The new Game Console R36MAX is a fairly unremarkable device. It’s another clone – this time with a tall 1:1 form factor and a curvaceous rear end. In an apparent attempt to stand out from the crowd, its designers have given the latest RK3326 on the block some boldly nonsensical design flairs in the form of a soccer ball, pitch, and heart buttons.
Having said that, it’s these very silly choices that drove me to part with $33 during the AliExpress 11:11 sale to check it out. I waste my money on silly curiosities so you don’t have to. Still not sure what I was thinking with this one, but we’re here, so we might as well dive in for a look.
R36MAX Specs
“Recall your childhood. Share the happiness.”
These specs are listed on the device box. I’m not sure if this is the same manufacturer as other clone 36 devices or if there is even a “Game Console” company, but there’s no real reason to assume any of this is different from what’s being represented from my time with the device and what we’ve come to expect out of the chipset.
- OS: Open Source Linux
- Screen: 4″ IPS 720×720
- CPU: RK3326
- GPU: Mali-G31MP2 (520MHZ)
- RAM: 1GB
- Horn (?!): Built-in 8W Cavity Horn (I know they’re referring to the speaker, but “cavity horn” is simply too good not to share)
- Battery: 4000 MAH with approximately 6 hours of play life
- Other: Dual MicroSD card slots, 3.5mm headphone jack, USB Type-C charging interface
Pros and Cons
There is nothing that’s going to be surprising or new with the R36MAX that hasn’t been covered with every other R3326 release. It’s easy to get snarky about yet another clone, but I’ll try my best to describe what worked for me and what didn’t.
Positives
No issues with the display here
The 720×720 1:1 screen on offer with the R36MAX looks great. It really does. My brain has a difficult time aligning that the screen looks so good on a device that has a soccer ball input, but such are the marvels of modern technology, I suppose. I had a lot of fun playing with vertical arcade games and 1:1 handhelds. The display is bright, crisp, and lifting more than its load for the rest of the package.
The overall play experience is fine to good. Despite the oddity of the speaker output on the shell being shaped like a soccer pitch, the front-firing speaker gets quite loud without distortion and everything comes through nice and clear. The badonk on the back end is a personal choice. I don’t find it a total hindrance in the comfort of my play, but I do prefer a smoother back end.
Negatives
A badonk and some bad triggers
As is so often the case with these clone systems, the controls could stand to be better. They are far from the worst that I’ve ever used, and are mostly competent, but they’re still far from ideal. The D-pad is ok, but a bit stiff. The analog sticks are the same cheap Switch styles we know, with the left stick on my unit feeling especially loose for some reason.
And the triggers are the same loud “clacky” mess that rattle when you shake the device. I think the triggers have been less than desirable on every R36 variant, so that’s no surprise, but it’d be nice to see someone take positive steps in a new direction.
Kooky or hideous? Your call
And then there’s those face buttons…..The standard ABXY are independent of one another, which I appreciated, but the design choice to use these odd rounded-off convex squares is a bit of a head-scratcher.
I despised them at first use, but as I played and got used to them, they really aren’t so bad. The only reason they seem to be here, though, is to try and differentiate the device from the crowd, rather than just using something known to work well.
The hearts and soccer balls are what they are. They don’t serve any real gameplay purpose, so all they have to do is work when pressed. You will have already decided for yourself if a heart-shaped start + select is for you or not. I find the weird inclusion to be kitsch and charming, but I can easily see how someone might just see it as childish and silly.
The “E-Waste” Problem
Mercs on MAX
This is a term that rightly or wrongly is used constantly in the Retro Handhelds world. When I think of e-waste, I picture a cheap handheld that almost sort of works, but has no real utility and wouldn’t entertain anyone for more than about five minutes.
The screens and speakers were generally awful, bordering on unusable, but that simply isn’t the case any longer. These systems offer entirely serviceable (Dreamcast/N64) all the way to great gameplay experiences for the end user.
Devices like the R36MAX have to stand somewhere in the middle category. It’s below nicer OEM experiences but above the sea of truly awful Famiclones of years past. It’s not bad at all — I’m just sick of writing about every possible variation of this chipset.
We as fans of emulation should be pleased that it’s even possible for something like this to exist at the price that it does. Perhaps I should be more critical of its faults, but the old man in me is still blown away at what can be achieved these days.
Conclusions
The package on offer….and cheese
If you had handed me the R36MAX a few years ago I’d have been here writing about how the screen is stunning and the entertainment value on offer was second to none, but things move fast. This is a device that is probably intended for a younger audience, given its adornments, and as such, it’s really fine. For the hobby enthusiast, though, there’s nothing on offer here that can’t be had elsewhere, and in a better package.
In a lot of ways, that’s where the hobby is at the moment. Lower-end emulation has reached a point where it is so universally good on cheap hardware, that it becomes difficult to fault the overall experience at such a cheap price. If this is indeed a screen and form factor you want to explore, check out Ban’s RGB20SX impressions article.
For anyone familiar with the current scene of handheld emulation, there’s nothing here that’s going to blow your mind, but you knew that already. If you were interested, they probably already have you with the cheesy soccer ball and pitch.
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