go.
Where To Buy
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