For dads, uncles, and grandpas! The legendary ZX Spectrum is now significantly cheaper on Alza

This offer won’t be for everyone — it’s a niche product that either evokes an extremely strong emotional response or none at all. The Spectrum is available on Alza for 2,294 CZK after applying the code ALZADNY15. If you grew up with the ZX Spectrum or Didaktik Gama in the 80s and want to get one for yourself, your children, or grandchildren, you have a fantastic toy with almost full ratings from reviewers.

Quick summary:
✅ Makes sense if you are someone who grew up with the ZX Spectrum, or for someone in your circle — a birthday or Christmas gift for a father/uncle who remembers the legendary rubber keyboard. The 4.9-star rating from 70 reviews speaks for itself.
⚠️ Consider that a power adapter is not included in the package, and the machine requires “dumb” 5V 1–2A charging (typically from an old mobile phone). Modern fast-charging adapters may not communicate with it.
💡 For 2,294 CZK, you get a fully functional ZX Spectrum replica with 16k/48k/128k/+2/+2A emulation, a rubber keyboard, 720p HDMI output, 48 pre-installed games (including Manic Miner, The Hobbit, Head Over Heels), support for USB flash drives for your own games (TAP, TZX, Z80, and others), CRT filters for an authentic nostalgic look, and emulation of the original Sinclair BASIC.

A time machine in hardware format

The Spectrum was manufactured by the British company Retro Games and is a spiritual successor to successful miniaturized versions like The C64 and The A500 Mini. However, this is not a miniature — the keyboard is full-sized and retains the original dimensions and character, so you can actually use it for typing in BASIC or controlling games. According to reviewers, the result is “indistinguishable from the original,” and one of them included a photo of The Spectrum next to an original ZX Spectrum from 1986 in their review.

Connection is simple — via 720p HDMI, you connect it to any modern TV or monitor. The console emulates several versions of the Spectrum (16k, 48k, 128k, +2, +2A), so you can also play games originally designed for more advanced models. The multi-regional output supports both PAL and NTSC, offering a choice of 4:3 aspect ratio or pixel-perfect display, and CRT filters that faithfully mimic the look on 80s CRT monitors.

Another strong feature is compatibility with custom games. Simply download .tap, .tzx, .z80, or .sna files from any ROM database, load them onto a USB flash drive, and play. Thousands of games ever released for the Spectrum are thus available. Reviewers agree that a 1GB flash drive is enough to fit the entire history of 8-bit titles in your pocket. For extreme fans, there is also alternative firmware PCUAE, which adds even more features.

What to expect

Here are a few practical points that reviewers repeatedly mention. First and most important — a power adapter is not included in the package. The Spectrum requires a USB-A or USB-C 5V power source with 1–2A current. What’s important is that it should be a “dumb” power supply, like an older mobile adapter. Modern fast chargers with Quick Charge or PD technologies sometimes don’t communicate correctly with the console because they are “smart” and try to negotiate voltage. One reviewer recommends that the console runs easily even from a power bank, so you can take it anywhere.

Second point — audio only works via HDMI. The console does not have a built-in speaker or headphone jack, so you need a TV or monitor with speakers.

From the ROM perspective, it’s worth noting that it’s not a 100% faithful hardware replica — it works based on emulation with a slightly modified ROM. This doesn’t matter for most games, but a few nostalgic titles with advanced border effects (e.g., the legendary Shock Megademo) might have minor issues. If you insist on complete authenticity, you can load the original ROM dump via a USB flash drive, and compatibility will improve.

Did you play on a ZX Spectrum, Didaktik, or another legendary machine in your childhood?