The main difference between the R36S and the RG-40XXV is power.
The RG-40XXV plays everything up to Dreamcast well, while the R36S tops out at DS.
Other differences
- The R36S has two analog sticks; the RG-40XXV has one.
- The RG-40XXV has Wi-Fi and the R36S does not, so no online updates, cloud saves or streaming on it.
- The RG-40XXV connects to a TV; the R36S cannot.
- The R36S runs on the RockChip RK3326, the RG-40XXV on the Allwinner H700.
Which is better
Which fits in a pocket better?
R36SThe R36S (82 x 130 mm, 187 g). The RG-40XXV is 92 x 139 x 13 - 22 mm, 217 g. Only the R36S fits a jeans pocket.
Which is better for PS2 games, the R36S or the RG-40XXV?
NeitherNeither plays PS2 games.
Which costs less?
R36SThe R36S, at about $40 at launch against $60. 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 R36S's screen at 2x, 50% of the RG-40XXV's screen at 2x.
Which has the bigger battery?
TieAbout the same: 3,500 and 3,200 mAh.
Side by side
| R36S | RG-40XXV | |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $40 | $60 |
| Released | Oct 2023 | Aug 2024 |
| Plays well up to | DS | Dreamcast |
| Shape | Vertical | Vertical |
| Software | Linux | Linux |
| Chip | RockChip RK3326 | Allwinner H700 |
| Memory | 1 GB | 1 GB |
| Screen | 3.5 inch IPS 4:3 | 4.0 inch IPS 4:3 |
| Resolution | 640 x 480 | 640 x 480 |
| Battery | 3,500 mAh | 3,200 mAh |
| Weight | 187 g | 217 g |
| Size | 82 x 130 mm | 92 x 139 x 13 - 22 mm |
| Analog sticks | Double, symmetrical | Single, bottom |
| L2 and R2 | Yes, side by side | Yes, side by side |
| Wi-Fi | No | Yes |
| Video out | No | Yes |
| Headphone jack | Yes | Yes |
Green marks the better value where one is clearly better. Prices are launch prices.
Emulation
- R36SRG-40XXV
- Game Boy
- NES
- Genesis
- GBA
- SNES
- PS1
- DS
- N64
- Dreamcast
- PSP
- Saturn
- GameCube
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. 26 comments by 18 different people compare them in community discussions, and 4 post titles name both. Specs, emulation scores and launch prices from the retrocatalog.com handheld database.