Guide / Definition —
What is a pincab? Definition, how it works, prices and buying guide
Updated on 19 October 2026
A pincab, short for “pinball cabinet”, is a digital pinball machine. A large screen lies flat under glass where the playfield would be. A computer calculates the ball’s path. Real buttons, the plunger and tilt remain. You may also hear digital pinball, virtual pinball cabinet or simulator. On the French market in 2026, prices run from €700 in a used listing to €9,990 including VAT for a new premium model.
Where the word pincab comes from
The cabinet is the pinball machine’s body. Enthusiasts coined pincab when they started building machines around a screen and PC in the early 2000s. Visual Pinball, the software that started the movement, was released on 19 December 2000 by programmer Randy Davis (Wikipedia). Its code was opened in 2010. A volunteer team now develops it as open-source software (GitHub).
Pincab, digital pinball, virtual pinball and simulator describe the same object. French brands and forums use different names. At BUMP we say simulator, because that is exactly what the machine does: simulate pinball as closely as possible. But let’s be clear: the Bump is a pincab.
How a pincab works
Four building blocks, from a home build to a premium machine.
- The playfield screen. Flat under glass, it displays the table. Size and technology shape the experience: 32 inches on a consumer machine such as the AtGames Legends 4KP; 43 inches, in 4K OLED, on a full-size cabinet such as the Bump Pro.
- The computer. It calculates ball physics and renders the picture continuously. A stronger graphics card keeps high-definition tables running smoothly. The Bump Pro has an RTX 5070.
- The controls. Flipper buttons, a plunger and a sensor that detects when you shake the cabinet, like tilt on a classic pinball machine.
- Physical feedback. Vibrators, bass shakers or coils transmit ball impacts through the cabinet. That separates a screen showing pinball from a machine you want to play.
Above the playfield, a second screen acts as the backglass and shows the table artwork. AtGames Legends 4KP specifications come from Wikipedia; Bump Pro specifications are on our product page.
The software: Visual Pinball X or Pinball FX
Two software families power almost every pincab.
Visual Pinball X is free and open source. It is the builder’s tool: tables are community recreations, and each machine needs manual setup, table by table. The result depends on the care taken.
Pinball FX is Zen Studios’ game, released on 16 February 2023 for PC and consoles. Its tables are official: licensed recreations of classics from the 1980s and 1990s, tables based on major film and game licences, and original creations. Cabinet mode supports machines with two or three screens (Wikipedia).
Our choice for the Bump Pro: official tables only. That means a consistent experience and respect for their creators’ rights. 140 official tables available, chosen and bought individually, at €2 to €10 per table, with €100 of tables on us to start your catalogue. Find them in the complete catalogue of 140 tables.
Pincab or mechanical pinball: what really changes
| Criterion | Pincab | Mechanical pinball |
|---|---|---|
| Tables | one catalogue: 140 official tables available on the Bump Pro | one machine, one table |
| New price in France | €9,990 including VAT for the Bump Pro | from €8,090 including VAT for a Stern Pro |
| The ball | calculated by software, impacts reproduced by haptic feedback | a real steel ball |
| Wear | no physical playfield or gameplay mechanisms to wear out | playfield, rubbers and coils need maintenance |
| Changing games | a few seconds | change the machine |
Stern price source: Avranches Automatic, official Stern distributor in France, checked on 5 October 2026.
A real steel ball remains inimitable. We don’t claim otherwise. A pincab does not replace pinball; it expands it: more tables, more players, more places. BUMP is also building its own mechanical pinball, the Bump #001. Compare both in mechanical or virtual pinball, and explore the game itself in our complete pinball guide.
How much a pincab costs in 2026
| Option | Observed price | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Home build | €1,200 to €4,000 in parts | assembly time excluded, no whole-machine warranty |
| Used, private seller | €700 to €8,000, median €3,000 | 17 listings, asking prices rather than sale prices |
| Consumer machine | from US $1,699.99 | 32-inch screen, US price before shipping and taxes |
| New from a professional | €5,900 | new-machine listings checked on the same day |
| Premium simulator | €9,990 including VAT, Bump Pro | 43-inch 4K OLED, RTX 5070, hand-assembled in France |
These euro prices were observed on the French market. Sources: Monte ton Cab for home builds; our survey of 17 used pincab listings on Leboncoin on 12 October 2026 for used and professional new machines; AtGames, checked on 13 October 2026, for the US dollar price.
Five things explain the price gap: screen size and technology, graphics card, cabinet quality, sound and haptic feedback, and warranty. See the item-by-item breakdown in pinball prices in 2026.
Buying a pincab: new, used or home-built
Building your own is the cheapest entry point, provided you like DIY and don’t count your time.
Buying used lowers the price, not the risk. In France, a private sale only carries the hidden-defect guarantee, and the buyer must prove the defect. A professional sale also carries the two-year legal conformity guarantee (economie.gouv.fr). Before paying, follow our used pincab checklist. For new or used machines from a professional, ExtraBall, a BUMP distribution partner, offers both.
Five questions before signing for a new pincab:
- Which panel and size? OLED or LCD, 32 or 43 inches: you see the difference every game.
- Which graphics card? It determines how smoothly high-definition tables run.
- Which tables, at what price? Official or not, included or bought separately.
- What warranty and after-sales support in France?
- Can you play before buying?
See what separates a good cabinet from a disappointing one in high-end pincabs: what really makes the difference.
The Bump Pro costs €9,990 including VAT, hand-assembled in France with manufacturer warranty and after-sales support. For private customers, it is a purchase: we do not offer rental to individuals. For bars, hotels and businesses, long-term rental is reserved for professionals at €299 excluding VAT per month.
FAQ
What is a pincab?
A pincab is a digital pinball machine: a pinball cabinet whose playfield is replaced by a large screen mounted flat under glass, connected to a computer that simulates the ball. Buttons, plunger and tilt remain physical.
What does pincab mean?
Pincab is short for “pinball cabinet”, the body of a pinball machine. The word comes from enthusiasts who started building their own machines in the early 2000s.
Pincab, digital pinball, virtual pinball: what is the difference?
None. In France, pincab, digital pinball, virtual pinball and simulator describe the same object. Brands and forums simply choose different words.
How much does a pincab cost?
On the French market in 2026, allow €1,200 to €4,000 in parts for a home build, €700 to €8,000 for a used private sale with a median of €3,000, and €9,990 including VAT for a new premium simulator such as the Bump Pro.
What software runs a pincab?
Mainly Visual Pinball X, free and open source with community-recreated tables, and Zen Studios’ Pinball FX, with official tables and cabinet mode. The Bump Pro offers 140 official tables available, chosen and bought individually.
Where can you buy a pincab in France?
New, directly from a manufacturer or distributor. Used, through private sellers on Leboncoin or a professional such as ExtraBall, which adds France’s two-year legal conformity guarantee.
Does a pincab replace a real pinball machine?
No, it expands it. A mechanical pinball’s steel ball is inimitable. A pincab brings a catalogue of tables into one cabinet, with no physical playfield or gameplay mechanisms to wear out.
Can you try a pincab before buying?
Yes. BUMP offers private thirty-minute demonstrations, without commitment, at its showrooms and distributors and with ambassadors in France, on the Try a Bump page.
In summary
A pincab is a pinball machine whose playfield has become a computer-driven screen, with real buttons. French-market prices range from €700 used to €9,990 including VAT for a new premium model. Choose by screen, graphics card, tables and warranty. Judge the rest with your hands on the buttons.
Thirty seconds of play is enough to understand a pincab. Try a Bump