R36S Custom Firmware: Difference between revisions

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! style="width: 50%; background-color: #f9d6d5; color: #d9534f; font-size: 120%; padding: 7px; text-align: center; border-radius: 0 8px 8px 0;" | ❌ Cons
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* Some settings can be complicated for new users
* Overlays need to be manually enabled
* Overlays need to be manually enabled
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Revision as of 05:59, 14 May 2025

ℹ️
Info
Refer to the Guides section or the provided links below for help with installing / flashing these firmwares.
ℹ️
Info
The recommended Firmwares are Community Maintained ArkOS and AmberELEC.

Custom Firmware for the EmuELEC Clone

Custom Firmware for EmuELEC Clone Devices
Description Some R36S clones do not support the standard ArkOS or AmberELEC custom firmware.

For more information and download links, please refer to the R36S Clones section.


ArkOS Community Maintained Image

ArkOS Community Maintained Image for the R36S
Website: https://aeolusux.github.io/ArkOS-R3XS/
Download GitHub Releases

Older Versions on Mega

Wiki / Documentation / FAQ / How-To ArkOS Wiki

FAQ for RG351MP

Changelogs (includes instructions for added features) R3XS Changelog & Features Update
ArkOS Screenshots/Options/Tools R36S ArkOS Screenshot Gallery
Hotkeys Global & Emulator Event Keys
✅ Pros
  • R36S optimized ArkOS version
  • Very good performance
  • Lots of features
  • Frequent updates
  • Great customization options
  • Fast boot time (~16 seconds)
❌ Cons
  • Overlays need to be manually enabled

MyMinUI

MyMinUI for the R36S
MyMinUI running on the R36S - Download: https://github.com/Turro75/MyMinUI/
Description A simple alternative to EmulationStation (used in ArkOS).

It installs on top of ArkOS and can easily be disabled if you prefer to return to EmulationStation. Note: Different rom folder paths than standard. Instructions are included in the download. Works only on ArkOS devices.

Download / Instructions GitHub Download & Instructions

AmberELEC

AmberELEC
Website: https://amberelec.org
Download GitHub Pre-release Downloads
Documentation / FAQ Getting Started Guide

FAQ Page

Hotkeys Controls & Hotkeys Reference
✅ Pros
  • Very good performance
  • Lots of features
  • Overlays are enabled by default
  • Newer emulationstation
  • Better theme support
  • Most emulator settings can be changed in emulationstation
❌ Cons
  • No official support for newer screen panels
  • Slower update cycle
  • FN button not mapped for hotkeys
  • Slower boot time (~25 seconds)
  • No easy way to change boot logo and loading screen

PAN4ELEC

PAN4ELEC (Custom AmberELEC for Panel 4 Devices)
Website: https://github.com/Kegg1701/P4ELEC
Description Unofficial AmberELEC build by KEgg for the most recent Panel 4 (V5) devices.

Includes additional features and general usability improvements.

Download GitHub Releases
Documentation / FAQ Reddit Announcement & Guide


ArkOS

ArkOS for the R36S
Website: https://github.com/christianhaitian/arkos/wiki
Download Official GitHub Download Page

Reddit Announcement & Download Info

Documentation / FAQ ArkOS Wiki & Setup Guide
Hotkeys Global & Emulator Hotkeys


cHAos multi panel R3xS

cHAos Multi Panel R3xS
Website: https://github.com/tech4bot
Description Debug image that supports three different display panels.

It is a fork of AmberELEC.

Download GitHub Releases
Documentation / FAQ AmberELEC Getting Started Guide


ROCKNIX

ROCKNIX for the R36S
Website: https://rocknix.org/
Community Discussion Reddit thread discussing ROCKNIX on R36S
Download GitHub Releases
Documentation / FAQ ROCKNIX Wiki & Setup Guide


JELOS

JELOS (Just Enough Linux OS)
Website: https://github.com/JustEnoughLinuxOS/distribution
Status

The JELOS project has come to an end, however the sources will continue to be made available. Binaries are no longer provided.

Continuation ROCKNIX is a continuation of JELOS.
Source Code GitHub Repository

UnofficialOS

UnofficialOS for the R36S
Website: https://github.com/RetroGFX/UnofficialOS
Last Update February 7, 2025
Download GitHub Releases
Documentation / FAQ View the Wiki

Lakka

Lakka on the R36S
Website: https://www.lakka.tv/
Description Outdated / lightweight Linux distribution with the RetroArch interface.

Booting directly into RetroArch is also possible on ArkOS (see FAQ).

Download Download from Lakka.tv
Documentation / FAQ Lakka Docs and FAQ

Xorg

Xorg on the R36S
Website: https://github.com/OkJacket2022/R36S-Xorg
Description XFCE, LXDE, and LXQT Desktop Environment for the R36S
Download GitHub Releases
Documentation / FAQ View the Wiki
Video Guide
Load video
YouTube

Gentoo

Gentoo for the R36S
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AAjIPa1W1g
How-To Gentoo for R36S Status Update & How-To

Firmware and SD Card Test

A short test that compares the boot time and GBA/SNES performance of various firmwares and SD cards. I am too lazy to copy over the site, so here's a link to the old R36S Wiki on GitHub:

https://github.com/manster-zz/R36S-LINKS/wiki/Firmware-and-SD-Card-Test

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