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THEA1200 vs a Real Amiga A1200
Quick version: THEA1200 is a full-size remake of the Amiga 1200 from Retro Games Ltd, with a working keyboard, HDMI and USB. Retro Games lists it for launch on Friday 4 December 2026, so for now it is a pre-order and we haven't tested one. A real A1200 is the 1992 original from Commodore: it runs original disks and takes real upgrades, but it is over 30 years old and needs checking before you buy.
At a glance
| Spec | THEA1200 (2026) | Amiga 1200 (1992) |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Retro Games Ltd | Commodore |
| Release | Listed for 4 December 2026 (pre-order) | 21 October 1992 |
| Inside | Emulation of the A1200 (AGA) and the A500 (OCS) and ECS chipsets | Motorola 68EC020 at 14 MHz, 2 MB of memory, AGA graphics |
| Software | 25 built-in games, Workbench, your own games from a USB stick with WHDLoad | Floppy disks, or a hard drive or memory card with WHDLoad |
| Keyboard | Full-size, working | Full-size, working |
| Picture | HDMI | Analogue RGB, composite or RF; needs a cable or adapter for a modern TV |
| In the box | Mouse, gamepad, HDMI cable, USB-C cable (no mains adapter) | Whatever the seller includes |
THEA1200
Retro Games describes THEA1200 as a full-size reimagining of the A1200 with a working keyboard. It emulates the A1200's AGA graphics and also the A500's OCS and the ECS chipset of later A500 revisions, so it covers most of the Amiga range.
- Workbench included: the Amiga desktop, for the full range of Amiga software, not just games.
- 25 built-in games: including Beneath a Steel Sky, Lure of the Temptress, Ruff 'n' Tumble, Defender of the Crown and its sequel, the Turrican trilogy, The Settlers II and Wings.
- Your own games: side-load them from a USB stick with WHDLoad support, and save and resume at any time.
- In the box: THEA1200, a two-button USB mouse, an eight-button USB gamepad, a USB-C power cable, an HDMI cable and a quick start manual. The 3-amp mains adapter is not included.
It isn't out yet, so we can't say how well it runs, and Retro Games says the specification may change.
A real Amiga 1200
Commodore launched the A1200 on 21 October 1992. It has a 32-bit Motorola 68EC020 processor at 14 MHz, 2 MB of memory and the AGA graphics chipset, which raised the colour palette from 4,096 colours to 16.8 million. It shipped with AmigaOS 3.0 or 3.1.
- Upgrades: extra fast memory, up to 8 MB, goes in the trapdoor expansion slot underneath, and CPU accelerator boards such as the Blizzard 1230 are available.
- Storage: it has an internal ATA interface and housing for a 2.5-inch hard drive, the kind used in laptops, plus a PCMCIA slot that takes CompactFlash adapters.
- Check first: the original power supply is often not enough for an expanded A1200, and any machine this old needs checking. Our Amiga buying guide covers what to look for.
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Which should you buy?
- THEA1200 if you want a full-size Amiga with a keyboard on a modern TV, with no floppy drives or old power supplies to worry about, and you can wait for the launch.
- A real A1200 if you want original disks, real expansion cards and the machine itself. For a period monitor, see our retro PC upgrades guide.
- Neither yet? The smaller THEA500 Mini is already on sale, and our best retro mini consoles guide compares the other plug-and-play options.
FAQ
When does THEA1200 come out?
Retro Games lists THEA1200 for launch on Friday 4 December 2026, with pre-orders open now.
Can THEA1200 play my own Amiga games?
Yes. Retro Games says you can side-load your own games from a USB stick, with full WHDLoad support.
Does THEA1200 come with a power adapter?
No. It comes with a USB-C power cable, but the 3-amp mains adapter is not included.
See also: Amiga buying guide · Retro PC guides
Buying for someone else? See our retro gaming gift guide.