Miyoo Mini Plus vs. R36S: OnionOS vs. ArkOS 2.0, CPU Power & Dual Analog Sticks Compared

Below, I break down what sits underneath those matching 3.5-inch screens, which five platforms the R36S unlocks that the Miyoo Mini Plus cannot boot, and how OnionOS compares with a preloaded ArkOS 2.0 card.

Miyoo Mini Plus vs. R36S Chipset Reality: 128MB Display SoC (No 3D GPU) vs. 1GB Quad-Core RK3326

From the front, the Miyoo Mini Plus and 2Bluebox R36S ($79.99) look like 3.5-inch twins. Inside, the Miyoo uses a dual-core SSD202D with 128MB RAM and no GPU, while the R36S runs a quad-core RK3326 with 1GB RAM and a Mali-G31 GPU.

First-time buyers browsing this r/SBCGaming thread asking whether to pick the Miyoo Mini Plus or the R36S often assume the two consoles have similar power because both carry a 3.5-inch 640x480 IPS panel in a Game Boy-style shell. According to the RetroCatalog Miyoo Mini Plus specification sheet, however, the Miyoo Mini Plus (and the smaller 2.8-inch Miyoo Mini V4) is powered by a SigmaStar SSD202D, a low-power chip built for embedded smart displays rather than gaming:

• Miyoo Mini Plus (SigmaStar SSD202D): Two 32-bit ARM Cortex-A7 cores clocked at 1.2GHz, no 3D GPU, and just 128MB of DDR3 RAM. Everything from NES through PS1 is rendered in software on the CPU.
• 2Bluebox R36S ($79.99, Rockchip RK3326): Four 64-bit ARM Cortex-A35 cores clocked at 1.5GHz, a Mali-G31 MP2 GPU with OpenGL ES 3.2 hardware acceleration, and 1GB of DDR3L RAM across two physical memory chips (eight times the RAM of the Miyoo), as covered in our complete R36S review and hardware test.

Table 1 compares our 2Bluebox R36S ($79.99) against the Miyoo Mini Plus and the single-RAM R36S clones sold on generic marketplaces. For a broader look at the category, see our guide to the best retro handheld consoles under $100.

Table 1: 2Bluebox R36S ($79.99, 2bluebox.com) vs. Miyoo Mini Plus vs. Generic Marketplace R36S Clone

"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.

That 8x memory gap and the Mali-G31 GPU explain why the R36S keeps going after the Miyoo Mini Plus hits its ceiling at PlayStation 1.

System Ceiling Breakdown: 5 Platforms the R36S Plays That the Miyoo Mini Plus Cannot

Both handhelds run 16-bit consoles and 2D PS1 games well. Once you want lighter N64, Dreamcast, PSP, right-stick DS stylus control, or PortMaster PC ports, the Miyoo Mini Plus cannot run them because it lacks a 3D GPU and analog sticks.

To be clear about what the RK3326 inside the 2Bluebox R36S ($79.99) can and cannot do: it runs 8-bit, 16-bit, arcade, and PlayStation 1 games smoothly, while N64, Sega Dreamcast, and Sony PSP are bonus systems where lighter and mid-weight titles are playable and heavy 3D games still struggle. Even with that caveat, the R36S opens up five gaming categories that the GPU-less 128MB Miyoo Mini Plus either cannot boot at all or cannot control with a D-Pad alone:

Even on PlayStation 1, where both consoles run games well, the two thumbsticks on the R36S let you enable true analog control in games like Ape Escape, Spyro the Dragon, Crash Team Racing, and Gran Turismo 2.

Use this four-step check to see whether your game list needs the R36S's extra hardware:

1. Search your favorite childhood titles in our public /pages/r36s-games-list database before you buy.
2. Check how many sit in the N64, PSP, Dreamcast, or Nintendo DS folders, which require a 3D GPU or a second stick for the stylus.
3. Press FN + X inside any PlayStation 1 game on the R36S to open the RetroArch Quick Menu, then set Controls -> Port 1 Controls -> Device Type to DualShock.
4. Use FN + R1 to save your state and FN + L1 to reload instantly across any system on ArkOS 2.0.

Buying a bare-bones marketplace R36S risks getting a single-RAM EmuELEC clone with a failing SD card, while a Miyoo Mini Plus locks you out of every 3D system after PS1. Our 2Bluebox R36S Handheld ($79.99) ships on the Dual-RAM RK3326 board with ArkOS 2.0 and all 15,768 files ready to play:

Controls, D-Pad Feel & Shoulder Triggers: D-Pad Classic vs. Dual L3/R3 Joysticks

Credit where it is due: the Miyoo Mini Plus has soft, glossy face buttons and a classic D-Pad that feel great for 2D RPGs. The 2Bluebox R36S ($79.99) counters with two clickable L3/R3 sticks, a taller grip, and angled rear triggers.

Owners in the r/SBCGaming Miyoo Mini Plus vs. R36S discussion consistently praise the Miyoo Mini Plus for its button feel. Its D-Pad and glossy A/B/X/Y buttons use soft rubber membranes that roll smoothly through Street Fighter II quarter-circles and 16-bit platformers, and its shorter 108 mm shell slips into a shirt pocket.

Because the Miyoo shell is only 108 mm tall, though, your index fingers rest closely together on the four rear shoulder buttons (L1/L2, R1/R2), and your thumbs sit near the bottom edge during longer sessions. The 2Bluebox R36S is 130 mm tall, so your palms get more shell to hold, and the two clickable L3/R3 sticks sit below the D-Pad and quiet rubber-membrane face buttons so you can switch between D-Pad platforming and analog arcade movement without cramping your hands.

If you are also looking at Miyoo's clamshell or micro horizontal designs, compare them in our Miyoo Mini Flip vs. R36S clamshell comparison and our Miyoo A30 vs. R36S pocket handheld comparison.

Treating the charging port and shutdown sequence properly keeps both the battery and the FAT32/exFAT file system healthy for years.

OnionOS vs. ArkOS 2.0 & Pre-Loaded Game Card Reality

OnionOS is the best reason to buy a Miyoo Mini Plus for its quick Game Switcher, but Miyoo does not preinstall it. The 2Bluebox R36S ($79.99, 2bluebox.com) ships with ArkOS 2.0 and 15,768 files ready out of the box.

Almost every glowing review of the Miyoo Mini Plus is really a review of OnionOS, the community firmware famous for its one-button Game Switcher that freezes a 2D game, shows a screenshot carousel, and resumes where you left off. What surprises many first-time buyers is what the official OnionUI installation guide states right at the top:

• Miyoo does not ship with OnionOS installed: Out of the box, the Miyoo Mini Plus runs stock Miyoo firmware on a single microSD slot. To get OnionOS, you format a microSD card (the guide recommends a brand-name card over the stock one) to FAT32 on a computer, copy the Onion installer files, boot the handheld to extract the packages, and then add your own ROM folders and any BIOS files your systems need.
• Two microSD slots (TF1-OS + TF2-GAME) on the R36S: I still pop open old SNES cartridge shells to inspect the PCB and clean the brass pins with 99% isopropyl alcohol and a Q-tip, so I appreciate hardware that separates the operating system from your game saves. As noted in the Handhelds Wiki R36S Buying Guide, the R36S gives you a TF1-OS slot and a TF2-GAME slot. Our 2Bluebox unit ships with ArkOS 2.0 and all 15,768 files on a single 64GB card in TF1-OS; if you later move your ROMs to a second card in TF2-GAME, an ArkOS reflash no longer has to touch your games. Backup first, tinker second.
• 15,768 preloaded files you can check before buying: When I pulled the 64GB card from our R36S unit and exported the directory tree, we filtered the 15,768 files down to 12,805 unique playable games and published the entire list on our searchable 15,768 R36S games list.

Table 3: 2Bluebox R36S ($79.99, 2bluebox.com) vs. Miyoo Mini Plus Import vs. Generic Marketplace R36S Clone

When my seven-year-old daughter wants to play 16-bit platformers next to my desk, she doesn't want to wait while I format a card to FAT32 and copy BIOS files; she just wants to press FN + L1 and jump right back into her save state.

Which 3.5-Inch Vertical Handheld Should You Buy in 2026?

Pick the Miyoo Mini Plus if you only play 2D games up through PS1 and enjoy setting up OnionOS on your own card. Choose the 2Bluebox R36S ($79.99) for 8x the RAM, a 3D GPU, dual analog sticks, and 15,768 preloaded files.

Match your gaming habits to one of these four setups before you order:

• Pick the 2Bluebox R36S Handheld ($79.99) if: You want one pocket console that handles NES, SNES, GBA, Arcade, and PS1 DualShock games plus lighter N64, Dreamcast, PSP, and PortMaster titles, with two clickable L3/R3 sticks, two card slots, and 12,805 unique playable games ready on day one. Skip it if you want to plug into a TV, because it has no HDMI-out.
• Pick the Miyoo Mini Plus if: You never touch 3D games that need an analog stick, want built-in Wi-Fi for RetroAchievements, prefer a shorter 108 mm shell for one-handed 2D RPGs, and already plan to buy a separate microSD card to install OnionOS on your computer.
• Pick the 2Bluebox Retro Game Stick 4K Pro ($59.98) if: You want two-player couch co-op on a living-room TV. Our white SEGAM-M8-V5.0 HDMI stick plugs into your TV and ships with two 2.4GHz wireless controllers and 14,755 unique games listed at /pages/all-games. Skip it if you need a portable handheld or 3D PS2 games.
• Pick the 2Bluebox Portable HDD Super Console 500GB ($64.99) if: You want full-speed PS2, GameCube, Wii, and heavy 3D PSP games that neither 3.5-inch handheld can run. Plug this 500GB USB 3.0 drive into a Windows PC or laptop to boot Batocera Linux with 110,686 games. Skip it if you only own an Apple Silicon Mac.

Deciding between a dual-stick pocket handheld for commutes and a two-player HDMI system for the living-room TV? Both 2Bluebox packages ship free with tracking on orders from $50 and are covered by our 30-day replacement guarantee:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Conclusion

The Miyoo Mini Plus earned its reputation among tinkerers who want a shirt-pocket D-Pad device for 8-bit and 16-bit classics and enjoy building a custom OnionOS card on a computer. Once you look past the shell, though, 128MB of RAM with no 3D GPU and no thumbsticks leaves out everything past the 2D era.

If you want a 3.5-inch pocket handheld that covers NES, SNES, GBA, and PlayStation 1 DualShock titles while also opening up lighter N64, Dreamcast, PSP, and PortMaster games, the 2Bluebox R36S Handheld ($79.99) gives you eight times the memory, a dedicated Mali-G31 GPU, two clickable L3/R3 sticks, dual card slots, and 15,768 preloaded files ready the moment you turn it on.

Check the game list, keep a 5V USB-A charger nearby, and Press Start.