Is This The Compromise King of Retro Handhelds? | R36S Review

The R36S is one of the most recommended retro handhelds online… but why? I’ve owned the panda styled R36S for a while now, and while I LIKW it. I don’t love it.

In this video, I talk honestly about what makes the R36S so beloved despite its flaws. For newcomers to retro handhelds, it might be the perfect entry point. But for me, it’s a "compromise of compromises" build quality, d-pad, ergonomics and those very loud shoulder buttons. Yet… it still earns the title: "The Compromise King".

What I cover:
Why people recommend the R36S so much
The RK3326 chipset vs AllWinner A133P
Build quality and form factor issues
DS performance & nostalgia factor
Why ArkOS 2.0 makes this device so usable
Who I actually recommend it for

🔗 R36S Handheld (AliExpress – affiliate link): https://tidd.ly/44yJ8aC

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What’s your experience with the R36S or similar devices? Do you love it or just accept it?

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My R36S model: Panda (white with black buttons)
Running ArkOS 2.0
Testing with GB, GBA, PS1, PSP, and NDS (Tetris, Advance Wars, Crash Bandicoot, DBZ Shin Budokai, Mario Kart DS)
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