R36S vs MIYOO Mini Plus 2026: Which Retro Handheld Should You Buy?
The R36S ($79.99) and MIYOO Mini Plus (~$69) are two of the most popular budget retro handhelds in 2026 — and they represent two completely different philosophies. This is the complete iGC Lab comparison — every spec, every difference, and the honest verdict on which device is right for you.
Compared by the iGC Lab Team · Last updated: July 2026 · R36S iGC Lab-Tested
iGC #1 PICK — MOST BUYERS
R36S Definitive Edition
⭐ 4.70/5 · 2,837 reviews
$79.99
Preloaded · PSP · DS (128GB) · Lab-Tested
Buy R36S — $79.99 →BEST FIRMWARE — ENTHUSIASTS
MIYOO Mini Plus
⭐ 4.6/5 · Community Rating
~$69
OnionOS · Built-in WiFi · No games · No PSP
Available via MIYOO and third-party retailers
iGC Lab one-line verdict: The MIYOO Mini Plus has better firmware (OnionOS) and built-in WiFi. The R36S ships with thousands of preloaded games, supports PSP, and costs $10 more. For beginners, gift buyers, and PSP gamers — R36S. For experienced enthusiasts with their own ROM collection who want OnionOS — MIYOO Mini Plus.
⚡ Quick Answer
✅ Buy the R36S ($79.99) if:
- You want preloaded games — play immediately
- You're a beginner or first-time buyer
- You're buying as a gift
- You want PSP emulation
- You want DS games (128GB)
- You want dual analog sticks
- You want the most proven device (2,837 reviews)
- You want iGC Lab-Tested quality assurance
✅ Buy the MIYOO Mini Plus (~$69) if:
- You have your own ROM collection
- OnionOS's polished UI is important to you
- Built-in WiFi is a priority
- RetroAchievements via WiFi matters to you
- You want the lightest possible device (~105g)
- You're an experienced retro gaming enthusiast
- You only play GBA, SNES, NES, and PS1
- Saving $10 is meaningful to you
📊 Full Specs Comparison
| Specification | R36S | MIYOO Mini Plus | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.99 | ~$69 | MIYOO |
| Processor | Allwinner H700 | Ingenic T618 | R36S (PSP) |
| RAM | 1GB DDR3 | 256MB DDR3 | R36S |
| Screen | 3.5" IPS 640×480 | 3.5" IPS 640×480 | Tie |
| Battery | 3,200mAh — 7.5hr | 3,000mAh — 7.0hr | R36S |
| WiFi | USB dongle | ✅ Built-in | MIYOO |
| Dual analog sticks | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | R36S |
| PSP support | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | R36S |
| DS support | 128GB only | ❌ No | R36S |
| Preloaded games | ✅ Thousands | ❌ None | R36S |
| Firmware | ArkOS (iGC configured) | OnionOS | MIYOO (UI) |
| Weight | ~175g | ~105g | MIYOO |
| Verified reviews | 2,837 @ 4.70★ | Community | R36S |
| iGC Lab-Tested | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | R36S |
Score: R36S wins 8 categories · MIYOO Mini Plus wins 3 categories · 1 tie
✅ What's Identical Between Both Devices
100% Identical on Both R36S and MIYOO Mini Plus
- Screen: 3.5" IPS 640×480
- NES performance: Perfect 60fps
- SNES performance: Perfect 60fps
- GBA performance: Perfect 60fps
- PS1 performance: Perfect 60fps
- GBC performance: Perfect 60fps
- USB-C charging: Both
- 3.5mm headphone jack: Both
📊 The Key Differences — What Actually Matters
💾 Preloaded Games
R36S: Thousands preloaded
MIYOO: Zero games
The single most important practical difference
⚡ PSP Support
R36S: Yes — light to medium
MIYOO: Cannot run PSP
MIYOO's 256MB RAM is insufficient for PSP
💻 Firmware UI
R36S: ArkOS (iGC configured)
MIYOO: OnionOS (more polished)
MIYOO's only clear UI advantage
💾 Preloaded Games — The Decisive Factor
R36S — Ships Ready to Play
- ✅ NES — Complete library
- ✅ SNES — Complete library
- ✅ GBA — Complete library
- ✅ GBC / GB — Complete library
- ✅ PS1 — Major titles
- ✅ Sega Genesis — Complete
- ✅ N64 — Selected titles
- ✅ PSP — Selected (64GB) / Full (128GB)
- ✅ DS — Full library (128GB)
Time to first game: 30 seconds
MIYOO Mini Plus — No Games
- ❌ NES — Must source ROMs
- ❌ SNES — Must source ROMs
- ❌ GBA — Must source ROMs
- ❌ GBC / GB — Must source ROMs
- ❌ PS1 — Must source ROMs
- ❌ Sega Genesis — Must source ROMs
- ❌ PSP — Cannot run PSP games
- ❌ DS — Cannot run DS games
Time to first game: Hours of setup
💻 Firmware — OnionOS vs ArkOS
This is the MIYOO Mini Plus's strongest argument. OnionOS is genuinely the most polished retro gaming firmware available on any budget device. Here's the honest comparison:
⭐ OnionOS (MIYOO) — Strengths
- Most polished UI in budget retro gaming
- Intuitive navigation — no learning curve
- Built-in WiFi for RetroAchievements
- Automatic firmware updates via WiFi
- Active community — constant improvements
- Scraper built-in — auto-downloads box art
- Theme support — highly customizable
✅ ArkOS (R36S iGC) — Strengths
- iGC pre-configured — no setup needed
- All shortcuts pre-mapped (Select + R1 = save)
- All emulators pre-optimized per system
- PSP support (PPSSPP pre-configured)
- DS support (DeSmuME pre-configured)
- Functional and reliable for daily use
- Thousands of games pre-organized
⚠ Firmware reality check: OnionOS is a better-looking UI. But the iGC pre-configuration of ArkOS means the R36S works perfectly out of the box — you don't need to know what OnionOS is to enjoy the R36S. For buyers who want to play games rather than configure firmware, the iGC R36S's pre-configuration makes the firmware difference irrelevant in practice.
⚡ PSP Support — The Critical Difference
R36S — PSP Support
- ✅ Patapon 1, 2, 3 — 60fps perfect
- ✅ Tactics Ogre: LUCT — 60fps perfect
- ✅ FF Tactics: WotL — 60fps perfect
- ✅ Castlevania: DXC — 60fps perfect
- ✅ Ys: Oath in Felghana — 60fps perfect
- ✅ Crisis Core: FF VII — 45–55fps
- ✅ Persona 3 Portable — 45–55fps
200+ PSP games preloaded (128GB)
MIYOO Mini Plus — No PSP
The MIYOO Mini Plus cannot run PSP games. Its Ingenic T618 processor and 256MB RAM are insufficient for PSP emulation.
- ❌ Patapon — cannot run
- ❌ Tactics Ogre — cannot run
- ❌ Crisis Core — cannot run
- ❌ Persona 3 — cannot run
- ❌ Any PSP game — cannot run
PSP is not supported on MIYOO Mini Plus
❌ Critical MIYOO limitation: If you want to play Patapon, Tactics Ogre, Crisis Core, Persona 3, or any PSP game — the MIYOO Mini Plus is not the right device. The R36S is the only budget device under $100 that supports PSP emulation with a preloaded library.
⚡ Performance Comparison
| Platform | R36S | MIYOO Mini Plus | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NES | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Identical — both perfect |
| SNES | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Identical — both perfect |
| GBA / GBC | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Identical — both perfect |
| PlayStation 1 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Identical — both perfect |
| Sega Genesis | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Identical — both perfect |
| Nintendo 64 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | R36S better — more RAM |
| PSP | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Mixed | ❌ Not supported | R36S only — MIYOO cannot run PSP |
| Nintendo DS | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 128GB | ❌ Not supported | R36S 128GB only — MIYOO cannot run DS |
🎯 Who Should Buy Which?
| Your situation | Buy this | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| First retro handheld | R36S | Preloaded — play in 30 seconds, no setup |
| Buying as a gift | R36S | Ships ready to play — MIYOO requires hours of setup |
| Pokémon fan | R36S | All Pokémon preloaded — MIYOO has none |
| Want PSP games | R36S | MIYOO cannot run PSP — R36S only option |
| Want DS games (HeartGold, Platinum) | R36S 128GB | MIYOO cannot run DS — R36S 128GB only option |
| Experienced enthusiast, own ROMs | MIYOO Mini+ | OnionOS + built-in WiFi + $10 cheaper |
| Want OnionOS specifically | MIYOO Mini+ | OnionOS is MIYOO-exclusive |
| Want lightest possible device | MIYOO Mini+ | 105g vs 175g — significantly lighter |
| Want built-in WiFi + preloaded games | R36S + dongle | No device has both — R36S + $5 WiFi dongle |
🏆 Final Verdict
For most buyers: R36S. The MIYOO Mini Plus is a genuinely excellent device — OnionOS is the best firmware in budget retro gaming, and the built-in WiFi is a real advantage. But it ships with zero games, cannot run PSP or DS games, and requires hours of setup before you can play your first game. For the vast majority of buyers — beginners, gift buyers, Pokémon fans, and PSP gamers — the R36S is the better choice.
The MIYOO Mini Plus is the right choice for: Experienced retro gaming enthusiasts who already have their own ROM collection, specifically want OnionOS's polished UI, and only play GBA, SNES, NES, and PS1 games. If that describes you, the MIYOO Mini Plus is excellent and $10 cheaper.
🏆 iGC PICK — MOST BUYERS
R36S Definitive Edition
⭐ 4.70/5 · 2,837 reviews
$79.99
Preloaded · PSP · Lab-Tested · 30-day returns
Buy R36S — $79.99 →FOR EXPERIENCED ENTHUSIASTS
MIYOO Mini Plus
⭐ 4.6/5 · Community Rating
~$69
OnionOS · Built-in WiFi · No games · No PSP
Available via MIYOO official store
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is the R36S better than the MIYOO Mini Plus?
For most buyers, yes. The R36S ships with thousands of preloaded games, supports PSP and DS emulation, and has dual analog sticks. The MIYOO Mini Plus has better firmware (OnionOS) and built-in WiFi, but ships with zero games and cannot run PSP or DS games. For beginners, gift buyers, and PSP gamers — R36S. For experienced enthusiasts with their own ROMs — MIYOO Mini Plus.
Can the MIYOO Mini Plus play PSP games?
No. The MIYOO Mini Plus cannot run PSP games — its Ingenic T618 processor and 256MB RAM are insufficient for PSP emulation. If PSP gaming is important to you, the R36S is the only budget device under $100 that supports PSP with a preloaded library.
Does the MIYOO Mini Plus come with games?
No. The MIYOO Mini Plus ships with zero preloaded games. You must source all ROM files yourself. The iGC R36S ships with thousands of preloaded games — ready to play in 30 seconds.
Is OnionOS better than ArkOS?
OnionOS has a more polished UI than ArkOS. However, the iGC pre-configuration of ArkOS on the R36S means you don't need to configure anything — all shortcuts, emulators, and settings are pre-optimized. For buyers who want to play games rather than configure firmware, the difference is minimal in practice.
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