Tapwave Zodiac
Tapwave Zodiac is a gaming handheld launched in 2003. Powered by i.MX-1 (1-core, 200 MHz), 10 MB RAM. Features a 3.8" TFT LCD Touchscreen display (480 x 320). 1540 mAh battery. Runs Custom Firmware.
Color
No active listings
We haven't tracked any in-stock prices for this console yet. Check back soon or browse similar consoles.
Similar Consoles
Based on category & score
Tapwave Zodiac is a gaming handheld launched in 2003. Powered by i.MX-1 (1-core, 200 MHz), 10 MB RAM. Features a 3.8" TFT LCD Touchscreen display (480 x 320). 1540 mAh battery. Runs Custom Firmware.
Performance is modest by modern standards. NES, Game Boy Advance and Sega Master System emulation runs fine, and the list of supported platforms also includes Atari 2600, ColecoVision, Sega Game Gear, ZX Spectrum, Game Boy and Game Boy Color. SNES is playable but usually laggy, so the more demanding systems on the list should be treated as experimental.
The 3.8-inch TFT touchscreen has a 480 x 320 (HVGA) resolution, a 3:2 aspect ratio, roughly 152 ppi and a 60 Hz refresh rate, covered by a plastic lens. For its era the image is sharp, and the wide format suits horizontal games well.
For controls, the Zodiac offers an upper-mounted analog thumbstick, four face buttons, L1 and R1 shoulder buttons, plus Home, Select, Reset, Power and a dedicated Bluetooth button. There is no rumble. At 142 x 79 x 14 mm and 180 g, the plastic body is slim and easy to carry. Audio comes from dual front-facing stereo speakers, there is a 3.5mm headphone jack, and volume and brightness are adjusted through the menu.
The 1540 mAh battery charges through a proprietary port, so a compatible charger is essential. Connectivity includes Bluetooth and infrared. Internal NAND storage is 32 MB or 128 MB depending on the version, complemented by an SDHC card slot.
The operating system is Palm OS, and custom OS support is likewise centered on Palm OS. Emulation and apps rely on this platform's ecosystem rather than on modern firmware.
Ideal for: collectors of rare handheld hardware, console history enthusiasts and players who want to explore classic 8-bit and Game Boy Advance emulation on a device with real character.
- Manufacturer
- Motorola
- SoC
- Motorola i.MX-1
- Model
- i.MX-1
- Architecture
- ARM920T
- Cores
- 1
- Threads
- 1
- Frequency
- 200 MHz
- Instruction Set
- ARM
- Chipset
- ATI Imageon W4200
- Capacity
- 10 MB
- Technology
- SDRAM
- Size
- 3.8
- Technology
- TFT, Touchscreen
- Resolution
- 480 x 320
- Quality
- HVGA
- Refresh Rate
- 60 Hz
- Pixel Density (PPI)
- 151.81
- Aspect Ratio
- 3:2
- Lens
- Plastic
- Capacity
- 1540 mAh
- Analog Sticks
- Single thumbstick
- Stick Placement
- Upper
- Shoulder Buttons
- L1, R1
- Extra Buttons
- Bluetooth, Home, Power, Reset, Select
- Speaker Type
- Dual Stereo
- Speaker Position
- Front facing
- Ports
- Infrared
- Wi-Fi
- WiFi
- Bluetooth
- Bluetooth
- Charge Port
- Proprietary Port
- Audio Output
- 3.5mm Headphone
- Internal Storage
- 32 MB / 128 MB
- Card Support
- NAND Flash, SDHC
- Operating System
- Palm OS
- Custom OS Support
- Palm OS
- Dimensions
- 142 mm x 79 mm x 14 mm
- Weight
- 180 g
- Body Material
- Plastic
Atari · 3 platforms
Coleco · 1 platform
Nintendo · 5 platforms
Other · 1 platform
Sega · 3 platforms
Sinclair · 1 platform
Sony · 1 platform
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 3.8-inch HVGA touchscreen
- analog thumbstick
- dual stereo speakers
- SDHC expansion
- slim lightweight design
- Bluetooth and infrared
Cons
- laggy SNES emulation
- only 10 MB RAM
- proprietary charging port
- discontinued
- no rumble
No compatible accessories found
Check back later — we're adding new accessories regularly.
Videos · 2
Shaun Collier
youtube
UCDVideos
youtube
/
