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The R36 Max is a 4.0 inch 1:1 Linux handheld that plays everything up to DS (no touchscreen) well, made by Game Console. It came out in November 2024 at $35. Inside is the RockChip RK3326 with 1 GB of RAM.
Who it's for
Buy it if
- You want to play everything up to DS, plus some PSP.
- You want a 4.0 inch screen and carry it in a bag or a jacket.
Skip it if
- You want N64 games: it scores 50 out of 100, so many games struggle.
- You want Wi-Fi for updates and cloud saves.
R36 Max videos
What it plays
Plays up to: DS (no touchscreen). Chip: RockChip RK3326.
Scores out of 100. 100 means the system runs at full speed with no known issues on this device. 80 or more plays well (green), 50 to 79 plays partly (yellow).
What the specs mean
1:1 screen
Game Boy and Game Boy Color are 10:9, almost square, so they fill most of it. Everything else shows wide bars.
Based on: Display math: native screen shapes of each system
Sharpest fit: Game Boy
At 4x, Game Boy fills 71% of the screen with even pixels. Filling the rest means stretching, which some people smooth with a filter.
Based on: Display math: largest whole-number scale that fits the screen
Same chip as 22 other handhelds
The RockChip RK3326 also powers the Anbernic RG 35, BATLEXP G350, D-007, GAMEMT E6 and more. The same chip means similar speed, though memory and cooling can differ.
Based on: Our handheld database (chip field)
Big battery for its class
Only 16 of 117 Linux and other handhelds in our database have a bigger battery than this 4,000 mAh (the middle one has 3,000 mAh).
Based on: Our handheld database: battery of 117 Linux and other handhelds
Shoulder buttons in a row
L1 and L2 sit side by side along the top edge instead of stacked. PS2 games that need L1 and L2 together mean sliding one finger between them.
Based on: Layout data (shoulder button layout)
D-pad on top, sticks below
The d-pad has the natural thumb spot, which suits 2D games. In 3D games your thumb lives on the lower stick.
Based on: Layout data (d-pad placement)
DS without touch
There is no touch screen, so DS games that need the stylus use a pointer moved by a stick.
Based on: Layout data: no touch screen
Rating
How we score: what it plays 30%, how many players own and recommend it 20%, screen 15%, price compared with handhelds that play as much 10%, controls 10%, size and weight 10%, battery size for its chip 5%.
Good
- Plays everything up to DS (no touchscreen) well
- Low price
Not so good
- N64 games can struggle
- TFT screen, not IPS or OLED
- No Wi-Fi
- No video out
Screen fit
Screen: 4.0 inch, TFT, 1:1, 720 x 720.
| System | Original | Sharpest scale | Screen filled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game Boy | 160 x 144 | 4x (640 x 576) | 71% |
| GBA | 240 x 160 | 3x (720 x 480) | 67% |
| NES and SNES | 256 x 224 | 2x (512 x 448) | 44% |
| Genesis | 320 x 224 | 2x (640 x 448) | 55% |
| PS1 and N64 | 320 x 240 | 2x (640 x 480) | 59% |
| DS, one screen | 256 x 192 | 2x (512 x 384) | 38% |
| PSP | 480 x 272 | 1x (480 x 272) | 25% |
Whole-number scales keep every pixel the same size. Screen 720 x 720.
Size
83 x 153 x 35 mm. Too big for a jeans pocket
- R36 Max (83 x 153 mm)
- iPhone 15 (71.6 x 147.6 mm)
True scale, front view. Jeans pocket = front no bigger than an iPhone 15 Pro Max in a case (160 x 82 mm).
Specs
| Performance | |
|---|---|
| Chip | RockChip RK3326 |
| CPU | Cortex-A35 |
| Cores | 4 |
| Clock speed | 1.3 GHz - 1.5 GHz |
| GPU | Mali-G31 MP2 |
| RAM | 1 GB DDR3 |
| Cooling | No |
| Screen | |
| Size | 4.0" |
| Type | TFT |
| Resolution | 720 x 720 |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz |
| Pixel density | 254 ppi |
| Aspect ratio | 1:1 |
| Dual screen | No |
| Controls | |
| D-pad | Cross, Upper placement |
| Analog sticks | Yes |
| Stick layout | Double, symetrical |
| L3 / R3 | Yes |
| Shoulder buttons | Side By Side |
| Gyroscope | No |
| Connectivity | |
| Storage | Dual External MicroSD |
| SD card | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| USB-C | Yes |
| Video out | No |
| Headphone jack | Yes |
| Build | |
| Form factor | Vertical |
| Dimensions | 83 x 153 x 35 mm |
| Battery | 4000 mAh |
| Shell | Plastic |
| Speakers | Front |
| Software | |
| Operating system | Linux |
| Custom firmware | ROCKNIX |
| PortMaster | Yes |
Questions
Can the R36 Max play PS2 games?
Not well. PS2 scores 0 out of 100. It plays everything up to DS (no touchscreen) well.
Is the R36 Max good for GBA?
GBA runs at full speed. At 3x it fills 67% of the screen with even pixels.
Does it have a headphone jack?
Yes.
How big is the battery?
4,000 mAh. The middle Linux and other handheld in our database has 3,000 mAh.
Can it connect to a TV?
No, it has no video out.
How much does the R36 Max cost?
It launched at about $35 in Nov 2024. Prices on the used market change, so check current listings.
Price and newer models
$35 at launch Under $60
The newest in its line in our database, out since Nov 2024.
Similar handhelds
Specs and emulation scores from the retrocatalog.com handheld database. The score out of 10 is our own.