R36S review: our honest verdict after months of use

We have spent months putting the R36S through its paces, and this review is our honest verdict rather than a spec sheet read out loud. If you have seen this little handheld all over social media and wondered whether it lives up to the hype, we have done the long-term testing so you do not have to.

We will cover build quality, the display, how well it emulates different systems, battery life, and the things we genuinely like alongside the bits we would improve. No overblown claims, just what it is actually like to own and use every day.

Build quality and first impressions

Straight out of the box, the R36S feels better than its price suggests. Starting from £59.99, you might expect something flimsy, but the shell is solid, the buttons have a reassuring click, and the shoulder triggers do not feel loose or rattly. It sits comfortably in the hand thanks to a shape that borrows heavily from the classic vertical handheld layout.

After months of use, ours has held up well. The face buttons still feel consistent, the D-pad is accurate for fighting games and platformers, and there is no worrying creak in the casing. It is not premium in the way a £200 device is, but for the money the fit and finish are genuinely impressive. The analogue sticks are the one area where you notice the budget, as they lack the smoothness of pricier alternatives, though they do the job.

The 3.5-inch IPS display

The 3.5-inch IPS display is a real highlight. Colours are punchy, viewing angles are wide, and the resolution suits retro content beautifully. Older 4:3 games fill the screen properly without awkward stretching, and pixel art looks crisp rather than smeared. For a handheld at this price, it is one of the best screens you will find.

Brightness is more than adequate indoors, and it holds up in most rooms. Direct sunlight is where it struggles, as with almost every handheld in this category, so bright outdoor play is not its strong suit. Indoors on the sofa or on your commute, though, it is a pleasure to look at.

Emulation performance by system

This is what most people care about, so here is our honest breakdown after testing a wide range of the 15,000+ games pre-installed on the bundled card.

• Retro 8-bit and 16-bit (NES, SNES, Mega Drive, Game Boy): Flawless. These run at full speed with no fuss and are the sweet spot for the R36S.
• PlayStation 1: Excellent across the vast majority of the library. The odd demanding title needs tweaking, but most games run smoothly.
• Nintendo 64 and Dreamcast: Hit and miss. Many titles are perfectly playable, but expect some slowdown and the occasional game that will not cooperate.
• PSP: Lighter 2D and less demanding 3D games run well, but heavier titles push the hardware too far.

In short, if your dream library is 90s and earlier, the R36S handles it with ease. If you are hoping for consistent PSP and Dreamcast performance, temper your expectations.

Software: ArkOS and the game library

The R36S runs ArkOS, a well-supported custom operating system that is far nicer to use than the default firmware some budget handhelds ship with. It boots quickly, save states work reliably, and it gives you sensible control over settings like scaling, shaders and per-game configurations. There is a learning curve if you have never used it before, but plenty of guides exist and it becomes second nature quickly.

The 15,000+ pre-installed games mean you can play from the moment it arrives, which is genuinely convenient. The organisation of that library can feel a little chaotic at first, so we recommend spending an evening tidying favourites into folders. Once set up the way you like, it is a joy to dip in and out of.

Battery life and everyday use

Battery life lands at roughly three to five hours depending on what you are playing and how bright the screen is set. Lighter retro systems sip power, while pushing PS1 or N64 drains it faster. That is about average for this class of device, and it comfortably covers a train journey or a lazy afternoon.

Charging is via USB-C, which is a welcome touch, and topping up from a power bank on the go works fine. We would have liked a little more stamina, but for casual sessions it is perfectly serviceable.

What we like and what we would improve

What we like: the price, the lovely IPS display, the solid build, ArkOS support, and how well it handles everything up to and including PS1. Free tracked UK delivery and 14-day returns also take the risk out of trying one.

What we would improve: the analogue sticks could be smoother, battery life could stretch further, and outdoor visibility is limited. None of these are dealbreakers at this price, but they are worth knowing.

Who should buy it: anyone who loves 8-bit, 16-bit and PS1 gaming and wants an affordable, pocketable way to enjoy it. Who should not: anyone expecting rock-solid PSP, Dreamcast or newer emulation, who would be better served by a pricier handheld.