Nintendo Blue SP Console (GBA)

Many decried the original GBA's reflective LCD screen and its reliance on external light sources. The Game Boy Advance SP's main feature--optional built-in lighting--fixes this complaint nicely. The quality of the backlighting is very good; it's bright and clear when looking directly at the screen, though less so from other angles.

The SP comes with a power adapter that recharges a built-in lithium battery; our informal tests found that it takes about four hours to fully charge (you can play it while it's plugged in and charging), and the battery lasts about 11 hours with the backlighting constantly on. Using the backlighting less often will conserve battery power.

Size, power, and affordability don't come without trade offs, though. There's no headphone jack here--you'll need a separately sold adapter--and the system isn't very loud at its highest volume. The L and R shoulder buttons are a fraction of the size they were on the GBA, and thus are harder to hit, and the reduced size of the SP is slightly less comfortable for adult hands than the GBA. The cartridge port placement on the lower part of the console is fine for GBA games, since they are flush with the console body, but older Game Boy Color carts will stick out in a way that takes some getting used to.

Overall, the SP is a significant improvement on, and seems just as rugged as, its predecessor--which has proven to be very rugged indeed. --Porter B Hall

I would also like to add that amazon's service was excellent and the product came a day early. Fantastic!


simply the best   March 25, 2004
G. Hughes (UK)
9 out of 10 found this review helpful

The GBA SP has to be the best out of all the previous gameboys.
One thing i noticed seemed to be happening as new GBs came out was that the build quality was going down, fast.
The original "brick" was about as invincible as you get, it felt as if you could drop it out a high window onto solid concrete and still pick it up, and start playing again.
Whereas the GBA (original) was so delicate, my sister who has one broke the part where the battery cover attaches just by attaching a battery pack to it, not even forcefully.
But now nintendo seem to have fixed this and the GBA SP seems so much more durable, despite the fact that it has a hinge on it.
Also, the much appreciated backlight makes it much better to see you play most of the time (especially in the dark).


The Best Game Boy Ever   March 7, 2004
Peter Mc Gowan (Northern Ireland)
13 out of 14 found this review helpful

This is a brill upgrade from the GBA because of 3 main differences:

1) The back light. This is a really good feature because in the previous ones there has been no light and you always have to go around to the nearest light,and in my opinion this is the best fearure. The only drawback of this is if you have the screen tilted in 90 degree angle then it will be too bright. Another good thing about this is the way it makes games slightly brighter and easier to play.

2)The flip screen. This is another good thing about the GBA SP it protects the screen from getting scratched. It also makes it pocket size which is even better than the GBA.

3) The built in battery pack. this makes it far better than the GBA because your not loosing the back or nedding fresh batterys. The battery lasts about 11-12 hours with the light on and 15-16 with it of (when fully charged).
All in all this is a great buy and I would recomend any one who is intrested to buy it.


BEST GAMEBOY EVER!!!!!   August 9, 2003
20 out of 20 found this review helpful

I have owned before a GB Color and a GB Advance, but they both had the same old problem: light. It was a major problem. The GBA SP solves that with a BACK SCREEN LIGHT!!! It also solves a minor problem : battery life. The new (for gameboys, that is)built-in rechargable battery. For the first time you charge it it will take 10 hours. But after that: 3!!! And for 18 hours of play with the light off, and 10 with it on!It also has a flip-top screen-very useful for carrying around in my pocket! I swapped BOTH my GBs AND tons of accesories AND two months pocket money for it at a store called GAME in Bluewater for it, but it was well worth it!! BUY IT NOW!!!!!