R36S Complete Features Guide: Everything It Can Do (2026)

The R36S is far more capable than it looks. Beyond playing retro games, it can connect to the internet, let you add games wirelessly, stream its screen to a TV, host SSH connections from your PC, and enable online multiplayer netplay. This is the definitive guide to every feature the R36S offers — hardware, ports, internet, game management, streaming, and more.

1. Hardware Specs at a Glance

2. Display & Screen

The 3.5-inch IPS panel at 640×480 hits the perfect sweet spot for retro gaming. The 4:3 aspect ratio matches NES, SNES, GBA, PS1, and N64 natively — no black bars, no stretching. IPS means wide viewing angles and consistent colour from any angle.

• Adjustable brightness via hotkey or settings — run dimmer to save battery
• Integer scaling in ArkOS — renders GBA at perfect 2× for zero blurring
• CRT and LCD shader support — makes games look like they did on original hardware
• No touchscreen — all navigation is button-based

3. Controls & Button Layout

4. Ports & Physical Connections

The R36S has three physical connection points. Understanding what each does helps you unlock the device’s full potential.

5. Emulation: What Systems Can the R36S Run?

The R36S runs RetroArch via ArkOS, giving access to 80+ emulator cores. Here is a realistic breakdown of what runs well and what does not.

Runs Perfectly — Every Game, Full Speed

NES / Famicom SNES / Super Famicom Game Boy Game Boy Color Game Boy Advance Sega Master System Sega Genesis / Mega Drive Sega CD 32X Neo Geo Neo Geo Pocket PC Engine / TurboGrafx-16 Atari 2600 / 7800 Atari Lynx CPS1 / CPS2 / CPS3 Arcade MAME (most titles) WonderSwan MSX DOS / ScummVM Pokémon Mini Virtual Boy

Runs Very Well (Most Games Full Speed)

PlayStation 1 PlayStation Portable (lighter games)

Partial — Core and Game Dependent

Nintendo 64 Nintendo DS Dreamcast (light titles)

6. How to Add Games to the R36S

There are three ways to get games onto your R36S. Choose the method that suits your setup.

Method 1: USB Cable (Mass Storage Mode)

The simplest method — no WiFi needed.

Method 2: Wireless Transfer via Samba (WiFi Required)

Once WiFi is connected, you can browse the R36S like a network drive from your PC — no cable required. See the full Samba section below for instructions.

Method 3: MicroSD Card Reader

Remove the TF2 card from the R36S, insert it into a microSD card reader on your PC, copy games into the correct system folders, then re-insert the card. Fast and simple — works without the R36S needing to be on.

7. Internet Connectivity: What It Unlocks

WiFi transforms the R36S from a standalone gaming device into a connected one. Here is every feature that becomes available once you are connected to your home network.

Connecting to WiFi in ArkOS

8. SSH via WiFi

SSH gives you a full command-line terminal session on the R36S from your PC over the network. This lets you edit configuration files, install emulator cores, manage game directories, and troubleshoot without touching the device physically.

What You Need

• R36S connected to WiFi (both device and PC on the same network)
• The R36S IP address (find it at Options → System Information in ArkOS)
• An SSH client on your PC — PuTTY (Windows), Terminal (Mac/Linux), or any SSH app

Default SSH Credentials (ArkOS)

Connecting via SSH (Windows — PuTTY)

Connecting via SSH (Mac / Linux)

Open Terminal and run:

Enter ark as the password when prompted.

Useful SSH Commands on ArkOS

9. SSH via USB

You do not need WiFi to SSH into your R36S. ArkOS supports USB networking (RNDIS) — the device creates a virtual network interface over the USB-C cable, allowing SSH connections directly from your PC even without any WiFi network.

This is particularly useful when you are setting up the device for the first time, debugging WiFi issues, or simply do not have WiFi available.

How USB SSH Works

When USB networking is enabled on ArkOS, the R36S acts like a USB ethernet adapter. Your PC creates a virtual network connection to it, and you SSH to a fixed local IP address — no router, no network needed.

Setting Up SSH via USB (ArkOS)

10. Wireless File Transfer (Samba)

Samba lets your PC access the R36S storage like a shared network folder — you can drag and drop game files directly without a USB cable. This is the most convenient way to add games once WiFi is set up.

Accessing R36S via Samba on Windows

Accessing via Samba on Mac

In Finder, press Cmd + K, enter smb://192.168.1.105, and log in with ark / ark.

11. Netplay: Online Multiplayer

RetroArch Netplay lets two players on separate devices play classic games together online — one player hosts, the other joins. This works across R36S units, or between an R36S and any PC running RetroArch. You can play Street Fighter, Mario Kart, Contra, GoldenEye, and thousands of other multiplayer classics online.

How to Host a Netplay Session (R36S — ArkOS)

How to Join a Netplay Session

Netplay: Games That Work Best

12. Screen Streaming to TV or PC

The R36S does not have an HDMI port, but you can stream its screen to a TV or PC wirelessly using software tools. This is useful for playing on a big screen, recording gameplay, or letting others watch.

Option A: Stream to PC via SSH + Screen Capture

ArkOS includes tools to pipe video output over the network. This requires SSH access and a compatible streaming tool on the receiving PC.

Option B: HDMI Capture via USB-C

Some R36S variants (and third-party shells) can be paired with a USB-C DisplayPort adapter if the SoC output is exposed — however this is not standard on most R36S units. Check your specific variant’s specifications before purchasing an adapter.

Option C: Physical HDMI Add-On (R36 Pro / R36 Ultra)

The R36 Pro and R36 Ultra variants (different from the R36S) include HDMI output. If TV output is a priority, these variants or a device like the Retroid Pocket 5 with confirmed HDMI support may be more appropriate.

13. ArkOS Feature Deep-Dive

ArkOS (Community Edition for R3XS devices) is the recommended firmware for the R36S. Here is a complete feature breakdown.

Save State Management

• 10+ save state slots per game with thumbnail previews
• Quick save / quick load hotkeys (Select + R1 / Select + L1)
• Auto-save on exit — the game saves your exact position when you close it
• Auto-load on launch — resumes exactly where you left off

Visual Enhancements

• CRT shaders — scanlines and screen curvature to mimic old CRT TVs
• LCD shaders — pixel grid to replicate original Game Boy or GBA screen look
• Integer scaling — sharp, blurring-free pixel-perfect rendering
• Overlays / bezels — frame the game with system-themed borders (Game Boy frame, arcade cabinet art)
• Aspect ratio control — 4:3, stretch, crop, or custom

ArkOS Hotkey Reference

Game Library Features

• Favourites — mark any game, access from a dedicated tab
• Recently Played — dedicated list of your most recently launched games
• Box art & metadata scraping — download cover art and descriptions for every game automatically over WiFi
• Video snaps — short video previews play as you scroll through games
• Search — find any game by name across your entire library
• Custom collections — group games into themed playlists (Fighting Games, RPGs, Co-op)

Performance Controls

• CPU performance profiles — Power Save, Balanced, Performance — switch on the fly
• Per-game overclock settings — boost clock for demanding N64 or PS1 games only
• Threaded video rendering — improves performance on heavier cores
• Per-game and per-system core options — fine-tune accuracy, speed hacks, enhancements per game

RetroAchievements

Log into your retroachievements.org account inside RetroArch (Settings → Achievements) and earn online achievements in classic games. Notifications appear in-game when you hit milestones. Progress is tracked on the website and comparable with the global community.

14. Battery Life

15. R36S Variants Compared

16. Frequently Asked Questions