A new iteration of the R36 Max retro gaming handheld appears to be in development, with early details pointing to hardware revisions while maintaining some core specifications from the original model.
The first-generation R36 Max, released last year, stood out in the crowded retro handheld segment with a 4-inch display featuring a 1:1 aspect ratio and 720p native resolution. Now, information uncovered by Retro Gaming with Deadfred suggests that a successor, referred to as the R36 Max 2, is preparing to launch.
According to the report, the upcoming device will continue to use Rockchip’s RK3326 processor, an aging platform equipped with four ARM Cortex-A35 CPU cores and a Mali-G31 MP2 GPU. The choice indicates that performance levels may remain broadly in line with its predecessor despite the new branding.
The R36 Max 2 is expected to feature a larger 4.5-inch IPS display, replacing the earlier square panel with a 4:3 aspect ratio and a resolution of 1,024 x 768 pixels. The manufacturer has also reportedly revised the control layout, swapping the positions of the directional pad and left joystick in a move that could improve ergonomics.
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Pricing and release details have not been disclosed. However, images circulating online appear to originate from a retail listing, leading observers to expect a broader launch within the coming weeks.