Wacky Handhelds Are Still Alive with the ‘R36S Plus’

Retro handhelds are no stranger to weird, unique, and sometimes outright baffling designs. One of the earliest retro handhelds to gain a somewhat cult following was the W1 Mini, a retro handheld designed to look like a baby chick wearing sunglasses. The bulbousness of the RG405V initially had some puzzled, despite its overall comfort. The R36 Max has a soccer based design for seemingly no reason whatsoever.

R36S Plus as advertised

As the years pass, newer companies take more liberties in design and still manage to maintain low prices. For some, buying these oddly designed consoles with extremely specific use cases is part of the fun of collecting retro handhelds.

That seems to be the story of what is unofficially referred to as the “R36S Plus”.

A Real R36 or…Something Else?

While the original R36 and R36S are made by the unambiguously named company Game Console, this other handheld appears to, in the kindest of terms, borrow the naming pattern. However, every other decision about the device’s controls and layout seems to either mimic cheaper handhelds or purposefully strive for oddity.

The R36S Plus has a 360 degree yellow rocker for its main d-pad, start and select button that are placed to be symmetrically aligned with its single analog stick, translucent pearl action buttons, and artwork reminiscent of Hokusai’s 1831 painting The Great Wave off Kanagawa.

“R36S Plus” Specs

The R36S Plus referenced above seems to mirror the specs of the R36S, but sacrifices the 3500mAh battery in exchange for one a little more than a third of its power. A sacrifice made in exchange for a design inspired by timeless classic Japanese art.

Weird Designs in Retro Handhelds

Devices that explore the wilder side of design and layout are nothing new to the retro handheld space, however. Nick here at Retro Handhelds often covers various devices that seem a bit more tame in comparison, but the same spirit of “ingenuity” can clearly be seen throughout the devices he reviews and talks about.

The R36 MAX is ready for FIFA

Many handhelds strive for innovation in their overall presentation while still attempting to be somewhat relevant and worthwhile in how the device is built. The abundance of these cheaper handhelds is set against a backdrop of typical 640 x 480 screens, 3.5 inch panels, and typically either an RK3326 or H700 chipset. However, the way in which theyre put together is how the devices manage to standout to some consumers.

The Problem of E-Waste

A bigger concern these devices create is the influx of e-waste that they contribute to. Handhelds with such low prices, cheap parts, and low build quality would seemingly be made for no specific person, but are made en masse. They’re produced in high volumes and, for the time being, readily available, but when the warehouses or stock rooms have to clear space, they’re typically the first items on the chopping block.

Image source: Oleh Bilovus

At the end of the day, these handhelds end up in large waste heaps, contributing to a growing concern for our environment and how much we, as consumers, contribute to the growing rate of waste that ultimately harms the planet.

On the flip side, these handhelds do indeed have a market — albeit an insanely small one. There are those who strive to find the most outrageous, odd, low-powered but fun to use handhelds, and genuinely find joy in using them. And this handheld is no exception to that.

The R36S Plus can be found on AliExpress for around $25 USD with free shipping, making it one of the cheapest full featured handhelds available for purchase, but when a genuine R36S comes in at around the same price, you have to question whether it’s worth the cost or just something to be astounded by.

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