Tips from China: Brutally cheap retro consoles starting from 800 CZK!

In the next installment of Tips from China, we’ll look at a category that has exploded in recent years – retro handhelds for a few hundred crowns. These are pocket consoles with Linux that emulate classic gaming systems from NES to PS1.

Retro handhelds: nostalgia or a practical tool?

Retro handhelds are essentially miniaturized emulators packaged into a body that vaguely resembles a Game Boy or PSP. Most often, they run on Linux with their own overlay (ArkOS, UnofficialOS) and contain pre-installed ROMs of old games. The legality of all this is… debatable, but that’s another discussion.

Who are they for? For people who want to play old games on the go, without having to carry a laptop or a phone with a gamepad. And also for those who like to tinker with firmware and emulator settings.

Gaminja K36 – vertical Game Boy for 787 CZK

The Gaminja K36 is a vertical handheld with a 3.5″ IPS display and an RK3326 chip. In practice, this means that NES, SNES, GBA, and Genesis will run without issues. PS1 games will also run, but with occasional stuttering. PSP? Forget about it.

Reviews praise its ergonomics and comfortable grip. The textured surface and well-placed buttons make the K36 a pleasant companion for long journeys. The display has a resolution of 640×480 pixels and 500 nits of brightness, which is decent for this price.

What’s the catch? Performance is not consistent. In more demanding PS1 games (Gran Turismo, Tekken 3), stuttering and audio issues appear. The second problem – absence of Wi-Fi. Want to update firmware or add games? You have to do it via a microSD card and a computer.

The third pitfall – the software is inconsistent. Some games don’t have assigned controls, others don’t load at all. The K36 is also a clone of the R36S, so quality may vary depending on the seller.

Price: 787 CZK

R36 Ultra – 4″ display

The R36 Ultra comes with a 4″ display and open-source Linux. It sounds appealing, but in practice… it’s not entirely clear what it brings extra compared to the cheaper K36. The chip is still RK3326, so performance is practically the same.

The advantage is a larger display, which you’ll appreciate when playing 16-bit games. The disadvantage is a price comparable to competitors that offer more. Reviews on Reddit warn of unstable firmware and issues with save states.

One user on Reddit describes how every attempt to save failed and the game returned him to the beginning. Another is dealing with the fact that the microSD card cannot be opened on a computer. These are problems you might not encounter with a refurbished console, for example.

Price: 781 CZK

R36H – horizontal variant for 913 CZK

The R36H is an attempt at a horizontal form factor designed to compete with the Anbernic RG35XXH. For 913 CZK, you get the same RK3326 chip, the same display, but a different control layout.

Reviews praise the quieter shoulder buttons and more ergonomic trigger placement. On the back are rubber grips that improve handling. The display is the same as the K36 – 3.5″ IPS with 640×480 pixels.

Where’s the problem? The D-pad is worse than on the vertical version. One reviewer writes that “the thumb doesn’t know where to rest” and the D-pad feels like an afterthought, not a well-designed part of the product. The Start and Select buttons are also extremely loud – if you play in a quiet environment, you’ll be disruptive.

Another disadvantage – analog stick placement. They are in an offset style like on the Xbox, which means if you prefer the D-pad for retro games, you’ll have a problem. The R36H is ideal for those who play more with the analog stick.

Price: 913 CZK

Conclusion: Who are retro handhelds worth it for?

Retro handhelds from China are not a bad choice if you have realistic expectations. For fans of old games who want a pocket console, they can serve well. Just realize that for 800 CZK, you won’t get a miracle.

Of the tested models, I would choose the Gaminja K36 for 787 CZK – it has the best ergonomics and a sharp display. If you prefer a horizontal design, try the R36H, but expect a worse D-pad.

Do you have experience with retro handhelds from China? Or did you opt for a refurbished one?