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?​

 

[Foxi4]

I think I found the best one!

300 IQ build.

 

[Stealphie]

why not use a ds or ds lite? lol its the same thing button on lower to the side compared to the top screen

The DS can't play GB and GBC games, can it?

 

[godreborn]

The DS can't play GB and GBC games, can it?

iirc, it can't.

 

[Kioku]

I think I found the best one!

I saw that vid. I'd buy one. My only issue is the screen overhangs when folded just a bit.

 

[playstays_shun]

I think I found the best one!

its hideously... cool

So I got a grip for my SP, and I really like it but I *still* think I prefer my modded AGB with 101 screen. something about the design just keeps resonating with me

and Im always tempted to be on the lookout for a cheap micro, but cheap micros dont exist and I'm afraid I'll levitate back towards my AGB

 

[The Real Jdbye]

its hideously... cool

So I got a grip for my SP, and I really like it but I *still* think I prefer my modded AGB with 101 screen. something about the design just keeps resonating with me

and Im always tempted to be on the lookout for a cheap micro, but cheap micros dont exist and I'm afraid I'll levitate back towards my AGB

The micro is cool just for the portability and the super sharp screen, but it really isn't the most practical, it's way too small and not designed for adult hands. I used to want one, but I realized the AGB is a much better form factor, it's perfect in terms of comfort.

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

The micro is cool just for the portability and the super sharp screen, but it really isn't the most practical, it's way too small and not designed for adult hands. I used to want one, but I realized the AGB is a much better form factor, it's perfect in terms of comfort.

 

[pedro702]

The DS can't play GB and GBC games, can it?

afaik there is a gbc emulator for gba so if you buy an gba advance flashcard you can just insert the emulator ans rooms into it , but yeah no physical original cartridges gb/gbc games can be played but you can with an R4/gba flashcard.

 

[MikaDubbz]

why not use a ds or ds lite? lol its the same thing button on lower to the side compared to the top screen

Well then you can't play GB and GBC games with a DS or DSlite, nor can you link up for multiplayer or connect to the Gamecube for games that made use of that feature. There are genuine good reasons why that looks appealing and practical.

 

[HarveyHouston]

I think I found the best one!

That's an incredible mod. He didn't even divert too much from OEM parts!

 

[MikaDubbz]

That's an incredible mod. He didn't even divert too much from OEM parts!

It's a great mod, but it should definitely now get an lithium ion battery mod. And, it'd be really cool if there is extra space in the back now to store a usb charging cable.

 

[AkikoKumagara]

why not use a ds or ds lite? lol its the same thing button on lower to the side compared to the top screen

Completely different feel in the hands than the AGB-001.

 

[Retinal_FAILURE]

why not use a ds or ds lite? lol its the same thing button on lower to the side compared to the top screen

They don't have any native gb or gbc support, but with Goomba it ain't bad.

 

[pedro702]

They don't have any native gb or gbc support, but with Goomba it ain't bad.

gomba or just a random gbc emulator on an r4 and more on dslite is the way to go imo, the only thing you miss is link cable and gc-gba connection, and the titles that use things like this that people would use nowadays is a very small thing.

 

[playstays_shun]

I wouldn't want it to be my only GBA console, but I just got a Micro and dang Is it awesome imo

stealth and HD mode , GBA lol

 

[playstays_shun]

Can we revive this thread? I love this discussion so much

it needs more pages haha

 

[Jayro]

I love the original AGB-001, but with the IPS mod in it. I'm also quite fond of the new Boxypixel non-folding SP shell with IPS mod. I'm gonna have to build me one of those one day.

I wouldn't want it to be my only GBA console, but I just got a Micro and dang Is it awesome imo

stealth and HD mode , GBA lol

The only thing I didn't like about the micro (at least the one I had) was the colors seemed very washed-out, and the battery life at full brightness was trash.

 

[playstays_shun]

I love the original AGB-001, but with the IPS mod in it. I'm also quite fond of the new Boxypixel non-folding SP shell with IPS mod. I'm gonna have to build me one of those one day.


The only thing I didn't like about the micro (at least the one I had) was the colors seemed very washed-out, and the battery life at full brightness was reash

ill have to look up boxy pixel mod, that sounds interesting !

Have you tried micro with a fresh battery and looked at a few units' screens?

the black levels aren't as good as the AGS-101 but no smearing, and imo the higher ppi since the low res is on a smaller screen, make it superior. I feel like I've seen some screens with washed out colors though in pictures, but the one I picked up looks like a gem

Just like how I think some AGS-101 have runny horizontal lines, whereas its not the case for all - certainly not my AGB-001 with modded 101 screen or my stock AGS-101 SP

Also, my micro battery was horrendous with the OEM one it was very depleted. But getting a fresh one from retro modding worked miracles

AA's with AGB-001 is still going to be longer, or a fresh SP battery, but it's not horrible. Then again I usually use half brightness to err on the side of caution

Though rechargeable integrated batteries have their place, and are a thing we are just used to with electronics, I personally love using rechargeable swappable AA's with the AGB. It's a relic of a thing from the past, and if I bring a few sets I have infinite battery life on the go, vs. must find a wall outlet between cycles

 

[Jayro]

ill have to look up boxy pixel mod, that sounds interesting !

Have you tried micro with a fresh battery and looked at a few units' screens?

the black levels aren't as good as the AGS-101 but no smearing, and imo the higher ppi since the low res is on a smaller screen, make it superior. I feel like I've seen some screens with washed out colors though in pictures, but the one I picked up looks like a gem

Just like how I think some AGS-101 have runny horizontal lines, whereas its not the case for all - certainly not my AGB-001 with modded 101 screen or my stock AGS-101 SP

Also, my micro battery was horrendous with the OEM one it was very depleted. But getting a fresh one from retro modding worked miracles

AA's with AGB-001 is still going to be longer, or a fresh SP battery, but it's not horrible. Then again I usually use half brightness to err on the side of caution

Though rechargeable integrated batteries have their place, and are a thing we are just used to with electronics, I personally love using rechargeable swappable AA's with the AGB. It's a relic of a thing from the past, and if I bring a few sets I have infinite battery life on the go, vs. must find a wall outlet between cycles

My AGS-001 (frontlit SP) has really bad horizontal lines on it, not sure if it's the back light's fault or just the LCD, but it's noticable enough to be annoying. And no, I haven't compared my micro I had to anyone else's, I got it brand new on a black friday sale for $50 back in 2007 or 2008, I forget which. But the colors not being vibrant was kind of a letdown, except GBC games looked great on it using Goomba Color and an EZ-Flash III.

Another thing that bothers me is hop "poppy" the colors are on Gameboy emulators and IPS screens, compared to the original GBC.

Original games had nice natural-looking color like this, and looked really good:

But emulators and IPS screen mods have the colors looking really poppy and are a bit jarring:

I guess it all boils down to preference, but Links Awakening DX as shown here shouldn't have it's colors blown out like that.

 

[playstays_shun]

I too prefer the authentic feel of 101

it’s why I opted for it over an IPS modded 001

but I would be lying if I didn’t say it would be nice to have an IPS GBA in the collection at some point

I think you nailed it though. It has an emulated look