R36S Overview
Hardware Specification[edit]
| R36S Overview | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Specification | |
| Brand | Game Console |
| Release Date | 10 / 2023 |
| Form Factor | Vertical |
| SoC | Rockchip RK3326 |
| CPU | Cortex-A35 |
| GPU | Mali-G31 MP2 |
| RAM | 1GB DDR3L |
| Screen Size | 3.5" |
| Resolution | 640x480 |
| Aspect Ratio | 4:3 |
| Screen Type | IPS |
| OS | Linux |
| Internal Storage | no |
| External Storage | 2x microSD |
| WiFi | no |
| Bluetooth | no |
| Video Output | no |
| Speaker | Mono (1.5w 8ohm 20x30x04mm) |
| 3.5mm Audio Jack | yes |
| Battery | 3000/3200mAh |
| Dimensions | 13cm × 8.3cm × 3.5cm |
| Weight | 187g |
Emulation Performance[edit]
SNES GBA PS1 NDS PSP N64 DC Saturn GC PS2 3DS Wii
Here are (almost) complete game compatibility lists for many different systems. Big thanks to Batou for all the work he has put into this!
Battery and Charging[edit]
Some sellers state that the battery is 3500mAh, but that's not true. Usually it's a removable 3.7 V 3000 or 3200 mAh Li-ion battery (type 804066) with a standard 2-pin JST 1.25mm connector - Battery Replacement Guide
Charge the device with a 5V 1A-2A adapter and a USB-A to USB-C cable. Charging via Computer/Laptop USB ports also works fine. A full charge takes about 4 hours. The battery is full when the red charging light goes off. Don't rely on the battery indicator in the OS, because it's very inaccurate. When the battery is low the LEDs starts flashing red/green.
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Included R36S battery - December 2024 from BOYHOM Store listing
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Charging time with 5V1A
High Resolution 3D Render[edit]
Official User Manual[edit]
R36S Colors[edit]
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The Ultimate R36S Collection by OGTechNick - Source/Video
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The Ultimate R36S Collection by OGTechNick - Source/Video
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Manufacturer certificates and different colors - Source: Discord
| Color | Image | Hands-on | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| White |
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| Full White | 
|
Release date: November 2024 | |
| Transparent Black | 
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| Transparent Purple | 
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| Red | 
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| Transparent Orange | 
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| Transparent Blue #1 (Lake Blue) | 
|
Sold at GameCove, LTAB Gaming Hub and since September 2024 on AliExpress | |
| Light Grey | 
|
discontinued? | |
| Transparent Blue #2 | 
|
Release date: July 2024 | |
| Transparent Green | 
|
Release date: July 2024 | |
| Transparent Red | 
|
Release date: July 2024 | |
| Yellow | 
|
Release date: september 2024 | |
| Yellow with red joysticks | 
|
Release date: october 2024 | |
| Transparent Pink | 
|
Release date: november 2024 | |
| Pink/Macaroon | 
|
Release date: november 2024 - Apparently these new colors are shipped with Kioxia SD cards | |
| Blue/Dark Blue | 
|
Release date: november 2024 - Apparently these new colors are shipped with Kioxia SD cards | |
| Light Blue/Sky Blue/Peacock Blue | 
|
Release date: november 2024 - Apparently these new colors are shipped with Kioxia SD cards | |
| Light Green | 
|
Release date: november 2024 - Apparently these new colors are shipped with Kioxia SD cards | |
| Dark Blue/Indigo | 
|
Release date: november 2024 - Apparently these new colors are shipped with Kioxia SD cards | |
| Purple/Violet | 
|
Release date: november 2024 - Apparently these new colors are shipped with Kioxia SD cards | |
| ? | 
|
unreleased color |
Different Display Panels / Screen / PCB Versions[edit]
Panel Comparison[edit]
Original Screen vs Panel 4 comparison
Tool to identify your screen version (backed up .dtb file needed)[edit]
"device tree blob" - They indicate to the actual driver the location and type of the display hardware (and everything else in the system), because there's no automatic discovery on ARM platforms
Fix gamma correction on R36S Panel4[edit]
Reddit thread with release notes and instructions: https://www.reddit.com/r/R36S/comments/1hmbk6g/fix_gamma_correction_on_r36s_panel4/
R36S-V12 2023-08-18[edit]
R36S-Y02 2024-11-27[edit]
More images: https://handhelds.wiki/R36S-Y02_2024-11-27
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/R36S/comments/1iefo0m/newbie_with_temus_r36s_will_it_be_a_new/#lightbox
R36S-Y02 2025-02-18[edit]
This one has the original screen panel according to some users.
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Source: reddit
Soy Sauce mainboards[edit]
The soy sauce console one is more of a clone capable of running ArkOS than a revision
- RAM chips are on the right side
Y3506_V03_20241210 ("Soy Sauce")[edit]
More images: https://handhelds.wiki/Y3506_V03_20241210
- Panel 5 - Soy Sauce Console - 酱油机 - required files for ArkOS
- Panel 6 also works according to some users on reddit
- Some of these come with a round dpad (reddit thread)
- BOOT partition with dtb files: https://www.mediafire.com/file/4dcyk1tj6dojzy6/Y3506+boot.zip/file
There was a rather sweet deal of R36S on JD.com and Chinese users found out that if they combined their existing coupons and put an originally expensive R36S alongside a certain pack of soysauce from the same vendor, the R36S's price was slashed hard So this batch of R36S from the JD vendor was nicknamed the "Soysauce console" "酱油机" And this batch turned out to have this mirrored chip layout.
Y3506_V03_20241104 ("Soy Sauce")[edit]
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Y3506_V03_20241104 board - source
Y3506_V03_20250317 ("Soy Sauce")[edit]
This one is working with the standard ArkOS and Panel 6 files.
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Y3506_V03_20250317 board - source
Y3506_V04_20250529 ("Soy Sauce")[edit]
First spotted: 08 / 2025
Single RAM chip "Soy Sauce" R36S.
According to this thread it's working with the standard ArkOS and Panel 6 files.
2025-07-22_1402 ("Soy Sauce")[edit]
BOOT partition including dtb file: https://we.tl/t-v5tc386riG
R36S-V21 2024-12-18[edit]
- mostly shipped by BOYHOM Store
- R36S-V21 2024-12-18
- green LED (blinks when battery is low)
- supports charging using a PD fast-charger
- place for a WiFi module
- Tool to identyify the screen version is incompatible with the files on the card, but panel 4 works according to some users
- has gameconsole-r36s.dtb on the BOOT partition
- also used in the R36XX
R36S-V22 2024-12-18[edit]
Updated R36S-V21 2024-12-18 version?
RK3326-D3[edit]
- Panel 4? and runs standard ArkOS
Different Packaging - Boxes - Labels - Sellers[edit]
Thanks to AeolusUX (u/norucus) for helping me in this section.
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The contents vary from manufacturer to manufacturer
| Box | Image | Back Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| GAME MASTER |  
|
 
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These often get shipped without the stickers and screen protector. |
| GAME CONSOLE ("WOW") #1 | 
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| GAME CONSOLE ("WOW") #2 | 
|
   
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| GAME CONSOLE ("WOW") #3 | 
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| GAME CONSOLE #1 | 
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| GAME CONSOLE #2 |  
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One of my (manster) devices. Ordered on June 21, 2024 from Global Factory Selection Store on Aliexpress - Display Panel 4 |
| GAME CONSOLE #3 | 
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| GAME CONSOLE #4 |  
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| HANDHELD GAMECONSOLE | 
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| POCKET BOY | 
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Packaging from GameCove |
| LTAB / LTB01 GAMING CONSOLE |  
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Packaging from LTAB Gaming Hub |
| GAME CONSOLE ("GO") | 
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Some of the R36S Clones with different buttons (not EmuELEC clones) get shipped in these according to reddit and aliexpress reviews. (07/2024) |
| GAME CONSOLE ("Assassin's Creed") | _packaging.jpg)
|
Image source: https://discord.com/channels/741895796315914271/1185499524257558600/1318782149767331840 (12/2024) | |
| GAME CONSOLE 1:1 aspect ratio |  
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Image on the front looks like a R36S with 1:1 screen aspect ratio, but it's a normal R36S with the standard 4:3 aspect ratio | |
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dark back label - only on EmuELEC clones? | ||
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Early models had a typo on the back label - Game Consoie | ||
| GAME FLEX | 
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Physical re-seller from australie. Costs 100 AUD (Source: reddit) | |
| PHANTOM PULSE | 
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Physical re-seller from australie. Costs 90 AUD (Source: reddit) |
Included Games / Roms[edit]
There are multiple different versions of the included games. Here's a full list of games that get shipped with a device that was shipped in 2024: https://github.com/manster-zz/R36S-LINKS/blob/main/misc/filtered%20file%20tree.txt
Similar Devices[edit]
Here's a quick rundown of devices with a similar name as the R36S.
✅ = recommended R36S alternatives
RK3326 SoC devices:[edit]
- R33S (R35S/R36S in a Miyoo Mini+ shell)
- R35S (clone of the POWKIDDY RGB20S, released 1-2 months before the R36S)
- R35XX (back looks identical to the R36S)
- R36H (horizontal R36S/R35S) ✅
- R36MAX (EmuELEC/K36 clone, soccer ball menu button, square buttons, 1:1 screen)
- R36PRO (EmuELEC/K36 clone, R36MAX with 4:3 screen)
- R36S (probably the reason why you're here) ✅
- R36T (curved display overlay)
- R36Plus (R36S with 1:1 screen) ✅
- R36VX (EmuELEC/K36 clone, lanyard hole)
- R36XX (newer R36S version with built-in wifi) ✅
- R36S Pro (probably does not even exist)
- R36 Ultra (EmuELEC/K36 clone, 1:1 screen, RGB joysticks)
- R39 Max (EmuELEC/K36 clone, 1:1 screen)
- R40S Pro (R36S in a rounded bottom shell) ✅
- R46H (horizontal - bigger R36H with 4" screen) ✅
- R50S (horizontal 5.1")
- RX6H (EmuELEC/K36 clone, horizontal version of the RX6S)
- RX6S (EmuELEC/K36 clone, vertical version of the RX6H)
- RG36 (a vertical device with left joystick on top)
- RG36 Pro (RGB joysticks)
- HG36 (EmuELEC/K36 clone, weird dpad)
- K36 (device from Kinhank, known for it's clones)
- K36S (EmuELEC/K36 clone, a mix of different devices)
- L35 (EmuELEC/K36 clone, front looks like a TrimUI Brick)
- XGB36 (EmuELEC/K36 clone)
- R39S (4", 16:9)
RK3566 SoC devices:[edit]
- R36Air (4", left joystick on top)
- R40S (horizontal, very bad buttons)
- R46S (1:1 screen, "update" to the R40S)
Allwinner A133P SoC devices:[edit]
Other SOC[edit]
- D-R35 Plus (weak chip, no custom firmware support)
- R36S Plus (Really bad device. Terrible dpad, awful software, has the weak Allwinner F1C200S chip, no custom firmware support)
- R36HD (weak chip, no custom firmware support, GB350 clone, no custom firmware support)
- R43S (horizontal, RK3128, no custom firmware support)
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