R36S Review: The $30 Handheld That Started My Retro Gaming Obsession

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Sometimes the Cheapest Gadget Ends Up Being the Most Fun

I'll admit it. When I ordered the R36S, I wasn't expecting much. I had seen the hype all over Reddit and YouTube claiming this tiny handheld could emulate everything from Game Boy to PlayStation for less than the cost of a new video game. It sounded too good to be true. Then it showed up. A few hours later I realized something unexpected... This little handheld completely changed how I thought about retro gaming. Is it perfect? Not even close. But for the money, it's one of the easiest recommendations I've made in years. Looking for a deal on a used handheld? Read more here!

Design

The R36S isn't trying to impress anyone with premium materials. It's made almost entirely from plastic, but it actually feels better than its price suggests. Mine has the transparent shell, which gives it that classic late-90s electronics vibe that immediately feels nostalgic. The 3.5-inch IPS display is surprisingly good. Colors pop, viewing angles are excellent, and the resolution is perfect for older games. Whether I was playing Game Boy Advance, SNES, or PlayStation classics, everything looked sharp. It's also incredibly portable. This isn't something you throw in a backpack. It's something you throw in your pocket. That alone makes me play retro games far more often than I expected.

Performance

This is where expectations matter. If you're buying the R36S to emulate Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, NES, SNES, Genesis, Neo Geo, PlayStation, and most Dreamcast titles, you'll probably be thrilled. Performance is remarkably good considering the hardware. Games launch quickly, save states work well, and the overall experience feels polished once everything is set up properly. Where things begin to fall apart is with newer systems. PSP performance is inconsistent. Nintendo 64 is hit or miss. Some games play surprisingly well while others struggle with frame rates, graphical glitches, or simply aren't enjoyable. If your goal is perfect PSP or N64 emulation, spend more money. If your goal is playing thousands of classic games from the '80s, '90s, and early 2000s, the R36S absolutely delivers. Read our Pocket 4 Pro review here!

Controls

The controls are better than expected. The D-pad is accurate, the face buttons feel decent, and after a few hours they loosen up nicely. The analog sticks work, although they aren't particularly premium. The rear triggers are probably my biggest complaint.

They're loud.

Very loud.

If you're playing next to someone watching TV, they'll probably notice every button press. Still, for retro gaming, none of these issues became deal breakers.

Software

One thing I really appreciate about the R36S is how customizable it is. The community around this handheld is enormous. Installing ARKOS or other custom firmware isn't difficult, and there are countless guides available online. That also means the R36S ages surprisingly well. People are constantly finding new tweaks, improving compatibility, and making the experience better.

The One Upgrade You Should Make Immediately

Do yourself a favor. Replace the included microSD card. Seriously. The card included with most R36S units is notoriously unreliable and should be viewed as temporary storage only. A quality SanDisk or Samsung card costs very little and dramatically improves long-term reliability. It's easily the best upgrade you can make.

Battery Life

Battery life landed right where I expected. I averaged around 4 to 6 hours depending on the system I was emulating and screen brightness. That's more than enough for travel, waiting rooms, flights, or simply relaxing on the couch. Charging over USB-C is another welcome convenience.

Value

This is why the R36S became so popular. Depending on where you buy it, you can often find one for under $40, and during major AliExpress sales I've even seen prices dip below $30. At those prices, it's honestly ridiculous. There simply isn't another handheld that offers this much entertainment for so little money. Is it as polished as an Odin Portal 2? Not even remotely. But it also costs a fraction of the price and its still fun.

Pros

• Incredible value for the money

• Excellent IPS display

• Extremely portable

• Handles 2D retro systems exceptionally well

• Huge community with tons of customization options

• Thousands of compatible games

• USB-C charging

Cons

• Included SD card should be replaced immediately

• PSP and N64 performance is inconsistent

• Loud rear trigger buttons

• No built-in Wi-Fi on most models

• Build quality is good for the price, but still very budget-oriented

Who's It For?

The R36S is perfect for someone who wants to relive classic gaming without spending hundreds of dollars. It's ideal for Game Boy, SNES, Genesis, PlayStation, and arcade fans who simply want a small handheld they can throw in a pocket and enjoy anywhere. If your primary goal is PSP, GameCube, Wii, or Switch emulation, save your money and step up to something like the Odin Portal 2 or another higher-end handheld.

Final Thoughts

The R36S isn't the fastest handheld. It isn't the prettiest. And it certainly isn't the most powerful. But that's also missing the point. This little handheld succeeds because it's fun. For the price of a couple pizzas, you're getting access to decades of gaming history in a device that fits in your pocket. That combination is incredibly hard to beat. Even after moving on to more powerful handhelds, I still have a soft spot for the R36S because it's the device that reminded me just how enjoyable retro gaming can be.

7/10 Its solid!