ZX Next Clones: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 21:45, 5 September 2025

The ZX Spectrum Next is open hardware; as such it can be completely cloned (both the hardware based on the official schematics and the core) or its core ported to different platforms using the same or different FPGAs

ZX Next clones

ZX Spectrum Next clones use the same FPGA model as one of the revisions of the machines produced by SpecNext Ltd duplicating also the corresponding schematics. In essence they are complete ZX Spectrum Nexts and their core is updated using the official core contained in the System/Next distribution.

There are two clones available at the time of writing

N-Go - The N-Go is a full KS1 ZX Spectrum Next clone coming in a full size PCB with ESP and RTC complete with 2 Mega Drive style joystick ports, an expansion port and optional custom case and mechanical keyboard. It also has the option of working as a ZX DOS using a switch in which case all the ZX Uno/ZX DOS cores are available to the user.

Xberry Pi - is a ZX Spectrum Next clone with a PCB roughly the same dimensions as a Raspberry Pi 3 without extra hardware like the ESP, full size expansion bus and extra joystick port (they are however fully expandable).

ZX Next core ports

The Spectrum Next core has been ported to several different FPGAs with varying degrees of completeness and compatibility, including:

ZX-DOS - FPGA-based hardware recreation of the ZX Spectrum, created by Antonio Villena.

ZX-DOS+ and gomaDOS+ - ZXDOS+ and gomaDOS+ are the continuation of ZX-Uno. They are the same machine in a different case.

ZX Spectrum Next for MiSTer Platform - an incomplete ZX Next core for MiSTer FPGA compatible systems].

ZXTRES - The ZXTRES, ZXTRES+ and ZXTRES++ are Next clones with several alternative cores.ZXTRES wiki.

Karabas Go - A Spartan-6 based devboard with a fully working Spectrum Next core.

UnAmiga and Unamiga Reloaded have ZX Next cores.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-The core of the Spectrum Next hardware is licensed under the GPLv3 free software license which has enabled the production of several clones and ports.
+The ZX Spectrum Next is open hardware; as such it can be completely cloned (both the hardware based on the official schematics and the core) or its core ported to different platforms using the same or different FPGAs
 == ZX Next clones ==
-Spectrum ZX Next clones use the same FPGA core as an official ZX Next thus you can run the official NextZXOS distro and use it to update your core.
+ZX Spectrum Next clones use the same FPGA model as one of the revisions of the machines produced by SpecNext Ltd duplicating also the corresponding schematics. In essence they are complete ZX Spectrum Nexts and their core is updated using the official core contained in the System/Next distribution.
-[[N-Go]] - The [https://manuferhi.com/c/n-go N-Go] is a full ZX Next clone complete with 2 Mega Drive style joystick ports, an expansion port and optional custom case.
+There are two clones available at the time of writing
-[[Xberry Pi]] - an affordable Next clone with a PCB roughly the same dimensions as a Raspberry Pi 3.
+[[N-Go]] - The [https://manuferhi.com/c/n-go N-Go] is a full KS1 ZX Spectrum Next clone coming in a full size PCB with ESP and RTC complete with 2 Mega Drive style joystick ports, an expansion port and optional custom case and mechanical keyboard. It also has the option of working as a ZX DOS using a switch in which case all the ZX Uno/ZX DOS cores are available to the user.
+[[Xberry Pi]] - is a ZX Spectrum Next clone with a PCB roughly the same dimensions as a Raspberry Pi 3 without extra hardware like the ESP, full size expansion bus and extra joystick port (they are however fully expandable).
-== ZX Next ports ==
+== ZX Next core ports ==
 The Spectrum Next core has been ported to several different FPGAs with varying degrees of completeness and compatibility, including:
@@ Line 22: / Line 23: @@
 [https://antoniovillena.com/product/zxtres/ ZXTRES] - The ZXTRES, ZXTRES+ and ZXTRES++ are Next clones with several alternative cores.[https://github.com/zxtres/wiki/wiki ZXTRES wiki.]
-[https://zxuno.speccy.org/ ZX-UNO] - A Next clone in a Raspberry Pi form factor with composite video output. Very old ZX Next core.
 [https://github.com/andykarpov/karabas-go Karabas Go] - A Spartan-6 based devboard with a fully working Spectrum Next core.
 [https://www.arananet.net/pedidos/product/unamiga-a500-header-compatible-with-a500-and-checkmate-1500-cases-pre-order UnAmiga] and [https://www.arananet.net/pedidos/product/unamiga-reloaded-standalone-preorder Unamiga Reloaded] have ZX Next cores.