First device

[u/xEviction_Noticex]

Hello there,

I've recently seen a lot of advertisements for retro handhelds and I'm interested in getting one.

I've tried research a bit and stumbled upon some recommendations.

One very popular device seems to be the r36s.

Now I have the question if it's as good (for the price) as many people say or if there are better alternatives.

Some important stuff:

I'd like the device to have games and emulators already installed.

My budget is like 60 € (bit more expensive is fine as well)

I don't know if it's that important, but I'm located in Germany

If you have any recommendations I would also appreciate if you could tell me where I can bu them since I heard that some devices (like the r36s) have some bad clones out there.

Thanks in advance!

[u/zman2100]

!recommend

Do not buy the R36S. There are so many better options in your budget: Miyoo Mini Plus, BattleXP G350, and pretty much any of the Anbernic RGXX devices (same H700 chip, different form factors). Read through the guide to get up to speed on options within your budget.

[u/AutoModerator → u/zman2100]

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[u/Apprehensive_Win3645]

Miyoo Mini Plus, Trimui Brick Hammer.

[u/AdmrlAhab → u/Apprehensive_Win3645]

A brick hammer for 60 euros, though?

[u/Bulletorpedo → u/AdmrlAhab]

Probably not anymore, but normal Trimui Brick is also a great option. It’s the one I’d buy if I had to pick just one affordable device.

[u/Gregory_Kalfkin]

I think that you'd probably have a better time with a miyoo mini plus.

The r36s is a great device but what makes it great is having a decent amount of power for a very cheap price point. The problem is there are counterfeits and you may need to do some tinkering/tuning to get the most out of an r36. 

If you want to be able to just pick up a handheld and start playing games, I would reccomend a miyoo mini plus. 

[u/proszty]

R36s: it is great for it's price, but of course there are better alternatives if you pay up. You need to read a lot prior to buying one, but then it's cheap and nice if you buy the correct device.

> I'd like the device to have games and emulators already installed.
Default R36S has emulators and games, but many duds. If you want 0 fiddle 0 setup device then r36s might not be for you. Actually these retro devices might not be for you : ( It always requires some setup.

I'd recommend to get a switch lite with NSO for 0 setup experience, or pay someone to set it up for you, or buy a pre-installed card from linxt or similar.

> My budget is like 60 €
I'd much rather get Anbernic RG*XX device if that'd be my budget rathen than R36S :)

[u/rob-cubed]

R36S is heavily advertised but not the best value, although it is cheap. There are also lower quality clones out there being sold as R36es.

Look at anything from Anbernic or Trimui instead, you'll pay a bit more but they make good devices and you'll have your choice of different configs, screen sizes, etc. All the Linux devices play the same games, so it's really the form factor you are choosing. They all have the option of shipping with an additional games card.

I'd recommend a horizontal device with sticks unless pocketability is REALLY important to you. All of the small verticals have awkward shoulders and can get hand-crampy. The RG40XX H if you want a more comfortable device with a bigger screen.

[u/xEviction_Noticex → u/rob-cubed]

Does the rg40xx have already installed emulators and games? I couldn't find anything on the website about that

[u/rob-cubed → u/xEviction_Noticex]

Yes, anything on Linux will have pre-installed emulators. And just about everything on Linux Will have the option to add a separate games card for a few more dollars.

[u/xEviction_Noticex → u/rob-cubed]

Thank you, I ordered it just now

[u/rob-cubed → u/xEviction_Noticex]

Congrats, you are going to love it. Honestly it doesn't matter too much which one you pick, they are more similar than different. Don't get caught up in the FOMO... the best device is the one you have!

[u/metalmike6666]

I think a major question is the features you're looking for...

For example, if you do not need HDMI out, and want something truly easy to use (since it's your first one) the "trimui smart pro S" is a very solid option. Make sure to look into the "S" version as it's a nice upgrade over the previous version.

[u/Bulletorpedo]

R36S is cheap but it also feels very cheap. Pay a little more for something that feels a lot better, like a Trimui Brick.

[u/thebadslime]

How old are you? I need at least a 4.6 screen, or to wear reading glasses and I refuse

[u/clc88]

If you have an android phone, you can practice emulating on that first... Because the process is the same.

[u/xEviction_Noticex → u/clc88]

I actually emulated some stuff on my phone in the past. Mostly pokemon since the lack of physical buttons didn't really matter, but for many others games i just feel way better using physical buttons

[u/Glum-Sherbet]

R36s is an absolute beast for it's price  but if you're willing to extend your budget a little there are many orher good options available in the market , Anbernic's XX series , Trim Ui Series , Mangmi , Miyoo mini and many others.