Summary of "FunKey S : Smallest Retro Handheld Review and How to Setup MAME"
Product Reviewed
FunKey S — an extremely small retro handheld retro-gaming device with a clamshell design.
Key Features Mentioned
Size / Portability
- Described as the smallest retro handheld the reviewer has used.
- Folded up, it fits inside the display area of a Nintendo Game & Watch, compared against other handhelds’ thickness/footprint.
- Reviewer calls it roughly “the size of two quarters” and says it’s easy to carry almost anywhere.
Hardware Specs
- ARM Cortex A7 @ 1.2 GHz
- 64 MB DDR2 RAM
- Internal 32 GB microSD, expandable to 128 GB
- 240×240 IPS LCD
- Mono speaker
- 410 mAh battery, claimed ~2 hours playtime
Controls / Usability
- Power: open clamshell; also the top middle button (press/hold) powers on/off
- Menu: short press opens menu
- In-game and launcher controls adjust:
- Zoom
- Aspect ratio
- Brightness
- Volume
- Buttons: has L1/R1 on top; menu/function behavior described by the reviewer
Display & Sound Features / Limitations
- No FPS counter shown.
- No headphone jack and no Bluetooth, so audio is limited to the mono speaker.
Included Content / Accessories
- Micro USB (USB-A) charging + data transfer cable
- Additional button color inserts
- Small manual explaining main functions
- Includes a small keychain (reviewer doubts they’ll use it)
Setup / Software Experience
Emulators Included
A large set of emulators is included out of the box, including:
- Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance
- NES, SNES
- Game Gear, Sega Master System, Sega Genesis
- TurboGrafx, Atari Lynx
- Neo Geo Pocket
- WonderSwan Color
- PlayStation 1
Game Management / Exiting
- Exiting a game: menu button → up → “exit game” → A twice
- Volume: menu button → left/right
- Power down: menu → up → A, or simply close the lid
Themes
- Can change launcher themes (example themes shown: flat, TFT, and a favorite purple theme).
Copying Games via USB
- Uses USB “mount USB” option.
- When mounted on Windows, it shows ~27.8 GB available.
- Folder structure behavior:
- ROM artwork appears when the ROM filename matches the artwork PNG filename.
- PS1 requires BIOS: copy SCPH100011.bin into the PS1 emulator BIOS folder.
- Copy ROMs and related .png files, then eject twice.
Firmware / Open-Source Emphasis
- The project is open-source, including software and hardware schematics.
- Firmware update process:
- Download the latest firmware from funkey-pro.com
- Copy the firmware file to the USB root
- Double press A on eject USB to apply firmware
MAME / Arcade Experience (Installation + Play)
How MAMEim Works
- Uses third-party OPK applications from the FunKey wiki/Discord ecosystem.
How MAMEim Was Installed
- Download MAMEim OPK and copy the OPK into the emulator subdirectory
- Create a main folder under root
- Copy arcade game files (reviewer keeps some ZIPs unextracted)
- Reviewer recommends samples for better audio on older games
Launching Arcade Games
- Turn on → menu → “set launcher” (double press A)
- Enters G Menu 2X launcher
- Select main, then the target game
Arcade Game Controls / Options
- Exit via menu → exit game → start/menu sequence described
- Save states: 9 available
- Load state: from menu (“load”)
- Brightness/display mode shortcut:
- hold function + X/B (also mentioned: hold function + down)
- Quick pause/resume:
- close clamshell pauses
- reopening resumes where left off
Real-Game Performance / Observations (No Detailed Benchmarks)
Examples of games tested:
- Game Boy: Asteroids, Miss Pac-Man
- NES: Galaga Demons of Death, Tetris
- SNES: Donkey Kong Country
- GBA: Super Mario Advance, Mario Kart: Super Circuit
- Sega Master System: Afterburner
- Sega: Sonic the Hedgehog 2
- PS1: Crash Bandicoot 3, Tekken 3
- Arcade via MAMEim: Donkey Kong (original arcade), with samples
Performance notes:
- No FPS counter.
- Reviewer says most games (including many PS1 games) play relatively well.
Pros Mentioned (Unique Points)
- Extremely compact / portable
- Simple to use (clamshell power, straightforward menu controls)
- Lots of emulators included out of the box
- Good setup workflow for USB transfers and artwork/box art matching
- Open-source hardware/software and easy firmware updating
- Themes and customization options
- MAMEim support via community third-party OPKs
- Sleep/pause behavior: close/open remembers last position
- Save states available (9) in the MAME/im usage described
- Audio improves if samples are included (for arcade)
Cons Mentioned (Unique Points)
- Not comfortable for long sessions (buttons are very close together)
- Audio limitations:
- Mono speaker only
- No headphone jack and no Bluetooth
- Battery is limited (about ~2 hours playtime)
- Implied performance limitation: positioned as a novelty/compact device rather than a power machine
- Price/value:
- about $92 (not the cheapest)
- reviewer claims more powerful devices exist around similar price
Comparisons Made
- Compared size/folding footprint against:
- Nintendo Game & Watch
- RG 351V (folded across the display comparison)
- Odin GO Super (similar thickness/extended size comparison)
- Compared value against other handhelds around the $92 range:
- says more powerful devices can be found at similar prices
Overall User Experience Verdict (Reviewer)
The reviewer calls it a novelty device: extremely small and convenient, but not meant to replace a primary handheld.
Recommended if your goal is:
- the smallest easy retro handheld
- and you don’t mind short play sessions, small button comfort limits, and limited audio connectivity
Concise Recommendation
- Buy it if you want a tiny, easy-to-set-up retro handheld with lots of built-in systems and decent “relatively well” game compatibility.
- Skip it if you need:
- comfort for long sessions
- better audio options (headphones/Bluetooth)
- best value/performance for the money
Speakers / Views
- One speaker only (mono); no separate speakers indicated in the subtitles.
Category
Product Review
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