Chess computers have come a long way over the years. The latest models run Stockfish, so they can beat any human player. In the 90s and early 2000s, engines were not as strong. We also didn’t have a smartphone. The Novag Sapphire is a handheld chess computer from 1994. It was sold for $395 at the time. It is powered by a H8 RISC style processor with a 64k ROM and 26.6 MHz clock speed. This computer doesn’t have its own board, so you will have to enter the moves manually.
This chess computer has an estimated rating of under 2400 USCF. It is smart enough to learn from up to 140 positions from games where it has made big mistakes. It has enough storage space to replay up to 64 games. We put it to the test against ChessUp 2, which is an advanced chess computer that guides you with lights. ChessUp 2 is much stronger as it runs Stockfish at max level. It also lets you play on Chess.com and Lichess. Not surprisingly, ChessUp 2 won easily but the Novag Sapphire still remains a very nice addition to any chess collection. It shows up from time to time on eBay.
