R36 Ultra and Ultra X: Square or 4.5-Inch Screens, Wi-Fi Built In
"Ultra" covers two different devices. The R36 Ultra is a vertical handheld with a 4-inch 720×720 square screen, built-in Wi-Fi and light-up analogue sticks on the familiar Rockchip RK3326. The R36 Ultra X moves to a 4.5-inch 1024×768 4:3 laminated screen and adds a vibration motor. Neither is faster than the R36H; the money goes into the screen and connectivity.
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Quick Verdict
🏆 R36 Ultra X if you want the biggest 4:3 screen in the family; R36 Ultra if you want Wi-Fi in a square-screen body.
On a 1024×768 panel the same RK3326 has four times the pixels of a 640×480 screen to drive, so check reviews of the exact model for PlayStation performance.
R36 Ultra Specifications
Every row names where the figure comes from. "Seller listing" means the manufacturer-supplied specification on a retail listing, which we could not verify independently.
| Spec | R36 Ultra | Source |
|---|---|---|
| R36 Ultra: screen | 4-inch IPS, 720×720, 1:1 | Seller listing |
| R36 Ultra: chip | Rockchip RK3326, quad-core | Seller listing |
| R36 Ultra: Wi-Fi | Built in | Seller listing |
| R36 Ultra: battery | 3000 mAh, USB-C | Seller listing |
| R36 Ultra: extras | RGB-lit analogue sticks | Seller listing |
| R36 Ultra X: screen | 4.5-inch fully laminated IPS, 4:3, 1024×768 per the manufacturer | Seller listing |
| R36 Ultra X: chip | Quad-core Cortex-A35, Mali-G31 MP2 (the RK3326 class) | Seller listing |
| R36 Ultra X: Wi-Fi | Built in | Seller listing |
| R36 Ultra X: battery | 3000 mAh, USB-C | Seller listing |
| R36 Ultra X: extras | Dual speakers, vibration motor, OTG port | Seller listing |
Emulation ceiling for every RK3326 handheld on this site: comfortable through the PlayStation era, with N64, Dreamcast and PSP depending on the game. See our systems guide.
Video: our channel, @r36shandheld.
Who the R36 Ultra Is For
- You want built-in Wi-Fi and a bigger screen than 3.5 inches.
- Ultra X: you play 4:3 systems and want them large and sharp.
Who should look elsewhere
- You want the lightest, cheapest way into the family: that is the R36S or R36H.
- You want proven community firmware; both Ultra models are newer and less documented.
How It Compares With the R36H
Our R36H vs R36 Ultra page covers the "Ultra" naming problem in detail: sellers apply the word loosely, so confirm the chipset and resolution in the listing before comparing prices.
Firmware
Treat firmware support as unknown until you have checked the project's device list for the exact Ultra model. The 1:1 and 1024×768 panels need their own display configuration, so R36S or R36H images do not carry over.
What you need
Whichever R36 model you pick, the bundled microSD card is the weak point. A branded card and a reader let you back up the stock card before you change anything. More options on our accessories page.
SanDisk Ultra 128GB microSD card
A branded card for games or a backup of the original card.
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SanDisk MobileMate USB 3.0 microSD card reader
Lets a computer read and write the console's cards for backups and images.
Check Price →Frequently Asked Questions
No. The R36 Ultra has a 4-inch square 720×720 screen; the Ultra X has a 4.5-inch 4:3 1024×768 screen and a vibration motor. Both list built-in Wi-Fi and the RK3326-class chip.
No. Listings describe the same quad-core Cortex-A35 platform. A higher-resolution screen gives the chip more pixels to draw, not more power.
Listings mention an OTG port for controllers, not HDMI or video output.
Sources
Other R36 Family Models
See the full model list, or jump to the R36H guide.