The R36 Ultra is our big-screen take on the pocket retro handheld. It pairs a square 4-inch IPS display with a familiar RK3326 chip, a 3000mAh battery, built-in WiFi, and a library of classic games that's preloaded and ready the moment you power it on. Here's a full look at the hardware, what each version includes, and who it's best for.
R36 Ultra at a glance
- Screen: 4.0-inch IPS display at 720×720 resolution
- Processor: RK3326 Cortex-A35 CPU at 1.5GHz with a Mali-G31 MP2 GPU
- Memory: 1GB LPDDR3 RAM
- Battery: 3000mAh, charged over USB Type-C
- Storage: 64GB or 128GB, with TF card support
- Games: 20,000+ preloaded on the 64GB version, 30,000+ on the 128GB version
- Connectivity: Built-in WiFi with screen mirroring to a TV
- Audio: Built-in speakers and a 3.5mm headphone jack
- Colors: Black, White, Purple, and Blue
A bigger, square 4-inch screen
The headline feature is the display. The R36 Ultra uses a 4.0-inch IPS panel at 720×720, which gives you more screen than the 3.5-inch handhelds many players start with. IPS panels keep colors vivid and readable from an angle, so sprite art and menus stay crisp. If you're weighing screen sizes across our lineup, our guide on how to choose a screen size for retro gaming walks through the trade-offs.
Proven hardware for classic consoles
Inside is the RK3326, a quad-core Cortex-A35 chip running at 1.5GHz, paired with a Mali-G31 MP2 GPU and 1GB of LPDDR3 memory. It's one of the most widely used chips in retro handhelds, and it's a strong match for the systems most people want to replay: NES, SNES, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Sega Genesis, NeoGeo and PlayStation 1. The library also includes Nintendo 64, PSP and Sega Dreamcast titles. As with any handheld in this class, the heavier 3D systems run best with lighter games, and results can vary from title to title.
A huge library, ready out of the box
There's nothing to download and no cartridges to buy. The R36 Ultra comes preloaded with games from NES, SNES, GBA, Game Boy Color, Sega Genesis, N64, PS1, PSP, NeoGeo, Dreamcast and 20+ other retro platforms, all organized by system. Pick the version that fits how much you want to play:
| Version | Storage | Preloaded games |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 64GB | 20,000+ |
| Plus | 128GB | 30,000+ |
Both versions come in Black, White, Purple and Blue, and TF card support means you have room to expand later.
WiFi and screen mirroring
Unlike many budget handhelds, the R36 Ultra has built-in WiFi. You can use it to mirror the screen to your TV for a bigger, couch-friendly view, and it adds multiplayer options for playing with friends. Curious how much WiFi matters on a retro handheld? Our guide Do Retro Handhelds Need WiFi? covers what it does and doesn't change.
Battery and portability
A 3000mAh battery powers the R36 Ultra, and it charges over USB Type-C, so the same cable you use for a phone or tablet works here too. It's light and compact enough for a backpack, a commute, or a long flight. For a side-by-side look at battery capacity across handhelds, see our retro handheld battery guide.
Sound for home or on the go
Built-in speakers handle sound when you're playing at home, and the 3.5mm headphone jack lets you play quietly on a plane, in bed, or anywhere you don't want to share the soundtrack.
What's in the box
- 1× R36 Ultra Handheld Game Console (64GB or 128GB)
- USB Type-C charging cable
- User manual
- 20,000+ or 30,000+ preloaded games, ready to play
Who the R36 Ultra is for
- Retro fans who want NES, SNES, GBA, PS1 and Sega classics in one device
- Players who want a larger screen than a typical 3.5-inch handheld
- Travelers and commuters who want portable gaming without packing several consoles
- Gift shoppers looking for something kids and adults will both enjoy
- Anyone who grew up in the 80s, 90s or 2000s and wants to replay the classics
Compare it with other handhelds
Want to see how it stacks up against our other pocket models, like the 3.5-inch R36S and XU10? Browse the full Handhelds collection, or read our honest comparison of the R36S vs Miyoo Mini Plus vs Anbernic RG35XX Plus.
Get the R36 Ultra
The Old Arcade R36 Ultra Handheld is available in 64GB and 128GB versions, in Black, White, Purple and Blue. Orders over $60 ship free in the US.
Specs and game counts are taken from our product page. Emulation performance can vary by game and system.
