Hyperkin has unveiled the SupaBoy Portable, a new handheld console that lets players insert and play original Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and Super Famicom cartridges on the go. The company announced the device today, offering it in two translucent colorways for preorder at $129.99 through see it at Amazon. It is scheduled to ship on October 28.
The SupaBoy Portable arrives as a nostalgic nod to an era when playing SNES games meant being tethered to a television set, yet it functions as a genuinely functional handheld rather than a novelty. Hyperkin has designed the device around physical media, allowing owners to play their existing cartridge libraries away from home.
A Bulky Controller With a Screen in the Middle
The SupaBoy Portable is shaped much like an oversized SNES controller, carrying all of the same buttons found on the original hardware. A 4.3-inch screen sits at its center, and players can toggle between 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios using a switch located along the bottom edge of the handheld.
The cartridge slot runs along the top of the device, accepting both SNES and Super Famicom games. The system is region-free, so owners need not worry about compatibility between NTSC and PAL releases; a dedicated switch lets players toggle between the two formats. In true retro fashion, the carts do not slide all the way in—they stick out to fully display the sticker art on each cartridge, mirroring how the original SNES hardware presented its games.
The SupaBoy Portable is a device I would have loved to have had in the early ’90s, when the only option to play SNES games was sitting in front of the TV. I love that this exists now.
Hyperkin on the SupaBoy Portable
Fully Compatible With Classic Accessories
Beyond its retro styling, the device maintains broad compatibility with classic peripherals. Like the original hardware, it works with Super Gameboy adapters, Game Genie cheat devices, and EverDrive cartridges. Below the controls sit two controller ports that function as expected, allowing players to plug in additional controllers for multiplayer sessions.
The same ports also support accessories such as the SNES mouse used for Mario Paint, the SNES Multi-Tap, and various third-party peripherals. The system includes a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery that Hyperkin says delivers up to 10 hours of gameplay on a single charge, along with TV output so players can project their games onto a larger screen.
The SupaBoy Portable ships in two translucent finishes, offering owners a choice between distinct colorways.
The Crimson variant and the standard Prime edition both showcase the internal design alongside the cartridge slot that defines the device’s appeal.
A Deliberately Absurd Joy
The SupaBoy Portable arrives at a moment when SNES libraries are readily accessible through services like Nintendo Switch Online and across countless emulation-capable handhelds, making the choice to carry bulky physical cartridges somewhat impractical. Yet that very impracticality is what draws attention to the device.
For many retro enthusiasts, the appeal lies precisely in playing real games on hardware built for them rather than through software emulators. The SupaBoy Portable embraces this philosophy with an audacity that has generated significant buzz among collectors and longtime fans of 16-bit gaming.
Looking Ahead
The SupaBoy Portable is available for preorder now at $129.99 through see it at Amazon, with shipments set to begin on October 28. Players who preordered can expect their devices in time for the fall holiday season, ready to bring a library of physical SNES and Super Famicom games wherever they go.
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