7 Best Zx Spectrum App Android 2023

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If you are looking for the Best Zx Spectrum App Android to download for free, look no further.

Our expert panel of reviewers has tested dozens of apps and we have compiled a list of the 7 Best Zx Spectrum App Android that passed our tests.

Contents

Check out our list of the 7 Best Zx Spectrum App Android, tried and tested by our expert reviewers.

7 Best Zx Spectrum App Android

1. Speccy – Free Sinclair ZX Spectrum Emulator

“Speccy is a Sinclair ZX Spectrum home computer emulator. It will run software written for Spectrum 16k, 48k, 128k, +2, +2A, +3, Timex Sinclair, Sam Coupe, Pentagon, and Skorpion home computers. Features:

* Specifically optimized for Android devices, using ARM assembler and running at the same speed as a real Spectrum.
* Full screen portrait mode emulation, with options for simulating TV scanlines and fuzzy TV display.
* Records soundtrack to MIDI files.
* Includes both physical and touch screen keyboard support.
* Includes NetPlay functionality for playing over local network or Internet.
* Includes WorldOfSpectrum.org software archive browser.

* Supports snapshots (*.sna, *.z80).
* Supports loading from tapes (*.tap, *.tzx files), with authentic tape sounds.
* Supports TR-DOS and a variety of other disk image formats (*.trd, *.scl, *.fdi, *.dsk).
* Supports 128k and Fuller sound chips.

* Emulates Cursor, Protek, AGF, Kempston, and Sinclair Interface II joysticks, using touch screen, physical keyboard, or accelerometer.
* Emulates Kempston mouse.
* Emulates ZX Printer and other printers.

* Supports GoogleTV devices running Android 4.x (Jelly Bean), such as LG G2/G3.
* Supports Moga, iCade, Nyko PlayPad, and other Bluetooth and USB gamepads.
* Supports Xperia Play gaming buttons.

Speccy package itself does not contain any Spectrum programs. You should place your own Spectrum files onto the SD card before running Speccy.

Please, do not run any software you do not own with Speccy. The author cannot and will not tell you where to find free Spectrum programs.

Please, report any encountered problems here:

http://groups.google.com/group/emul8″

2. Xpectroid ZX Spectrum Emulator

“ZX Spectrum 48K, 128K, Plus2, Plus2A, Plus3 emulator.

New1.2.1:
-Fixed Wiicontroller remap issue.

New1.2:

-Added support for zipped files.
-Fixed Multi-touch bug.
-Fixed Xperia Play keys remap.
-Added posibility to move to SD.

New1.1:

– New auto frame skip mode.
– Improved multitouch responsiveness.
– Improved Android 1.5 cupcake support.
– New landscape touch controller suited for no multitouch or slower devices
– Redefine hardware keys.
– Trackball support.
– Improved touch keyboard”

3. Spectacol

“Spectacol (in Romanian means show) is a free (GPL v3+) ZX Spectrum emulator based on FUSE Spectrum emulator(http://fuse-emulator.sf.net)

FUSE emulator has, by far, the richest ZX features list. Spectacol enables the following features:

– Loads all ZX Spectrum files
– Accurate 16K, 48K, 128K, +2, +2A and +3 emulation
– Quick load & save snapshots. It is quite useful when you play games
– Easily select the Joystick type
– Poke finder, disassambler & inline assambler. Allows the user to crack the games and gain infinite lives quickly
– Last but not least, FUSE is very high-efficient, it needs only ~15% of CPU on a Nexus 10 to emulate your games

In addition to FUSE’s features, Spectacol adds:
– Online search allows the user to access thousands of ZX Spectrum apps & games! The search results are downloaded locally and they can be used to start the games offline
– The UI is design with gamepad controls in mind. The user will be able to play all the games that support Joysticks using the gamepad.
– On screen numeric cursor (available only when a gamepad is present), allows the user to quickly start & control the games
– On Screen full/simplified 48K Keyboard needed when the numeric cursor is not enough
– On screen virtual Joystick (available only when no gamepad is present), allows the user to play the games

Be aware that, Spectacol is in BETA stage!
Please fell free to report bugs or ask for new features to https://github.com/bog-dan-ro/spectacol/issues or by using Menu->Help->Features and bugs

For more information please visit project page: https://github.com/bog-dan-ro/spectacol

This is an ad free application, please don’t contact me to add any ads because I’m not going to do it!”

4. PlayZX

“PLEASE READ THIS TEXT IN FULL BEFORE INSTALLING:

Select from thousands of Sinclair ZX Spectrum games and play them through the headphone jack to load them onto your Speccy. You can also select your local (on the device) TAP or TZX files, convert them to sound files and play them. This way you can load games for not only the ZX Spectrum micro but also any other retro computer that have compatible audio jacks.

IMPORTANT:
1. This is not an emulator, *it* will not play those games! You need an actual ZX Spectrum.

2. If you cannot browse and select your own files, it is likely caused by new Android permissions that Google changed with their newer development kits.
Please try this: Go to “System” -> “Apps & Notifications” -> Select “PlayZX” app -> scroll down to “Permissions” and allow “Storage” permission.

3. Make sure that your Android device is *not* connected to USB (for example, to charge it), while using this app. (Electrically, its ground needs to be floating with respect to the ZX Spectrum power supply)

4. Put your Android device in “Do Not Disturb” mode (*not* the Airplane mode as it needs internet access). This will prevent random notifications to disturb the signal output.

5. Use a good quality, preferably short, audio cable. For best results, use a stereo cable and turn the option to invert one stereo channel. Play with the volume: you may get different results on your phone vs. on your tablet, for example.”

5. Recreated ZX Spectrum

“Please Note: A small number of users have reported an issue with in-app purchases. Specifically it’s been reported that Google’s in-app purchase system SEEMS to be requesting additional payment when re-using previously purchased in-app content. Several of those users have also reported that no additional payment is ACTUALLY taken. We are raising this issue with Google and wish to assure users of this app that we will immediately refund any duplicate charges for in-app purchases in the highly unlikely event that any are ACTUALLY incurred.

The Recreated ZX Spectrum – is the only authorised, full-size recreation of the 1980s personal computer… the Sinclair ZX Spectrum.

This is the official companion app for the Recreated ZX Spectrum … for selected Android devices … including phones, tablets and connected TVs. This app includes Chuck Egg, Sinclair BASIC and a huge game bundle. New games and applications will be available with each update of this app.

Before using your Recreated ZX Spectrum, we recommend you view the Operating Guide (Video). To do so tap on the button in this app. The video is approximately 18 minutes long. Each of its 12 chapters can be viewed individually using the index at the end of the video. (Internet connection required.)

Help with using the Recreated ZX Spectrum with connected TVs can also be found at:

RecreatedZXSpectrum.com/Support

About the Recreated ZX Spectrum Android app (available Thu 15th Oct, ’15):

The three most significant ZX Spectrum games of all, ‘Chuckie Egg’, Jet Set Willy’ and ‘Manic Miner’ … are exclusive to the Recreated ZX Spectrum.

Yet more games and applications will be available from 3rd-party vendors. A list of games and applications for the recreated device can be found at RecreatedZXSpectrum.com The list will be kept under review and will continue to be revised, as new games and applications become available, well in to the future. Games and applications from 3rd-party vendors can also be found by searching the Google Play Store, using the search terms “Recreated ZX Spectrum”.

The Recreated ZX Spectrum Android app can also be used without the Recreated ZX Spectrum … using touch screen controls, (when doing so be sure to change ‘original game controls’ to ‘iDaptive game controls’ within the app) … and includes information about the recreated device, including details of from where it may be purchased.

About the Recreated ZX Spectrum online web app (when used with Android devices):

The Recreated ZX Spectrum online web app can be found at RecreatedZXSpectrum.com under the heading Games & Apps. It may be used with but is not optimised for use with any Android devices – consequently the games and applications contained in the online web app may run slowly when used with Android devices. It too contains Chuckie Egg, Sinclair BASIC and a huge game bundle. When using the Recreated ZX Spectrum with the online web app (for Macs and PCs) ALL OF THE INCLUDED GAMES AND APPLICATIONS ARE FREE OF CHARGE. This because the Recreated ZX Spectrum online web app can only be used with the recreated device.

‘Sinclair’, ‘ZX Spectrum’ and ‘Elite’ are registered trademarks in the UK and elsewhere and are used under licence. This app © 2015, Elite Systems Ltd, a company registered in England with number 01840901.

KNOWN ISSUES: there are a couple of known issues with this app. If you’ve previously installed a version of this app then it’s possible that Option>Rotation Lock defaults to ‘portrait’. For ease of use this should be set to ‘off’. This can be done by tapping on the icon. Also, there’s no Settings option for the iDaptive Controls, which means that the opacity of the on-screen controls can’t be changed. Consequently, they’re invisible (indeed they’re inactive) in landscape mode. There are probably other issues. We’re working on fixes for these issues and hope to include them in an early update.”

6. Speccy – Complete Sinclair ZX Spectrum Emulator

“Speccy is a Sinclair ZX Spectrum home computer emulator. It runs software written for Sinclair ZX Spectrum 16k, 48k, 128k, +2, +2A, +3, Timex Sinclair, Sam Coupe, Pentagon, and Skorpion home computers. Features:

* Supports GoogleTV devices running Android 4.x (Jelly Bean), such as LG G2/G3.
* Supports Moga, iCade, Nyko PlayPad, and other Bluetooth and USB gamepads.
* Supports Xperia Play gaming buttons.

This is the premium, full-featured, ad-free version of Speccy. It includes fully functional World of Spectrum software repository browser, not found in the free version.

Speccy package itself does not contain any Spectrum programs. You should place your own Spectrum files onto the SD card before running Speccy.

Please, do not run any software you do not own with Speccy. The author cannot and will not tell you where to find free Spectrum programs.

Please, report any encountered problems here:

http://groups.google.com/group/emul8″

7. “Spectaculator, ZX Emulator”

“In April 1982, Sir Clive Sinclair launched what was to become one of the most popular home computers ever made – the Sinclair ZX Spectrum.

Spectaculator is a Sinclair ZX Spectrum emulator that takes you back to the 1980s – to the golden era of 8-bit gaming!

Includes the officially licensed ‘Stephen Crow Anthology’:
©1983-2013 Stephen Crow. All rights reserved.
– Factory Breakout
– Firelord
– Laser Snaker
– Starquake
– Wizard’s Lair
… all specially adapted for Android.

FEATURES:
• Desktop quality ZX Spectrum emulation – games and other programs run just like on a real ZX Spectrum
• Play in portrait or landscape orientations
• Save your game progress (four saved game slots + a single cloud save slot per game).
• Cloud saves (via Dropbox). Gives the possibility of saving on one device (e.g. phone) and continue playing on another device (e.g. tablet or PC)
• Enter pokes (cheats) for infinite lives, shields etc.
• Lookup game hints, tips and maps
• Play in black and white with TV screen simulation for the ultimate 1980s experience!
• Type on a virtual ZX Spectrum keyboard
• Use external Bluetooth or USB keyboards
• Choose authentic cassette loading or fast play
• Program in Sinclair BASIC
• Play using an external arcade controller (Bluetooth or USB gamepads such as an Xbox 360 controller, iControlPad, Moga Pocket, Moga Pro, Gametel and iCade)
• Use gestures (pans, taps and swipes) to control games
• Localised into Spanish
• In-app shop with licensed games from the original authors and publishers

ADDITIONAL FEATURES IN THE FULL VERSION:

Add your own games!
– Upload and play .TAP/.TZX cassette files, .DSK disk files and .SZX/.Z80/.SNA snapshots
– Add inlay artwork for your own games

Get an additional 19 officially licensed ZX Spectrum games to play (included in the upgrade):
– 3D Starstrike by Realtime Games Software
– Auf Wiedersehen Monty by Gremlin Graphics
– Avenger by Gremlin Graphics
– Bounder by Gremlin Graphics
– Cyclone by Vortex Software
– Dynamite Dan by Rod Bowkett/Mirrorsoft
– Highway Encounter by Vortex Software
– Jack The Nipper by Gremlin Graphics
– Krackout by Gremlin Graphics
– Jekyll & Hyde by Zenobi Software
– Metabolis by Gremlin Graphics
– Monty On The Run by Gremlin Graphics
– On The Run by Design Design
– Revolution by Vortex Software
– Tau Ceti by Pete Cooke/CRL
– The Way Of The Tiger by Gremlin Graphics
– Albatrossity by Jonathan Cauldwell
– Battery’s Not Precluded by Jonathan Cauldwell
– The Fantastic Mister Fruity by Jonathan Cauldwell

… with more available from the in-app shop.

ADDITIONAL GAME PACKS:
The following officially licensed game packs are available from the in-app shop:

Design Design Games Pack
– 5 Games. Includes Halls of the Things, Dark Star
– All proceeds go to the Anthony Nolan Organisation

Gremlin Graphics Vol. 1
– 6 games. Includes Wanted! Monty Mole, Skate Crazy

Gremlin Graphics Vol. 2
– 6 games. Includes Jack The Nipper II: In Coconut Capers, North Star

Gremlin Graphics Vol. 3
– 6 games. Includes Switchblade, Super Scramble Simulator +3

Odin Computer Graphics Anthology
– 9 games. Includes Nodes Of Yesod, Robin Of The Wood, Heartland

Realtime Games Pack
– Starstrike II, 3D Tank Duel

Vortex Anthology
– 6 games. Includes Alien Highway, Deflektor, T.L.L. (Tornado Low Level)

Zenobi Adventure Pack Vol. 1
– 6 games. Includes Aura-Scope, The Gods of War, Leopold The Minstrel

Zenobi Adventure Pack Vol. 2
– 6 games. Includes The Khangrin Plans, The Krazy Kartoonist Kaper

Zenobi Adventures Vol. 3
– 5 games. Includes The Apprentice, The Bardic Rite, Jester Quest

The following single games are available from the in-app shop:
– Carrier Command
– Dynamite Dan II
– Frank N. Stein
– Laser Squad (Free!)
– Lords Of Chaos (Free!)
– The Lords Of Midnight”

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