Her name is Thumby and today is the smallest game console never made. Its size is almost comparable to that of a bee, but with it it is perfectly possible to play games. This tiny console resembling a Game Boy comes with 5 retro games preinstalled, including the famous game Tetris. It is currently offered on Kickstarter at a price of 19 dollars in its gray version (it is available in other colors, but at slightly higher prices).
Thumby is the work of TinyCircuits, a company headquartered in Ohio, in the USA. Its dimensions are 30x18x9 mm, or almost those of a postage stamp. Despite this, this tiny console is equipped with a écran OLED, several buttons, one drums and even a port micro USB. Thanks to this port, it can be recharged or connected to a computer.
Considering its size, we can say that the processor de la Thumby is most powerful. It allows this console to run games such as Space Invaders and Snake.
A console with incredible features
What surprises most when you discover the Thumby for the first time is its size. This console does indeed only 18mm diameter for a weight of 4,7 g. However, there is a screen (72 × 40), a 4-way D-pad, 2 action buttons, a micro-USB port and a power switch. It is also equipped with a LiPo batteries rechargeable from 40 mAh allowing it to operate for nearly 2 hours. Even more surprisingly, it has a processor Raspberry Pi RP2040 and a total storage memory of 2 Mo.
Note that on this console, it is also possible to install games created using the programming language MicroPython.
Another surprising feature of the Thumby is that it allows you to play mode games. multiplayer. To do this, simply connect it to another Thumby using a connecting cable. Finally, you should know that this console has a small hole (located at its lower right corner), enough to be able to hang it on a key ring and thus avoid losing it.
The winner of the “Best in Show: Most Innovative Product” award
For information, thanks to its design, size and performance, the Thumby recently won the “Best in Show : Most Innovative Product”. This prize was awarded to him during the GDex, a convention dedicated to the love of games and creative technology, held in Columbus, Ohio.
Finally, it is to know that if the Thumby was baptized thus, it is not without reason. This tiny console does indeed the size of a thumb, which explains its name, at least according to Ken Burns, president of TinyCircuits.
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I am a technology author with 8 years of experience in journalism. My writing covers the latest technology advancements and trends, drawing on my expertise in news journalism and social media platforms. I have contributed to major media outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Reuters.
