| Processor: | Motorola 68000 16/32-bit processor @ 7.67 MHz (MC68HC000, CMOS version) |
| Co-processor: | Zilog Z80 8-bit @ 3.58 MHz |
| Video display processor | Yamaha YM7101, derivative of the VDP from the Sega Master System |
| Memory: |
64K work RAM (68000), 64K video RAM, 8K work RAM (Z80)
Later hardware had an internal 1Kx16 ROM for the license display screen. |
| Display palette: | 512 colors (3:3:3 RGB) |
| Onscreen colors: | 64 (normal) or 183 (shadow/highlight mode) |
| Maximum onscreen sprites: | 80 (320-pixel wide display) or 64 (256-pixel wide display) |
| Resolution: |
256×224, 256×448, 320×224, 320×448, (PAL and NTSC)
256×240, 320×240, 256×480, 320×480 (PAL only), 256×192 (SMS games only) |
| Sound: | Yamaha YM2612 5 channel FM and 1 channel FM/PCM, Texas Instruments SN76489 4 channel PSG (Programmable Sound Generator) |