Game Boy Advance
It's from 2001, before you were born.
- Maker
- Nintendo
- Type
- Handheld
- Debuted
- 2001
- Note
- 16-bit-class power; the 2003 SP finally added a front-light
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About
As of 2026, it's 25 years old.
The Game Boy Advance crammed roughly Super Nintendo–grade power into your palm, opening the floodgates for ports and originals alike. The one universal gripe: the original's screen was unlit, best enjoyed under a desk lamp or a clip-on light.
Nintendo answered in 2003 with the clamshell SP, which added a front-light (and later a backlight) plus a rechargeable battery — the redesign everyone had been begging for. The GBA went on to sell over 80 million units.
Sixteen-bit glory in your pocket — once Nintendo remembered to turn the lights on.
Game Boy Advance through the years
Launch
Brings SNES-class power to a horizontal handheld — sadly unlit.
SP redesign
Clamshell, front-light, and rechargeable battery fix the big complaint.
