R36S vs Miyoo Mini Plus in 2026: Which Retro Handheld Should You Buy?

FF7 runs at 97% compatibility. All three discs, all FMV cutscenes, all battles. Midgar opening sequence plays perfectly. Battle system runs at full speed. iGC verdict: Excellent.

FF7 runs at ~40% compatibility. Significant slowdown in battles. FMV cutscenes stutter. Midgar opening has frame drops. iGC verdict: Not recommended for PS1.

Chrono Trigger runs at 100%. Perfect 60fps throughout. All cutscenes, all battles, all time periods. iGC verdict: Perfect.

Chrono Trigger also runs at 100% on Miyoo Mini+. SNES emulation is a strength of both devices. iGC verdict: Tie on SNES.

“I had a Miyoo Mini before this. The R36S blows it out of the water for PS1 games. Final Fantasy VII runs perfectly. The Miyoo couldn't handle it at all. Worth every extra dollar.”

“Came with 6,000 games already loaded. My Miyoo Mini+ took me 3 hours to set up and I still couldn't get PS1 working right. R36S was playing in 30 seconds. No contest.”

“The dual analog sticks on the R36S are a game changer for PS1 games. Miyoo Mini+ doesn't have them. Metal Gear Solid controls perfectly on R36S.”

“Bought this as a gift. The 6,000 games preloaded made it perfect — recipient just turned it on and started playing. Miyoo ships with nothing. R36S is the better gift every time.”

• Want PS1 games (FF7, Crash, MGS)
• Want games preloaded — zero setup
• Want dual analog sticks
• Want N64 support (61%)
• Are buying as a gift
• Want the most reviewed device (6,860)
• Want the highest rated device (4.69/5)

• Size is your #1 priority (it's smaller)
• Only play NES/SNES/GBA
• Happy to spend 2-4 hours on setup
• Don't need PS1 or N64
• $11 price difference matters to you

• PS1 at ~40% — FF7 barely works
• No N64 support
• Zero games included
• 2-4 hours setup required
• No dual analog sticks
• ~2,000 reviews at 4.3/5

• PS1 at 97% — FF7 runs perfectly
• N64 at 61% — Mario 64, OoT
• 6,000+ games preloaded
• Zero setup — play in 30 seconds
• Dual analog sticks included
• 6,860 reviews at 4.69/5

For most buyers, yes. The R36S beats the Miyoo Mini+ on PS1 compatibility (97% vs 40%), N64 support (61% vs none), games preloaded (6,000+ vs zero), dual analog sticks, and review count (6,860 at 4.69/5 vs ~2,000 at 4.3/5). The Miyoo Mini+ is smaller and $11 cheaper — its only advantages.

Poorly. The Miyoo Mini+ has ~40% PS1 compatibility. Demanding PS1 games like Final Fantasy VII, Metal Gear Solid, and Crash Bandicoot run with significant slowdown and glitches. The R36S runs these same games at 97% compatibility. For PS1 gaming, the R36S is the clear choice.

No. The Miyoo Mini Plus ships with zero games preloaded. You must source and load ROM files yourself, which takes 2-4 hours. The R36S ships with 6,000+ games preloaded and ready to play in 30 seconds. This is one of the biggest practical differences between the two devices.

R36S. The iGC R36S ships fully configured with 6,000+ games preloaded. Beginners can play in 30 seconds with zero technical knowledge. The Miyoo Mini+ requires 2-4 hours of setup and technical knowledge to load games. For anyone who isn't tech-savvy, the R36S is the only sensible choice.

Yes, decisively. For $11 more you get: PS1 at 97% (vs 40%), N64 support, 6,000+ games preloaded, dual analog sticks, and zero setup. The Miyoo Mini+ saves $11 but costs you PS1 gaming, N64 gaming, and 2-4 hours of setup time. The R36S is the better value.