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ZX Spectrum

A low-cost British home computer with a rubber keyboard that sold over five million units after its April 1982 release.

Clive Sinclair and a small team in Cambridge designed the ZX Spectrum. Rick Dickinson designed its case, rainbow stripe and rubber keyboard. Timex made it in Dundee, Scotland.

It went on sale in Britain on 23 April 1982. Timex sold it in the United States as the Timex Sinclair 2068. Seven models followed, from 16 KB of memory in 1982 to 128 KB and a built-in disk drive in 1987.

Why it matters

It was one of the best-selling British computers of all time, with over five million sold.

Key facts

  • Released in Britain on 23 April 1982.
  • Over five million units sold.
  • Case and keyboard designed by Rick Dickinson.
  • Manufactured by Timex in Dundee, Scotland.
  • Seven models between 1982 and 1987.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, "ZX Spectrum", en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZX_Spectrum, accessed October 14, 2026.
  2. Wikipedia, "Sinclair Research", en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinclair_Research, background reading, accessed October 14, 2026.