Kinhank K36 Review: Good Bones, Shaky Software

In contrast to most people at RH, I am not persuaded to jump at the possible Ban on e-waste budget handhelds. That inclination (curse) is something I have on my own. I was immediately on board when I learned that Kinhank was creating its clone of my favourite R36S. The K36 arrives with a well-known chipset and physical design up front.

However, looking at the smartphone from the back, you'll realize it has a beautiful curving backside. Is its performance comparable to that of some of its less expensive counterparts? Are those backside curves an uncomfortable obstacle or a more comfortable controller?

Note: This is a review of the K36, which came with the stock operating system. The device does not currently have any external firmware installed.

The Company

For several years now, Kinhank has been well-known in the emulation community. When they unveiled the Super Console X in 2020, I got to know them for the first time. Around this time, portable pranks were starting to gain traction. With an approved entry, it seems natural that they would toss their name and hat into the handheld ring.

Recently, they have gained notoriety for offering preloaded hard disks with enormous ROM libraries, ranging from 500GB to 12TB. I was interested to see what they would have in a handheld because the images are consistently clear and attractively displayed.

It is nearly impossible to determine whether Kinhank manufactured this equipment under their supervision or used their name recognition under the arrangement. It is hoped that the product would meet the reasonable standards for quality demonstrated by most of their products in the past. My son continues to utilize my Super Console X Pro regularly. And over the years, it has shown itself to be a fantastic choice for inexpensive living room entertainment.

Kinhank K36 Specs

• Processor: The tried and true RK3326 (physically verified on the unit board)
• RAM: 1GB
• Display: 3.5″ 640×480 LCD
• Battery: 3500mAh 3.7V
• Connectivity: USB-C for charging (5v/2a), 3.5mm headphone jack
• Weight: 188g

A Whole Handful

The fact that everyone is compelled to make some "badonk" butt remark as soon as they see the K36 cannot be avoided. They lost the chance to use a solid red colour. Particularly, given the ongoing promotion of Deadpool's posterior to accompany the next film, I'm getting off-topic.

The device's curves will determine its success or failure for you. It's okay if you don't like them! There are many other options in the vast RK3266 waters, so this device is probably not for you.

Boss-man RH: According to Stubbs' initial thoughts, the bumps were more awkward than ergonomic. However, I have to admit that during my time with the K36 thus far, I have experienced the exact opposite. After a few play sessions, I discovered that it is very comfortable to handle for extended periods, even though I am a larger-handed guy.

Other Hardware Feels

Let's dissect every single piece of hardware that the console has besides its distinctive rear.

• D-Pad: This is surprisingly good. Although there is some travel, it generally passes the Contra test. I can make things happen if I genuinely push for it. However, I doubt you will encounter erroneous inputs on this device for the most part. I would have to choose the Kinhank after experiencing each D-Pad while seated next to the R36S and the D-R35+.
• Sticks: Kinhank has reportedly chosen to use Hall sensor sticks here. The analogue sticks have a fair amount of travel. Additionally, I found it easy to regulate and adjust my speed in 3D platforming games. Big thumbs up.
• Speaker: One speaker that fires downward. It sounds good. Beyond what is provided here, I wouldn't really ask for or expect much more. It accomplishes its goal. There is also a headphone jack available.
•  The screen appears decent, but I imagine it might look even better with a little software tweak.
• Storage: Only one microSD slot is accessible. I stated available, note. Though only one is reachable via the shell, two are on the board. That's the type of party.
• Face Buttons: Excellent entries. Compared to the membrane-style buttons on the R36S, these physical buttons feel considerably nicer. I truly can't blame them.
• Shoulder Buttons: The majority of these clone gadgets have the same loud, "clicky" shoulders. They feel well in your hand and are rounded off, which is pleasant. However, I hope someone will get things right and make a playable version that will not annoy everyone else in the room.

Software and Play Experience (For Now)

*For now, this review section will require a large, fat asterisk placed next to it. In order to mimic the ArkOS experience on the R36S, which has become commonplace with those devices, the Kinhank K36 comes with a skinned version of EmuElec. EmuElec has always been used by Kinhank console entries, such as the Super Console X. Perhaps that's simply what the designers are accustomed to using.

That is still the case until the community produces a more optimized experience. I can't claim this is the only thing this machine can do. Anyone who has spent more than a minute in this scene is aware that the strength of CFW determines whether hardware survives or dies. A port for this gadget will be available soon.

Kinhank, or whoever they collaborated with on this device, made a grave mistake by allowing it to run on EmuElec. I don't have enough technical knowledge to conjecture, and I don't know why this decision was made. We are aware of this processor's capabilities through various gadgets. They deliberately chose to dismiss this gadget as "good enough," even if it isn't up to par.

Playing your 8- and 16-bit entries is an excellent experience, but that's a standard expectation right now. It performs flawlessly on the Yoshi's Island test but stutters in subsequent systems. The Nintendo 64 exceeded expectations. Except for an odd two-player Mario 64 ROM, the game worked rather well and served as a useful test bed for the analogue stick's sensitivity. Sadly, as it is right now, that is where the enjoyable gaming stops.

Anything more than that will be a huge compromise, and I found enough little judders and audio glitches in the PSX experience to go elsewhere. Dreamcast, PSP, Saturn, and other devices are not playable. On the built-in screen, they even featured a few Atomiswave games, an arcade board that I had never heard of before except for Kinhank and Wicked Gamer on the Super Console X. Unfortunately, it's essentially unplayable here.

Conclusion

By this stage of the game, we are well aware of the precise functions that the RK3266 CPU can emulate. Delivering the item in its current state is blatantly an attempt to profit from the handheld gold rush, just like everyone else. There might be an excellent gadget here that can compete with the R36S, but we won't know until it reaches a stage when it has an optimized software experience.

Unless you're a huge fan of curved vertical handhelds, there's little reason to rush out and grab this gadget if you're an aficionado. There are undoubtedly better possibilities right now if you're just getting started. I can only advise right now to save your money until we see this device running some respectable firmware. However, I hope to return to this post in weeks or months with an improved experience. Watch and see.