This is a tough market though - and it's 219 quid. For that money you can pick from the best of the handheld emulator consoles that will play _everything_ including Speccy.

Well thanks to this showcase video I've decided this is my Christmas gift for the year. The device itself looks solid but it's really the software that sold it and the clear dedication to creating the best Spectrum experience. I've got a Steam Deck and sure, Retroarch gets you most of the way but there's always some annoying compatibility problem for a couple of games. So yeah, ordered. Love the way they've gone about this too. They knew they had a skeptical crowd to win over but have let the product do the talking. Good luck to 'em.

@GentlemensPixelClub

6 ай бұрын

I think you will be pretty damn pleased with your choice. I also own a Steasm Deck so am in the same club as you with hardware choices.

Awesome video, but that outro is on another level 👏

@GentlemensPixelClub

6 ай бұрын

Ha brilliant thank you sir and glad you liked the outro. That one is a little outstanding and I always enjoy using that one! :)

@retrodave79

6 ай бұрын

Hahahaha I tought about you and your "dissasembly songs" and outro when he started playing the piano :)

Considering the huge hype in the UK the Spectrum VEGA console and handheld products got, I'm surprised this has gone totally under the radar in the UK. I've heard nothing about it until this video. I guess also because of the monumental failure of the handheld.

@GentlemensPixelClub

6 ай бұрын

Yeah - people were burnt with the Vega. At Crash 2023, I was told this was the very reason there was no publicity for it - they wanted the product to speak for itself and physically exisit. At the reveal of it, they had two that were there and available to use. This made me go for it as you could touch and feel it.

Thanks for the review, looks great. Best outro of any channel :)

@GentlemensPixelClub

6 ай бұрын

Hah - thank you - yes that outro is very cool !

This looks great! Good to finally see a console with a big enough screen too.

@GentlemensPixelClub

6 ай бұрын

The wider screen works really well that you can place additional buttons for games on the side as well - that was a nice touch showing they reconigised that games are more than just joystick controls. A few days in - and still very happy with my purchase. :)

For all complaining about the price: - No other console gives you fully 50Hz screen, that means smooth animations like on CRT monitor. - It's bare metal emulation. That means It doesn't have any Android or other OS under the hood. The emulation is written specially for this custom hardware. Nothing inbetween. - Of course it can do Pentagon. Just copy Pentagon ROMs onto the SD card together with software in TRD format. The console chooses the Spectrum model by the file format. Well the emulation isn't perfect tho, it's designed mostly for games. If you want to watch demos, you'll have to fiddle with the format they're coming on and have certain troubles switching to the USR 0 mode. I've also found out some key combination aren't just possible to perform because of too small virtual keys. The price is pretty OK for this quality level.

Great review, placed my order 🙂

@GentlemensPixelClub

6 ай бұрын

Excellent news - I hope you are are happy with it as I am. I am still happy, still enjoying it and really pleased I brought it when I did. This is a lovely piece of kit.

Thanks for this review

@GentlemensPixelClub

6 ай бұрын

Pleasure - this is a lovely little system you have here.

Must say I'm tempted to order one of these... my kick starter 2 came before Christmas and just had an Odin 2 as well so can play handheld speccy emulation... but I love you can put keys on the side... and a large screen is nice too and saving key mapping per individual game is fantastic.. I'm biased cause I love the Spectrum 😂 great video thank you for sharing.

Love this! Looks like a great little console!

@GentlemensPixelClub

6 ай бұрын

I am only one day in and already loving it - got the ULA working as well so those funky versions of Manic Miner play fine.

Great video. i saw some information on this the other day and didn't really take much notice but seeing it in action it looks really good and looks very user friendly. Its a bit pricey though but it's something I might consider at some point in time.

@davidwhaite3330

6 ай бұрын

Ye..it looks pretty impressive but for the price it needs a couple of hundred games already installed then i'm buying one.

@GentlemensPixelClub

6 ай бұрын

As I said when I paid for it, I had not spoken to the missus yet and I figured it was better to ask for forgiveness than permission !

@GentlemensPixelClub

6 ай бұрын

@@davidwhaite3330 I don't want to come across as a "shill" for this as I paid full price out of my own money - I am also not a representive either - this is just an opinion piece. I don't think you will get that - the rom they put on it is open source and I had to put the official ones one. The games are available from itch as well that are on it - so again we have "free" stuff. One of the creator's told me at Fusion that they didn't want any licensing issues hence why they went this method. The SD card you can throw what you want on to personalise your collection and order how you want as well. In that sense it makes it customisable - but I hope there is a way to add new images to the dashboard you can store on the SD card.

Wow it looks fantastic , just what i have been looking for 😍

@GentlemensPixelClub

3 ай бұрын

Please also take a look at the Firmware V1.10 video as well, this has had some serious upgrades by the author since this video !

@RoyBigBoy

3 ай бұрын

@@GentlemensPixelClub will do thank you

Great video buddy 👏

@GentlemensPixelClub

6 ай бұрын

Many thanks - I was a little worried about this one due to the audio problems from the GoPro, thank you. :)

The ZX Touch looks awesome. I did not even knowil it was a thing until I saw your Crash 2023 vid. I want to see you do the classic 10 PRINT "Hello World" 20 GOTO 10 using the on screen keyboard Speccy style. 😁 Amazing hand held.

@GentlemensPixelClub

6 ай бұрын

...would yo really want the video to be extended by another 10 minutes as I learnt to type again !

Very impressive device! Only just found out about this.

@GentlemensPixelClub

5 ай бұрын

Yes it is - still over the moon with mine and on a personal level for me, consider it money really well spent.

I've just ordered one. Where are these ROM files though? I'm not a Twitterer so I thought it best to ask here. I have a Speccy Next (KS2), would the same ROMs be on the Nexr's SD card somewhere?

@GentlemensPixelClub

4 ай бұрын

archive.org/search?query=%22zx+spectrum+tosec%22 and get the September 2023 pack for the TOSEC files. Some will be missing as distribution rights for some games are withheld. You will be wanting to use the .TAP files.

i do this on my DS lite , i have a full keyboard on the bottom screen and full kempston/sinclair joystick support , it also supports russian clones , this is nice but im good with my DS lite , it runs everything speccy related

keep it up!

@GentlemensPixelClub

6 ай бұрын

Thank you - will try my best.

That looks like a fun device!

@GentlemensPixelClub

2 ай бұрын

It truely is - I can honestly say, I've now put more hours into the ZX Touch and the simple catalogue of ZX Spectrum games than my Steam Deck. Take a look at the Firmware video for this we did as well, it shows you some serious enhancments to what you see here. Really outstanding.

@kevinhanley6462

2 ай бұрын

@@GentlemensPixelClub Good stuff!

Hi, does it have save game slots and also cheats (if needed!) This is what I've been looking for i think for running Spectrum games. Had a GPD XD and just got sick of all the setting up, controls not working properly for certain games etc. Cheers for a great review!

@GentlemensPixelClub

5 ай бұрын

Yes it does save slots. Pop to 9:33 on the video, when I've hit the keyboard button ( bottom left ) you can see MS1, MS2 and MS3 on the left hand side. This saves the memory state to SD. On the right hand side you have MR1, MR2 and MR3 to load them back in. This is independent on each game - so game A can have three saves, Game B can have three saves and so on.

Thanks for the complete review, I think it will become a must buy when the price goes down, I do not know any of the games provided, this could be also a problem

@GentlemensPixelClub

6 ай бұрын

Please remember you can add your own - when I was running some of them they were from the SD card and ones I choose to put on. You can put anything you want on.

@tergela

6 ай бұрын

Thanks for the clarification, it would be nice zxtouch included more classical games (I was thinking on the ones I played the most, penetrator, arcadia, Horace, manic miner, jet set willy, exploding fist, jet man, jet pac, bomb jack, commando, atic atac, knight lore, pssst...), I understand rights should be an issue but for the ones of us who left videogames 30 years ago could be difficult to find, install and make these games work 😊

@GentlemensPixelClub

6 ай бұрын

@@tergela if you are stuck should you get one - reach out to me on Twitter via messaging and I will help you.

@tergela

6 ай бұрын

Thanks, I just clicked on follow on twitter, let's see if I decide to get it, (ops it was 40 years not 30 hahaha)

Mine isn't holding a charge, if I'm reading the manual right, red led when charger connected, green led is lit when charging, and solid red only when 100%. Does this mean that you get both red and green when charging? I've tried three cables that I know work. When I plug in the USB both red and green light up but only the red for a second, and the screen display says charging, then the screen goes off. I push the USB in all the way and I get the green led and nothing on the screen. I can use it plugged in fine but it won't charge up. Should I leave it charging longer or because the red led does not stay on is the battery simply not receiving any charge? I have tried plugging it via USB hub, and directly into the wall, and two different USB plug chargers.

@GentlemensPixelClub

6 ай бұрын

Yes - that's how it works - red connected and green when charging - I have to say although my battery says full, I've not left it long enough for the green to go out. I am charging mine from a power adapter that has a USB connection and using a USB to USB-C cable that came with my 8BitDo controller. Perhaps it is worth reaching out to the chap that sent us all the emails if you pre-ordered at Crash 2023 ? Really hope you get this sorted.

@rhern

6 ай бұрын

@@GentlemensPixelClub Last night I emailed SinTech who I ordered it from, and RC Elmar electronic from the other youtube video showcasing the device wanted an email too, I assume they're connected somehow. I left it on all night with just green LED and this morning, still the same, no charge and no red LED. Is it worth bringing this up with who you saw at the Crash exhibition, or you reckon these two should suffice?

@GentlemensPixelClub

6 ай бұрын

@@rhern Yes bring this up - it will help them get to the bottom of the problem as these were the first batch that we both brought from.

@rhern

6 ай бұрын

@@GentlemensPixelClub the manufacturer has been great, I woke up to a few suggestions in an email and it turns out the battery connector wasn't pushed in properly, it's now charging normally. Phew!

@GentlemensPixelClub

6 ай бұрын

@@rhern Brilliant - so glad this is sorted for you - this is great for others to see who follow the thread - shows the manufacturer cares - thank you for sharing. :)

Is the Micro Sd card supplied? How do you put the custom ROMS on? Many thanks.

@GentlemensPixelClub

5 ай бұрын

The MicroSD is not supplied, you copy the roms onto your own card and insert and they work from there.

@antoniodinatale5397

5 ай бұрын

@@GentlemensPixelClub many thanks. Where do I get the ROMS from, sorry I'm a newbie 😂

@GentlemensPixelClub

5 ай бұрын

​@@antoniodinatale5397 archive.org/search?query=%22zx+spectrum+tosec%22 and get the September 2023 pack for the TOSEC files. Some will be missing as distribution rights for some games are withheld.

@antoniodinatale5397

5 ай бұрын

@@GentlemensPixelClub many thanks. Downloaded the pack & all good 😊👍

Looks nice, but what's the advantage of something like this over, say, a Retroid Pocket 3+ or something? Genuinely asking, seems too much of a niche and not enough differentiating features when compared with the slew of retro gaming handhelds that can do ZX spectrum really well. Thanks!

@GentlemensPixelClub

6 ай бұрын

Honestly, I don't know as I've never used a Retroid Pocket so can't comment on that. For me, I grew up on the Sinclair Spectrum and this ticks my boxes and the stand out feature for me is the ability to customise controls once that you can save and they automatically load in for each individual game.

@CraigGrannell

6 ай бұрын

I’m curious about that too. I’ve never run the Speccy on my RP3+ (nor any other consoles, like my Anbernics). It looks like there’s been some reasonable optimisation regarding the touchscreen here, but that this costs 80 quid more than what I paid for the RP3+ (which can emulate all the way up to PS2 and also play many Android games) makes it the toughest of asks.

You can buy any handheld fir example the powkiddy rgb30 or miyoo minin plus and those machine not only run spectrum emulators, but all the way up yo the n64 or beyond if u go with more expensive controllers

@greggonpatrol

5 ай бұрын

or even better a Nintendo DS and install an emulator.. lower screen is the full keyboard

Hello! Great video! I ordered one for myself today. What are the physical dimensions of the console?

@GentlemensPixelClub

6 ай бұрын

Hiya - the physical size is Height: 13cm Width: 25cm Depth: 1.5cm. Just measured for you.

@botrinlaca

6 ай бұрын

@@GentlemensPixelClub thank you!

@Gentlemen's Pixel Club how is it working after 4 months of use

@GentlemensPixelClub

2 ай бұрын

Brilliantly - please take a look at the firmware V1.10 video, that makes it all the more better. I know have pages and pages of custom games and simply love it. I think I've mentioned before, this gets 100% more play than my Steam Deck, I've never played the Steam Deck this year but this has a lot of use. Still feels as good as new although I am taking exceptionally good care of it. I brought a steam deck screen protector that also fits perfectly for this. Everybody has differnet values, experiences but I can say as Speccy fan who paid fully for this, do I regret anything - no - not at all.

Nice gloves Mr H, I was expecting you to pull a rabbit out of a hat! Nice vid though, I think at 219quid it's a bit too much - although it does look like it's got a canny nice screen on it. Cheers.

@GentlemensPixelClub

6 ай бұрын

I spent a couple of quid on those gloves for this video - they were a special Amazon order !

Had a Vic20 in 82 86 got a C128 Amstrad congrats from down under bud ❤

@GentlemensPixelClub

5 ай бұрын

Many thanks and welcome to the channel. What Vic20 games were your favs ?

Can some one point me in direction for the 3 custom roms in the video , I have the console but can't add .TAP files , great video.

@GentlemensPixelClub

4 ай бұрын

Here are the three custom roms - drive.google.com/file/d/1pLcE2EFERN2_qSIghLU-L_bnjA7JcYcA/view?usp=drive_link The TAP files need to be downloaded. You can try by going to archive.org/search?query=%22zx+spectrum+tosec%22 and get the September 2023 pack for the TOSEC files. Some will be missing as distribution rights for some games are withheld. They will need to be copied onto your SD card.

@garystewart9376

4 ай бұрын

@GentlemensPixelClub I have the TOSEC pack thanks , when I click on link for custom roms it says I need permission.

@GentlemensPixelClub

4 ай бұрын

@@garystewart9376 All fixed - should be able to get it now.

@garystewart9376

4 ай бұрын

@GentlemensPixelClub i have unzipped them and placed then in the roms folder on my card, still no joy , where should the tap files be , i noticed on your video you had an A-Z folder structure did you make that yourself or have I missed something. Sorry for being a pain.

@GentlemensPixelClub

4 ай бұрын

@@garystewart9376 The folder structure I created for the .TAP file. Literally on the root of the SD card. Just copy a couple of .TAP files there and see if it works you should be able to see them. The Roms go into a directory called Roms on the root of the SD card. EG, Roms\48.rom Roms\128-0.rom and so on. Make sure that your SD card is formated to FAT32.

Excellent video sir out of interest do you sell a sd card with games already preloaded and mapped as I would love to purchase it and I'm sure many people would as well , as I am rubbish at computers downloading stuff etc please let me know sir 😊

@GentlemensPixelClub

3 ай бұрын

Sorry nope - but you can get the contents of what you may want by doing the following. go to archive.org/search?query=%22zx+spectrum+tosec%22 and get the September 2023 pack for the TOSEC files. Some will be missing as distribution rights for some games are withheld. You will be wanting to use the .TAP files.

Can you output the video to a TV via HDMI?

@GentlemensPixelClub

6 ай бұрын

Nope. There is no HDMI output.

What about next and sam compatibility vdac2 zx evo?

@GentlemensPixelClub

4 ай бұрын

Nope - just ZX Spectrum - no Next of Coupe.

Is this a rebadged PowKiddy? Because unless you are paying for the licensing of the games etc this seems very expensive

@GentlemensPixelClub

6 ай бұрын

Nope, not a rebadget PowKiddy. Agreed - it's not the cheapest - but for me, I'll have more value for money with this over time and could easily blow this cost on other gadgets that I simply would not use very much. It's a personal thing.

the link to the device is giving multiple security warnings.

Are you able to possibly send me the Roms please as having an issue getting some of the games working ? Thank you

@GentlemensPixelClub

2 ай бұрын

Hi Graham - not sure if you saw my reply to what I posted yesterday on the other video when you asked for help. Here is a cut and paste... Sure - can you do me a favour and message me the list on X and it'll be easier then using these comments or post a list here, either way post the full list. I can then take a look and I'll see what I can do. I might have already done some of them anyways ! :) I won't be sending (C) restricted games or ones that cost money - if you are stuck on those - I can use them for a tutorial video on how to add the games. As long as the list is around ten games or so, I can help. What I can show with those will get you running with others - espeically if they are tricky games. Cheers.

Can you please help me with rom files sir please as my zxt is coming tomorrow' thank you

@GentlemensPixelClub

3 ай бұрын

Sure. go to archive.org/search?query=%22zx+spectrum+tosec%22 and get the September 2023 pack for the TOSEC files. Some will be missing as distribution rights for some games are withheld. You will be wanting to use the .TAP files and Z80 files.

Thats a really nifty looking machine with a very nicely thought out ui. Im tempted but the price is just too high compared to the myriad of cheap Chinese handhelds that can run many emulators rather than be limited to just the speccy. I appreciate that this is an enthusiast created project with low margins but its a hard sell at that pricepoint.

Crazy price.

I'm an impulse buyer, I wanted one but you can't get one, so my impulse passed......

@GentlemensPixelClub

6 ай бұрын

Impulse's can come back - please bookmark this video ! :)

Good handheld but the price let's it down.219 pounds is alot

All looks very nice but way over priced I feel.

Please understand

No good for flight sims?

@GentlemensPixelClub

4 ай бұрын

Depends on how many keys they would use - if I may - was there a good Flight Sim on the Spectrum that is worth doing ? I did do Flight Simulator but that kinda put me off when I was younger from the rest of them.

@zxspectrum16KB

4 ай бұрын

@@GentlemensPixelClub check out digital integration they had loads

@zxspectrum16KB

4 ай бұрын

@GentlemensPixelClub yeah digital integration did the best ones tomahawk apache gunship was ace fighter pilot and f16 combat pilot all better than psions attempt

@GentlemensPixelClub

4 ай бұрын

@@zxspectrum16KB Damn I forgot about DI. Thanks for the reminder. I am going to have to have a go at their's and see how they play for a possible video. Thank you.

@zxspectrum16KB

4 ай бұрын

@GentlemensPixelClub even the earliest flight simulation was pretty good tomahawk was excellent and if you run them at 7 /14mhz on next they'll be absolutely mint

just seen the price , ha ha , could buy a used steam deck for that price , jesus , i was expecting 70 quid

@KC9UDX

6 ай бұрын

Maybe you could sell them for that price

Miyoo mini plus's

This is what that failed VEGA project should have been!

@GentlemensPixelClub

6 ай бұрын

It absolutely is - I know people have commneted on the price and that will always be down to indivudal choice - but for me, it really does tick the boxes.

£200 is far too much for this, anyone with an ounce of sense would buy a Nintendo Switch and emulate on that.

@thebaldconvict

6 ай бұрын

How do you emulate this on a Switch for £200? Do you mean buy a Switch Lite and then do the intricate soldering to mod it?

@ZaPpaul

6 ай бұрын

@@thebaldconvict You can just buy an old original switch and RCM mode it with a £2 jig or free with a paperclip. Takes seconds and you only have to sleep mode it and it persists. If it needs to be done again, it just takes seconds. I have a switch that plays bundles of emulated games and switch stuff and it cost me £120 and £20 on an SD card. There are also bundles of cheap alternative handhelds that emulate this kind of stuff you can buy for cheap. Like I said £200 is far too much for a one trick pony device.

@thebaldconvict

6 ай бұрын

@ZaPpaul It's a little unfair comparing the price of a niche market handheld to an at least 4 year old second hand mass market device but I do take your point that the Switch will do way more than this ever will. But, will the Speccy emulation be as good as this dedicated device?

@ZaPpaul

5 ай бұрын

@@thebaldconvict Of course it would, this isn't anything but an emulator with buttons and a screen. What do you think it would excel at?

@thebaldconvict

5 ай бұрын

​@@ZaPpaulwell it has custom written software which if nothing else makes it easier to map buttons than any emulator I've ever seen.... Even if two devices use exactly the same emulation backend, the front end could be written so one is better than the other. Does the Switch Speccy emulator look the same?