Last updated October 20, 2026 · R36 Ultra Editorial Team
The R36 Ultra and the original R36 Max have the same screen size: both list a 4.0-inch 720×720 square (1:1) IPS panel on the Rockchip RK3326 chip, according to Retro Handhelds’ reviews of each model. The real differences are the shell and the extras. Sources give the R36 Max a larger 4000mAh battery, a bulging grip-style back and novelty buttons, while the R36 Ultra is the slimmer of the two and the one with confirmed built-in 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi.
Both are vertical, Game Boy-style handhelds, so this is not a horizontal-vs-vertical choice. If you want a bigger screen, the newer R36 Max 2 is the model to look at instead.
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Quick answer
- Same screen: the R36 Max and R36 Ultra both list a 4.0-inch 720×720 1:1 IPS screen, per Retro Handhelds and Tech Tactician.
- Same chip, same speed: both use the RK3326 with a Mali-G31 MP2 GPU and 1GB of RAM, so emulation performance should be similar, as Tech Tactician notes.
- Battery: the R36 Max lists 4000mAh. The R36 Ultra lists 3500mAh (Retro Handhelds) or 3000mAh (NerdsHeaven), depending on the source.
- Wi-Fi: built-in 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi is confirmed for the R36 Ultra by Notebookcheck and Tech Tactician. Built-in Wi-Fi on the original R36 Max is not confirmed by any independent source we found.
- Shape: both are vertical. Retro Handhelds describes the R36 Max as a “tall 1:1 form factor” with a bulging rear, and Tech Tactician calls it less pocket-friendly because of its two protruding back grips.
- Newer option: the R36 Max 2 moves to a 4.5-inch 1024×768 4:3 screen on the same RK3326, per Retro Handhelds.
New to the family names? Our explainer on what an R36 handheld is maps every model.
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R36 Ultra vs R36 Max: specs side by side
Every cell below comes from a named source. Where sources disagree, both figures are shown. “Not confirmed” means we found no reliable source for it.
| Spec | R36 Ultra | R36 Max (original) |
|---|---|---|
| Screen | 4.0-inch IPS, 720×720, 1:1 (Retro Handhelds, NerdsHeaven) | 4.0-inch IPS, 720×720, 1:1 (Retro Handhelds, Tech Tactician) |
| Chip and GPU | RK3326, Mali-G31 MP2 (Retro Handhelds) | RK3326, Mali-G31 MP2 (Retro Handhelds) |
| RAM | 1GB DDR3 (Retro Handhelds) | 1GB (Retro Handhelds) |
| Internal storage | 2GB eMMC (Retro Handhelds) | 8GB listed by one seller (WhatGeek); not confirmed elsewhere |
| microSD slots | Sources disagree: two (NerdsHeaven) or one (Tech Tactician) | Two (Retro Handhelds spec sheet) |
| Battery (listed) | 3500mAh, about 4–5 hours (Retro Handhelds) or 3000mAh, about 6 hours (NerdsHeaven) | 4000mAh, about 6 hours (Retro Handhelds spec sheet, WhatGeek) |
| Wi-Fi | Built-in 2.4 GHz (Notebookcheck, Tech Tactician, Comprasmartphone) | Not confirmed; ROCKNIX lists Wi-Fi only “sometimes” for this clone family |
| Bluetooth | Claimed by NerdsHeaven and seller listings; not listed by Retro Handhelds | Not confirmed |
| Video out | None (NerdsHeaven) | Not confirmed |
| Form factor | Vertical, D-pad top left (Retro Handhelds) | Vertical, “tall 1:1” with a bulging rear (Retro Handhelds); two back grips (Tech Tactician) |
| Weight (listed) | 204 g (Retro Handhelds) or 180 g (NerdsHeaven) | 375 g (WhatGeek listing); likely includes packaging, not confirmed |
| Sticks and buttons | Two RGB-backlit analog sticks, analog triggers (Tech Tactician) | Two Switch-style analog sticks, soccer-ball and heart novelty buttons (Retro Handhelds) |
| Speaker | Mono, front-facing (Retro Handhelds) | Front-firing, listed as 8W (Retro Handhelds spec sheet, WhatGeek) |
| Stock OS | Linux with EmuELEC (Retro Handhelds, Tech Tactician) | Linux, usually EmuELEC (Tech Tactician) |
| dArkOSRE-R36 status | Listed, beta (board GR36S-MB V1.4) | Listed, beta (board R36S-V12 R36 MAX) |
R36 Ultra vs R36 Max. Listings vary by seller and batch, so check the exact listing before you order.
Is the R36 Max screen bigger than the R36 Ultra?
No. The R36 Max screen size is 4.0 inches at 720×720, the same as the R36 Ultra. Retro Handhelds’ R36MAX review from December 2024 lists a “4″ IPS 720×720” panel and says the square screen “looks great”. Its R36 Ultra review from April 2026 lists the same 4-inch 720×720 panel at 254.56 PPI.
Seller pages sometimes call the R36 Max a “big-screen” or “large screen” model. That wording describes the bigger body, not a bigger panel. If you want a larger display, the R36 Max 2 is the one that changes it.
A square 1:1 screen leaves black bars above and below 4:3 games, on both devices equally. Our R36 Ultra specs page covers the panel in more detail.
What is actually different about the R36 Max’s shape?
Both devices are vertical. The difference is the back and the styling. Retro Handhelds calls the R36 Max “another clone – this time with a tall 1:1 form factor and a curvaceous rear end”, and says the rear bulge is a matter of personal taste.
Tech Tactician describes the R36 Max as football-themed, with heart-shaped Start and Select buttons and two protruding back grips. It calls the device “much less pocket-friendly” than the original R36S.
The R36 Ultra is the flatter design. Retro Handhelds lists it at about 145 × 84 mm and 204 g, while NerdsHeaven lists 180 g. For the R36 Max, the WhatGeek listing gives 15.3 × 8.3 × 3.5 cm and 375 g, but that weight probably includes the box and is not confirmed by a reviewer.
R36 Max review: what did reviewers say?
Retro Handhelds’ R36MAX review calls it fairly unremarkable for hobbyists and says there is “nothing on offer here that can’t be had elsewhere”. It praises the screen and the loud, clear front speaker.
The same review criticizes the controls. It calls the D-pad “ok, but a bit stiff”, calls the sticks cheap Switch-style parts, and says the triggers are loud and rattle. The reviewer suggests the design is aimed at a younger audience.
In its later R36MAX2 review, Retro Handhelds says the original became one of the best-selling handhelds, because it is cheap and widely available at retailers like Amazon. The reviewer also says he reconsidered his harsher take on the original.
Does the R36 Max have Wi-Fi like the R36 Ultra?
Not confirmed. Notebookcheck and Tech Tactician both list built-in Wi-Fi for the R36 Ultra, and a spec listing on Comprasmartphone gives it as 2.4 GHz. Tech Tactician confirms built-in Wi-Fi only for the Ultra, not the Max.
Neither Retro Handhelds’ R36MAX review nor the WhatGeek listing mentions Wi-Fi. The ROCKNIX page for this “EE clones” family, which includes the R36Max, lists “rk915 2.4G WiFi (sometimes)”, so Wi-Fi hardware seems to vary from unit to unit.
If online features matter to you, choose the model with confirmed Wi-Fi. Our Wi-Fi and PortMaster guide explains what Wi-Fi is useful for on these handhelds.
Which has better battery life, R36 Max or R36 Ultra?
On paper, the R36 Max. It lists a 4000mAh battery and about 6 hours of play, according to the spec sheet in Retro Handhelds’ review and the WhatGeek listing. The R36 Ultra lists 3500mAh and about 4–5 hours per Retro Handhelds, or 3000mAh and about 6 hours per NerdsHeaven.
These are listed figures, not independent runtime measurements. The RK3326 chip is the same, so screen brightness and the systems you emulate will matter more than the small gap. Our R36 Ultra battery guide has tips that apply to both.
Is the R36 Max faster than the R36 Ultra?
No. Both use the RK3326 with a Mali-G31 MP2 GPU and 1GB of RAM, per Retro Handhelds. Tech Tactician notes that the devices share the same chipset, so emulation performance should be similar.
That means both are best suited to 8-bit, 16-bit, GBA and most PS1 games. Our R36 Ultra emulation guide lists what RK3326 hardware handles well. For more speed, see the RK3566 option in our R36 Pro vs R36 Ultra comparison.
Which has better firmware support?
They are close. The dArkOSRE-R36 README on GitHub lists both in its supported-systems table with beta status: the R36 Ultra as board “GR36S-MB V1.4-2025-07-30” and the R36 Max as “R36S-V12 2023-08-18 R36 MAX”. Its news section says “R36 Max – Working in latest Beta”.
ROCKNIX lists experimental support for the “EE clones” family that includes the R36Max and asks for nightly 20251110 or newer. Tech Tactician adds that both devices work with ArkOS4Clone and recent dArkOSRE-R36.
- Back up first: image the stock microSD card before you change anything. Our SD card guide shows how.
- Match the board: only flash an image documented for your exact board. The dArkOSRE-R36 README asks owners of unlisted boards to open an issue with the motherboard ID, DTB files and boot.ini instead.
- Read the guide: our dArkOS guide covers the install steps for documented devices.
What about the R36 Max 2?
The R36 Max 2 is the model that actually changes the screen. Retro Handhelds’ May 2026 review lists a 4.5-inch 1024×768 4:3 IPS panel, the same RK3326 chip, 1GB of RAM, a 4000mAh battery and 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. Gadget Pilipinas reports that the D-pad and left stick swapped positions compared with the original.
Our R36 Max 2 vs R36 Ultra comparison covers it in detail, and the R36 Max 2 product notes collect the listing details.
R36 Ultra or R36 Max: which should you buy?
Choose the R36 Ultra if
You want confirmed built-in Wi-Fi, a slimmer and lighter body, RGB sticks with analog triggers, and the most complete set of setup and troubleshooting guides on this site. Run through our original vs clone checks before you order.
Choose the R36 Max if
You want the biggest listed battery on a 4-inch square screen, you like a chunky grip-style back, and you don’t mind the soccer-themed buttons. Our R36 Max product notes collect the listing details.
Choose neither if
You want a larger screen. Look at the R36 Max 2 instead, since the original Max and the Ultra share the same 4.0-inch panel.
Sources
- Retro Handhelds: Game Console R36MAX review
- Retro Handhelds: R36 Ultra review
- Retro Handhelds: R36MAX2 review
- Tech Tactician: R36S vs R36XX, R36Plus, Max, Ultra – models explained
- Notebookcheck: R36 Ultra gaming handheld
- Comprasmartphone: R36 Ultra spec listing
- NerdsHeaven: R36 Ultra
- WhatGeek: R36 Max listing
- Gadget Pilipinas: R36 Max 2 leaked
- dArkOSRE-R36 on GitHub (southoz)
- ROCKNIX: K36, R36Max/Pro and other EE clones
Frequently asked questions
Is the R36 Max better than the R36 Ultra?
Not in speed: both use the RK3326 chip with 1GB of RAM and the same 4.0-inch 720×720 screen. The R36 Max lists a bigger 4000mAh battery, while the R36 Ultra has confirmed built-in Wi-Fi and a slimmer body. See our R36 Ultra specs.
What is the R36 Max screen size?
The original R36 Max has a 4.0-inch 720×720 IPS screen with a 1:1 aspect ratio, according to Retro Handhelds’ review. That is the same size and resolution as the R36 Ultra.
Is the R36 Max vertical or horizontal?
Vertical. Retro Handhelds describes a tall 1:1 form factor with a bulging rear, and Tech Tactician mentions two protruding back grips. The R36 Ultra is vertical too.
Does the R36 Max have Wi-Fi?
Not confirmed. No independent review lists built-in Wi-Fi for the original R36 Max, and ROCKNIX lists Wi-Fi only “sometimes” for its clone family. The R36 Ultra has confirmed built-in 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, covered in our Wi-Fi guide.
What is the difference between the R36 Max and the R36 Max 2?
The R36 Max 2 moves from a 4.0-inch 720×720 square screen to a 4.5-inch 1024×768 4:3 screen on the same RK3326 chip, per Retro Handhelds. Gadget Pilipinas reports the D-pad and left stick also swapped positions.
Can the R36 Max run dArkOS?
The dArkOSRE-R36 README lists the R36 Max board in its supported table with beta status, as it does the R36 Ultra. Back up the stock card first and follow our dArkOS guide.
Our pick: the R36 Max
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