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The R39S is a 4.0 inch 4:3 Linux handheld that plays everything up to Dreamcast well, made by Game Console. It came out in October 2024 at $40. Inside is the RockChip RK3326 with 1 GB of RAM.
Who it's for
Buy it if
- You want to play everything up to Dreamcast, plus some PSP.
- You want a 4.0 inch screen and carry it in a bag or a jacket.
Skip it if
- You want PSP games: it scores 70 out of 100, so many games struggle.
- You want Wi-Fi for updates and cloud saves.
R39S videos
What it plays
Plays up to: Dreamcast. 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
4:3 screen
NES to PS2 era home consoles were 4:3, so they fill it. GBA and PSP games show bars above and below.
Based on: Display math: native screen shapes of each system
Sharpest fit: DS, one screen
At 3x, DS, one screen fills 92% 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)
Only one pair of shoulder buttons
PS1 games that use L2 and R2 need those moved to other buttons.
Based on: Layout data; the PS1 controller has four shoulder buttons
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 Dreamcast well
- Low price
Not so good
- Not built for PS2 games
- No Wi-Fi
- No video out
Screen fit
Screen: 4.0 inch, IPS, 4:3, 800 x 600.
| System | Original | Sharpest scale | Screen filled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game Boy | 160 x 144 | 4x (640 x 576) | 77% |
| GBA | 240 x 160 | 3x (720 x 480) | 72% |
| NES and SNES | 256 x 224 | 2x (512 x 448) | 48% |
| Genesis | 320 x 224 | 2x (640 x 448) | 60% |
| PS1 and N64 | 320 x 240 | 2x (640 x 480) | 64% |
| DS, one screen | 256 x 192 | 3x (768 x 576) | 92% |
| PSP | 480 x 272 | 1x (480 x 272) | 27% |
Whole-number scales keep every pixel the same size. Screen 800 x 600.
Size
112 x 130 x 25 mm, 385 g. Too big for a jeans pocket
- R39S (112 x 130 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-A55 |
| Cores | 4 |
| Clock speed | 1.8 GHz |
| GPU | Mali-G52 2EE |
| RAM | 1 GB DDR3 |
| Cooling | No |
| Screen | |
| Size | 4.0" |
| Type | IPS |
| Resolution | 800 x 600 |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz |
| Pixel density | 250 ppi |
| Aspect ratio | 4:3 |
| Dual screen | No |
| Controls | |
| D-pad | Cross, Upper placement |
| Analog sticks | Yes |
| Stick layout | Double, symetrical |
| L3 / R3 | Yes |
| Shoulder buttons | No L2/R2 |
| Gyroscope | No |
| Connectivity | |
| SD card | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| USB-C | Yes |
| Video out | No |
| Headphone jack | Yes |
| Build | |
| Form factor | Vertical |
| Dimensions | 112 x 130 x 25 mm |
| Weight | 385 g |
| Battery | 3200 mAh |
| Shell | Plastic |
| Speakers | Front |
| Software | |
| Operating system | Linux |
Questions
Can the R39S play PS2 games?
Not well. PS2 scores 10 out of 100. It plays everything up to Dreamcast well.
Can it play GameCube games?
Partly. GameCube scores 20 out of 100.
Is the R39S good for GBA?
GBA runs at full speed. At 3x it fills 72% of the screen with even pixels.
Does it have a headphone jack?
Yes.
How big is the battery?
3,200 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 R39S cost?
It launched at about $40 in Oct 2024. Prices on the used market change, so check current listings.
Price and newer models
$40 at launch Under $60
The newest in its line in our database, out since Oct 2024.
Similar handhelds
Specs and emulation scores from the retrocatalog.com handheld database. The score out of 10 is our own.