FunKey S

From The FunKey Wiki

The FunKey S is a keychain emulator console created by the FunKey Team in 2019. Taking inspiration from the GBA SP, the system has a clamshell design that protects the device's screen and buttons when it is not in use. Envisioned as an evolution of the team's initial Keymu system, the FunKey S had a successful Kickstarter campaign in July 2020, with its €30,000 goal being met in only three hours. After several months of further improvements to the system and preparations for mass-production, the FunKey Team expects to ship the first FunKey S units in late November or early December 2020.

Development

After the positive reception to their initial Keymu showcase video in 2017, the FunKey Team grew to include three members as they sought to create a mass-producible version of the Keymu. To test the hardware that they planned to use in the Keymu successor, the team created the FunKey Zero in 2018. The FunKey S would use elements from both of the team's prior systems, having a clamshell form factor similar to, albeit slightly thinner than, the Keymu, in addition to technical specifications that were very similar to those of the FunKey Zero. Unveiling the FunKey S for the first time in April 2019, the FunKey Team continued to improve the system in the following months, initially expecting to launch a Kickstarter campaign for it in late 2019. Around this time, the fourth member of the FunKey Team, Killian, was brought on board to assist with marketing the device and building the community surrounding it in preparation for the Kickstarter campaign.

Due to continued improvements being made to the device the Kickstarter campaign was delayed to July 2020, with the initial funding goal set at €30,000. Since this goal was met in only three hours, several stretch goals were set and subsequently reached, with the campaign ending with €165,760 raised in total from 2,046 backers.

Specifications

Comparison

Differences between the Keymu and the later FunKey branded systems include the use of the Intel Edison's built-in eMMC memory for data storage rather than a microSD card, the lack of a speaker in the original prototype (though its open sourced specifications allowed for the inclusion of one), a lower maximum resolution of 128 by 128 pixels, smaller buttons, and a lower-capacity 220 mAh battery. Features only implemented in the later FunKey S and not in the Keymu or FunKey Zero include a magnetic "sleep-mode" mechanism, a protective glass layer above the display, a Menu button, 50 rather than 20 FPS, no screen tearing, and an improved hinge.

Table

Name Keymu FunKey Zero FunKey S
Image
 
alt:Image of the Keymu
 
alt:Image of the FunKey Zero
 
alt:Image of the FunKey S
Dimensions 1.65" x 1.81" x 0.67"
42 x 46 x 17 mm
~3.45" x ~1.79" x ~0.32"
~87.6 x ~45.5 x ~8.1 mm
1.67" x 1.75" x 0.54"
42.5 x 44.5 x 13.8 mm
Mass N/A 1 oz
30 g
Display 1.5" (38.1 mm) 128x128 OLED 1.54" (39.1 mm) 240x240 LCD IPS
Processor Atom 2-Core @ 500 MHz ARM Cortex-A7 @ 1.2 GHz
RAM 1 GB (LPDDR3) 64 MB (DDR2)
Refresh rate 20 FPS 50 FPS
Maximum storage 4 GB (eMMC) 2 TB (microSD)
Audio ∅11.7 mm mono at 700 mW
(missing from the initial prototype)
∅10 mm mono at 500 mW ∅10 mm mono at 500 mW
Headphone jack
Battery 220 mAh lithium-ion None (prototype) 410 mAh lithium-ion