Man, it's crazy to still see this thing doing so well. I reviewed this on YouTube back in 2018, over 8 years ago! The handheld scene has evolved so drastically since then, both in terms of hardware and emulation, yet Hyperkin's Supaboy stands strong in doing one thing, and one thing only. Playing real SNES cartridges.
There are no complications of installing ROMs, no updating Android applications, no complicated Linux menu systems, just give your old SNES cartridge a blow, slot it in, and you can play your authentic games on the go, in an incredibly unique way.
Since its release in 2018, Hyperkin has given it a new lick of paint, showcasing a bright and vibrant blue shell with pink accents, known as the Hyper Beach colourway. Before that, they stuck to a classic SNES look with a grey case and purple buttons, which is the one I reviewed.
But as of recent Hyperkin put out a post that they are sunsetting the Hyper Beach colourway and replacing it with a new one. Likely to offer SNES fans something new, but also to put this thing back on the map, as it's certainly going under the radar even if it's still selling across the globe.
Though no colourway has been confirmed, Hyperkin has stated, "We are officially retiring this colourway, and once the remaining units are gone, they are gone. New SupaBoy colours are coming soon, but Hyper Beach is taking one last ride into the neon sunset".
If I had to pick i'd love to see transparent colours, as this is making a serious comeback recently too. Hyperkin did respond to one community member, stating: "We will have a launch campaign in the months leading up to the new colour launches. Please stand by," making me believe that it's still a long way away until we see any kind of tease. They'll likely want this out the door for Christmas, if I had to guess!
Though we may have to wait a little longer, it's good to see this handheld still around and to see Hyperkin give it the refresh it deserves.
