Best Budget Retro Handhelds: Where the R36S Fits in 2025
The budget retro-handheld market is crowded, and most "best of" lists are just affiliate padding. This one is written from the perspective of someone who actually cares which chip is inside and what runs on it. Here's an honest breakdown of the main options and who each is for.
How to Choose (the 30-second version)
Two things decide almost everything:
1. Chip = power. Budget handhelds cluster around a few chips. The Rockchip RK3326 (in the R36S and Anbernic's RG351 line) handles everything up to PS1 plus most N64. The RK3566 (R36 Max, R36S Ultra, Powkiddy RGB30) adds reliable N64, Dreamcast, PSP and NDS. Android-based chips (Retroid) go further still, at a higher price.
2. Form factor = comfort. Vertical (Game Boy style), horizontal (classic controller style), or clamshell. This is personal preference — try to picture how you'll actually hold it.
Everything below is organised around those two axes.
The Best Budget Picks
🏆 Best Overall Value: R36S
The R36S is the price-to-performance benchmark. For roughly $35–55 you get a genuine IPS screen, dual SD slots, and an RK3326 chip that runs NES, SNES, Mega Drive, GBA, PS1, and arcade perfectly, plus most N64. With ArkOS installed it's a properly capable machine. If your library is mostly 8-bit through PS1, nothing at this price beats it. See the full R36S game compatibility list for exactly what runs.
Best for: first-time buyers, 8-bit/16-bit/PS1 libraries, tightest budgets.
💪 Best Step-Up Power: R36 Max / R36S Ultra
Same family, bigger chip. The R36 Max and R36S Ultra use the RK3566, which makes N64, Dreamcast, PSP, and NDS genuinely playable rather than hit-or-miss. The Ultra adds Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a tempered-glass square screen. If you specifically want those heavier systems, this is the value way to get them. Full breakdown in our R36 model comparison.
Best for: N64/Dreamcast/PSP/NDS players who still want budget pricing.
🔧 Best Build Consistency: Anbernic RG35XX line
Anbernic is an established brand with more consistent quality control than the no-single-manufacturer R36S. The RG35XX family (including the horizontal RG35XX H) is a common cross-shop for R36S buyers who want a known brand and easy returns, usually at a slightly higher price. See our R36S vs Anbernic explainer for how the two relate.
Best for: buyers who prioritise brand accountability and consistent build quality.
📱 Best Pocketability: Miyoo Mini Plus
The Miyoo Mini Plus is the cult favourite for one reason: it's tiny. It genuinely fits in a pocket, has a passionate community, and runs everything up to PS1 well. The trade-off is the small screen and controls.
Best for: maximum portability, people who value a small form factor above all.
🟦 Best Square Screen: Powkiddy RGB30
An RK3566 device with a 720×720 square screen — great for GBA, GBC, and NeoGeo Pocket games that fill a square panel edge-to-edge. Similar chip class to the R36 Max/Ultra.
Best for: fans of handhelds with square-screen systems, RK3566 performance in a different shell.
🚀 Best If Budget Flexes: Retroid Pocket
Retroid's Android-based handhelds are a tier above in both price and power — they can push into GameCube, Dreamcast, and heavier PSP with room to spare, and run Android apps and store games too. If you can stretch the budget and want the most future-proof option, this is where to look.
Best for: buyers who can spend more and want Android + heavier emulation.
Quick Comparison
| Pick | Chip class | Sweet spot | Rough price tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| **R36S** | RK3326 | NES → PS1, most N64 | $ (lowest) |
| **R36 Max / Ultra** | RK3566 | + N64/Dreamcast/PSP/NDS | $$ |
| **Anbernic RG35XX** | budget SoC | NES → PS1, brand QC | $$ |
| **Miyoo Mini Plus** | budget SoC | NES → PS1, pocketable | $$ |
| **Powkiddy RGB30** | RK3566 | square-screen systems | $$ |
| **Retroid Pocket** | Android SoC | up to GameCube+ | $$$ |
*(Price tiers are relative, not exact — budget handheld pricing shifts constantly.)*
Our Honest Take
If you're buying your first budget retro handheld and your heart is in the 8-bit-through-PS1 era, the R36S is the smart starting point — it delivers the core experience for the least money, and if you outgrow it, the RK3566 models in the same family are the natural upgrade. Spend up to Anbernic or Miyoo if brand consistency or pocketability matters more to you than raw value, and jump to Retroid only if you specifically want Android and heavier systems.
Whatever you pick, the R36S game compatibility list is a useful reference for what any RK3326 or RK3566 handheld can actually run — the game library is shared across the whole class of devices.
Ready to buy an R36S? Check current prices at r36s.com.au or on Amazon.
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