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Published: September 28, 2017 | Source: EuroGamer | Author: Mark Campbell

Nintendo’s SNES Mini uses the same hardware as the NES Mini

Nintendo's SNES Mini uses the same hardware as the NES Mini

Nintendo’s SNES Mini uses the same hardware as the NES Mini

 
Eurogamer has confirmed that Nintendo’s upcoming SNES Mini console will utilize the same hardware as their existing NES Mini, with the new console only offering a change in the console’s available ROMs and its external casing. 
 
This is rather disappointing given the fact that this is supposed to be a “new” product but also because it reveals that there was not much reason to cancel production for the NES Mini, given the fact that the same mainboards were still being produced for the SNES Mini.  
 
Under the hood, this console uses the same Allwinner R16 SoC with the same four ARM Cortex A7 cores and ARM Mali 400 MP2 GPU, the same 256MB of Hynix memory and the same 512MB of NAND storage. Yes, this is still more than adequate to emulate a SNES, but they didn’t even change the shape of the PCB to better fit the device’s external casing. 
 

  

Nintendo's SNES Mini uses the same hardware as the NES Mini  Nintendo's SNES Mini uses the same hardware as the NES Mini

(SNES Mini: Left, NES Mini: Right)

 

With the SNES utilizing the same hardware as the NES, it is likely that hackers will quickly be able to exploit the system to add older or newer games, just like the NES Mini before it. There is also a chance for SNES emulation to be added to the NES Mini and vice-versa. 

Utilising the same hardware design is a smart move from Nintendo, as it allows the same production line to create new SNES and NES Mini consoles when they are required, streamlining the manufacturing process and allowing the device to be created in a more economical way. 

The SNES Mini is expected to be manufactured from now until the end of 2018, with a re-release of the NES Mini coming in the summer of 2018. Thankfully this new console will be created in higher quantities to help stem the tide of eBay scalpers and other similar price-hikes. 

 

You can join the discussion on Nintendo’s SNES Mini on the OC3D Forums. 

  

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