R36 Pro Retro Handheld Game Console

The R36 Pro is the R36 line's mid-range option: the same proven handheld platform as the R36S, offered in five colours with a choice of 64GB or 128GB storage from A$99. If you already know the R36S and simply want more colour choice and a larger card in the box, this is the straightforward version of that decision.

What the R36 Pro shares with the R36S and what it doesn't

Here is the thing most retailers won't tell you: every device in the R36 family is built on the same Rockchip RK3326 platform. The R36 Pro is not faster than the R36S. It will not run a game the R36S can't run. What changes between models in this family is the body, the colours, the screen format and the storage that ships with it never the emulation ceiling.

That ceiling is reliable through the PlayStation 1 era: NES, SNES, Master System, Mega Drive, the Game Boy line, Game Gear, most CPS1 and CPS2 arcade, and PS1. N64, Dreamcast, Saturn and PSP range from hit-and-miss to unplayable, and no amount of "Pro" in a product name changes that, because the chip underneath is identical. Our emulation compatibility guide goes system by system.

Choosing between the R36 Pro and the rest of the line

If the horizontal grip is what you want, look at the R36H. If you want the biggest screen in the family, that's the R36 Ultra X (4.5-inch, with Wi-Fi); the R36 Max has a 4-inch square panel and a 4000mAh battery. If built-in Wi-Fi matters, the R36S Plus, R36 Ultra and R36 Ultra X have it the standard models need a USB OTG adapter. And if you just want the cheapest way into the family, the original R36S remains the value pick.

Which storage size?

For the R36 Pro, 128GB is the sensible default. The 64GB card is fine for 8-bit and 16-bit libraries, but PS1 files are large enough that 64GB fills faster than people expect. You can also add a second card later keeping one card as the untouched system card and doing your file management on the other is the setup we recommend to everyone.