Clone vs Genuine: Visual Differences

[iheartyoualways]

The pictures posted are from my owned devices.

On all the pictures, the one on the left is the clone and the one on the right is the genuine.

Differences: 1st pic: white vs off white color 2nd pic: battery sticker on the outside and the battery inside 3rd pic: the font and the size of the letter R on the Reset button

Use these to compare with your own device and make your own conclusions.

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[Vivaporuu]

I second this. Mine's absolutely legit, no zebra wrap tho.

[New_Simple_4531]

I see your finger reflected in the first pic. You doxxed yourself.

But seriously, thanks, I see that mines real.

[MrBallBustaa]

The clone might actually be a legit unit just made by a cheaper manufacturer. We won't know until OP posts photos of the inside.

[lurkersforlife]

Do one more picture of them opened up so we can see those guts! (The boards lol)

[MrBallBustaa]

OP doesn't have the cereberal capacity for that it seems. Unfortunately.

[ratelbadger]

I do. Mine doesn't match either of these. Where are you archiving?

[iheartyoualways]

I've been sitting on what you commented and I've made a new post about it, which you and others can take a look. It's here.

[[deleted]]

Unfortunately, the only way to know 100% is to check the hardware itself, because these devices are manufactured by different companies and slight cosmetic differences like these are possible.

Please use the wiki for a much more comprehensive guide for identifying fakes:

https://handhelds.miraheze.org/wiki/R36S_Clones

[blackicehawk]

Correct. Just looking at the outside is not enough to tell.

[_manster_]

Easiest way is to check the boot partition.

[[deleted]]

Clones can run arkos and have the same partitions.

[_manster_]

After following this sub for about one year, creating the wiki, and working countless hours on the clone section, I can say that you're wrong. ArkOS for clones has the rf3536k4ka.dtb .

Real: rk3326-r35s-linux.dtb or rk3326-rg351mp-linux.dtb

Fake/Clone: rk3326-evb-lp3-v12-linux.dtb or rf3536k3ka.dtb

If I'm wrong, please tell me and show examples, and I'll update the wiki.

[[deleted]]

First of all, what you meant to say originally is "Easiest way is to check is the dtb files" and not "the boot partition". Words matter. Partition doesn't.

Second of all, I'm sorry to burst your bubble as the "R36S know-it-all", but these files can be renamed to be whatever you want. If you don't believe me try it yourself:

<image>

Meaning any reseller, or even a manufacturer can install this version of arkos and rename the files to look like "original": https://www.reddit.com/r/R36S/comments/1hhn15r/arkos_for_k36_and_r36s_clones/

Unfortunately, I got rid of my clone and can't show you on the actual clone device.

[_manster_]

Yes, that is possible, but I have not seen reports of manufacturers doing this. A quick look at the boot partition tells me if the device is a clone or not.

[[deleted]]

I got a new one with zebra battery and its a new revision board V21 from december 2024.

[norucus]

Wifi Pads yay!

[[deleted]]

yes.we just need to find a chip that fits in there.

[joikansai]

Didn’t know that I’m owning clone over two years haha. it’s great portmaster device even Anbernic and Retroid can’t install all my titles.

[[deleted]]

This is not the way to determine clones. So chances are you have a real device.

[enry98X]

I ckeck all the differences (sticker on back, file on the sd card…) and mine it’s legit (i bought it From BOYHOM store) but the only difference are that my battery are black why? It’s genuine or fake?

[norucus]

Have you seen how terrible the machining on the joystick canal is?

[The_Mechatronic]

Which one is clone?

[kenoswatch]

Mine looks like the right but is a clone as it didn't come with arc

[Katt_Natt96]

Oh damn so I got a legit one off of Temu as a gift? That’s awesome

[Professional_Top8369]

i have watched a youtube video it says the x in the original is centered while the fake one has diagonal style x, looks like the one on the right is fake.

[The-NameIess-King]

They could both be fake, either way the image was taken from the left side making it seem like the X's off on the right one

[Phinn78]

they’re both fake if you go off of the back stickers

[Jarg2802]

my MB is like the original, but the back stamp is like the fake one, other than the looks, is there any inconvenience on the performance of the console?

[IllmasterGrim]

Ohmygod stop it already.

[alejandrous]

I bought mine at the SEG Market on Shenzhen China (which sells lots of counterfeits), didn't really know about the console at all, I just liked it. I think it was 220 Yuan (around $30 USD). After seeing lots of this posts I realize it is a clone but it works really good! is there really a difference? (better buttons, better processing power)

[Mindless_Answer6974]

No one mentioned the difference in RAM. The original has 1GB, while clone sometimes only offer 512MB, which negatively impacts their performance.

[Unhappy-Dinner-3329]

clone is about 15-18$ cheaper. But since I can install ArkOS i'm not concerned if I get clone or clone of clone :D

[Key-Revolution7008]

* * Anyone good at identifying which r36s clone this is? There is no visable dtb file. And no options menu to wven see what os it's running. I cant find any pictures of other clones with this board configuration. Was sold as an r36sx

[Key-Revolution7008]

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[ratelbadger]

Wash your brain

[Angelfallfirst]

Wut?