R36S vs Miyoo Mini Plus — two of the most popular retro handhelds under $100. The key difference: R36S has dual analog sticks ($79.99), Miyoo Mini Plus does not (~$70). That $10 difference unlocks N64 and PS1 3D games. Here is the complete honest comparison.
Lab-Tested · Gamer-Verified · Expert-Curated by the iGC Team — www.handheldgameconsoles.games
N64 + PS1 3D games
6,000+ preloaded
4.69/5 · 6,860 reviews
30-day returns
GBA/SNES/NES only (no N64 3D)
Requires ROM setup
4.3/5 rating
Smaller community
📊 Full Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | R36S | Miyoo Mini Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.99 | ~$70 |
| Analog sticks | ✅ Dual analog | ❌ None |
| N64 games | ✅ 97% compat | ❌ No 3D support |
| PS1 3D games | ✅ 100% compat | ❌ Limited |
| GBA / SNES / NES | ✅ 100% | ✅ 100% |
| Screen size | 3.5" IPS | 3.5" IPS |
| Battery life | 6.5h (GBA/SNES) | ~6h (GBA/SNES) |
| Games preloaded | 6,000+ | Varies (setup req.) |
| WiFi | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Community/support | Large (6,860 reviews) | Large (active) |
| iGC Rating | 4.69/5 | 4.3/5 |
🕹️ The Analog Stick Difference — Why It Matters
- Super Mario 64 ✅ (full 3D movement)
- Zelda: Ocarina of Time ✅
- GoldenEye 007 ✅
- Banjo-Kazooie ✅
- Tekken 3 (PS1) ✅
- Crash Bandicoot (PS1) ✅
- All 2D games ✅
- Super Mario 64 ❌ (no 3D control)
- Zelda: Ocarina of Time ❌
- GoldenEye 007 ❌
- Banjo-Kazooie ❌
- Tekken 3 (PS1) ⚠️ Limited
- Crash Bandicoot (PS1) ⚠️ Limited
- All 2D games ✅
🤔 When to Choose Miyoo Mini Plus Instead
The Miyoo Mini Plus is the better choice if:
- You only play 2D games (GBA, SNES, NES, Genesis) and never need analog sticks
- You need WiFi for online features or scraping game artwork
- Budget is strict at $70 and $10 matters
- You prefer OnionOS (Miyoo's custom firmware) over EmulationStation
- Compact size is priority — Miyoo Mini Plus is slightly smaller
🏆 iGC Final Verdict
✅ For most buyers: R36S at $79.99.
The $10 difference buys dual analog sticks that unlock N64 and PS1 3D gaming. Mario 64, Zelda OoT, GoldenEye, Crash Bandicoot — none of these work properly on Miyoo Mini Plus.
Choose Miyoo Mini Plus only if: you exclusively play 2D games, need WiFi, or have a strict $70 budget.
❓ FAQ
iGC verdict: R36S is better for most buyers. R36S has dual analog sticks ($79.99) enabling N64 and PS1 3D games. Miyoo Mini Plus has no analog sticks (~$70) limiting it to 2D games. For $10 more, R36S unlocks Mario 64, Zelda OoT, GoldenEye, and Crash Bandicoot.
No. Miyoo Mini 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 $10 more at $79.99.
Yes, for most buyers. The $10 difference buys dual analog sticks that unlock N64 (Mario 64, Zelda OoT, GoldenEye) and PS1 3D games (Crash, Spyro, Tekken). If you ever want to play these games, R36S is the only choice at this price.
Miyoo Mini 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.
Choose Miyoo Mini Plus if: you only play 2D games (GBA/SNES/NES), you need WiFi, your budget is strictly $70, or you prefer OnionOS firmware. For everything else — especially N64 and PS1 3D — R36S at $79.99 is the better choice.
