Editing ZX Spectrum (section)

== Licences and clones ==
{{See also|List of ZX Spectrum clones}}

=== Official licences ===
[[File:Timex Sinclair 2068 Manipulated.jpg|thumb|[[Timex Sinclair 2068]], released in 1983 for the American market]]
Sinclair Research granted a licence for the ZX Spectrum design to the [[Timex Group USA|Timex Corporation]] in the United States. Timex marketed several computer models under the [[Timex Sinclair]] brand. They introduced an enhanced variant of the original Spectrum in the US, known as the [[Timex Sinclair 2068]]. This upgraded model features improvements in sound, graphics, and various other aspects. However, Timex's versions were generally not compatible with Sinclair systems.

[[File:Timex-Computer-2048-Manipulated.jpg|thumb|[[Timex Computer 2048]], highly compatible with the ZX Spectrum 48K, was very successful in both Portugal and Poland.]]

[[Timex of Portugal]] developed and produced several branded computers, including a [[PAL region]]-compatible version of the Timex Sinclair 2068, known as the [[Timex Computer 2048]]. This variant features distinct buffers for both the ULA and the CPU, significantly enhancing compatibility with ZX Spectrum software compared to the American model.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timex.comboios.info/tc2068.html|title=Timex Computer 2068 specifications|work=Timex Computer World|access-date=13 December 2023|archive-date=13 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231213151509/https://timex.comboios.info/tc2068.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://timex.comboios.info/tc2048.html|title=Timex Computer 2048 specifications|work=Timex Computer World|access-date=13 December 2023|archive-date=13 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231213151509/https://timex.comboios.info/tc2048.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Software developed for the Portuguese-made 2048 remained fully compatible with its American counterpart, as the ROMs were left unaltered. Timex of Portugal also created a ZX Spectrum "emulator" in cartridge form.<ref>{{cite web |title=Timex Computer 2068 Emulator Cartridge specs |url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=1000935 |website=World of Spectrum |access-date=5 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828152540/http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=1000935 |archive-date=28 August 2018}}</ref> Several other upgrades were introduced, including a BASIC64 cartridge enabling it to utilise high-resolution (512x192) modes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Timex command cartridges |url=https://loadzx.com/timexcomputerworld/timex-cartridge/ |website=LoadZX |access-date=5 May 2024 |archive-date=25 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240325172111/https://loadzx.com/timexcomputerworld/timex-cartridge/ |url-status=live }}</ref> This model saw significant success in both Portugal and Poland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=935|title=Timex Computer 2048 overview|work=Old Computers|access-date=26 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227153005/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=935|archive-date=27 February 2017}}</ref>

[[File:SAM Coupé (white bg and shadow).jpg|thumb|The [[SAM Coupé]], despite being a commercial failure, is hailed as a credible successor to the ZX Spectrum.]]

In India, Deci Bells Electronics Limited<ref>{{Cite web |title=Deci Bells Electronics Limited Company Profile|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/company/ |access-date=18 December 2022 |website=The Economic Times of India |language=en |archive-date=8 May 2019 |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20190508200151/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/company/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> based in [[Pune]], introduced a licensed version of the Spectrum+ in 1988.<ref>{{Cite web |title=deciBells dB Spectrum+ – Sinclair Collection |url=https://www.sinclaircollection.site/?page_id=455 |access-date=18 December 2022 |archive-date=6 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231006185743/https://www.sinclaircollection.site/?page_id=455 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=dB Spectrum+ at Spectrum Computing - Sinclair ZX Spectrum games, software and hardware |url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/1000517/Hardware/dB_Spectrum |access-date=18 December 2022 |website=Spectrum Computing |language=en }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The innovative legacy of Clive Sinclair |url=https://www.theweek.in/news/sci-tech/2021/09/18/the-innovative-legacy-of-clive-sinclair.html |access-date=18 December 2022 |website=The Week |language=en |archive-date=18 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221218234336/https://www.theweek.in/news/sci-tech/2021/09/18/the-innovative-legacy-of-clive-sinclair.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Dubbed the "dB Spectrum+", it performed well in the Indian market, selling over 50,000 units and achieving an 80% market share.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tirlochan Singh |url=https://isourcingindia.com/team/tirlochan-singh/ |access-date=18 December 2022 |website=isourcingindia |language=en-US |archive-date=18 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221218234337/https://isourcingindia.com/team/tirlochan-singh/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Unofficial clones ===
Numerous [[List of ZX Spectrum clones|unofficial Spectrum clones]] were produced, especially in Eastern Europe. Many small start-ups in the [[Soviet Union]] assembled various clones, distributed through poster adverts and street stalls. Over 50 such clone models existed in total.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nvg.org/sinclair/computers/clones/clones.htm |title= Clones and variants |access-date= 26 October 2006 |last= Owen |first= Chris |work= Planet Sinclair |archive-date= 25 September 2006 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060925001540/http://www.nvg.org/sinclair/computers/clones/clones.htm |url-status= live }}</ref> In [[Czechoslovakia]], the first production ZX Spectrum clone was  the [[Didaktik|Didaktik Gama]], sporting two [[Bank switching|switched]] 32&nbsp;KB memory banks and 16&nbsp;KB of slower RAM containing graphical data for video output, followed by [[Didaktik]] M, with later availability of a 5.25"/3.5" [[floppy disk]] drives; and a [[Didaktik]] Kompakt clone with a built-in floppy drive.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Slabihoud |first=Stephan |date=2000 |title=The PCB-Gallery - Didaktik Gamma |url=https://www.8bit-museum.de/pcb/index.htm?group=35&id=185 |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=8bit-museum.de |archive-date=30 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930100727/https://8bit-museum.de/pcb/index.htm?group=35&id=185 |url-status=live }}</ref> There were also clones produced in South America, such as the Brazilian-made [[TK90X]] and [[TK95]],{{sfn|Penix-Tadsen|2019|p=14-16}} as well as the Argentine [[Czerweny computers|Czerweny CZ]] models.<ref>{{cite web |last=Zangoni |first=Néstor |date=2005-01-07 |title=CZERWENY Series (CZ) Argentina (Z80A) |url=https://microhobby.speccy.cz/290803/ord/tadeo.htm |access-date=2023-01-16 |website=MicroHobby Web independiente para usuarios de ordenadores Sinclair y compatibles |language=Spanish |archive-date=5 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240405171243/https://microhobby.speccy.cz/290803/ord/tadeo.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the United Kingdom, Spectrum peripheral vendor [[Miles Gordon Technology]] (MGT) released the [[SAM Coupé]] 8-bit home computer in December 1989. It was designed to be fully compatible with the ZX Spectrum 48K, housing a Zilog Z80B processor clocked at 6&nbsp;MHz and 256KB of RAM.{{sfn|Leigh|2018|p=140}} By this point, the [[Amiga]] and [[Atari ST]] had taken hold of the market, leaving MGT in eventual receivership in June 1990.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Alway|first=Robin|title=So what really has happened to the SAM Coupé?|journal=[[Your Sinclair]]|issue=56|page=40|url=http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/samsurgeon0890.htm|access-date=21 December 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130315073401/http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/samsurgeon0890.htm|archive-date=15 March 2013}}</ref> In his book ''Retro Tech'', [[Nostalgia Nerd|Peter Leigh]] considers the Sam Coupé to be the "true" successor of the ZX Spectrum.{{sfn|Leigh|2018|p=142}}