HyperMegaTech has announced two new handhelds based on the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum, turning a pair of iconic 1980s machines into portable, clamshell gaming devices. The devices, officially titled THEC64 Handheld and The Spectrum Handheld, feature designs modeled after their original hardware, from the beige finish of the C64 to the black rubber-inspired look of the Spectrum. The clamshell form factor will feel familiar to anyone who grew up with a Game Boy Advance SP or Nintendo DS, which is probably not an accident.
Under the hood, the two systems are nearly identical. Each of the retro gaming handhelds includes a 4.3-inch IPS display with 800×480 resolution, a quad-core processor, 256MB of RAM, and a 2000mAh battery that delivers around three hours of playtime. That is not going to compete with modern handheld PCs, but that’s not the point.
These are built for retro libraries, and both units come preloaded with 25 games pulled from their respective platforms. HyperMega Tech has included titles like Boulder Dash and Speedball 2 represent the C64 side, while the Spectrum lineup includes classics like Manic Miner and Skool Daze. If that is not enough, users can load additional games via a microSD card, assuming they have the legal right to do so.
One interesting touch is how the devices handle the lack of a full keyboard, which was kind of a big deal for both original systems. Instead, they include mappable function buttons to replicate key inputs, along with USB support for connecting external keyboards if you really want the full retro computing experience.
Pricing lands at $129.99 for the standard editions. HyperMega Tech also has created limited collector’s editions, including extras such as themed cases and retro magazines for $149.99. Both models are slated to ship in October 2026.
The bigger question is who these are for. From a pure performance standpoint, cheaper emulation handhelds can already run these games without breaking a sweat. But that misses the appeal. Just like the Commodore 64 Ultimate, Commodore’s full-sized release, these are not just about playing old games. They are about recreating a very specific era of computing, now squeezed into something you can hold in one hand. It is a niche idea, but then again, so was the original C64 back in 1985.
