There’s something about playing games on an old-school TV that immediately takes me back. Growing up in the ’90s, sitting in front of a smaller 4:3 display was just part of gaming. Today’s massive 4K displays obviously look incredible, but they don’t recreate that same feeling. That’s what made me interested in spending some time with UNICO’s retro-inspired display.
My first impression was actually how manageable it is. Anyone who remembers moving an old CRT knows those things were ridiculously heavy, but the UNICO gives you that classic look in something surprisingly light. This CRT Replica has a 10.4 inch screen, that I can easily move it around my gaming space, store it, or even travel with it. There’s also a compartment in the back for storage, which is a small addition but one I really appreciate.
Naturally, I wanted my first experience to be something retro, so I connected my SNES Mini. Once I started playing, the nostalgia immediately kicked in. Seeing those classic games on a smaller 4:3 display just felt right. It reminded me of sitting in front of the TV in the ’90s, and that experience is really the biggest appeal for me.
What makes the UNICO more interesting, though, is that you aren’t limited to one era of gaming. With HDMI, USB, and VGA available, there are several options for connecting different hardware. If you have some older equipment tucked away, particularly hardware that supports VGA, this gives you no reason to pull it back out.
I also wanted to see what I could do with something much more modern, so I connected my ASUS ROG Ally. It worked without a problem, and that was probably one of my favorite tests. There’s something fun about taking a modern handheld PC and experiencing it through a display with that old-school presentation. You also have adjustments for the volume and display settings, giving you some control over the experience depending on what you have connected.
Gaming isn’t the only reason I can see myself using it either. Throw on a classic movie or show, sit back, and you have another way to lean into the nostalgia. Sometimes it isn’t about having the biggest or sharpest display possible. Watching something you grew up with on a screen that recreates that older presentation can be part of the experience too.
As a collector, that’s ultimately what I like most about the UNICO. I have plenty of gaming items that look great on display, but I don’t want everything I collect to just sit there. This is something that can fit into my collection while still giving me a reason to turn it on and actually use it.
These are only my first impressions, and I still want to spend more time experimenting with different hardware, but so far I’m enjoying what UNICO has put together. It taps into the nostalgia I wanted while still feeling like something that belongs in my gaming setup today.
So far, the UNICO has found a nice balance between celebrating the gaming setups we grew up with and giving us something we can still enjoy today. Check out the full Kickstart here.
