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Game Boy Advance SP- Flame
- Sleek red handheld gaming machine
- Optional backlighting allows gaming anywhere, any time
- Clamshell design protects from scratches
- Power adapter charges batteries as you play
- Easy to hook up with other gamers using connect cable
The Editors Desk:
Many decried the original Game Boy Advance's reflective LCD screen and its reliance on external light sources. The Game Boy Advance SP's main feature--optional backlighting--fixes this complaint nicely, but it's the wealth of other features that makes this system so surprisingly good. At first look, you might think the SP is a sleek travel alarm clock. When closed, it's just as tall and deep as the original GBA, but only half as wide. Due to its clamshell design, the screen is always protected from everyday scratches. A small button in the center of the console turns on the backlighting element for use in low-light situations, like in a moving car.  The SP comes with a well-designed power adapter that recharges a built-in battery; its prongs fold in for easier storage. Our informal tests found that it takes about four hours to fully charge (you can even play it while it's plugged in and charging), and the battery lasts about 11 hours with the backlighting constantly on--your results may vary. Using the backlighting less often will conserve battery power.  | | With separately sold cables, you can connect the Game Boy Advance SP to other GBAs for multiplayer gaming (above) or to the Nintendo GameCube (below) to access secret levels, exchange data, or use other special features that vary from game to game. |  | The quality of the backlighting is very good. It's bright and clear when looking directly at it, but degraded from other angles. This is only a problem for friends who are watching the screen from over your shoulder. But size, power, and affordability do not come without trade offs. There's no headphone jack here, though Nintendo promises an adapter. The system isn't very loud at its highest volume, and the sound can be turned down to socially acceptable levels. The L and R shoulder buttons are a fraction of the size they were on the GBA, and thus are harder to hit. Also, the reduced size of the SP is slightly less comfortable for adult hands than the GBA, but perhaps more comfortable for smaller hands. 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. Open it up and the hinge will seek out a preferred, pre-set angle (about 150 degrees), though you can open it a bit wider or narrower for your own comfort. The hinge stands up well to lateral pressure, and over all, the SP seems just as rugged as its predecessor--which has proven to be very rugged, indeed. --Porter B. Hall Unit Specifications - CPU: 32-Bit ARM with embedded memory
- Memory: 32 KB with 96 KB VRAM (in CPU), 256 KB WRAM (external of CPU)
- Screen: 2.9-inch reflective TFT color LCD
- Display Size: 1.6 by 2.4 inches (40.8 by 61.2 mm)
- Resolution: 240 x 160 pixels in a wide-screen aspect ratio
- Colors: 511 simultaneous colors from a palette of 32,768
- Software: Fully compatible with Game Boy and Game Boy Color game paks
- Light Source: Front light integrated with LCD
- Size (closed): 3.3 by 3.23 by .96 inch
- Weight: Approximately 5 ounces
- Power Supply: Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
- Battery Life: 10 hours continuous play with light on; 18 hours with light off; 3 hours recharging
Avg. Customer Review: 
The battery really isnt an issue
Just for everyones knowledge, the battery CAN be replaced. Theres a flap on the back with a screw. If you unscrew it the flap opens and you have a rechargable battery (600 mah Lithium Ion). It is very easiy to take it out and put it back in. You can purchase replacement batteries at stores such as GameStop for 5 dollars. So don't worry about it dying in the long run, because its very easy to replace (and cheap). Also you can buy another battery if your paranoid it will run out on you while your travling. This most likely will never happen, because after around 15 hours of gameboy you'll be tired of it anyways. (15 hours because you probally wont have the light on all the time). And just for the record, the gameboy advance sp is worth the money (can't get enough of that 4-player mario bros battle!).Brian out.
Gameboy Advance SP.......Flame colored......
First off, let me mention..this is my favorite color out of them all. That being said,I think the Gameboy Advance SP is a great handheld videogame console. The things that I love most about it are the clamshell design, the backlighting(so you can see your games now) and the built-in lithium-ion battery(all you have to do is charge it up and you're ready to go). All these things combined make this one sleek system. One that will continue to dominate even when everyone else comes out with their handheld systems. Why? Lots of reasons. Like the fact that it's alot more affordable to get and the games for it don't cost you an arm and a leg(mostly in the $25 to $35 range depending on what games you get for it). Beyond that, there's a huge library of games for it as well as a huge back library of games(from the original GB up to the GBC). That said, I urge all those who's thought about getting one to get one. You'll be glad you did, trust me. It's more than just a handheld SuperNintendo system. Check it out and you'll see what I mean.
gameboy advance sp
this is worth all the money for long trips and just playing at home
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