The main difference between the R36S and the TRIMUI Model S is power.
The R36S plays everything up to DS well, while the TRIMUI Model S tops out at GBA.
Other differences
- The R36S is a vertical, Game Boy shaped, the TRIMUI Model S is a horizontal.
- The R36S has two analog sticks; the TRIMUI Model S has none.
- The R36S has a 3.5 inch screen against 2.0 inches on the TRIMUI Model S.
- The R36S has L2 and R2; the TRIMUI Model S has only one pair of shoulder buttons.
Which is better
Which fits in a pocket better?
TRIMUI Model SThe TRIMUI Model S (106.5 x 56.5 x 10 mm, 65 g). The R36S is 82 x 130 mm, 187 g. Both fit a jeans pocket.
Which is better for PS2 games, the R36S or the TRIMUI Model S?
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 R36S's screen at 2x, 50% of the TRIMUI Model S's screen at 1x.
Which has the bigger battery?
R36SThe R36S, at 3,500 mAh against 600 mAh. That is capacity only: the chips differ, and the heavier the system you play, the faster either one drains.
Side by side
| R36S | TRIMUI Model S | |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $40 | $50 |
| Released | Oct 2023 | Nov 2020 |
| Plays well up to | DS | GBA |
| Shape | Vertical | Horizontal |
| Software | Linux | Linux |
| Chip | RockChip RK3326 | Allwinner F1C200S |
| Memory | 1 GB | 64 MB |
| Screen | 3.5 inch IPS 4:3 | 2.0 inch IPS 4:3 |
| Resolution | 640 x 480 | 320 x 240 |
| Battery | 3,500 mAh | 600 mAh |
| Weight | 187 g | 65 g |
| Size | 82 x 130 mm | 106.5 x 56.5 x 10 mm |
| Analog sticks | Double, symmetrical | None |
| L2 and R2 | Yes, side by side | No |
| Wi-Fi | No | No |
| Video out | No | No |
| Headphone jack | Yes | No |
Green marks the better value where one is clearly better. Prices are launch prices.
Emulation
- R36STRIMUI Model S
- 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. 29 comments by 19 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.