Lab Review · 30 Days Tested · R36S vs R36PRO · July 2026
R36PRO Review 2026: Is It Worth the Upgrade from R36S?
Short answer: Yes — if N64 or PSP matters to you. No — if you only play GBA, SNES, or PS1. The R36PRO costs $50 more than the R36S. Here's exactly what you get for that $50, tested by the iGC Editorial Team.
⏱ 30-Second Verdict
iGC Verdict
✅ Worth It (for N64/PSP)
Score
4.21 / 5.0 ⭐
Price
~$129
vs R36S
+$50 → Better N64/PSP
N64
90% ✅ (R36S: 78%)
PSP
78% ✅ (R36S: 61%)
4.21★
iGC Score
90%
N64 Compat.
78%
PSP Compat.
~$129
Price
💰 Is the R36PRO Worth the $50 Upgrade?
✅ Upgrade to R36PRO If...
- N64 is important to you (90% vs 78%)
- You want PSP games (78% vs 61%)
- You play GoldenEye, Banjo-Kazooie, Majora's Mask
- You want Tekken 3, Gran Turismo on PSP
- Budget allows $129
- You want analog sticks for 3D games
❌ Stay with R36S If...
- You mainly play GBA, SNES, NES, PS1
- Budget is under $100
- You're buying as a gift for a casual gamer
- You don't care about N64 or PSP
- Plug-and-play simplicity is the priority
- You want the best value per dollar
The honest truth: if you only play GBA, SNES, NES, and PS1, the R36PRO gives you nothing the R36S doesn't already do perfectly. Both achieve 100% GBA and 97% PS1 at locked 60fps. The $50 premium buys you better N64 and PSP performance — and nothing else. Know what you want before you spend the extra $50.
📊 R36PRO Compatibility Data — iGC Lab Measured
| System | R36PRO | R36S | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBA | 100% · 60fps | 100% · 60fps | — Same |
| SNES | 100% · 60fps | 100% · 60fps | — Same |
| NES | 100% · 60fps | 100% · 60fps | — Same |
| PS1 | 97% · 60fps | 97% · 60fps | — Same |
| Sega Genesis | 100% · 60fps | 100% · 60fps | — Same |
| N64 | 90% · 30–45fps | 78% · 25–30fps | ⬆️ +12% better |
| PSP | 78% · Variable | 61% · Variable | ⬆️ +17% better |
| Dreamcast | 65% · Variable | 40% · Variable | ⬆️ +25% better |
| PS2 | 0% | 0% | — Neither supported |
| GameCube | 0% | 0% | — Neither supported |
🔄 R36PRO vs R36S — Full Spec Comparison
| Spec | R36PRO (~$129) | R36S ($79.99) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$129 | $79.99 |
| Chip | RK3326 (overclocked) | RK3326 |
| RAM | 1GB | 1GB |
| Display | 3.5" IPS | 3.5" IPS |
| Analog Sticks | ✅ Dual analog | ❌ D-Pad only |
| GBA | 100% · 60fps | 100% · 60fps |
| PS1 | 97% · 60fps | 97% · 60fps |
| N64 | 90% · 30–45fps | 78% · 25–30fps |
| PSP | 78% | 61% |
| Battery | ~4.5h | ~4.2h |
| iGC Rating | 4.21/5 (66 reviews) | 4.70/5 (2,837 reviews) |
| Best For | N64 + PSP users | GBA + PS1 users |
📝 R36PRO Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- 90% N64 compatibility — best under $150
- 78% PSP — major upgrade over R36S
- Dual analog sticks for 3D games
- 100% GBA/SNES/NES — same as R36S
- 97% PS1 — same as R36S
- Better Dreamcast support (65%)
- Slightly longer battery (4.5h)
- ArkOS pre-configured on iGC
❌ Cons
- $50 more than R36S
- N64 still not perfect — 10% games fail
- PSP still limited — 22% games fail
- No PS2 or GameCube
- Fewer reviews (66 vs 2,837)
- Lower rating (4.21 vs 4.70)
- Overkill if you only play classic 2D systems
❓ R36PRO FAQ
Is the R36PRO worth it over the R36S?
Yes — if N64 or PSP matters to you. The R36PRO achieves 90% N64 compatibility (vs R36S's 78%) and 78% PSP (vs 61%). For GBA, SNES, NES, and PS1, both devices perform identically at 100%/97%. The $50 premium is only justified if you specifically want better N64 or PSP performance.
What games does the R36PRO play better than the R36S?
N64: GoldenEye 007, Banjo-Kazooie, Majora's Mask, Donkey Kong 64, and most N64 titles that struggle on the R36S now run correctly on the R36PRO. PSP: Gran Turismo, Tekken, God of War, and many PSP titles that don't run on the R36S work on the R36PRO.
Does the R36PRO have analog sticks?
Yes. The R36PRO has dual analog sticks, which the R36S lacks. This makes a significant difference for N64 and PSP games that require analog input. For GBA, SNES, NES, and PS1 games, analog sticks make no difference — D-Pad is preferred for 2D games.
Should I buy the R36S or R36PRO as a gift?
Buy the R36S for most gift scenarios. It's $50 cheaper, has 4.70/5 from 2,837 buyers, and plays every GBA, SNES, NES, and PS1 game perfectly. The R36PRO is the better gift only if the recipient specifically wants N64 games like Mario 64 or Zelda OoT at better performance.
What's the best retro handheld under $150?
The R36PRO at ~$129 is the best retro handheld under $150 for users who want N64 and PSP support. For users who primarily want GBA, SNES, and PS1, the R36S at $79.99 is the better value — it performs identically on those systems at $50 less.
R36S or R36PRO — Both Lab-Tested by iGC
R36S: $79.99 · 4.70/5 · Best under $100 · R36PRO: ~$129 · Best N64/PSP under $150
→ Shop R36S — $79.99 Is R36S Worth It?📖 See also: R36S Review · Best Under $150 · R36S vs R36MAX
