Anbernic RG Cube vs. R36S: 1:1 Square Screen Math, RG CubeXX & Smart PS2 Alternatives

Pocket play usually happens in fifteen-minute windows, on a train or in bed after the house goes quiet, and in those moments screen shape matters more than the diagonal printed on the box. Below, I break down the Android RG Cube vs. Linux RG CubeXX split, the pixel math of 1:1 (720x720) vs. 4:3 (640x480), what Android setup really involves, and how to cover pocket play plus PS2 and GameCube for less than one RG Cube.

RG CubeXX vs. R36S & Android RG Cube Specs: Three Consoles, Two Price Tiers

Anbernic sells two look-alike 1:1 handhelds: the $169.99+ Android RG Cube (Unisoc T820) for PS2 and GameCube, and the ~$65-$79 Linux RG CubeXX (Allwinner H700). The 2Bluebox R36S ($79.99, Dual-RAM RK3326, ArkOS 2.0) rivals the CubeXX.

Both Anbernic models share the same 3.95-inch 720x720 (1:1) IPS screen size and grip shape, and the RG CubeXX was even introduced as an "RG Cube form factor" model in this r/SBCGaming RG CubeXX reveal thread. The Anbernic RG Cube official specification page and the RetroCatalog RG Cube vs. RG CubeXX comparison show what changes inside: two very different price and performance tiers.

Our 2Bluebox R36S ($79.99), covered in our R36S review, takes a simpler 4:3 vertical pocket approach, while our external Batocera Linux hard drive handles sixth-generation 3D consoles through a Windows PC:

• Flagship Android RG Cube ($169.99+ before shipping): Runs Android 13 on an octa-core Unisoc T820 (6nm) with a Mali-G57 MP4 GPU, 8GB LPDDR4X RAM, 128GB UFS 2.2 storage, an active cooling fan, and a 5200mAh battery in a 260g body. It can run many PS2 and GameCube games once you set up the emulators, BIOS files, and games yourself.
• Budget Linux RG CubeXX (~$65-$79): Steps down to a quad-core Allwinner H700 (1.5GHz) with 1GB LPDDR4 RAM, passive cooling, a 3800mAh battery, and Linux firmware. Community reports put the H700 a step above the Rockchip RK3326 in the 2Bluebox R36S on N64, Dreamcast, and PSP. The R36S plays up to PS1 smoothly, plus lighter N64, PSP, and Dreamcast titles.

Table 1 compares the 2Bluebox R36S ($79.99), the Linux Anbernic RG CubeXX, the Android Anbernic RG Cube, and our 2Bluebox 500GB Batocera HDD ($64.99), which you can explore in our Portable HDD Super Console Batocera 500GB guide.

Table 1: 2Bluebox R36S ($79.99) vs. Anbernic RG CubeXX vs. Android RG Cube vs. 2Bluebox 500GB HDD ($64.99)

"Tested on our unit" means we checked it on a device we own. "Manufacturer spec" means the maker states it and we haven't verified it ourselves. "Community reports" means players report it, and results can vary.

Once you separate the $169.99+ Android RG Cube from the Linux RG CubeXX, the next question is whether a 1:1 square panel actually helps or hurts the games you play most.

1:1 Screen Handheld vs. 4:3 Geometry: Why 720x720 Wastes 25% of Pixels on PS1, SNES & N64

4:3 picture size depends on screen width. The RG Cube's 1:1 panel is only 2.79 inches wide, so PS1, SNES, and N64 games fill a 3.49-inch window, a hair smaller than full screen on the 2Bluebox R36S ($79.99).

Diagonal numbers mislead when two handhelds use different aspect ratios. A 1:1 panel gets its bigger 3.95-inch diagonal from extra height (2.79 inches wide by 2.79 inches tall, or 518,400 pixels at 720x720). The 3.5-inch 4:3 IPS display on the 2Bluebox R36S ($79.99) measures 2.80 inches wide by 2.10 inches tall (307,200 pixels at 640x480).

Table 2: How each aspect ratio fits the 720x720 RG Cube vs. the 640x480 2Bluebox R36S

Because 4:3, 3:2, and 16:9 games are all limited by screen width (2.79 inches on the RG Cube vs. 2.80 inches on the R36S), booting Crash Bandicoot (PS1), Super Mario 64 (N64), or God of War II (PS2) on an RG Cube leaves 180 rows of pixels black (90 on top and 90 on the bottom). You end up looking at a 3.49-inch 4:3 picture framed by thick black bars, about the same size the R36S shows edge to edge.

When I pulled the microSD card from our R36S unit to export its game list, the folder tree ran from NES, SNES, and Sega Genesis through PS1, GBA, and MAME arcade sets saved under eight-character zip names like aburner and aerofgt. Most of those systems are 4:3 or 3:2, which is exactly where a 1:1 panel gives up the most screen.

Follow these four quick steps to check how ArkOS 2.0 handles aspect ratios and screen switching on the 2Bluebox R36S ($79.99):

1. Boot any 4:3 home console game (PS1, SNES, N64, Genesis, or Dreamcast) from the ArkOS 2.0 menu on your 2Bluebox R36S; it fills the 640x480 screen edge to edge with no black bars.
2. Press FN + X inside RetroArch systems to open the RetroArch menu, then go to Settings > Video > Scaling to toggle Integer Scale or set SNES to 4:3 or 8:7 under Aspect Ratio.
3. Press R2 inside DraStic for Nintendo DS games to swap which DS screen fills the full 3.5-inch 640x480 display.
4. Press FN + START twice to exit cleanly back to EmulationStation so your in-game .srm save writes safely to the 64GB microSD card.

Say most of your wishlist comes from PS1, SNES, N64, Genesis, GBA, and arcade cabinets: paying extra for vertical pixels that stay black during play buys you very little. For a 163g pocket console with a native 3.5-inch 4:3 IPS display, clickable L3/R3 sticks, and 15,768 preloaded games on a Dual-RAM RK3326 board, grab our 2Bluebox R36S Handheld ($79.99):

The $170 Android Setup Reality: DIY Emulators vs. Plug-and-Play ArkOS & Batocera

The $169.99+ Android RG Cube is a capable emulation device, but expect an evening of setup: adding games and BIOS files, side-loading a PS2 emulator, and mapping controls app by app. The 2Bluebox R36S ($79.99) and Batocera HDD ($64.99) arrive preconfigured.

Spec sheets for the RG Cube focus on the Unisoc T820 chip and say little about your first evening with it. Out of the box you get a capable Android 13 handheld, and turning it into a working PS2 and GameCube machine is a project you finish on your own:

• Side-load a PS2 emulator: AetherSX2, the PS2 emulator most Android handhelds relied on, was pulled from Google Play, so owners typically patch together the community NetherSX2 build and side-load it themselves.
• Configure emulators app by app: On ArkOS 2.0 or Batocera Linux, one set of hotkeys works across every system. On Android, standalone apps such as Dolphin (GameCube/Wii), NetherSX2 (PS2), and RetroArch each need their own controller mapping and settings.
• Supply your own BIOS files and games: PS2, PS1, and Dreamcast emulators need BIOS files (scph39001.bin, scph5501.bin, dc_boot.bin), PS2 and GameCube disc images call for a large microSD card, and an Android frontend like Daijisho or ES-DE keeps it all organized.

Comparing other Android handhelds or budget 1:1 screens? See our Retroid Pocket Mini vs. R36S comparison and our R36S vs. R36Max 1:1 square screen breakdown. Whichever handheld ends up on your nightstand, charge it the safe way:

How to Play PS2, GameCube & Wii Alongside Pocket Retro for Less Than One RG Cube

If you already own a Windows PC or laptop, the 2Bluebox R36S ($79.99) for pocket play plus the 2Bluebox 500GB Batocera HDD ($64.99, 110,686 games) for PS2 and GameCube costs $144.98, which is $25-$45 under one Android RG Cube.

Spending $170-$190 on an Android RG Cube usually means asking one 260g device to do two jobs: slip into a pocket for 8-bit through PS1 classics and run heavy sixth-generation 3D systems like PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Wii.

That combination comes with trade-offs. At 260g with sculpted grips and a cooling fan, the RG Cube is more of a jacket-pocket or bag device. And PS2 games built for living-room TVs, like God of War II or Shadow of the Colossus, shrink to a 3.49-inch 720x540 window where menu text gets small.

Splitting the two jobs across preconfigured systems from 2Bluebox LLC (1500 N Grant St, STE N, Denver, CO 80203) gives each one the right screen and still costs $25-$45 less than one RG Cube at Anbernic's $169.99-$189.99 list price:

• For daily 4:3 pocket play ($79.99): The 2Bluebox R36S Handheld weighs 163g, slides into a jacket pocket, and carries 15,768 games (12,805 unique, searchable at /pages/r36s-games-list) on a Dual-RAM RK3326 board running ArkOS 2.0. It plays up to PS1 smoothly plus lighter N64, PSP, and Dreamcast titles, and FN + R1 saves your spot instantly when your stop comes up.
• For PS2, GameCube & Wii on your PC ($64.99): The 2Bluebox Portable HDD Batocera 500GB ($64.99) plugs into most x86-64 Windows PCs and laptops over USB 3.0 and boots its own Batocera Linux system without touching your Windows files. Pick the drive from your PC's boot menu (usually F12, F2, Esc, or Del; some PCs also need Secure Boot turned off). It uses your computer's CPU and GPU to run 110,686 preloaded games (/pages/hdd-super-console-game-list), including PS2, GameCube, Wii, Dreamcast, and PSP, on your monitor or on a TV through your PC's HDMI port. Speed depends on your PC, and it won't boot on Apple Silicon Macs.

Verdict: Who Should Buy the Anbernic RG Cube vs. the 2Bluebox R36S (or 500GB HDD)?

Choose the 2Bluebox R36S ($79.99, 2bluebox.com) for 4:3 pocket play: public game list, Dual-RAM RK3326, 30-day US guarantee. Pick the 2Bluebox Batocera HDD ($64.99) for PS2 on a PC; an RG Cube for 1:1 games or handheld PS2.

Use this checklist to match your budget to the right hardware:

• Choose the 2Bluebox R36S Handheld Console ($79.99) if: You want a true 4:3 (640x480) IPS display where PS1, SNES, N64, and Genesis fill the whole screen, clickable L3/R3 sticks, and 15,768 preloaded games (12,805 unique) on a Dual-RAM RK3326 board running ArkOS 2.0. Skip it if you want PS2 or GameCube, want to play on a TV (its OTG port has no HDMI-out, so grab the 2Bluebox Retro Game Stick 4K Pro ($59.98) for that), or prefer a 1:1 screen for Pico-8.
• Choose the 2Bluebox Portable HDD Super Console Batocera 500GB ($64.99) if: Your real reason for eyeing the $169.99+ RG Cube is PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Wii, you own a Windows PC or laptop, and you want 110,686 preloaded games that boot over USB 3.0 with zero Android APK setup. Skip it if you only own an Apple Silicon Mac or want a standalone handheld screen.
• Choose the Anbernic RG Cube ($169.99+ Android) or RG CubeXX (~$65-$79 Linux) if: Your favorite systems are 1:1 Pico-8, 10:9 Game Boy/Game Boy Color, vertical arcade shoot-'em-ups (Tate mode), or stacked dual-screen DS games, and you enjoy setting up your own emulators, BIOS files, and game cards. The Android RG Cube is also the pick if you want PS2 and GameCube in your hands and away from a desk. Skip both if 25%-44% black bars on 4:3 and 16:9 games will bother you.

Where you buy matters as much as which screen you pick. Here's how the three buying routes compare on the four things that protect you after checkout:

Table 3: Where you buy: 2Bluebox (2bluebox.com) vs. generic marketplace R36S listings vs. Anbernic direct

Whether you want a plug-and-play 500GB Batocera Linux drive that turns your Windows PC or laptop into a 110,686-game PS2 and GameCube machine, or you want to pair it with our 4:3 pocket R36S, every order from 2bluebox.com includes Free Tracked Shipping from $50 and our 30-Day Hardware & MicroSD Replacement Guarantee:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Conclusion

The Anbernic RG Cube and RG CubeXX are fun specialty machines if your retro gaming revolves around 1:1 Pico-8 carts, Game Boy Color, vertical arcade shooters, or stacked Nintendo DS screens, and the Android RG Cube is the one to get if you want PS2 in your hands and enjoy the setup. For most players whose favorite games live on 4:3 home consoles, or who want PlayStation 2 and GameCube on a Windows PC they already own, splitting the job between our native 4:3 2Bluebox R36S Handheld ($79.99) and our 2Bluebox Portable HDD Batocera 500GB ($64.99) gives you the right screen for each era, over 123,000 preloaded games combined, and $25 or more left over compared with one RG Cube.

Check the game list, match the aspect ratio to the consoles you actually play, and Press Start.