Shopping for a budget retro handheld gets confusing fast. Three names keep coming up: the Old Arcade R36S Retro Handheld, the Miyoo Mini Plus, and the Anbernic RG35XX Plus. Old Arcade sells the R36S. We do not sell the Miyoo or the Anbernic. This guide compares them honestly so you can pick the right pocket console for how you actually play.
Quick comparison
| Spec | Old Arcade R36S | Miyoo Mini Plus | Anbernic RG35XX Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form factor | Vertical pocket handheld | Vertical (Game Boy style) | Vertical (Game Boy Color style) |
| Screen | 3.5" IPS | 3.5" IPS, 640×480, 4:3 | 3.5" IPS, 640×480, OCA laminated |
| Processor | Rockchip RK3326 | SigmaStar SSD202D (Cortex-A7 dual-core ~1.2GHz) | Allwinner H700 (Cortex-A53 quad-core 1.5GHz) |
| Analog sticks | Dual analog sticks (standard R36S layout) | None (D-pad + face + shoulder buttons) | None (sticks are on the related RG35XX H) |
| Battery (rated) | 3800mAh | 3000mAh | 3300mAh (Anbernic rates about 8 hours) |
| Connectivity | Speakers + 3.5mm headphone jack; Linux system | Wi-Fi, USB-C, headphone jack | 2.4/5GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, HDMI out |
| Storage / library | 64GB (22,000+ games) or 128GB (40,000+ games); TF slot to add your own | microSD-based Linux system; card options commonly sold with large libraries | 64GB TF included on many listings; dual TF slots; bring-your-own games focused |
| Our price | $44.99 (64GB) / $49.99 (128GB) | Not sold by Old Arcade | Not sold by Old Arcade |
Competitor specs above come from manufacturer pages and reputable reviews listed in the article metadata. Screen size is a tie at 3.5" across all three.
Who each one is for
Old Arcade R36S: Best if you want a ready-to-play handheld at a low price, a large preloaded library, dual analog sticks on a vertical body, and a bigger rated battery. Power it on and play. No downloads or setup required for the built-in library. Eight color options and a TF-card slot if you want to expand later. See our budget handhelds collection for more pocket options in this price range.
Miyoo Mini Plus: Best if you care most about a polished community software scene (OnionOS is widely recommended), a sharp 4:3 panel for classic 2D systems, and a compact vertical feel. Reviews generally place its comfort zone at 8-bit through 16-bit and early PlayStation, with PS1 described as uneven on the modest SigmaStar chip. It has no analog sticks.
Anbernic RG35XX Plus: Best if you want a stronger chip (Allwinner H700), Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, HDMI out to a TV, and Anbernic’s vertical pocket shell with a laminated 640×480 screen. It is still a D-pad-first device with no sticks. If you specifically want Anbernic with dual sticks in a horizontal body, that sibling is the RG35XX H, which shares the same core hardware per Anbernic’s own series guide.
Where the R36S wins
- Price at Old Arcade: $44.99 for the 64GB model and $49.99 for the 128GB model. That keeps it firmly in the under-$50 tier on our store.
- Preloaded library size: 22,000+ games on 64GB, or 40,000+ on 128GB, boxed and ready. Competitors often emphasize DIY libraries or smaller card packs; the R36S is aimed at people who want to play immediately.
- Dual analog sticks: The R36S layout includes twin sticks. The Miyoo Mini Plus and RG35XX Plus do not. That matters for systems and ports that expect analog input.
- Rated battery capacity: 3800mAh on the R36S versus 3000mAh on the Miyoo Mini Plus and 3300mAh on the RG35XX Plus, per each product’s published figures. Real playtime always depends on brightness and the system you run.
- Color choice: Eight colors on the R36S, which is handy for gifts or matching a look.
- Out-of-box simplicity: Stable Linux system, built-in speakers, headphone jack, arrive boxed and preloaded. Power on and play.
On performance, the RK3326 handles 2D classics (NES, SNES, GBA, Genesis, arcade) and many 3D titles such as PS1 and N64. We are not claiming it beats the H700 in every title. The H700 in the RG35XX Plus is a newer, stronger chip on paper. The R36S tradeoff is value, sticks, battery capacity, and a large ready library rather than raw silicon bragging rights.
Where the competitors win
- Miyoo Mini Plus – software polish and community: OnionOS and related community firmware are a big reason people buy Miyoo. Time Extension and other reviews have long praised the Mini Plus screen for classic 4:3 games. If tinkering with firmware is fun for you, Miyoo’s ecosystem is hard to ignore.
- Miyoo Mini Plus – pocket reputation: It is one of the best-known vertical budget handhelds. Build feel and long-session comfort are frequent praise points in reviews, even when the chip’s ceiling is acknowledged.
- Anbernic RG35XX Plus – stronger hardware stack: H700 quad-core at 1.5GHz, 1GB RAM, dual-core G31 GPU, OCA-laminated 640×480 panel, dual TF slots (expandable per Anbernic), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and HDMI out. That is a richer connectivity package than the R36S facts we publish.
- Anbernic RG35XX Plus – brand ecosystem: Custom firmware options such as muOS, KNULLI, and GarlicOS 2 are widely discussed for the XX line. Stock software is often described as basic, with custom firmware as the upgrade path.
- Screen finish: Anbernic markets OCA full lamination on the Plus. Miyoo’s 640×480 IPS is frequently called sharp for 2D. We list the R36S as a crisp 3.5" IPS without claiming a resolution or lamination win over these two.
In short: Miyoo wins on community polish and vertical cult status. Anbernic Plus wins on chip, wireless, HDMI, and laminated panel features. The R36S wins on stick layout in a vertical body, rated battery size, Old Arcade pricing, and a large preloaded library with zero setup.
Preloaded games vs bring-your-own
These devices sit in slightly different shopping mindsets. The R36S is sold as a boxed, preloaded handheld: turn it on and start browsing the included library, with a TF slot if you want to add more later. Miyoo and Anbernic buyers often treat the microSD card as the heart of the experience and build or refresh their own game sets, sometimes after installing community firmware.
We keep this neutral on purpose. Emulation hardware and software are tools. What you put on a card should be content you are allowed to use. We will not invent review quotes, name ROM sites, or make legal claims beyond that common-sense line. If you want a curated shopping shortlist in this budget, read our guide to the best retro handhelds under $100.
Verdict
Choose the Miyoo Mini Plus if firmware polish, a famous vertical form factor, and a strong 2D focus matter more than sticks or a huge out-of-box library.
Choose the Anbernic RG35XX Plus if you want the H700 chip, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, HDMI, and Anbernic’s laminated vertical panel, and you are fine without analog sticks (or you would rather look at the horizontal RG35XX H for sticks).
Choose the Old Arcade R36S if you want dual sticks on a vertical handheld, a 3800mAh battery rating, eight colors, and 22,000+ or 40,000+ games ready the day it arrives, at $44.99 or $49.99. It is the straightforward buy when you would rather play tonight than research firmware tonight.
Frequently asked questions
Does Old Arcade sell the Miyoo Mini Plus or Anbernic RG35XX Plus?
No. We carry the R36S and other handhelds in our budget handhelds collection. The Miyoo and Anbernic models are popular options many shoppers compare against the R36S, so we documented the differences here.
Is the R36S screen bigger than the Miyoo Mini Plus or RG35XX Plus?
No. All three use a 3.5-inch class IPS panel. The differences are more about finish (Anbernic’s OCA lamination), software, controls, battery rating, and how the device ships.
Which one has analog sticks?
The R36S includes dual analog sticks. The Miyoo Mini Plus and RG35XX Plus do not. Anbernic’s horizontal RG35XX H is the stick-equipped sibling in that series.
Can I add my own games to the R36S?
Yes. Both storage options include a TF-card slot so you can expand beyond the preloaded library.
Is the R36S powerful enough for PS1 and N64?
The RK3326 handles many PS1 and N64 titles along with 2D classics. Demanding games vary title by title on every budget handheld. The Anbernic RG35XX Plus uses a stronger H700 chip if raw horsepower is your top priority.
Ready to pick one?
If a ready-to-play vertical handheld with dual sticks, a large preloaded library, and an under-$50 price sounds right, grab the Old Arcade R36S Retro Handheld in 64GB ($44.99, 22,000+ games) or 128GB ($49.99, 40,000+ games). It arrives boxed, powered by a stable Linux system, and ready the moment you charge it and hit power.
