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What's up, FunKey? Episode 8
Hello there! It's time for another update, including more information about the battery, casing, community, surveys, and gameplay!
Since several people have asked us how GBA games look on the FunKey S, we thought that we would begin this update by sharing more gameplay photos! Unfortunately, since Kickstarter significantly reduces the resolution of images some of the detail has been lost, so we might post the full-resolution images on Instagram.
While the gameplay in the first four images above has been stretched to fit the full display of the FunKey S, it is also possible to scale the image to match the proportions of the original resolution (240x180 in the case of the GBA), as shown in the fifth image. To switch between display modes, either press Fn+↓ or navigate to the setting in the system menu.
We're proud to announce we have finally chosen a battery for the FunKey S! Since most of the batteries that we tested couldn't hold the capacity that they claimed to, we decided to order custom 410 mAh batteries. With this battery, the average gameplay session on a full charge lasts between an hour and a half and two hours. Actual battery life depends on which settings are enabled and which system is being emulated, so while the device only lasts an hour and ten minutes under a stress test that uses 100% of the CPU at maximum brightness and audio levels, in a more realistic situation, such as GameBoy emulation (20% CPU usage) at a 50% brightness level and 40% sound level, the device can easily last over two hours on a single charge!
While the initial version of the casing had several minor issues that needed addressing, we have now fixed nearly all of them! All that remains to be adjusted are the front buttons, which due to being slightly too high up in the prototype casing, are accidentally pressed down when the lid is closed. We're currently working on fixing the issue, which we expect to have fixed by next week! Since many people have asked us about the black FunKey S that we have been showing off recently, we would like to emphasize that it is solely a prototype model used for testing and that we are sticking with our three colors for now!
Since the shipping date is now only one month away, we have closed the surveys, which will be used to fulfill the orders of backers in a month's time. Those who missed the deadline can still message us to fill out their surveys but may receive their systems later than the rest.
Let's continue with the strong community collaborations and discussions! CoolieCoolster has updated the FunKey Wiki with a list of keychain devices and accessories, where you can find many things that can enhance your keychain and make your FunKey S shine even more:
Lastly, we wanted to let you know that until October 19th Sega is offering Sonic The Hedgehog 2 for free on Steam! Part of the SEGA Mega Drive and Genesis Classics collections, the game is emulated, with its ROM legally available DRM-free in the Steam files. As this ROM can be used on the FunKey S, it is another great example that emulation doesn't have involve illegal piracy.
It's a wrap for this week's update! We'll be back next week with lots of pictures, so tune in again then for further updates!
-The FunKey Team
What is the purpose of this wiki?
The purpose of this wiki is to serve as a database of information related to the FunKey S. This includes information about the FunKey S hardware, firmware, compatible homebrew games, and third-party software released for the device. After the FunKey S is released, more pages will be created to host tutorials, user-generated content, and other resources to assist people who have or are interested in getting a FunKey S.
What is the FunKey S?
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The FunKey S is a foldable portable emulation device that is designed to fit onto a keychain. Through emulators on its FunKey OS operating system, the FunKey can emulate a wide variety of systems, including the NES, PS1, and GBA. Greatly resembling the larger Game Boy Advance SP, the FunKey S is currently sold in three colors, Original Purple, Retro Grey, and Atomic Purple. The system has thirteen buttons built into it: four directional buttons, four action buttons, two trigger buttons, a START button, and two system buttons. One of the system buttons, the Fn button, can be used to activate alternate inputs on buttons, specifically SELECT for START, ZL for L, and ZR for R. The white or grey buttons that come with the system can be swapped out individually with the included green, blue, red, and yellow extra button sets. The system comes with a 32GB MicroSD card to store the system's firmware and any software the user wishes to install onto the device and can be replaced by the user with higher capacity MicroSD cards up to 128GB. To facilitate attaching the device to a keychain, the FunKey S has a metallic needle built into the bottom left corner of the device around which a keychain lanyard can be tied.
Which systems can the FunKey S emulate?
The currently supported systems are the NES, Master System, Sega Genesis, Game Boy, Atari Lynx, Game Gear, SNES, PlayStation, Game Boy Color, Neo Geo Pocket, WonderSwan, and Game Boy Advance. Support for emulating other systems is planned for future updates to FunKey OS.
What software is pre-installed onto the FunKey S?
The FunKey S runs FunKey OS, a custom Linux-based operating system. The system comes with several emulators and games out of the box, with future updates to the operating system adding support for more emulators. Users can add their own games to the device by connecting it to a computer and placing ROM files in the game folders of the corresponding emulators.
Where can I find additional software for the FunKey S?
While users can install ROM dumps of physical games that they own onto the FunKey, there will also be other software available for the FunKey S as well. Since FunKey OS will be made open-source, developers will be free to release new apps and games for the FunKey S, which will be downloadable by FunKey S owners. Additionally, hundreds of free homebrew games have been released for various systems over the past three decades, many of which being available for download on homebrew lists across the Internet. The FunKey Wiki maintains software lists for all consoles that the FunKey S emulates, including specific lists for freeware, commercial software, and utilities.
What are the technical specifications of the FunKey S?
Dimensions (folded)
1.67 x 1.75 x 0.54 inches
42.5 x 44.5 x 13.8 mm
Weight
1 ounce
30 grams
Display (240x240 LCD IPS)
1.54 inches
39.1 mm
Processor
ARM Cortex-A7 @ 1.2 GHz
RAM
64 MB DDR2
Storage
32 GB MicroSD (expandable)
Audio
∅10 mm mono at 500 mW
Battery
410 mAh lithium-ion
Ports
Micro-USB and MicroSD
Dimensions (folded)
1.67 x 1.75 x 0.54 inches
42.5 x 44.5 x 13.8 mm
Weight
1 ounce
30 grams
Display (240x240 LCD IPS)
1.54 inches
39.1 mm
Processor
ARM Cortex-A7 @ 1.2 GHz
RAM
64 MB DDR2
Storage
32 GB MicroSD (expandable)
Audio
∅10 mm mono at 500 mW
Battery
410 mAh lithium-ion
Ports
Micro-USB and MicroSD
How long does the FunKey S battery last?
On a twenty-minute full charge, the FunKey S has an average battery life of an hour and forty-five minutes. The device's battery life is impacted by CPU usage in addition to brightness and audio levels, so depending on those factors, the experienced battery life can deviate by roughly thirty minutes in either direction from the average. In practice, this means that low-intensity emulation such as that of the Game Boy will result in above-average battery life, while high-intensity emulation such as that of the PlayStation will result in below-average battery life. Additionally, the device has a LED light to indicate when it is charging, with its current charge being indicated by a battery symbol in the top right corner of the main menu.
Where can I buy the FunKey S?
The FunKey S is currently available on BackerKit for €65 (~US$76.50) plus applicable taxes and shipping costs. All devices purchased through Kickstarter and Indiegogo are expected to ship in November 2020, while the estimated shipping date for devices purchased on BackerKit is December 2020.
How can I contact the FunKey team?
While the FunKey Team's numerous social media pages are represented with the icons at the top of this page, they can be contacted directly via the contact page on their website. If you wish to email them, questions regarding the FunKey S can be sent to their support email address, while other inquiries can be sent to their contact email address.
Who edits The FunKey Wiki?
The FunKey Wiki is a community-managed database of FunKey S information, operated and edited independently of the FunKey Team. Currently, the Administrator of and primary contributor to The FunKey Wiki is CoolieCoolster, but anyone is free to contribute to the improvement of the wiki!
What platform does The FunKey Wiki run on?
The FunKey Wiki is powered by MediaWiki, an open-source wiki engine that is used by many wikis, including Wikipedia. The FunKey Wiki is hosted by Miraheze, a non-profit wiki farm that hosts thousands of wikis ad-free at no charge. If you wish to support the hosting of The FunKey Wiki or create a wiki of your own, visit their website!
