Last updated October 20, 2026 · R36 Ultra Editorial Team
The R36 Ultra X is a vertical retro handheld with a 4.5-inch 1024×768 (4:3) IPS screen, a Rockchip RK3326 chip and 1GB of RAM, according to the handhelds.wiki spec record, which dates its release to May 2026. It’s a different device from the 4.0-inch, square-screen R36 Ultra: same chip, bigger and wider screen. It ships with a Linux system on a microSD card, and the community firmware ArkOS4Clone has listed it as a supported device since its 20260709 release.
This page is the R36 Ultra X reference: the full spec sheet with a source for every line, firmware and themes, Wi-Fi, what to check in a listing and which cases fit. On Amazon US, the listing referenced here is the R36 Ultra X (ASIN B0HKMW74ZM). If you’re choosing between the two Ultras, our R36 Ultra X vs R36 Ultra comparison covers that side by side.
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Quick answer
- Screen: the R36 Ultra X has a 4.5-inch IPS panel at 1024×768 with a 4:3 aspect ratio, per handhelds.wiki and a seller spec sheet.
- Chip and memory: it uses the same RK3326 and Mali-G31 MP2 as the R36S and R36 Ultra, with 1GB of LPDDR3 RAM, so it isn’t faster than either.
- Wi-Fi: it has built-in 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, according to the r36handhelds.com spec sheet. No source we found lists Bluetooth.
- Firmware: ArkOS4Clone supports it as “UDT R36UltraX” with its own device file,
rk3326-r36ultrax-linux.dtb. - Battery: sources disagree. One seller lists 3500mAh, while an Amazon listing title claims 3000mAh.
- Cases: R36 Ultra cases are cut for a 4.0-inch body. Buy a case whose listing names the Ultra X.
What is the R36 Ultra X?
The R36 Ultra X is a budget Linux handheld in the R36 family, built in the vertical, Game Boy-style shape. Handhelds.wiki lists its maker as “Other”, and no single brand owns the name. On Amazon US it is sold under the JUTOPIPC brand, while a PriceRunner listing carries a “Saudism R36 Ultra X”.
The ArkOS4Clone project groups it under the brand “UDT”, next to the R36 Ultra. That fits what the specs suggest: the two share a platform, and the X swaps the Ultra’s 720×720 square screen for a 4:3 panel. In the description of his October 2026 review, YouTube reviewer Retro Jacek calls it “a new biggest 4:3 aspect ratio budget handheld”.
New to the R36 names? Our explainer on what an R36 handheld is sorts out the R36S, R36 Ultra, R36 Max and the look-alikes.
R36 Ultra X specs: the full spec sheet
Every row below names its source. Where sources disagree, both values are shown. “Not confirmed” means no fetchable source states it.
| Spec | R36 Ultra X | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Release | May 2026 | handhelds.wiki |
| Form factor | Vertical | handhelds.wiki |
| Screen | 4.5-inch, fully laminated IPS | handhelds.wiki; r36handhelds.com |
| Resolution | 1024×768, 4:3. One Norwegian classified ad gives 1024×600 | handhelds.wiki; r36handhelds.com; finn.no ad |
| Chip (SoC) | Rockchip RK3326, quad-core Cortex-A35, “up to 1.5GHz” | handhelds.wiki; r36handhelds.com |
| CPU limit in ArkOS4Clone | 1,296 MHz (max_cpufreq=1296) | ArkOS4Clone Ultra X boot.ini |
| GPU | Mali-G31 MP2 | r36handhelds.com |
| RAM | 1GB LPDDR3 | handhelds.wiki; r36handhelds.com |
| Internal storage | 8GB | handhelds.wiki |
| microSD | 16GB to 256GB cards; sold with 64GB or 128GB | r36handhelds.com; AliExpress listing title |
| Battery | 3500mAh, “approximately 5 hours” vs 3000mAh | r36handhelds.com vs Amazon listing title (B0GY118GFZ) |
| Charging | 5V/2A over USB-C | r36handhelds.com |
| Wi-Fi | Yes, 2.4 GHz | handhelds.wiki; r36handhelds.com |
| Bluetooth | Not confirmed | None of the sources list it |
| Video output | None | handhelds.wiki |
| Speakers | Stereo, two 8Ω 1W speakers | handhelds.wiki; r36handhelds.com |
| Headphone jack | 3.5mm | handhelds.wiki; r36handhelds.com |
| Ports | USB-C charging and USB-C OTG | r36handhelds.com |
| Controls | D-pad, ABXY, two sticks with color-changing light rings, vibration motor | r36handhelds.com |
| Operating system | Linux; EmuELEC 4.7 with EmulationStation, per one shop | handhelds.wiki; r36-ultra-x.com |
| Weight and size | 8.8 oz; 4.5 × 3.5 × 7 in (the listing doesn’t say whether these are the console or the box) | Amazon listing B0HKMW74ZM |
| In the box | Console, USB charging cable, user manual | Amazon listing B0HKMW74ZM |
R36 Ultra X specifications as published by each named source. Spec claims from sellers aren’t independent verification.
The Amazon listing B0HKMW74ZM itself gives no screen size, battery or chip figure. It only says the system is open source with a “large vertical screen”, so check the numbers on the specific listing you’re buying from. For the 4.0-inch model’s numbers, see the R36 Ultra specs page.
How well does the R36 Ultra X run games?
It plays the same systems as other RK3326 handhelds, because the chip and RAM are unchanged. A bigger screen with more pixels doesn’t add speed.
A Nerdbot overview published on October 17, 2026 says it handles Game Boy through Game Boy Advance well, but isn’t ideal for demanding Nintendo 64, Dreamcast or PSP games. Retro Jacek’s review chapters run from NES and SNES through PS1, N64, Nintendo DS, PSP and Dreamcast titles. Our R36 Ultra emulation guide gives system-by-system expectations for RK3326 hardware.
Does the R36 Ultra X have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth?
It has Wi-Fi: handhelds.wiki lists it, and the r36handhelds.com spec sheet specifies built-in 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. That means it won’t join a 5 GHz-only network. Bluetooth isn’t listed by handhelds.wiki, the Amazon listing or the seller spec sheets, so treat it as not confirmed.
The r36-ultra-x.com shop notes that what Wi-Fi does depends on the system. File transfer, box art and updates rely on software support, and after switching systems you usually have to set up the network again. On R36-family firmware, Wi-Fi is mostly for file transfer, scraping and PortMaster downloads, as our Wi-Fi and PortMaster guide explains.
What firmware does the R36 Ultra X run?
Stock system
Handhelds.wiki lists the OS as Linux. The r36-ultra-x.com shop says it ships running EmuELEC 4.7 with the EmulationStation menu, with everything on a single microSD card. We found no second source for that version number, so check what’s on your own card.
ArkOS4Clone: the documented option
ArkOS4Clone, maintained by lcdyk0517 on GitHub, ports (d)ArkOS to clone devices. Its changelog added “UDT R36Ultra, R36UltraX” in release 20260709, and release 20260805 “fixed the bug in the R36ultraX joystick channel”. The project wiki lists the R36UltraX with a 768P boot logo and its own config folder, consoles/r36ultrax/.
The wiki’s install outline is short:
- Download the release image. Release 20261008 offers both ArkOS4Clone and dArkOS4Clone images.
- Flash it to a microSD card.
- Run
dtb_selector.exeon Windows and pick your device. Non-Windows users copy the files fromconsoles/r36ultrax/by hand. - Choose the battery driver (Original or arkos4clone_fix) when prompted, then reboot.
A September 2026 video from Lokal Smart Tech shows ArkOS4Clone with PortMaster running on the R36 Ultra X, and PortMaster’s GUI code includes “UDT R36UltraX” in its device list.
What doesn’t list it (yet)
- dArkOSRE-R36: southoz’s README lists the R36 Ultra as a beta board, but has no Ultra X entry.
- ROCKNIX: a search of the ROCKNIX source code found no Ultra X device entry.
- Original ArkOS: the christianhaitian/arkos repository is archived, and its last releases predate the Ultra X.
Back up first. Image the stock card before flashing anything, and keep it untouched so you can go back or return the unit. Only use images and DTB files made for the R36 Ultra X; R36S or R36 Ultra files are for different screens. Our SD card guide covers the backup, and the R36 Ultra firmware guide and R36S custom firmware guide explain the flashing process. If you’re weighing dArkOS in general, read our dArkOS guide.
Does the R36 Ultra X only have 2 themes?
We couldn’t confirm how many themes the stock card ships with. The “only 2 themes” complaint shows up in search suggestions, and Retro Jacek’s review has a dedicated themes chapter, but no written source we found gives a number.
Themes come from the firmware, not the hardware, so changing systems changes the choice. On ArkOS, the ArkOS wiki says you add an EmulationStation theme by copying its folder into roms/themes on the card from a computer. You then pick it with Start, UI Settings, Theme. ArkOS4Clone is built on ArkOS. Whether the stock EmuELEC card uses the same folder is not confirmed, so back up the card, then look at its folders on a computer.
What should you check in an R36 Ultra X listing?
- Screen and resolution. Look for 4.5 inches and 1024×768. A listing that says 4.0 inches or 720×720 is the R36 Ultra, and 1024×600 conflicts with the spec record.
- Battery figure. Expect 3000 or 3500mAh. If the title, bullets and images disagree, ask the seller.
- Card size and brand. Units come with a 64GB or 128GB card. Back it up on day one, and move to a brand-name card if the stock one fails.
- Preloaded games. Game counts say nothing about quality and are a legal grey area. Add files you legally own instead, as our guide on how to add games shows.
- Return window and seller. Our where to buy page and the original vs clone checks apply to the X too. When it arrives, run the quality check while you can still return it.
Which cases fit the R36 Ultra X?
Cases and screen protectors made for the R36 Ultra are cut for a 4.0-inch body, and none of the ones we found claim to fit the X. The accessories in our R36 Ultra accessories guide are for the 4.0-inch model.
X-specific silicone sleeves do exist on Amazon. The Silicone Protective Case for R36 Ultra X listing states it is “specially designed for R36 Ultra X”, with a charging-port cutout and a lanyard. Another Ultra X sleeve listing gives its size as 10.2 × 3.5 × 14.6 cm. We found no screen protector that names the Ultra X. microSD cards carry over: r36handhelds.com lists support for 16GB to 256GB cards.
Should you buy the R36 Ultra X?
Buy the R36 Ultra X if you want the biggest 4:3 screen in the R36 family and are happy with RK3326-level performance. Its firmware support is younger than the R36 Ultra’s, but ArkOS4Clone already names it. Check the battery and screen numbers on the exact listing first.
If you’d rather have the longer-documented model with more guides, the R36 Ultra is the alternative. The X vs Ultra comparison walks through the trade-offs.
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Sources
- Handhelds Wiki: R36 Ultra X spec record (page edited June 4, 2026)
- R36 Handhelds: R36 Ultra X product specifications (seller)
- r36-ultra-x.com: R36 Ultra X firmware, ArkOS, updates and backups (seller)
- ArkOS4Clone (lcdyk0517) on GitHub, changelog, wiki and R36 Ultra X boot.ini
- ArkOS4Clone releases (20261008)
- southoz/dArkOSRE-R36 README
- christianhaitian/arkos (archived) and the ArkOS wiki: Themes
- PortMaster-GUI device list
- Retro Jacek: R36 Ultra X review (YouTube, October 7, 2026)
- Lokal Smart Tech: ArkOS4Clone on the R36 Ultra X (YouTube, September 1, 2026)
- Nerdbot: R36 Ultra X handheld console (October 17, 2026)
- Retro Handhelds: R36 Ultra review (4.0-inch model)
- FINN.no: R36 Ultra X classified ad
- AliExpress: R36 Ultra X listing
- Amazon.com listings B0HKMW74ZM (R36 Ultra X), B0GY118GFZ (R36 Ultra-X), B0HJYPJKZJ and B0HK75KTB5 (Ultra X cases)
Frequently asked questions
Is the R36 Ultra X the same as the R36 Ultra?
No. Both use the RK3326 chip and 1GB of RAM, but the R36 Ultra X has a 4.5-inch 1024×768 (4:3) screen, while the R36 Ultra has a 4.0-inch 720×720 square screen. See the X vs Ultra comparison.
What are the R36 Ultra X specs?
Handhelds.wiki lists a 4.5-inch 1024×768 IPS screen, RK3326 chip, 1GB LPDDR3 RAM, 8GB internal storage, microSD, Wi-Fi, stereo speakers and no video output. Seller listings give the battery as 3000mAh or 3500mAh.
Does the R36 Ultra X have Wi-Fi?
Yes. The r36handhelds.com spec sheet lists built-in 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, so it can’t join a 5 GHz-only network. Bluetooth isn’t listed by any source we found. Our Wi-Fi guide explains what it’s used for.
Can I install ArkOS on the R36 Ultra X?
Yes, through ArkOS4Clone, which has listed the R36 Ultra X since its 20260709 release and uses a dedicated rk3326-r36ultrax-linux.dtb file. Image your stock card first and follow the SD card backup steps.
How do I add more themes to the R36 Ultra X?
On ArkOS-based systems such as ArkOS4Clone, the ArkOS wiki says to copy a theme folder into roms/themes on the card, then select it under Start, UI Settings, Theme. The stock theme count and folder layout are not confirmed.
Do R36 Ultra cases fit the R36 Ultra X?
Don’t count on it. R36 Ultra cases are made for the 4.0-inch body. Buy a case whose listing names the R36 Ultra X; silicone sleeves made for the X exist on Amazon.
Our pick: the R36 Ultra X
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