Thumby: The World's Smallest Handheld Gaming Device

Overview

The Thumby is a remarkably small handheld gaming console developed by TinyCircuits. Measuring just 18 mm x 29.5 mm x 8.5 mm and weighing only 4.7 grams, it can easily attach to a keychain. Despite its size, it packs a Raspberry Pi RP2040 microcontroller with a dual-core Cortex-M0+ CPU running at 133 MHz, 264 KB of SRAM, and 2 MB of built-in storage. The device features a 0.42-inch monochrome OLED display with a resolution of 72x40 pixels and a 9:5 aspect ratio. It comes preloaded with five built-in games and supports homebrew development using MicroPython or the Arduino IDE.

Key Specs Highlights

• Processor: Raspberry Pi RP2040 (Dual-core Cortex-M0+ @ 133 MHz)
• Memory: 264 KB SRAM
• Storage: 2 MB built-in
• Display: 0.42-inch Monochrome OLED, 72x40 pixels, 196.11 PPI
• Battery: 40 mAh
• Weight: 4.7 grams
• Dimensions: 18 x 29.5 x 8.5 mm
• Price: $19 (launch price)

Who It Is For

The Thumby is designed for retro gaming enthusiasts, hobbyists, and developers who appreciate ultra-portable, open-source devices. It's perfect for those who enjoy tinkering with code and creating their own games. Its tiny size makes it a novelty item and a conversation starter, but it's also a functional gaming device for quick sessions on the go.

Buying Notes

The Thumby was released in January 2022 with a launch price of $19. It is available in multiple colors: gray, black, blue, pink, yellow, and gold. As an open-source device, it supports homebrew games and can be programmed via MicroPython or Arduino IDE. The battery life is limited due to the small 40 mAh battery, so expect short play sessions. No official price range beyond the launch price is provided, but it typically falls under $50.