The main difference between the R35S and the R36S is small: the specs in our database are nearly the same.
Which is better
Which is better for PS2 games, the R35S or the R36S?
NeitherNeither plays PS2 games.
Which costs less?
R36SThe R36S, at about $40 at launch against $50. 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 R35S's screen at 2x, 50% of the R36S's screen at 2x.
Which has the bigger battery?
TieAbout the same: 3,500 and 3,500 mAh.
Side by side
| R35S | R36S | |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $50 | $40 |
| Released | Jul 2023 | Oct 2023 |
| Plays well up to | DS | DS |
| Shape | Vertical | Vertical |
| Software | Linux | Linux |
| Chip | RockChip RK3326 | RockChip RK3326 |
| Memory | 1 GB | 1 GB |
| Screen | 3.5 inch IPS 4:3 | 3.5 inch IPS 4:3 |
| Resolution | 640 x 480 | 640 x 480 |
| Battery | 3,500 mAh | 3,500 mAh |
| Weight | ? | 187 g |
| Size | 83 x 120 x 20.8 mm | 82 x 130 mm |
| Analog sticks | Double, symmetrical | Double, symmetrical |
| L2 and R2 | Yes, side by side | Yes, side by side |
| Wi-Fi | No | No |
| Video out | No | No |
| Headphone jack | Yes | Yes |
Green marks the better value where one is clearly better. Prices are launch prices.
Emulation
- R35SR36S
- 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
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More comparisons
Why this pair: buyers weigh these two against each other. 43 comments by 37 different people compare them in community discussions, and 16 post titles name both. Specs, emulation scores and launch prices from the retrocatalog.com handheld database.

