R36S Plus WiFi: What It Does and What It Doesn't

Built-in 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, no Bluetooth

The Wi-Fi module is built into the console. There's nothing to plug in: no USB dongle, no adapter. That's a real difference from the R36S, which has no built-in Wi-Fi and needs a dongle in its OTG port. On the R36S Plus, the USB-C port marked OTG on the bottom edge stays free for an accessory. The module works on 2.4 GHz only: no 5 GHz, no dual band. And what you can do once you're connected always varies depending on the installed system.

One more thing to know before you buy: the console has no Bluetooth. That means no wireless controller, no wireless headphones and no wireless speaker. For sound, you have the front speaker and the 3.5 mm headphone jack in the middle of the bottom edge. Wi-Fi doesn't add any power either: the chip is the same as on the R36S. It's there for networking, not for accessories or emulation.

Getting connected: the console menu and a 2.4 GHz network

You set up the connection in the console menu, under network settings. The exact label and location vary depending on the installed system, but the steps are the same: turn on Wi-Fi, pick your network, then type the password with the D-pad and buttons. You need a 2.4 GHz network. Many routers broadcast both bands, sometimes under one name, sometimes under two separate names. If you see two networks, pick the 2.4 GHz one.

A 5 GHz-only network won't show up in the list. That's not a defect: the console simply can't pick up that band. If that happens, turn on the 2.4 GHz band in your router's settings, or set up a 2.4 GHz guest network. A phone hotspot can also work in a pinch, as long as it's set to 2.4 GHz.

Cover art for a library that looks great on the square screen

The scraper is often the first reason people turn on Wi-Fi. Depending on the installed system, it checks an online database and fetches cover art, screenshots and images for the games already on your card. It doesn't download any games: it dresses up the ones you already own. You start it from the menu, for a whole system or for a single game. How long it takes depends on how many files you have and on your connection. You usually run it once, then get back to playing.

The square 720 x 720 screen gives you plenty of room. Depending on the theme, an EmulationStation-style menu can show the cover art, an image and the title on one screen. A list of file names turns into a library you can browse at a glance. Name your files cleanly: the scraper recognizes a game more easily when its name is clear.

RetroAchievements and PortMaster: two more ways to use it

RetroAchievements adds achievements to retro games. You need a free account, created on the service's website, then entered in the console settings, depending on the installed system. After that, in supported games, achievements unlock as you play and get added to your profile. The connection links each session to your account. Not every game is covered: check compatibility game by game, directly on the service.

PortMaster is a catalog of free ports and homebrew games. Depending on the installed system, you can open it right on the console, and Wi-Fi lets you install ports directly, without going through a computer. Keep some free space on your games card, and read each port's page before installing it: it tells you what the port needs to run.

Updates and file transfers from a computer

Depending on the installed system, Wi-Fi lets you run the updates the system offers, straight from the menu. Before starting an update, plug the console in through the USB-C port marked DC, using a 5 V adapter rated at least 1.5 A. A USB-C cable is included, but no wall charger. Don't turn the console off during the update. Backing up the system card in the TF1-OS slot is a smart precaution before any major change.

File transfers work when the console and the computer are on the same network. Depending on the installed system, the console shows up as a shared folder: you copy your saves, images or the games you're legally entitled to use onto the TF2-GAME card, without removing the microSD. For large batches, reading the card directly on your computer is often faster.

What the Wi-Fi doesn't do

The Wi-Fi on the R36S Plus doesn't give you online play. You can't play over the internet, and you can't start a network multiplayer session between two consoles. It doesn't stream games from a computer, and it doesn't run any video apps: no online video platforms, no TV and movie streaming services. The console has no HDMI or TV output either. Its job is simpler and more useful day to day: dressing up, expanding and maintaining your library.

Playing happens entirely on the console, using the games on the TF2-GAME card. Wi-Fi plays no part in how the emulators run. If a listing promises videos or online play on this model, ask for details before you order: those uses aren't part of what the Wi-Fi offers here.

• No online play
• No network multiplayer between two consoles
• No game streaming
• No video apps
• No Bluetooth, no 5 GHz Wi-Fi

Security and privacy: good habits

Connect the console to your own password-protected network, or to your router's guest network. Avoid open public networks, especially if you use file transfers: a shared folder visible to everyone on the network has no place in a coffee shop. Install updates when the system offers them, since they may fix bugs. Turn off Wi-Fi when you're not using it: it limits exposure and may help save battery.

For RetroAchievements, choose a password you don't use anywhere else. If the system offers file sharing or remote access, turn it on only when you need it, then turn it off again. The R36S Plus sold here is the version with the square 4-inch screen, built-in 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and an open-source Linux system preinstalled.