Open source handhelds, what to choose for start?

 

R36S: A Budget-Friendly Retro Handheld with a Vertical Design

If you are looking for a cheap and portable device to play your favorite retro games, you might want to check out the R36S handheld console. This device is powered by a Rockchip RK3326 processor, which can handle games from systems like NES, SNES, N64, PS1, PSP, Dreamcast, and more1. The R36S has a 3.5-inch IPS display with a resolution of 640x480 pixels and a 4:3 aspect ratio, which is ideal for most retro games. The device also has 1 GB of RAM, a removable 3200 mAh battery, and two microSD card slots: one for the operating system and one for the game ROMs.

The R36S has a vertical design, similar to the Powkiddy RGB20S, but with a lower price tag. The device is available in three colors: solid white, transparent black, and transparent purple. The device has two joysticks, a D-pad, four face buttons, two shoulder buttons, and four function buttons. The joysticks are located at the bottom of the device, which might feel awkward for some people, but they are responsive and comfortable to use. The buttons have a nice clicky feel and are well-spaced. The device also has a power button, a reset button, a USB-C port, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.

The R36S runs on ArkOS, a Linux-based operating system that is popular among retro handheld enthusiasts. ArkOS has a simple and user-friendly interface that lets you browse and launch games from various emulators. ArkOS also supports features like save states, cheats, shaders, screen scaling, and more. You can also update the system and install new emulators and ports using the built-in Wi-Fi connection.

The R36S is a great option for anyone who wants to enjoy retro gaming on a budget. The device has a decent performance, a good screen, a long battery life, and a large game library. The device is also easy to use and customize, thanks to ArkOS. The R36S might not be the most powerful or the most ergonomic handheld out there, but it offers a lot of value for its price. You can get the R36S for less than $35 on AliExpress.

Direct link to my fav shop : https://pl.aliexpress.com/item/1005006134362014.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.5.43671c24IR51zv&gatewayAdapt=glo2pol

remember to change language and country.

Why i chose it beside my phone gaming console? I wanted something in gameboy form factor. My phone Cubot MAX 2 became exclusive for psp games with 256 GB card.

As i write this i ordered second R36S in black colour (first i bought is purple).

I dont think you can buy anything better in this price range, not to mention i paid for second console 144 polish zloty, something like 35$, along with its great quality its really amazing believe me... Finally was able to play some arcade games i was hunting long time (total library is about 14k games...) and you can add yours.

I advise to make backup oif both sd cards with DiskGenius (dual partition SD one of those is).

This material was not sponsored, i bought console for my own money and was between this one and Anbernic, finally i chose this one and i dont regret really :)

Have fun <3