Thanks to AeolusUX, we now have the first look and official drop of the R36S Plus, an upgraded version of the often imitated R36S.

The R36S has been one of the most cloned handhelds to ever grace retro handhelds. However, in reality, the devices we see bearing the same internals and general form as the R36S are much less clones than they are simply different versions of an open source project.

Many R36S clones are founded in a fully open source project that allows for any hardware manufacturer to make their own version should they ever decide to do so. Ironically, companies like BatleXP, which are thought to be an off-shoot of Anbernic, have made their own variations of the device despite having devices in their already expansive catalog with similar internals and different degrees of features.

It seems like things are switching up slightly, however.

It’s Different, New, Provocative

Some deviations from the original design result in horizontal layouts or switched button designs à la the H36S. A new variant of the R36S has been released and it updates and changes some of the otherwise main features of the device to match that of the more powerful aforementioned H36S.

The new R36S Plus upgrades the standard RK3326 found in the original model to the more powerful Allwinner A133P, delivering enhanced performance for games, up to and including those from the PS1 library. It also upgrades the screen to the once novel 720 x 720 we’ve seen in devices like the RG Cube, Cube XX, and Powkiddy RGB30.

With the new upgrade to the screen alone, the device can offer 3x integer scaling on GBA titles, but it also places it pretty close to the Game Boy and Game Boy Color’s native 10:9 aspect ratio and the SNES’ internal 8:7 ratio.

The chipset upgrade offers a new option to those looking for PS1 capable handhelds, but it’s not anything necessarily new. The Powkiddy RGB20SX houses an RK3566 which has similar performance to the A133P in the R36S Plus, and features the same 720 x 720 screen. That device is also a vertical, but it costs nearly twice as much; $38 versus $59.

An Entrypoint to Handhelds

One of the key benefits of the various R36S clones and projects is that they maintain a relatively low price, making it an accessible option for those looking to explore the retro handheld market. With any of these handhelds, you can experience a wide range of retro games through various emulators.

However, the assumed low-cost build quality allows gamers to better evaluate which features they would like to see improved in their next handheld purchase. Consider it a gateway device for retro-gaming enthusiasts.

The new R36S Plus may be the new standard going forward, but only time will tell. We have seen numerous handhelds released with the Allwinner A133P recently, from the MagicX Mini Zero 28, TrimUI Smart Pro, and Brick, and the newly released Powkiddy V20. The R36S Plus adds to that lineup and offers a few changes to mix up the pot.

As more handhelds release, more entry points into the hobby become available. Some users know beforehand what they desire from a handheld, and some have to experience one to truly get a feel for what they’d like to have featured on any future purchases. The R36S Plus gives users a new option and does it at its expected budget-friendly price point.

The R36S Plus is available for purchase directly from AliExpress, so be sure to check the RH Deals of the Week for any applicable coupon codes.

BOYHOM R36S Plus at AliExpress

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