R36S Hardware Modifications: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 08:48, 17 April 2026

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More mods[edit]

Reddit: Speaker replacement

Reddit: Custom battery covers

Reddit: Heatsink and Fan

Battery extender with 2*18650 Li-Ion[edit]

Warning

This modification is unsafe. These 18650 Li-ion batteries can get very hot, possibly softening the plastic and causing catastrophic damage. If these batteries get damaged (e.g., R36S gets dropped and batteries get damaged), it can cause "thermal runaway", reaching internal battery temperatures of up to 1000 degrees celsius. This can nearly instantly kill the console, and can seriously harm you due to burns and toxic fumes. Heatsinks WILL NOT help with this.

Reddit: Battery extender with 2*18650 Li-Ion

Cover for 2 battery 3.7V Lithium 18650 with USB-C charging module.

You need :

1 x 3.7V Lithium Battery Charger 5V 1A 2A Li-ion Lipo Battery Charging Protect

2 x Battery Shrapnel 18650 Battery Spring Positive And Negative Contact (need cut 2 spirale on negative contact)

1x JST 1.25mm PH2.0 XH2.54 2 Pin Male Plug (15cm)

File for 3D Print :

https://cults3d.com/fr/mod%C3%A8le-3d/gadget/18650-cover-for-r36s

You can use this 3500mAh battery to extend your battery to 7000mAh, but temperatures can and will rise, and can have severe battery health impact, alongside other things.

Modding and Teardown Guide[edit]

"Ultimate R36S" by Swimming-Emphasis-91[edit]

Reddit thread with lots of info and links to parts and guides: My (perhaps) ultimate R36S

Hall-Effect Joysticks
Heatsink
Inbuilt Wi-Fi
Inbuilt Bluetooth
Silence Tactile Buttons
Anatomic Shoulder Buttons
Rumble Motor
Theme Modification

Shoulder Buttons / Noise Reduction[edit]

↪ R36S Shoulder Button Upgrade Tutorial

YouTube: R36S shoulder button noise reduction (silent mod)

Reddit: Epic Foam Mod for R36S - u/sniper257

Reddit: Trigger and Face Button Fix/Membranes - u/potatowalrus

Reddit: Solder new tactile/silent switches - u/kakashihokage

Reddit: What kind of tactile switches does the R36S use

D-pad and Buttons Fix / Improvement[edit]

YouTube: R36S Teardown & DPAD/Button Fix

YouTube: R36S D-pad: 3-minute Fix Challenge

YouTube: R36S Disassembly Tips - Improve Buttons

Joystick Mods[edit]

YouTube: R36S | Hall-Effect Joystick Upgrade | Tutorial

YouTube: Change / Upgrade R36S Controls: Hall Effect

Reddit: Small Upgrade of Analog Sticks - u/Fusko24

CAD Models and 3D Printing Files[edit]

Printables: Lots of Different 3D Models on Printables.com

Printables: R36S Reference CAD Model

Printables: R36S Shoulder Buttons

Reddit: Better Buttons for R36S - u/Snoo74895

Reddit: Case and Clip on Screen Cover - u/potatowalrus

Reddit: R36S 3 in 1 Case Grip - u/potatowalrus

Reddit: R36S Case - u/doggyworld4082

Reddit: Full Case Replacement for R36S - firezenk

Reddit: Improved Buttons - aggrohaze88

Reddit: 3D Printed Handheld Stand - dovgro

Reddit: PowerUp - 2BitePie

Reddit: Free R36S D-Pad Collection - firezenk

Internal WiFi Mods[edit]

Reddit: WiFi Mod

YouTube: R36s Internal WiFi Mod - Detailed Description and Device Teardown

Wi-Fi Module on the V21 Board[edit]

↪ R36S/R36H Internal WiFi Mod

Reddit: Soldered WiFi Module on the V21 Board - u/alexbaiken

Rumble / Vibration Motor[edit]

Reddit: Rumble/Vibration in R36S - u/KST-aka-Giga_Chad

Reddit: Rumble Motor, Heatsink and Wrist Cord - u/paulosincos

Reddit: R35S / R36S Vibration Motor Mod

YouTube: Enable RUMBLE / VIBRATION on R36S and R35S for $1!

Internal USB UART Console Mod[edit]

In a very hacker‑friendly move, the manufacturer provided test points for the USB D⁺/D⁻ data lines of the charging port on the PCB. This allows you to add internal USB hardware that can be connected to a PC by plugging a normal USB‑A‑to‑C cable into the charging port (which will still charge the R36S at the same time). The test points are on the “bottom” side of the PCB; you have to remove the board from the case to access them.

I used this to add a USB‑UART adapter that gives convenient access to the serial console (this will, for some people/situations, be more convenient than plugging in a USB keyboard or using Wi‑Fi + SSH).

I opted for a tiny USB‑UART module from AliExpress because it’s neater, but you can also remove the USB connector of any other one. Beware that the UART side must use 3.3 V signals (not 5 V). This pulls the 3.3 V power supply from the UART test points on the R36S (note that I set the jumper on the module to 3 V input), which has the downside that the USB device only registers on the host when the R36S is powered up. If I were to do this again, I would find a point to grab the 5 V supply from the charging port instead.

Heatsink Mods[edit]

The R36S handheld can get pretty toasty during marathon gaming sessions, but a few clever cooling tricks can keep it chill. Whether you add some copper sheets, thermal pads, and extra vent holes for passive heat‑spreading or an active cooling fan, these low‑cost mods make a big difference—and your games stay smooth without the sweat.

Active Cooling[edit]

Mod 1 - u/nikonair[edit]

Reddit: R36S heatsink mod and thermal performance testing.

Tools: Performance data collector for R36S consoles

Heatsink Mod[edit]

Performance Testing[edit]

Mod 2 - u/snacktivism[edit]

Reddit: Internal Active Cooling

Parts List:

Heatsink: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001125438217.html
Fan: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009111701234.html
3D Printed Fan Duct: Metroidians

Passive Cooling[edit]

Display Changing Guide[edit]

This is a tutorial to change a broken screen. Device in the video is the R35S, but the process is almost the same for the R36S.

Misc Mods[edit]

Reddit: All white mod is coming together nicely - u/Mysterious-Still-787

Reddit: Console modded without spending a Dollar - u/Global_Guest_2183

Tape & Vinyl Mods[edit]

Reddit: The best R36S mod is black tape over the blue light - u/WWWWWWVWWWWWWWWWWWWV

Reddit: Tried my hand at a battery wrap design - u/sniper257

Cardboard Mods[edit]

Miniature Arcade Model Stand[edit]

The mod was free, but now it can only be purchased officially via etsy

Cardboard Box Grip[edit]

The mod was free, but now it can only be purchased officially via Etsy.

Reddit: Safety Cord - Anbernic RG Vita

3D Printed Mods[edit]

Reddit: R36S Clear Resin Buttons

Parts List: Printables

Reddit: The PlayStation Mod

Parts List: Cults3D

Paint Jobs[edit]

Reddit: Zelda Edition - u/TeaProfessional5670

Reddit: Multiple Mods - DimensionOk3304

Reddit: R36S Customized with Gold Details - jessikarochas

Reddit: R36S Lettering Paint Tutorial - danewlo

Highlight Buttons and Slots with Marker

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