R36S Plus vs R36S, R36 Max and R36 Ultra: Which to Buy?

The short answer

All four handhelds in this comparison are built on the same foundation: a Rockchip RK3326 chip and 1 GB of RAM. That means they run the same games at the same level of emulation. What sets them apart is the screen, the Wi-Fi, the battery and the shape of the back. The R36S keeps a 3.5-inch 4:3 screen. The R36S Plus, R36 Max and R36 Ultra move up to a square 4-inch 720 x 720 screen. Of those three, only the Plus and the Ultra have built-in Wi-Fi.

If you want the square screen and Wi-Fi without any lighting, the R36S Plus checks both boxes, with two microSD slots and a flat back. If the original 4:3 format matters more to you than connectivity, the R36S still makes sense. The R36 Max goes for a bigger battery and grips, with no Wi-Fi. The R36 Ultra adds RGB-lit sticks. This guide is based only on documented spec sheets, not on hands-on testing.

Want the classic 3.5-inch R36S instead? Our sister store r36s-console.com sells it, with the same free shipping.

• Order the R36S Plus here
• R36S on r36s-console.com
• R36 Max on r36-max.com
• R36 Ultra on r36-ultra.com

The screen: square 4-inch vs 3.5-inch 4:3

On paper: 720 x 720 pixels on 4 inches for the R36S Plus, 640 x 480 on 3.5 inches for the R36S. The geometry tells you more. The Plus has an image area of about 72 x 72 mm, the R36S about 71 x 53 mm. The width is nearly identical, and the Plus gains height. Overall, the image area grows by about 36%, based on a calculation from the diagonals. The calculated pixel density is about 254 pixels per inch.

The trade-off involves games designed in 4:3, a common format in retro gaming. Shown without stretching, they keep their proportions on the square screen, with bars at the top and bottom. The game image then takes up roughly the same width as on the R36S. Display settings depend on the system and the emulator, so no specific setting is guaranteed. The R36 Max and the R36 Ultra use the same square 4-inch 720 x 720 screen.

Wi-Fi: built into the Plus and the Ultra, optional on the R36S

The R36S Plus and the R36 Ultra have built-in 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. On the Plus, there is no USB dongle or adapter to plug in, and the OTG port stays free for an accessory. You set up the connection in the console menu, and it needs a 2.4 GHz network: there is no 5 GHz support. The R36S has no built-in Wi-Fi. A USB Wi-Fi dongle plugged into its OTG port may work, depending on the installed system, but it takes up that port.

Depending on the installed system, Wi-Fi handles the tasks listed below. It does not let you play online, link two consoles for multiplayer, or watch videos or streaming content. The R36S Plus has no Bluetooth either, so there are no wireless controllers or headphones to pair. Think of Wi-Fi as a tool for managing the console and your library, not a tablet-style connection.

• Fetch cover art and images for the games you already own (scraper)
• Enable RetroAchievements
• Install free ports through PortMaster
• Run the updates offered by the system
• Transfer files from a computer on the same network

Same chip, same memory: games run the same

The R36S, R36S Plus, R36 Max and R36 Ultra all run on the Rockchip RK3326: four Cortex-A35 cores at up to 1.5 GHz, a Mali-G31 MP2 GPU and 1 GB of RAM. The direct result: the R36S Plus has the same performance as the R36S. A game that runs well on one runs the same way on the other, with the same limits. The bigger screen changes the display, not the performance. The Plus brings the screen and Wi-Fi, nothing more under the hood.

In practice, 8-bit and 16-bit consoles, classic arcade machines, Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance, and many PS1 games run well on this chip. N64, PSP and Dreamcast depend heavily on the game and the settings. PS2 is out of reach. And whatever model you choose, only play games you have the right to use.

Battery and back: four different approaches

When it comes to battery and grip, the spec sheets diverge. The R36S Plus has a Li-Po battery of 3,000 to 3,200 mAh depending on the batch (printed under the door). It can be replaced through that ridged door on the back. The R36S is listed at 3,200 mAh. The R36 Max goes up to 4,000 mAh and adds rear grips, without built-in Wi-Fi. The R36 Ultra lists 3,000 mAh and stands out with its RGB-lit sticks. No battery life in hours is given for any of these models.

The back of the R36S Plus is flat, with a raised block that holds the four triggers: L1 and R1 on the outside, L2 and R2 on the inside. Of these models, only the R36 Max offers grips. For charging, the Plus uses the USB-C port marked DC on the bottom edge, with a 5 V adapter of at least 1.5 A. A USB-C cable is included, but no wall charger is.

R36XX and the older 3.5-inch R36S Plus: different devices

Similar names cause confusion. The R36XX pairs a 3.5-inch 640 x 480 screen, like the R36S, with built-in Wi-Fi and the same RK3326 chip. On paper, it looks more like an R36S with Wi-Fi than an R36S Plus. There is also an older handheld sold as the "R36S Plus," with a 3.5-inch screen and a single analog stick. It has nothing to do with the 4-inch model released in April 2025, which has two clickable sticks.

Even the 4-inch model goes by more than one name: the box says "R36Plus," while the label and boot screen say "R36S Plus." It is the same device. To avoid mistakes, always check a listing for two things: a square 4-inch 720 x 720 screen and built-in Wi-Fi. If either one is missing, it's probably a different console. A photo alone isn't enough: the spec sheet settles it.

Which model is right for you?

Go with the R36S if the original 4:3 format matters to you, with a full image on a 3.5-inch screen, and Wi-Fi isn't a priority: a dongle in the OTG port is still an option, depending on the installed system. Go with the R36S Plus if you want the taller, square 4-inch screen and built-in Wi-Fi that leaves the OTG port free, plus two microSD slots and a flat back. Go with the R36 Max if the biggest battery of the group and grips matter more than Wi-Fi. Go with the R36 Ultra if you like RGB-lit sticks.

Finally, the R36XX is for anyone who wants Wi-Fi on a 3.5-inch 4:3 screen. In every case, emulation is the same, so the decision comes down to the screen, connectivity and how the device feels in your hands. The R36S Plus sold in our shop is the square 4-inch version with built-in Wi-Fi. It comes with an open-source Linux system preinstalled, and shipping details are confirmed before you order.