R36S vs RG35XX Plus — two of the most searched budget retro handhelds in 2026. The R36S ($79.99) has dual analog sticks and 6,000+ preloaded games. The Anbernic RG35XX Plus (~$65) has no analog sticks and requires ROM setup. Here is the complete honest comparison.
Lab-Tested · Gamer-Verified · Expert-Curated by the iGC Team — www.handheldgameconsoles.games
6,000+ games preloaded
N64 97% + PS1 100%
4.69/5 · 6,860 reviews
30-day returns
Requires ROM setup
GBA/SNES/NES only (no N64 3D)
Anbernic brand quality
WiFi on some models
📊 Full Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | R36S | RG35XX Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.99 | ~$65 |
| Analog sticks | ✅ Dual analog | ❌ None |
| N64 games (3D) | ✅ 97% | ❌ No 3D support |
| PS1 3D games | ✅ 100% | ⚠️ Limited |
| GBA / SNES / NES | ✅ 100% | ✅ 100% |
| Screen | 3.5" IPS | 3.5" IPS |
| Games preloaded | 6,000+ | 0 (setup required) |
| Battery life | 6.5h (GBA/SNES) | ~6h (GBA/SNES) |
| Brand | iGameConsole | Anbernic |
| Setup required | None (plug & play) | Yes (ROMs needed) |
| iGC Rating | 4.69/5 | 4.3/5 |
🏆 The Key Difference: Analog Sticks
- Super Mario 64 ✅
- Zelda: Ocarina of Time ✅
- GoldenEye 007 ✅
- Crash Bandicoot (PS1) ✅
- Tekken 3 (PS1) ✅
- All 2D games ✅
- Super Mario 64 ❌
- Zelda: Ocarina of Time ❌
- GoldenEye 007 ❌
- Crash Bandicoot (PS1) ⚠️ Limited
- Tekken 3 (PS1) ⚠️ Limited
- All 2D games ✅
💰 Anbernic Brand vs iGameConsole — What's the Difference?
Both R36S and RG35XX Plus are manufactured in China. Key differences:
- 6,000+ games preloaded
- Dual analog sticks
- 30-day return policy
- iGC customer support
- 4.69/5 from 6,860 buyers
- No preloaded games
- No analog sticks
- Anbernic brand reputation
- Active community/firmware
- $15 cheaper
🤔 When to Choose RG35XX Plus
- You trust the Anbernic brand and prefer their ecosystem
- You only play 2D games (GBA, SNES, NES) and never need analog sticks
- Budget is strictly $65 and you're comfortable setting up ROMs
- You want Anbernic's custom firmware (GarlicOS/MuOS) community support
- You already have a ROM collection ready to load
🏆 iGC Final Verdict
✅ R36S wins for most buyers. RG35XX Plus wins only for Anbernic fans who play 2D-only.
For $15 more, R36S delivers dual analog sticks (N64/PS1 3D gaming) and 6,000+ preloaded games with zero setup. RG35XX Plus saves $15 but requires ROM setup and cannot play N64 3D games properly.
The Anbernic brand is respected, but the R36S delivers more value per dollar at $79.99.
❓ FAQ
iGC verdict: R36S is better for most buyers. R36S has dual analog sticks ($79.99), 6,000+ preloaded games, and N64/PS1 3D support. RG35XX Plus (~$65) has no analog sticks, requires ROM setup, but is $15 cheaper with Anbernic brand quality.
No. The Anbernic RG35XX Plus does not have analog sticks. It only has a D-pad. This means N64 3D games (Mario 64, Zelda OoT, GoldenEye) cannot be played properly. R36S has dual analog sticks for $15 more at $79.99.
For most buyers yes. R36S has dual analog sticks, 6,000+ preloaded games, and N64/PS1 3D support for $79.99. RG35XX Plus saves $15 but has no analog sticks and requires ROM setup. Anbernic has strong brand reputation but R36S delivers more value.
RG35XX Plus can run N64 ROMs but without analog sticks, 3D N64 games (Mario 64, Zelda OoT, GoldenEye) are unplayable. R36S has dual analog sticks and plays N64 at 97% compatibility properly.
For plug-and-play retro gaming: R36S wins with 6,000+ preloaded games and dual analog sticks at $79.99. For tinkerers who want Anbernic's firmware ecosystem and don't need analog sticks: RG35XX Plus at ~$65 is a solid choice.
