How emulation works on this console
The R36S Plus does not play cartridges or discs. It runs emulators: software that imitates the hardware of an older console. Everything sits on an open-source Linux system preinstalled on the device. Depending on the batch, this factory system is not always exactly the same. The menu follows the EmulationStation style: a list of systems, then, for each one, the list of games on the card. Behind the scenes, each system is handled by an emulator, often called a core. One system can offer several cores, some more accurate, others lighter.
The console has two microSD slots. TF1-OS, on the right-hand side, holds the system. TF2-GAME, on the left-hand side, holds your games, on a card of up to 128 GB. During play, the FN button opens the emulator menu, with picture and control settings. The exact options depend on the installed system and the core in use.
The systems that run well
The RK3326 has four Cortex-A35 cores at up to 1.5 GHz, a Mali-G31 MP2 GPU and 1 GB of RAM. That is modest, but more than enough for the 8-bit and 16-bit generations. Home consoles from those eras, classic arcade machines, Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance all run well. So do many PS1 games, with the right core. On these systems, the job is mostly choosing a core and tuning the picture, not chasing performance.
The R36S Plus has exactly the same chip as the R36S, so it offers the same level of emulation. What it adds is the square 4-inch screen and built-in Wi-Fi, whose uses depend on the installed system, not extra power. A practical tip: if a game refuses to start or misbehaves, try another core before blaming a lack of power.
| System family | What to expect | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 8-bit and 16-bit consoles | Runs well | 4:3 picture with bars at the top and bottom |
| Classic arcade | Runs well | Core choice matters depending on the game |
| Game Boy, Game Boy Color | Runs well | Near-square picture, fills the screen well |
| Game Boy Advance | Runs well | Wider picture, bars at the top and bottom |
| PS1 | Many games run well | Settings depend on the core |
| N64, PSP, Dreamcast | Depends on the game and settings | No game guaranteed |
| PS2 and later | Out of reach | Hardware limit of the RK3326 |
What depends on the game, and what is out of reach
N64, PSP and Dreamcast sit at the edge of what the RK3326 can do. Results depend heavily on the game and the settings. Some games stay enjoyable, others slow down or show picture or sound glitches. The usual fixes: switch core, lower the internal resolution, turn off effects. The available settings vary by system and emulator, so there is no one-size-fits-all recipe. Treat these systems as a bonus, not as the reason to buy.
PS2 and newer consoles are beyond this chip. No setting will change that, because the limit is the hardware. Community firmware images exist for this model, but you install them at your own risk, after backing up your cards, and they do not make the console any more powerful. For those generations, you are better off keeping the original console.
The square screen and aspect ratios
The 4-inch IPS screen shows 720 x 720 pixels in a square 1:1 format, around 254 ppi. The picture area measures about 72 x 72 mm, compared with about 71 x 53 mm on the R36S: the same width, more height. Most home consoles output a 4:3 picture. Shown without stretching, it keeps its proportions and leaves bars at the top and bottom. For these games, the usable width is therefore the same as on the R36S.
Handhelds such as the Game Boy and Game Boy Color have a picture close to square. They make better use of the screen, with little in the way of bars. The Game Boy Advance, being wider, leaves bars at the top and bottom. Stretching the picture to fill the square is sometimes possible, at the cost of distorted proportions. Display options depend on the system and the emulator.
Menus and languages
The menu language depends on the installed system. As the factory system varies by batch, the languages on offer vary too. You choose the language in the main menu settings, from those the system provides. Some elements may stay in English whatever you pick, for example technical option names or the emulator menu, depending on the setup. Navigation always follows the console's layout: D-pad, ABXY buttons in a diamond, Select and Start, with two clickable analogue sticks and four shoulder buttons on the back.
Games keep their own language. The console menu has no effect on the text shown during play. A game released in Japanese stays in Japanese. A game's language depends on the version you own, not on the console. Bear this in mind before making backup copies of your own games.
Free ports through PortMaster
PortMaster is a community tool that installs ports: games and engines adapted to Linux handhelds like this one. Depending on the installed system, it works directly over the built-in Wi-Fi. That Wi-Fi is 2.4 GHz only, so you need a 2.4 GHz network, set up in the console menu. No USB dongle is needed, and the OTG port stays free for an accessory. The catalogue available varies with the system and its version.
Depending on the installed system, the Wi-Fi can also fetch cover art and images for the games you already have, enable RetroAchievements, run the updates offered by the system and transfer files from a computer on the same network. It does not allow online play, network multiplayer, streaming or video apps. The console has no Bluetooth.
Playing legally
The console itself is a legal device. What matters is the game files. Only play games you have the right to use: backup copies of your own games, where local law allows it, homebrew games made by independent developers, and games their authors distribute freely. Rules on private copies vary from country to country. This guide gives no links to ROMs and promises no games.
This is general information, not legal advice. If in doubt, check the law where you live. The R36S Plus sold here is the version with a square 4-inch screen and built-in Wi-Fi. It shares the R36S chip and its limits, with a taller screen and a wireless connection for the uses described above, depending on the installed system.
Frequently asked questions
Does a 128 GB card make games run faster?
No. Card capacity changes how many games fit, not performance. The usable space after formatting is also lower than the stated capacity. Emulation speed depends on the RK3326 chip and the core you choose. The TF2-GAME slot, on the left-hand side, takes a card of up to 128 GB.
Can I connect the console to a TV?
No. The R36S Plus has no HDMI or TV output. The bottom edge has a USB-C port marked DC for charging, a 3.5 mm headphone jack in the centre and a USB-C port marked OTG for accessories. You play on the square 4-inch screen, with sound from the front speaker or headphones.
How do I charge the console, and what about the battery?
Charging goes through the USB-C port marked DC, with a 5 V adapter of at least 1.5 A. A USB-C cable is included, but no mains charger. The Li-Po battery is 3,000 to 3,200 mAh depending on the batch (printed under the door). It is replaceable through that door on the back.
Sources
- Handhelds Wiki, R36Plus
- Retro Handhelds, R36Plus review (May 2025)
- Die oxidierten Schweine, R36S Plus Retro-Handheld (June 2025)
- PortMaster
Our guides are based on the supplier's product sheets and public documentation. We do not claim any hands-on testing.
