R36H vs Anbernic RG35XX H
The Anbernic RG35XX H is the stronger device on paper: a faster Allwinner H700 chip, built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and TV output, none of which the R36H has. Both use a 3.5-inch 640×480 screen, two analog sticks and two microSD slots, and both play the 8-bit, 16-bit and most PlayStation games well. The R36H makes sense when it costs noticeably less and you do not need wireless or TV play.
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Quick Verdict
🏆 RG35XX H is the stronger device; R36H competes on price.
The RG35XX H wins on chip speed, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and TV output. The R36H only wins if it is clearly cheaper and you mostly play systems up to PlayStation.
The Closest Genuine Rival
Anbernic's RG35XX H is the most direct comparison the R36H faces. Both are horizontal, both have two analog sticks, both use a 3.5-inch 640×480 IPS panel, and both target the same buyer. The meaningful differences are the chip and the connectivity.
R36H vs RG35XX H Specs
| R36H | Anbernic RG35XX H | |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | Rockchip RK3326, 4× Cortex-A35 up to 1.5GHz | Allwinner H700, 4× Cortex-A53 at 1.5GHz |
| GPU | Mali-G31 | Mali-G31 MP2 |
| RAM | 1GB DDR3L | 1GB |
| Screen | 3.5" IPS, 640×480 (4:3) | 3.5" IPS, 640×480 (4:3) |
| Wi-Fi / Bluetooth | None on most units; Wi-Fi only on some V21 boards | Wi-Fi 2.4/5GHz and Bluetooth 4.2 |
| TV output | None | Yes (listed as "HD output TV") |
| Battery | 3,000mAh, removable | 3,300mAh |
| microSD slots | Two (TF1-OS, TF2-GAME) | Two |
| Weight | About 186 g | 180 g |
| Stock system | ArkOS-based image | Anbernic's own 64-bit Linux |
RG35XX H figures from Anbernic's product page; R36H figures from our specs page.
Where the Faster Chip Actually Shows
Not where most people expect. Up to the PlayStation era both devices run most games well, so the extra performance changes little you would notice. The difference appears at the boundary — Nintendo 64, Dreamcast and PSP — where the A53 cores in the H700 give the RG35XX H more headroom than the efficiency-focused A35 cores in the R36H. It moves the line rather than transforming those systems: see our N64, Dreamcast and PSP pages for what the R36H handles.
Wireless, TV Play and Firmware
This is the clearer split. The RG35XX H has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built in, so it can use Bluetooth controllers, network features and RetroAchievements without a dongle, and it can output to a TV. Most R36H units have none of that, and the R36H has no video output at all (see R36H Wi-Fi).
Both have active community firmware. For the RG35XX H, ROCKNIX and Knulli both document the device. For the R36H, reviewed units ship with an ArkOS-based image and dArkOSRE lists its V20 and V21 boards in beta; see our R36H firmware guide.
Which Is the Better Buy?
- Choose the RG35XX H if you want Wi-Fi, Bluetooth controllers or TV play, or you care most about N64, Dreamcast and PSP. If the two are close in price, it is the more sensible purchase.
- Choose the R36H if it is clearly cheaper and your library is mostly 8-bit, 16-bit, Game Boy and PlayStation. There you would be paying for headroom you rarely use, and the R36H's battery is easy to swap.
Neither device is a PSP machine
Both sit below the level where PSP emulation is consistently enjoyable. If that is your main goal, look at a higher tier rather than choosing between these two.
Leaning Towards the RG35XX H?
Several resellers list Anbernic's RG35XX H on Amazon. Check that the listing is the H model and what card is bundled.
Check Price →How To Decide
Handhelds in this class are separated by three things far more than by raw specifications: the shape you are comfortable holding, the software you are willing to maintain, and the newest system you genuinely intend to play. Deciding those three in advance narrows the field faster than any spec sheet comparison, because most devices at this level emulate everything up to PlayStation competently and differ mainly in how pleasant they are to live with.