RetroBox startup proposes a faux CRT VHS combo TV priced at $399

Gamesradar reports a startup called RetroBox is pitching a new faux CRT "VHS combo TV" that it says will play videotapes and support legacy video connections while mimicking a '90s/2000s combo set.

The product is listed with a $399 price and promises a recreated look, feel and functionality; the company says it's building a "fully functional and redesigned VCR" with electrical and mechanical engineers, which would require motors, rollers and magnetic heads. The writer notes the prototype shown uses off‑the‑shelf internals — an LCD screen and controller board available for around $73 on Aliexpress and a scanline generator listed at $35.99 on Amazon — and that the website lists native resolution options of 240p and 480i and an NTSC format that could affect PAL/SECAM playback, though the listing suggests modern parts should yield universal color compatibility.

The article's author, a CRT collector and hobby tube repairer, says they are excited but cautious: collectors and retro gamers might want to wait, since adapters and upscalers can introduce input lag and blurry pixels, and it's unclear how bespoke the final product will be. Marketing so far targets easy VHS playback, the RetroBox comes in several colors and promises custom colorways, and the writer says they will try to test consoles if the device ships while remaining curious whether VCR mechanism manufacturing can be restarted.

Key Topics

Tech, Retrobox, Vhs Combo Tv, Vcr, Crt, Lcd Screen