Device comparison

WaveShare GamePi20 vs. TinyCircuits Thumby

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

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GamePi20
Thumby

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

  • WaveShare GamePi20 has stronger listed emulation coverage.
  • TinyCircuits Thumby is about $11 cheaper based on catalog pricing.
  • TinyCircuits Thumby is roughly 90% smaller and 97% lighter.
  • TinyCircuits Thumby has a 60 Hz Monochrome OLED screen, versus 60 Hz IPS on WaveShare GamePi20.
  • TinyCircuits Thumby runs Open Source Proprietary; WaveShare GamePi20 runs Linux (RetroPie).

WaveShare

GamePi20

Details
Price
$30
OS
Linux (RetroPie)
Released
Aug 2019
Up to
Genesis
Screen
2.0 inch IPS
Weight
150 grams

No reviews yet

0 collectors

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

Specs

BetterWorse

SpecGamePi20Thumby
Price$30$19
OSLinux (RetroPie)Open Source Proprietary
Screen2.0 inch0.42 inch
Aspect ratio4:39:5
Resolution320 x 24072 x 40
PanelIPSMonochrome OLED
ChipsetBroadcom BCM2835Raspberry Pi RP2040
CPUARM1176JZF-SCortex-M0+
GPUBroadcom VideoCore IV
RAM512 MB DDR264 KB SRAM
StorageInternal MicroSDInternal 2 MB
Battery1450040 mAh
Weight150 grams5 grams
Dimensions108 mm x 50 mm x 20 mm18 mm x 29.5 mm x 8.5 mm
Video outYesNo
BluetoothYesNo

Emulation

Excellent › Good › Playable › Limited › Unsupported

SystemGamePi20Thumby
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

  • GamePi20 DS: Nintendo DS: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Thumby DS: Nintendo DS: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GamePi20 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: 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
  • GamePi20 GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
  • Thumby GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GamePi20 N64: Nintendo 64: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable
  • Thumby N64: Nintendo 64: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GamePi20 NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Thumby NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GamePi20 PS1: Sony Playstation: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • Thumby PS1: Sony Playstation: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GamePi20 PS2: Sony Playstation 2: 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
  • GamePi20 PS3: Sony Playstation 3: 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
  • GamePi20 PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: 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
  • GamePi20 Wii: Nintendo Wii: 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
  • GamePi20 SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • Thumby SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GamePi20 Wii U: Nintendo Wii U: 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
  • GamePi20 Saturn: Sega Saturn: 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
  • GamePi20 Switch: Nintendo Switch: 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
  • GamePi20 Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Thumby Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GamePi20 Game Boy: Game Boy / Game Boy Color: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Thumby Game Boy: Nintendo Game Boy / Game Boy Color: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GamePi20 GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Thumby GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GamePi20 Dreamcast: Sega Dreamcast: 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

Frequently asked

What's the difference between the WaveShare GamePi20 and the TinyCircuits Thumby?
WaveShare GamePi20 has stronger listed emulation coverage. TinyCircuits Thumby is about $11 cheaper based on catalog pricing. TinyCircuits Thumby is roughly 90% smaller and 97% lighter. TinyCircuits Thumby has a 60 Hz Monochrome OLED screen, versus 60 Hz IPS on WaveShare GamePi20. TinyCircuits Thumby runs Open Source Proprietary; WaveShare GamePi20 runs Linux (RetroPie).
Which is cheaper, the WaveShare GamePi20 or the TinyCircuits Thumby?
The TinyCircuits Thumby is the cheaper of the two at around $19, roughly $11 less than the WaveShare GamePi20 based on catalog pricing.
Which is newer, the WaveShare GamePi20 or the TinyCircuits Thumby?
The TinyCircuits Thumby is the newer model, released in 2022.

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