If you've been waiting to buy a retro gaming handheld, this $40 deal won't last much longer

Deals
By published

The R36MAX retro handheld has dropped to just $40, making it one of Prime Day's best gaming deals.

Anbernic RG34XXSP with AYANEO Pocket DMG and Retroid Pocket Flip 2
(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

Gaming handhelds have become surprisingly expensive. Lenovo just raised the price of the Legion Go 2, while other devices, including the Nintendo Switch 2 and ASUS ROG Ally X, cost hundreds of dollars, making getting into portable gaming pretty expensive.

That's exactly why this Prime Day deal caught my attention. Amazon has dropped the R36MAX Retro Handheld Game Console from $100 to just $50, and there's another $10 coupon on top, bringing the final price down to only $40.

For anyone who's been thinking about buying a retro handheld, I honestly think this might be one of the best times to do it.

R36MAX Retro Handheld Game Console
Save 60% ($60)
R36MAX Retro Handheld Game Console: was $100 now $40 at Amazon

The R36MAX Retro Handheld has dropped from $100 to just $40 during Prime Day. With thousands of preloaded retro games, a 4-inch IPS display, dual analog sticks, and up to six hours of battery life, it's a fantastic entry point into retro handheld gaming.

Note: the $40 discount is applied automatically, but clip the coupon on the Amazon product page to add an additional $10 off!

View Deal

✅Recommended if: you want an inexpensive handheld packed with retro games, something for flights and travel, or a device you can simply pick up and play without worrying about downloads or subscriptions.

❌Skip this deal if: you're looking for modern AAA gaming, want to stream PC games, or need something that can compete with a Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch 2.

The best part about the R36MAX is that it comes with a huge library of retro games already loaded onto its 64GB storage. You don't need to create an account or download games onto it. There are plenty of games already pre-installed on the device.

The hardware isn't bad either, especially for the price. You get a quad-core processor that's more than capable of handling most retro 2D games, along with a 4-inch IPS display with 720 x 720 resolution. It also comes with dual analog sticks, proper shoulder buttons, built-in speakers, and USB-C charging, which is more than I'd expect from a $40 handheld.

Battery life also looks pretty solid. The R36MAX packs a 4,000mAh battery, with the company claiming up to six hours of continuous gameplay on a single charge. That's enough for most flights. It even comes with a carry case in the box, making the deal feel even better.

Of course, this isn't going to replace your Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck, nor is it trying to. But if you've been curious about retro handheld gaming or simply want an inexpensive way to replay old classics, this is probably one of the cheapest and easiest ways to get started.

Sanuj Bhatia
Sanuj Bhatia
Contributor

Sanuj is a tech writer who loves exploring smartphones, tablets, and wearables. He began his journey with a Nokia Lumia and later dived deep into Android and iPhone. He's been writing about tech since 2018, with bylines at Pocketnow, Android Police, Pocket-Lint, and MakeUseOf. When he's not testing gadgets, he's either sipping chai, watching football, or playing cricket.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.