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expiredRevOne | Staff posted Jun 4, 2026 12:35 PM

BOYHOM R36S Retro Game Handheld (various)

$21

$40

47% off
+ Free S&Hat AliExpress
12.8K Views
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Deal Details
BOYHOM Local Store via AliExpress has BOYHOM R36S Retro Game Handheld (various) on sale as listed below for $24.04 - $3 (apply promo code USDEAL3 or SSUS03 at checkout) = $21.04. Shipping is free.
  • Note: Price may fluctuate slightly with currency exchange rates. You must be signed into your AliExpress account and have your address added to add items to your cart and place an order. You may have to manually type in the promo code to apply it at checkout. This item ships from a USA warehouse. For expedited customer service, please email [email protected].
Thanks to Deal Editor RevOne for finding this deal.

Available:Specs:
  • 3.5" 640x480 IPS non-touchscreen display (4:3 aspect ratio)
  • Rockchip RK3326 Chipset
  • 1GB RAM
  • 2x micro SD card slots
  • 2x USB-C ports
  • Dual joysticks | 3.5mm headphone jack
  • Single speaker (front-facing)
  • 3500 mAh battery
  • Linux-based operating system (ArkOS)
  • Note: No built-in Wi-Fi / Bluetooth (can use a plug-in external Wi-Fi adapter via the USB-C port, if desired)
  • Can emulate most retro systems/games up to PlayStation 1 and Game Boy Advance very well; plus a limited amount of Nintendo DS

Editor's Notes

Written by megakimcheelove | Staff
  • This offer is $3.46 lower (14% savings) than previous Front Page deal.
  • Please see the original post for additional details & give the WIKI and additional forum comments a read for helpful discussion. 

Original Post

Written by RevOne | Staff
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
BOYHOM Local Store via AliExpress has BOYHOM R36S Retro Game Handheld (various) on sale as listed below for $24.04 - $3 (apply promo code USDEAL3 or SSUS03 at checkout) = $21.04. Shipping is free.
  • Note: Price may fluctuate slightly with currency exchange rates. You must be signed into your AliExpress account and have your address added to add items to your cart and place an order. You may have to manually type in the promo code to apply it at checkout. This item ships from a USA warehouse. For expedited customer service, please email [email protected].
Thanks to Deal Editor RevOne for finding this deal.

Available:Specs:
  • 3.5" 640x480 IPS non-touchscreen display (4:3 aspect ratio)
  • Rockchip RK3326 Chipset
  • 1GB RAM
  • 2x micro SD card slots
  • 2x USB-C ports
  • Dual joysticks | 3.5mm headphone jack
  • Single speaker (front-facing)
  • 3500 mAh battery
  • Linux-based operating system (ArkOS)
  • Note: No built-in Wi-Fi / Bluetooth (can use a plug-in external Wi-Fi adapter via the USB-C port, if desired)
  • Can emulate most retro systems/games up to PlayStation 1 and Game Boy Advance very well; plus a limited amount of Nintendo DS

Editor's Notes

Written by megakimcheelove | Staff
  • This offer is $3.46 lower (14% savings) than previous Front Page deal.
  • Please see the original post for additional details & give the WIKI and additional forum comments a read for helpful discussion. 

Original Post

Written by RevOne | Staff

Community Voting

Deal Score
+32
Good Deal
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31 Comments

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Jun 4, 2026 3:25 PM
1.9K Comments
Joined May 2011
umrdyldoJun 4, 2026 3:25 PM
1.9K Comments
Quote from RevOne :
Great points, bigbirdoncrack Smilie Repped. To add on to the steps you mentioned, another bit of forewarning for anyone picking this up: You'll want to use a low-powered USB-A charging adapter. Try not o exceed 5W / 2A; ideally 1A-1.5A like those small 'cube' chargers the old iPhones used to come with. There is no charging "brick" included in the box; so you'll have to source your own, and these low-end handhelds - regardless of the manufacturer - generally don't play well long term with fast chargers that are common today. You likely already have an ETL or UL listed name brand USB-A charger that's 5W/ 1A - 2A in a junk drawer or laying around the house somewhere that came with a different device.

Not that using a charger above 5W is a fire hazard; it's just that the higher power chargers can potentially increase the risk of eventually bricking the R36S or often, not even charge the device at all. You'll also want to charge using a USB-C (inserted into the R36S) to USB-A cable (inserted into your 5W charging adapter). A USB-A to USB-C cable is included in the box.
Just charge with USB on a computer.
1
Jun 4, 2026 3:40 PM
13K Comments
Joined Oct 2007
arribasnJun 4, 2026 3:40 PM
13K Comments
so to be clear this comes with or you can add all the old game boy and nintendo/playstation ROMS?
Jun 4, 2026 4:04 PM
18 Comments
Joined Aug 2017
namjiJun 4, 2026 4:04 PM
18 Comments
Which GB to buy. 64gb, 128gb?
Jun 4, 2026 4:12 PM
1.1K Comments
Joined Nov 2015
bilderbergJun 4, 2026 4:12 PM
1.1K Comments
Quote from namji :
Which GB to buy. 64gb, 128gb?
If you are loading your own rooms, take a look at the rom packs, I think the larger ones are ~10gb ish from what I remember. I set mine up over a year ago. It has been running great, and it was way better quality than I was expecting for $35 when I bought it.
Jun 4, 2026 4:19 PM
259 Comments
Joined Aug 2011
zmtJun 4, 2026 4:19 PM
259 Comments
These are a step down in quality and community support vs something like an anbernic RG35xxwhatever or miyoo mini plus, but good to get your feet wet, or to give as gifts.

after trying a few: R36 clone, K36 (another clone), MM+, RG40XXV, CubeXX, etc., I prefer good custom firmware and the ability to run portmaster and stuff so $40-50 is about the floor for one of these devices. Also at least anbernic seems to be putting not-garbage SD cards in theirs these days.
Jun 4, 2026 4:53 PM
411 Comments
Joined Apr 2006
bigbirdoncrackJun 4, 2026 4:53 PM
411 Comments
Quote from RevOne :
Great points, bigbirdoncrack Smilie Repped. To add on to the steps you mentioned, another bit of forewarning for anyone picking this up: You'll want to use a low-powered USB-A charging adapter. Try not to exceed 5W / 2A; ideally 1A-1.5A like those small 'cube' chargers the old iPhones used to come with. There is no charging "brick" included in the box; so you'll have to source your own, and these low-end handhelds - regardless of the manufacturer - generally don't play well long term with fast chargers that are common today. You likely already have an ETL or UL listed name brand USB-A charger that's 5W/ 1A - 2A in a junk drawer or laying around the house somewhere that came with a different device.Not that using a charger above 2A is a fire hazard; it's just that the higher power chargers can potentially increase the risk of eventually bricking the R36S or often, not even charge the device at all. You'll also want to charge using a USB-C (inserted into the R36S) to USB-A cable (inserted into your 5W charging adapter). A USB-A to USB-C cable is included in the box.
Thanks for the added point.

Yep, Charge them low and slow - old school USB 😎
Jun 4, 2026 4:54 PM
57 Comments
Joined Nov 2016
david.watersonJun 4, 2026 4:54 PM
57 Comments
Just upgraded my soy sauce v with darkosre trixie. Upgraded SD to pny 32 gb and Sandisk 128 gb for roms. Came from whatnot, SD card failed in 1 week. Absolutely love my handheld now.

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Jun 4, 2026 5:14 PM
140 Comments
Joined Dec 2025
EagerBelieve7337Jun 4, 2026 5:14 PM
140 Comments
i wonder if this is better than anbernic
Jun 4, 2026 5:23 PM
1.8K Comments
Joined Aug 2007
OrangeJuliusJun 4, 2026 5:23 PM
1.8K Comments
These are indeed one of many low-end handhelds where you absolutely must replace the microSD card, because the failure rate is effectively 100% within a year or 2 of basic usage. Don't be shocked to find the card dying if you attempt to write a rom collection onto the card. I've seen DOA cards, as well as watching them die day one after copying 10-20GB of ROMs. The cards heat up, then stop showing up.

I generally buy cheap Sandisk/Samsung/Lexar/Kioxia 64GB cards off eBay from sellers who have been around for over a year and sell bulk used cards, and have good reviews for those same cards. Don't buy cards from someone who has been around for less than a year! Always use a utility like H2testw to verify capacity, or simply copy a large amount of data to fill the drive, and copy that data back to verify it can be read correctly.

Anbernic's low-end (including the BatleXP sub brand) handhelds generally ship with good quality Kioxia cards, which are the exception. I've had great luck with those over the past year, so paying a premium for Anbernic's G350 vs the various R36S clones is justifed by the mSD card savings.
Last edited by OrangeJulius June 4, 2026 at 01:40 PM.
2
Jun 4, 2026 6:14 PM
3.1K Comments
Joined Nov 2006
gl21133Jun 4, 2026 6:14 PM
3.1K Comments
For cloning the card is it really as simple as copy paste from the old to the new?
Jun 4, 2026 6:24 PM
553 Comments
Joined Nov 2013
salvio007Jun 4, 2026 6:24 PM
553 Comments
Sounds ridiculous but I have a problem with Aliexpress taxes. They should not apply to the US and they're pretty high fir certain things. It turns me off from ever buying there again. It's gotten worse now.
Last edited by salvio007 June 4, 2026 at 11:28 AM.
Jun 4, 2026 6:47 PM
3.7K Comments
Joined Jul 2013
QuikfingerJun 4, 2026 6:47 PM
3.7K Comments
Quote from salvio007 :
Sounds ridiculous but I have a problem with Aliexpress taxes. They should not apply to the US and they're pretty high fir certain things. It turns me off from ever buying there again. It's gotten worse now.
Some aliexpress stores have US based warehouses hence having to pay local taxes. These ship within the US most likely from Cali.
Jun 4, 2026 8:27 PM
1.1K Comments
Joined Feb 2012
yakkyJun 4, 2026 8:27 PM
1.1K Comments
Quote from salvio007 :
Sounds ridiculous but I have a problem with Aliexpress taxes. They should not apply to the US and they're pretty high fir certain things. It turns me off from ever buying there again. It's gotten worse now.
I hate it too, but ebay charges taxes on orders outside of the US, I just got charged them... in Euros for something I ordered...
Jun 4, 2026 8:45 PM
1.8K Comments
Joined Aug 2007
OrangeJuliusJun 4, 2026 8:45 PM
1.8K Comments
Quote from gl21133 :
For cloning the card is it really as simple as copy paste from the old to the new?
You'll probably want to create an image of the SD card you can then restore to the new card.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLRLR8J3Tdc

If you want to flash a custom firmware to the new card however, you can simply copy the bios files and roms you want off the stock card, over to the new card once you've flashed it.

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Jun 4, 2026 8:48 PM
1.8K Comments
Joined Aug 2007
OrangeJuliusJun 4, 2026 8:48 PM
1.8K Comments
Quote from salvio007 :
Sounds ridiculous but I have a problem with Aliexpress taxes. They should not apply to the US and they're pretty high fir certain things. It turns me off from ever buying there again. It's gotten worse now.
That's entirely up to the state you live in. Aliexpress gathers the sales taxes and hands them over to your state. Aliexpress is only following your state's laws.

If you don't want sales taxes, move to a state that doesn't collect them.

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