Many Game Boy fans have probably already heard about Hyperkin’s SmartBoy device. Previously only available in the US and Canada, the SmartBoy will be making it’s way to Europe in September.

The SmartBoy device allows you to play your original Game Boy and Game Boy Color games on your Android phone. Essentially, you slot your phone into the

SmartBoy, pop in your cartridge, and you’re playing your Game Boy game again like it’s 1996.

The front of the device features physical controls placed in the familiar Game Boy layout. Any Game Boy fan should find themselves at home here. It also comes with a reported 5-hour battery, which can be charged through the phone.

The device is only guaranteed to work on phones from the Samsung S8 line upwards, however Hyperkin note that “other Android device compatibility may vary”. It likely will work with other Android phones, but Hyperkin won’t be liable to offer support should those phones have issues.

The SmartBoy cannot only be used to play your original carts, but will also act as a somewhat more standard controller, allowing you to control “other apps and games including GBA apps from Google Play”.

The price of the unit itself will be a quite reasonable £59.99. It’s currently available to pre-order from Funstock Retro.

I’m a big handheld console fan, and like many of you, the Game Boy is where I first experienced portable gaming. Nintendo went on to make a ton of money from the Game Boy series of handhelds, selling over 118 million devices worldwide.

The Super Retro Boy from Retro-Bit is a brand new handheld that was showcased at CES 2017. It’s a device that sort of came out of nowhere, with very few rumours and no one was talking about it prior to its appearance at CES.

As you can see, this new system is based on the original Game Boy’s design. Sure the SP’s clamshell design made it easy for you to pop it in your pocket or in a bag without too much protection. But in the hand, the original Game Boy had a pretty good feel and ergonomic design. Two colours were on show at CES - black and white. If you prefer the original Game Boy Advance design, check out the Revo K101.

The Super Retro Boy will play Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance cartridges. Which begs the question, where are the shoulder buttons? Unfortunately the Super Retro Boy doesn’t have shoulder buttons, instead relying on an extra set of buttons on the front of the device. The shoulder buttons are essential for many games found on the Game Boy Advance. I’m not sure how these front panel buttons perform in the real world. Only time will tell.

The Super Retro Boy is scheduled for release this August and the price is still to be confirmed.