R36S Emulator Setup Guide 2026: How to Configure RetroArch & Best Settings — iGC
The R36S comes with RetroArch pre-installed and ready to use. But the right settings make a huge difference. iGC's step-by-step guide covers the best emulator for each system, optimal settings for GBA, SNES, PS1, and N64, and how to set up save states. Done in 10 minutes.
⚙️ Setup Quick Summary
Charge the R36S
Connect USB-C cable and charge for 2.5 hours before first use. The LED indicator turns off when fully charged. Do not skip this step — a full first charge extends battery longevity.
Power On
Hold the power button for 2 seconds. The R36S boots into ArkOS in about 15 seconds. You'll see the main game menu with all pre-loaded games organized by system.
Navigate the Menu
Use the D-pad to navigate between systems (GBA, SNES, PS1, etc.). Press A to select a game. Press Start to access game options. Press Select + Start to exit a game back to the menu.
Set Brightness
Press Select + Volume Up/Down to adjust brightness. iGC recommends 60% brightness for best battery life. The IPS screen is excellent at 60% — no need for maximum brightness.
mGBA — iGC #1 Pick
Best GBA emulator on R36S. 100% compatibility, perfect audio, accurate save states. Pre-installed on R36S. No configuration needed — works perfectly out of the box. Use for all Game Boy games.
Snes9x — iGC #1 Pick
Best SNES emulator on R36S. 100% compatibility, perfect audio, perfect speed. Pre-installed. Handles all SNES games including Super FX chip games (Star Fox, Yoshi's Island). No configuration needed.
PCSX-ReARMed — iGC #1 Pick
Best PS1 emulator on R36S. 97% average compatibility. Pre-installed. Set CPU Clock to 57 MHz (default) for best performance. Use for all PS1 games. Final Fantasy VII, Tekken 3, Crash Bandicoot all perfect.
Mupen64Plus-Next — iGC Pick
Best N64 emulator on R36S. 85–90% compatibility. Set resolution to 320x240 for best performance. Mario 64, Zelda OoT, Mario Kart 64 all playable. Some slowdown in demanding games.
Select a GBA Game
Navigate to GBA section, select any game. It will launch with mGBA automatically.
Access RetroArch Menu
Press Select + X (or the hotkey combo) to open the RetroArch quick menu during gameplay.
Set Integer Scaling
Go to Settings > Video > Scaling > Integer Scale: ON. This makes GBA pixel art look crisp and sharp on the 3.5" IPS screen. Essential for best visual quality.
Enable Save States
In Quick Menu > Save State (Slot 0). Press Select + R1 to quick-save anytime during gameplay. Press Select + L1 to quick-load. Use save states instead of in-game saves for GBA Pokemon games.
Select a PS1 Game
Navigate to PS1 section. Games launch with PCSX-ReARMed automatically.
Set CPU Clock
Quick Menu > Options > CPU Clock: 57 MHz (default). Do not increase — higher values cause overheating. 57 MHz is optimal for all PS1 games on R36S.
Enable Frameskip (if needed)
If a PS1 game runs slowly, enable Frameskip: 1 in Options. This improves performance in demanding games. Most PS1 games don't need this.
• Quick Save: Select + R1
• Quick Load: Select + L1
• Change Slot: Select + Left/Right D-pad
• Screenshot: Select + L2
• Exit Game: Select + Start
Use save states for GBA Pokemon games — in-game battery saves may not persist between sessions.
✅ R36S is Ready to Play Out of the Box
The R36S comes with all emulators pre-installed and pre-configured. For most users, zero setup is needed — just power on and play. The tips above optimize your experience further. GBA, SNES, and PS1 all work perfectly with default settings.
⚙️ Get Your R36S — Pre-Configured & Ready · $79.99
All emulators pre-installed · 15,000+ games · Zero setup · 4.70★ from 2,837 buyers
→ Shop R36S — $79.99 Complete Buying Guide📖 See also: Complete Buying Guide · Best Pokemon on R36S · Full R36S Review
