Is the SAM Coupé making a comeback? SpecNext Ltd. hints at revival

In a surprise move that’s sent ripples through the retro computing community, SpecNext Ltd.—the team behind the ZX Spectrum Next—has teased a potential return of a long-forgotten 8-bit legend. A cryptic image of the SAM Coupé home computer was posted to their official X account. No additional details were shared, leaving fans to speculate wildly. Could SAM Coupé compatibility be coming to the ZX Spectrum Next via a firmware update? Or is SpecNext Ltd. preparing to launch an entirely new machine—perhaps a SAM Coupe Next? For those unfamiliar, the SAM Coupe is something of a cult classic. Released in December 1989 by Miles Gordon Technology (MGT), it arrived at the tail end of the 8-bit era. Marketed as a spiritual successor to the ZX Spectrum, the SAM boasted impressive specs for its time: native Spectrum compatibility, a good operating system, and a remarkable 256KB of RAM—vastly more than the original Spectrum’s modest offerings. Unfortunately, the SAM Coupé’s timing was less than ideal. By 1989, the home computing landscape was shifting toward 16-bit systems like the Commodore Amiga and Atari ST, which were rapidly dropping in price and rising in popularity. The SAM struggled to carve out a foothold in this changing market and, despite a devoted following, failed to achieve commercial success. MGT would ultimately shutter its doors in 1992. Still, the SAM Coupé has remained a beloved oddity among retro computing aficionados and Spectrum enthusiasts alike. With SpecNext Ltd.’s recent hint, it seems the machine might finally get its due—decades after its quiet departure from the scene.

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