#Which gameboy has a brighter screen full#
#Which gameboy has a brighter screen portable#
#Which gameboy has a brighter screen free#

The original model doesn't have an illuminated screen Nintendo addressed that with the release of a redesigned model with a frontlit screen, the Game Boy Advance SP, in 2003. The GBA is part of the sixth generation of video game consoles. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001, in North America on June 11, 2001, in the PAL region on June 22, 2001, and in mainland China as iQue Game Boy Advance on June 8, 2004. For $50 more, the equally bright system will play almost all of the SP/Micro-compatible Game Boy games, as well as a growing list of newer, DS-only titles that make use of its unique dual-screen design.The Game Boy Advance ( GBA) is a 32-bit handheld game console developed, manufactured and marketed by Nintendo as the successor to the Game Boy Color. However, it's the DS Lite that will tempt potential SP buyers. The Micro costs $10 to $20 more and delivers an even more pocket-friendly form factor-but we'd opt for the larger screen of the SP. Setting aside the much more expensive Sony PSP, the SP faces strong competition from its Nintendo brethren, the Game Boy Micro and the DS, both of which can play the same games as the GBA SP.

#Which gameboy has a brighter screen portable#

But the SP is no longer the only portable gaming deck in town. Minor nuisances notwithstanding, the brighter Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP remains a great little gaming system-especially for kids, for whom it will no doubt provide hours of Pokemon- and Dragon Ball Z-fueled delight. The tiny shoulder buttons are a little small and a bit awkward to use, and most annoying, the GBA SP still requires an adapter (such as this $10 Nintendo version) to use headphones. Unfortunately, the new SP also has the exact same problems as its predecessor. But the better experience delivered by the brighter screen is well worth the trade-off of the reduced time between charges.

#Which gameboy has a brighter screen full#

In our tests, the new SP lasted roughly 8 hours at full brightness, compared to the 10 hours of play we got from an older SP. And the SP retains the expansion port and compatibility with all the accessories of its predecessor, including link cables and wireless adapters for head-to-head play in certain games.Īs expected, the brighter screen sucks down the juice from the rechargeable-and replaceable-lithium-ion battery a bit faster. The controls are simple-a cross-shape directional pad, two shoulder buttons, two face buttons, and a start and select key-and generally comfortable to use.

#Which gameboy has a brighter screen free#

Its clamshell design and its light 5.6-ounce bulk makes it easy to pocket and transport while keeping the screen free from scratches. That's a smart move because the SP, first released in 2003, is still widely considered to be the pinnacle of Game Boy design. Thankfully, the SP's hinged design lets you adjust to the correct angle for any vantage point.Īside from the improved LCD screen and its updated choice of colors, the new Nintendo GBA SP is identical to its predecessor. The screen's horizontal viewing angle is pretty wide, but the vertical viewing angle is much narrower and tends to darken or blow out easily when your view is too high or too low. The former setting is useful in dark areas or to conserve battery power, while the latter is best for playing where there's plenty of ambient lighting. A tiny button toggles the screen between normal and high brightness. The new screen is a vast improvement over that of the original SP-it's brighter than the DS's and the Game Boy Micro's, and it's clearly visible in just about any condition except direct sunlight. The improved SPs are available in Graphite, Pearl Blue, and Pink and retail for $80. And Nintendo's even upgraded the venerable GBA SP by adding a much brighter screen. It introduced the Game Boy Micro and the DS Lite to offer smaller, slicker alternatives to the SP and the original DS, respectively.

The company created the Game Boy Advance SP to replace the backlightless Game Boy Advance.

Nintendo just can't leave its handhelds alone.