The main difference between the Miyoo A30 and the R36S is the shape.
The Miyoo A30 is a horizontal, the R36S is a vertical, Game Boy shaped.
Other differences
- The R36S has two analog sticks; the Miyoo A30 has one.
- The Miyoo A30 has Wi-Fi and the R36S does not, so no online updates, cloud saves or streaming on it.
- The R36S has a headphone jack; the Miyoo A30 does not.
- The Miyoo A30 runs on the Allwinner A33, the R36S on the RockChip RK3326.
Which is better
Which fits in a pocket better?
Miyoo A30The Miyoo A30 (127.5 x 57 x 16 mm, 115 g). The R36S is 82 x 130 mm, 187 g. Both fit a jeans pocket.
Which is better for PS2 games, the Miyoo A30 or the R36S?
NeitherNeither plays PS2 games.
Which costs less?
R36SThe R36S, at about $40 at launch against $49. Prices today vary by store and the used market.
Which is better for GBA games?
TieBoth run GBA at full speed and fill about the same share of the screen with even pixels: 50% of the Miyoo A30's screen at 2x, 50% of the R36S's screen at 2x.
Which has the bigger battery?
R36SThe R36S, at 3,500 mAh against 2,600 mAh. That is capacity only: the chips differ, and the heavier the system you play, the faster either one drains.
Side by side
| Miyoo A30 | R36S | |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $49 | $40 |
| Released | May 2024 | Oct 2023 |
| Plays well up to | DS | DS |
| Shape | Horizontal | Vertical |
| Software | Linux | Linux |
| Chip | Allwinner A33 | RockChip RK3326 |
| Memory | 512 MB | 1 GB |
| Screen | 2.8 inch IPS 4:3 | 3.5 inch IPS 4:3 |
| Resolution | 640 x 480 | 640 x 480 |
| Battery | 2,600 mAh | 3,500 mAh |
| Weight | 115 g | 187 g |
| Size | 127.5 x 57 x 16 mm | 82 x 130 mm |
| Analog sticks | Single, bottom | Double, symmetrical |
| L2 and R2 | Yes, side by side | Yes, side by side |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | No |
| Video out | No | No |
| Headphone jack | No | Yes |
Green marks the better value where one is clearly better. Prices are launch prices.
Emulation
- Miyoo A30R36S
- Game Boy
- NES
- Genesis
- GBA
- SNES
- PS1
- DS
- N64
- Dreamcast
- PSP
- Saturn
100 means the system runs at full speed with no known issues.
Full details
We may earn a commission when you buy through these links.
More comparisons
Why this pair: buyers weigh these two against each other. 47 comments by 32 different people compare them in community discussions, and 3 post titles name both. Specs, emulation scores and launch prices from the retrocatalog.com handheld database.