Device comparison

TinyCircuits Thumby vs. Game Case GameBox Mini

Compare specs, emulation support, community reviews, ownership, and play history.

Compare

With

Thumby
GameBox Mini

Shown to scale from each device’s real-world dimensions.

Quick verdict

Best value
Thumby
Better screen
Thumby
More portable
Thumby
Newer model
Thumby

Main differences

  • Game Case GameBox Mini has stronger listed emulation coverage.
  • TinyCircuits Thumby is about $19 cheaper based on catalog pricing.
  • TinyCircuits Thumby is roughly 82% smaller and 83% lighter.
  • TinyCircuits Thumby has a 60 Hz Monochrome OLED screen, versus 60 Hz IPS on Game Case GameBox Mini.
  • TinyCircuits Thumby runs Open Source Proprietary; Game Case GameBox Mini runs Retro ESP32.

TinyCircuits

Thumby

Details
Price
$19
OS
Open Source Proprietary
Released
Jan 2022
Up to
Unknown
Screen
0.42 inch Monochrome OLED
Weight
5 grams

No reviews yet

0 collectors

Game Case

GameBox Mini

Details
Price
$38
OS
Retro ESP32
Released
Dec 2020
Up to
Game Boy
Screen
1.4 inch IPS
Weight
30 grams

No reviews yet

0 collectors

Specs

BetterWorse

SpecThumbyGameBox Mini
Price$19$38
OSOpen Source ProprietaryRetro ESP32
Screen0.42 inch1.4 inch
Aspect ratio9:55:4
Resolution72 x 40240 x 192
PanelMonochrome OLEDIPS
ChipsetRaspberry Pi RP2040Espressif Systems ESP32
CPUCortex-M0+Tensilica Xtensa LX6
RAM264 KB SRAM520 KB SRAM
StorageInternal 2 MBInternal MicroSD
Battery40 mAh500 mAh
Weight5 grams30 grams
Dimensions18 mm x 29.5 mm x 8.5 mm65 mm x 45 mm x 14 mm

Emulation

Excellent › Good › Playable › Limited › Unsupported

SystemThumbyGameBox Mini
Classic systems
Game Boy
NES
Genesis
GBA
SNES
PS1
Mid-generation systems
DS
N64
Dreamcast
PSP
Saturn
Sixth-generation systems
GameCube
Wii
PS2
Modern systems
3DS
Switch
Wii U
PS3

Emulation source notes

  • Thumby DS: Nintendo DS: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GameBox Mini DS: Nintendo DS: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Thumby 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GameBox Mini 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Thumby GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GameBox Mini GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Thumby N64: Nintendo 64: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GameBox Mini N64: Nintendo 64: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Thumby NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GameBox Mini NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Thumby PS1: Sony Playstation: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GameBox Mini PS1: Sony Playstation: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Thumby PS2: Sony Playstation 2: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GameBox Mini PS2: Sony Playstation 2: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Thumby PS3: Sony Playstation 3: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GameBox Mini PS3: Sony Playstation 3: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Thumby PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GameBox Mini PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Thumby Wii: Nintendo Wii: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GameBox Mini Wii: Nintendo Wii: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Thumby SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GameBox Mini SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Thumby Wii U: Nintendo Wii U: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GameBox Mini Wii U: Nintendo Wii U: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Thumby Saturn: Sega Saturn: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GameBox Mini Saturn: Sega Saturn: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Thumby Switch: Nintendo Switch: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GameBox Mini Switch: Nintendo Switch: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Thumby Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GameBox Mini Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Thumby Game Boy: Nintendo Game Boy / Game Boy Color: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GameBox Mini Game Boy: Game Boy / Game Boy Color: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Thumby GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GameBox Mini GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Thumby Dreamcast: Sega Dreamcast: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GameBox Mini Dreamcast: Sega Dreamcast: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow

Frequently asked

What's the difference between the TinyCircuits Thumby and the Game Case GameBox Mini?
Game Case GameBox Mini has stronger listed emulation coverage. TinyCircuits Thumby is about $19 cheaper based on catalog pricing. TinyCircuits Thumby is roughly 82% smaller and 83% lighter. TinyCircuits Thumby has a 60 Hz Monochrome OLED screen, versus 60 Hz IPS on Game Case GameBox Mini. TinyCircuits Thumby runs Open Source Proprietary; Game Case GameBox Mini runs Retro ESP32.
Which is cheaper, the TinyCircuits Thumby or the Game Case GameBox Mini?
The TinyCircuits Thumby is the cheaper of the two at around $19, roughly $19 less than the Game Case GameBox Mini based on catalog pricing.
Which is newer, the TinyCircuits Thumby or the Game Case GameBox Mini?
The TinyCircuits Thumby is the newer model, released in 2022.

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