Launching all the way back in 2001, the Game Boy Advance was the first radical redesign in the Game Boy line of systems with its move to a horizontal layout. Throughout its nearly 10 year lifespan we also saw multiple redesigns and revisions of the hardware.

It infamously launched with a non-backlit screen meaning it was notorious for being difficult to play in low light situations. This was remedied by third party add-ons, most famously the Afterburner and was later addressed by Nintendo with the launch of the Game Boy Advance SP which featured a front-lit display.

It was also of course the system that made GBAtemp possible and the reason we're here today thanks to a boom in piracy when an abundance of affordable and easy-to-use flash carts flooded the markets.

The GBA saw three major hardware revisions with the original, the SP and the Micro.

The Original Game Boy Advance

The original GBA launched on March 21 2001 in Japan and has sold over 81 million units to date. It's radical redesign in form factor sported a horizontal layout, shoulder buttons and 240×160px TFT LCD.

Games shipped on game paks that were roughly half the height of the original Game Boy cartridges and could hold up to 32MB of data (with Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories shipping on this size cartridge).

Game Boy Advance SP

The Game Boy Advance launched in 2003 and saw yet another change to the form factor of the handheld. It featured a clam shell design which enabled the screen to be protected when not in use, more importantly, the display featured a front-lit panel which enabled play in any lighting condition.

In terms of specs the system stayed the same but Nintendo added a rechargeable lithium ion battery and opted to remove the headphone jack (showing courage 13 years before Apple). They sold a separate adaptor for 3.5mm headphones that plugged into the multipurpose charging port. This also meant you couldn't charge the system and use headphones at the same time.

In late 2005 Nintendo released a revised version of the GBA SP (AGS-101) of which the major difference was the addition of a proper backlit and much brighter screen.

Game Boy Advance Micro

In 2005 Nintendo released the final GBA redesign in the form of the Game Boy Advance Micro. A miniature version of the system barely any bigger than the game paks themselves. Weighing in at just 80g the system sported a rechargeable battery and backlit display.

The screen was of course much smaller though it retained pixel resolution meaning games didn't look squashed or distorted. Interestingly enough for the size it also saw the return of the headphone jack and also featured removable, customisable face plates. Though it did lose backwards compatibility with legacy Game Boy cartridges.

What was your preferred model of the Game Boy Advance?​

 

[BraveDragonWolf]

I remember playing the original model and I liked the way it felt, I personally prefer that. I still have my SP model but accidentally threw out my charger one day lol. I still have my games but I don't play it because I have the emulator on Wii. But even though the original model didn't have a built in light...

 

[Deleted User]

An original GBA always. Especially if it has a backlit screen installed to it.

The SP and Micro are just way to small for me to hold and are uncomfortable for more than a few min

 

[DbGt]

Sp of course, there is no other choice

 

[Scarlet]

Is mine real ? I cant find this color online

It's a really pale blue isn't it? iirc that was one of the two available 101 models in Europe? I had one like it, it's fine.

Anyways, my favourite is definitely an original model with a 101 screen fitted, they're lush. That being said, design wise this little thing takes it. Always wanted those player two face plates from the old Club Nintendo but they're so expensive.

Spoiler: Hot Console

 

[gamesquest1]

people shit talking the micro obviously have very poor taste (or more likely just saw picture, read specs and had the natural ewwww reaction),but it's actually an awesome little device, picture quality is great and is small enough to stick in a pocket without getting funny looks from women as you walk down the street

only downfall is the lack of original GB support, but with a flashcard you can simply emulate them

tbf when I first saw them I was like "who the fuck would want that, its terrible" but when I picked one up at a bargain price it actually was much better than I had thought it would be, to the point I would argue it's probably the best handheld for portability while retaining usability

 

[m_babble]

The SP was a near flawless handheld.

 

[porkiewpyne]

I am torn between the original GBA and the SP. Right now, with all the mods available, I'd say the former. If we were to compare the stock/vanilla ones, I'll favour the latter. The portability, the frontlit/backlit screen, rechargeable battery were too good to give up.

Can't quite say much about the micro since I never actually had much experience with that particular revision. Seems a wee bit too tiny for my liking.

 

[MohammedQ8]

It's a really pale blue isn't it? iirc that was one of the two available 101 models in Europe? I had one like it, it's fine.

Anyways, my favourite is definitely an original model with a 101 screen fitted, they're lush. That being said, design wise this little thing takes it. Always wanted those player two face plates from the old Club Nintendo but they're so expensive.

Spoiler: Hot Console

No pale green or oily like olive oil hehe

 

[gamesquest1]

I am torn between the original GBA and the SP. Right now, with all the mods available, I'd say the former. If we were to compare the stock/vanilla ones, I'll favour the latter. The portability, the frontlit/backlit screen, rechargeable battery were too good to give up.

Can't quite say much about the micro since I never actually had much experience with that particular revision. Seems a wee bit too tiny for my liking.

yeah I think it depends on what you want it for and probably hand size might ruin it if you have fairly large hands, if you want to play gba games specifically probably a back lit modded AGS-001 has the best form factor, but for a little device you can stick in the glove box or bottom of a bag the micro is barely noticable so it doesn't get in the way, and for me that's pretty nifty for times your left sitting in a carpark waiting for someone to come out or something

 

[Youkai]

Original GBA, one of the best handheld ever made.

 

[rvtr]

I began playing GBA games with the SP, and playing them on anything else feels strange.

 

[Alree]

Original one (but with IPS mod or at least Screen Backlight mod)

 

[Foxi4]

OG all day. Its only downside is the non-backlit screen, but these days this can be easily remedied with aftermarket solutions or scavenged SP screens. The SP itself is a tad too small for me, I was blessed with hands like loaves of bread. The Micro is nice, but more in the sense of being a trophy system due to its limited production run. A very cool mini gadget, but not a usable console.

 

[duwen]

Best option; the original AGB-001 with a 'modern' backlit (AGS-101 equivalent or better) screen, audio amp mod, rechargable battery mod.

I fully intend to either obtain a modded AGB-001 or do the mods myself to the one I picked up on launch.

...but I'm more likely to play my GB/GBC/GBA carts on my GC's Gameboy Player these days.

 

[Coto]

The Gameboy micro is one of the worst videogame consoles Nintendo has ever made. Is not the worst just because the Virtual Boy existed.

I agree, it's like having a 1DS with three pixels

 

[playstays_shun]

Just got an AGB001 with AGS101 In it

retro tastic. Had an unmodded agb001 back in the day but never dove too deep in GBA library I think because of lack of backlight

—

Got an SP AGS101 graphite on the way too! Never owned an SP so I’m excited to give it a proper Run down.

 

[Localhorst86]

Original AGB model with a backlit screen.

 

[Coaleb]

I love my micros for the face they fit in any device. Though my go to is the gba modded with an ips display. That screen makes gba games look amazing. Hands down worth the price to get one

 

[AmandaRose]

I own all 3 models of the GBA but always end up playing GBA games on my original DS

 

[Deleted User]

GbaSP Brighter, obviously
Perfect shape and size, sturdy, the only one with a good screen ( at the cost of the earphone jack, but it's worth it )
Beats playing them on the DS.

I had that and the first model, in which I had to remove the plastic cover of the screen to be able to see the game