Game Console R36H ProMax Review: Is Good Enough Still Good Enough?

Fresh off my review of the Game Console 40XXV, another clone has appeared in the mailbox. The constant flow of copycat clone devices flooding the emulation scene makes for troublesome writing. How much more can I possibly say about the RK3326 chipset at this point? Is there really anything left to tweak in the budget space with this hardware setup? Well, those questions might not have definitive answers, but the devices keep on coming anyway.

Enter the R36H ProMax review from Game Console (The capital C in console is the closest I can figure to there being a main version of the brand, but it varies) to see if there’s any blood left to be squeezed from this tried and true PCB setup.

PSA: This isn’t good for your device

The R36H ProMax takes a larger 4:3 screen and places it in a new horizontal shell format with some extra, tiny flourishes. Is it worth your hard-earned budget dollars? Well, that’s going to depend a great deal on which devices are already in your collection. So let’s dive into the latest little-chipset-that-could device, and see if it’s worthy of a place at the top of the starter-handheld pile.

Game Console R36H ProMax Specs

Scotch tape isn’t the first thing you love to see, but it’s not hurting anything.

Screen: 4.2-inch, 4:3 1024×768 Display
Chipset: RockChip RK3326
GPU: Mali-G31 MP2
RAM: 1GB
Connectivity: 2x microSD, 2x USB-C (OTG + DC-5V), 3.5mm Audio Jack
OS: ArkOS 2.0 w/ Emulation Station
USB-C: Charging + Data port function, NO Video Out
Wifi: 2.4GHz 802.11b/g/n
Sound: Dual front-firing stereo speakers
Battery: 3500mAh
Weight: 216g (per my postal scale)
Dimensions: 6.76 x 3.25 x 0.91 inches

It’s always worth opening these things just to giggle at what may be inside. RETROID BOY!

Game Console R36H ProMax at AliExpress

Color Options

Plenty of options

The unit I received is your standard white. Nothing wrong with it, but there’s certainly not too much to get hyped over. Given my druthers, I probably would have gone for one of the fun transparent colored shells, but they weren’t available quite yet. The light blue and red both caught my eye, and there appear to be green and pink varieties on the horizon as well.

Design & Ergonomics

The Shell

I try to keep making a point to focus on the exterior shells of these cheaper clone devices, as the feel of the plastic can often make the difference between “pretty good for the price” and “this belongs in a landfill”.

I’m happy to say that the shell of the R36H ProMax is plenty nice. Is it the most premium thing I’ve ever held in my hands? No, but there is plenty of pleasing feel and heft to avoid the dreaded e-waste designation.

It’s a comfy rear

The handheld has some decent heft when being held, despite only weighing out at 216g on my postal scale. The weight is the weight, but it’s distributed in such a way that the device gets away with feeling solid and sturdy. In short, it feels good in your hands. I’m not sure if the etched design on the back of the handheld is meant to just be for grip, or meant to sit in as a fake exhaust port, but either way, I’m not mad at it.

Slight contouring on the back of the handheld makes it feel at home in your palms, and the curves are where they should be. Personally, I do find the design more comfortable than something like the Anbernic RG 34XX, due to a little added girth on the handheld.

Buttons & Triggers

If you know and like the sticks and buttons on other Game Console devices, there shouldn’t be any surprises here. If you’re someone who always found them a little lacking for your tastes, then the same will apply here. The way I’d choose to describe Game Console’s device controls is that they are function over form. These controls aren’t going to amaze anyone with design and flair, but what they will do is work well.

Same as they ever were

The D-pad is the standard X-rocker, similar to what was seen recently on the XF40H. Again, no flair, but I’ve put some hours into these things and never really had a gripe. They work and work well.

L1/R1 shoulders are a standard affair, but the L2/R2 are doing a bit of costumed trickery. The shoulders are not analog triggers; they are buttons, but have the design and curvature of analog triggers. It doesn’t really have any impact on game-play, as analog triggers would be mostly lost on the games this handheld is capable of emulating anyway. Still, they’re comfy.

Display

The screen on the 36H ProMax is a similar story to most other Game Console devices that I’ve reviewed – it punches above its weight class. I know that we live in the world of stunning IPS and OLED displays, but I’m still regularly impressed by what can be achieved for so little.

No complaints on the vibrant screen here

The screen has a great peak brightness. I had no problems seeing things while standing outside in a yard full of white snow and morning sunlight. Lowering things in darker conditions proves to be just as pleasant. It’s not the best out there, but it’s better than it really needs to be on something like this. At least if you’re old enough to remember the dark before-times, in the Famiclone long-long-ago.

Sound

Two front-firing speakers on the R36H ProMax produce a pleasant enough audio experience. I don’t know that these are the same speaker components as the R36S, but if they aren’t, they’re certainly cousins. The speakers get plenty loud enough for my needs, especially considering I spend most of the time playing with wired headphones (I’m old and hate Bluetooth, leave me alone).

Game_Console_R36HProMax_Speakers_Battery_Internal

Internal view of the taped speakers and internal battery

While I was amused to find that speakers were physically taped to the board when I opened the R36H ProMax up, it certainly doesn’t appear to hamper the experience in any way.

Software

Just like every device these days under the Game Console banner, the R36H ProMax ships with a custom ArkOS 2.0 image preinstalled. Gone are the days when these reviews had to include a link to community firmware to get these handhelds up to snuff. The best option from the community is already loaded, and with the convenient WiFi inclusion on the R36H ProMax, you can update and tweak to your heart’s content from the first time that you take the console out of the box.

ArkOS remains the best 3326 option

The included ROM collection is fine enough, and most of the things you’re looking for should be on offer with older systems. Presentation has some odd hiccups, though. Random systems in the menu display just lack a background image. With Game Boy Color, for example, you’re left with a black screen with a picture of the console and a sign that just says Nintendo.

Come on now, guys….

It’s not a big deal, but it’s these types of simple, sloppy oversights that cheapen the entire package in the eyes of a consumer. If you just nail down these annoying nothing-burger issues, you’d give critics a lot less to complain about.

TLDR

Similar to other devices in the same category, whether the R36H ProMax works for you is up to your budget, needs, and devices already on your shelf. If early user reviews are anything to go by on sellers like AliExpress, you may want to tread carefully.

Does it match up to the competition?

I had no problems with my unit as delivered, but there are multiple reports of devices shipping with disconnected battery cables, loose or disconnected control buttons, etc. It’s a cheap clone device, and you’re going to be rolling the dice on quality assurance manufacturing. It comes with the territory.

The value packaged in the R36H ProMax is going to come down to what kind of deal you’re able to score. At the roughly $50 price tag seen from many sellers, there isn’t much reason to pick up a 36H Promax. If the design charm of something like the Anbernic RG34XX is lost on you, or you always wish that it’d had analog sticks, then maybe the R36H ProMax could be the one. Otherwise, I’d say it’s worth a look around the $30-$35 price range (or less).

Again, please don’t put your handhelds in the snow. I’m not smart.

Just like the 40XXV before it, the market is just getting too crowded and too capable. There isn’t enough to write home about with an RK3326 device anymore. It’s the bog standard base for handheld emulation these days.

If we want to see the hobby continue to progress, these budget devices are going to have to start offering even more for less. As it stands, though, if you’re mostly worried about the PSX era back, there is still plenty of gaming goodness to be had. Just make sure you score a deal on it.