I still feel it's the best Gameboy ever.... the light, the size of the screen, the recharging, the fact that it closed so I could put it in my pocket and not damage the buttons....
I've had several and had one or two last YEARS. hands down my favorite handheld. I just did a unhinged mod for one and love it but still miss the flip. Going to re shell and ips another good board I own with a bigger battery to keep one that still has the satisfying flip. They are a NIGHTMARE to work on though. That hinge combined with the paper thin ribbon display cable makes it so easy to ruin your display lol
Yeah....the color and advanced need screen protectors....casings on the outside to protect the shell....the only annoying thing about the so is certain mods usually stay out of stock a lot longer then the color or advanced (like the retroglow button mod for so)
The GBA SP is easily the best Gameboy imo. The compact size is great, screen size is the same size as the original GBA without any of the unnecessary bulk. Not to mention that the buttons feel significantly better than the original GBA. Feels great in the hands too imo.
I love how factual you are about not spraying screens, but you're using a paper towel to clean it. (Paper towels can scratch screens, especially plastic ones, ita better to use a flat cotton swab, a microfiber, or a shammy)
I've recently worked on 3 GBA SP consoles and I honestly don't see the problem. These are very minor complaints and you shouldn't drench any electronics in IPA... That is not recommended at all. Toothbrush, qtip are good. But they're very simple to work on for me. I think you just need to work on them more imo
The SP is the least comfortable Gameboy I own for long use (the micro even feels better), but because the clamshell design protects the screen it's also the one that I use outside my house the most, especially when travelling.
I literally can play pokemon with one hand while I'm kicked back relaxing and if I want to play 2 hands I just hold with with my fingers kinda weaved together.
"We don't know if it's reading cartridges" I mean maybe you could just wait for the gameboy advance screen to go away and try to hear the game sound but I am not experienced with these
My favorite GameBoyAdvance is the classic. It has a better grip, big L and R buttons, directional pads and softer action buttons. headphone jack...It just doesn't have a good screen. But even using batteries these days is better. Because every SP I got used has a bad battery. If you get a GBA with a backlit screen, it becomes the ultimate Gameboy
You can still pretty easily replace the SP battery if it dies though. Yeah it's not as commonplace as AAs but that's not a big deal when you'll not need to replace it for years, maybe decades.
I love the sp. imo it’s the best console ever. It’s compact, yet still large enough to be comfortable, and I love the era of games on it. I also just re-shelled my sp, and found it surprisingly easy. Sure it took a bit of time, but it was straightforward and I didn’t break anything despite having no experience doing it before, and only referring to a guide once. I also have large pockets, but I like knowing that nothing in my pocket will scratch my gameboy’s screen.
I like the SP a lot and am looking into modding my old one so it was really useful to hear about some of the challenges, especially the button switch issues which I'd never heard before
Just messed up 2 of my D-pad tactile buttons because I used alcohol and a toothbrush. Worked fine before, until I attempted to clean it. My own ignorance cost me my childhood SP. New buttons are on the way to hopefully remedy this. I hope no one else makes the same mistake I did.
After soaking the board in IPA, let it air dry and then put it on a hot table, hot enough to dry out the board but not hot enough to desolder. Never had a problem.
I just watched your How to Upgrade your GBA SP video and came here right after. I never owned a GBA (of any kind) as a kid and just bought one to refurbish along with some parts, so when I watched that vid and saw you mention this one I was like... "oh no, was this a mistake?" Glad I ended up watching this to clear things up because it seems like most of your complaints come from the standpoint of someone who does a lot of modding. I don't have a problem screwing 11+ screws of all different kinds, or potentially having to replace some button switches, since I'm not liable to do it that often. Your upgrade video is the best one I've seen on so far because it clearly goes over every step of the process and makes specific mention of everything you need to be careful of, so knowing your main complaints are about the process of taking things apart and not the viability of the system itself, I feel a lot more confident in starting my project. Also wow I had no idea people were that confused about how to use IPA. I thought spot cleaning was just common sense??? Would have appreciated you mentioning in the SP Upgrade video what you ARE supposed to do because it made it sound like you shouldn't use IPA at all. I hadn't even considered soaking the whole board so was very confused. But anyway clearly not everyone knows that so hopefully your info saves a life lmao
The SP was and is the best Gameboy period. Sure, the clamshell design is a point of failure, but only if cack handedly used, while offering protection to the screen and buttons the standard GBA and Micro don't have. Combined wirh the improved screen, rechargeable battery and greater portability, it's simply a better device all round.
I ordered one of those IPS SP systems from Etsy. Worked for a full year but now won't charge and everything worked fine til then. Sucks too cuz I use the SP for reviewing games on TH-cam
As someone who has never touched a solder or let alone replaced a shell on my gameboys prior to doing it. It's really not that hard to do anything that doesn't involve de soldering. Everything else is easy peasy. De soldering is an art form so I'd recommend learning the skill before doing it to your gameboy
Desoldering surface mount components especially is terrible. I do occasional soldering and desoldering for my work, and the desoldering literally takes me 60-80% of the time of the total repair, sometimes more if I have to make sure I don't damage the components I'm removing...
I have to say, after attempting a New 3DS XL top screen replacement, the SP seems like a kids toy to disassemble. The New 3DS XL is a literal hell to work with. It made me go nuts. Hopefully I can finally get one working this year lol.
Love the SP and it's still my daily use, my only issues working on them is the ribbon cable. However, the original gba imo is the most comfortable while playing
I only just got into gameboy modding a couple weeks back as a friend of mine had a couple and didnt need 2 so i got it pretty cheap, and wanted to install a better screen, now ive fallen down this rabbit hole. From someone coming in with no knowledge, it was pretty easy to work on. Hardest thing was plugging the screen ribbon into the board when reassembling. Other than that it was a breeze, especially compared to modern tech. Most of the things that are covered here i feel are nitpicks. I agree with you on the buttons, sucks you cant work on them really, but other than that i see all of this as a non issue. I grew up with it, and even unbiased i see it as my favorite portable console nintendo made before the switch. Great piece of tech, especially for its time.
@@JakeSimmons Yep. Thankfully, I figured out the Bic Round Stic trick when the SP was still in stores but even today I see so many people forcing them out without opening to the detent position. There are more videos out there telling people the wrong way than there are videos telling them the right way. It’s obvious from the way you installed them in this video that you know how they work: All the grooves and tabs only align for the hinges to go in/out when the screen is open to a specific position (the one where you normally feel a self-supporting detent).
I am a fairly large guy and I play on PC with a full sized 104 key keyboard comfortably. And I've got zero issue with the size of the GBC or the SP. I don't really know what the problem is.
Yea idk either - I have smaller hands so maybe it’s better for me but the SP is extremely comfortable for me. Waiting on my everdrive and new IPS screen before I dive into modding my OG 001 version.
is a matter of preferences....i have two GBASP 001 and three 101, all are working well, and aside few scratches outside, their in good condition. The only thing i did for all was to clean the contacts with tech alcohol. I love GBA SP, but i do not use them too much for gaming...i have them mostly for chiptune music...Nanoloop/ LSDJ. Just for me, i am an amator...is my fun for free time to mess with old style games sound music chiptune. The only thing is need badly are those adapters charge/audio jack 2in1...
Hinges are always a problem because of the mechanical wear and tear of cables. It is still the best design regarding compact size and protection because the buttons and display are inside. Like a clam-shell phone (or flip-phone)
Nice that i get to know not to use ipa on the switches right after I did exactly that today and guess what... multiple switches are now failing to operate
MY biggest and only issue with the sp is the rechargable battery. THEY ARE SO ANNOYING For ONE REASON. It is insanly hard to find a good condition replacment bettery for one that is actually the correct power. And not only that but if you are getting a gba sp nowadays with no replaced parts its likely that the battery is fully dead and you need to go through a insane hassle to get a new one with the same POWER. It does not make mine any better because the screw is all chewed up. i personally perfer non rechargable batterys for gameboys.
I’m about to mod my SP and it was extremely easy for me to find a 900 mah replacement battery. Cost me like 7 bucks and arrived in 5 days (USA shipping). You’re entitled to your own opinion, but not having a rechargeable battery would drive me nuts. Replacing the battery is one screw….. sounds like just bc your screw is fried is more of a you problem vs the majority of folks doing the same replacement.
These are my favorite becuse of the compactness and simplicity... not stupid.. for a, "repair beginner" these are simple to fix.. if your gentle, as you should be, they shouldnt have a whole lot to break. I've never broken anything on these and usually they have the easiest fixes. I've broken more playstation shells than I have on anything else. Not writing a nasty comment, I did hate how you kept calling them stupid lol. However, this was your opinion and im sharing mine! It was a great video.
The hinges and tge little peice that covers the screen wire. Are hell pure hell. I had to hammer the hinges in. Still sticking out. And the little cover would not screw on. It's still sticking out. Hate these things.
Thanks for keeping it real! If you are going to buy an Oem gameboy, get a SP. If you are going to get a modded gameboy get a regular gba. If you specifically want to play gba and dont care for gb and gbc get a ds lite/macro. Sp- backward compatible w/ backlit screen. Also rechargeable. Clam shell. Gba- most comfortable. Battery powered. Easy to modify. Backward compatible. DS Lite- plays ds games and gba. Rechargable battery. Clam shell. Ergonomic. Backlit screen. Emulation capabilities. All gameboys are great. it just depends on what you need. Everyone needs every type of gameboy.
What do you mean 10 screws that's alot though ._. to get to GBC display - 6 outside, 3 inside = 9. GB Classic? 6 outside, about 10 inside = 16. The SP is actually generous.
I now understand your hatred. Im literally in the middle of putting my first custom sp together and the hinges dont go in absolutely no matter what i do. No idea which ones left and right, no idea how to line anything up, nothing on the internet shows a definitive fix other than everybody but me gets it right on the first try. Im at my whits end to say the least and now dont even wanna see if my ips screen and 101 motherboard even work or not cuz the hinges are enough of a heartbreak right now after spendin like 160 or close to it on everything
Nope these things don't suck. I own 2 and they still work perfectly. Parts are readily available to fix or replace any part or even mod and upgrade. Lazy people who don't pay attention are always the first to complain. I know because I know a few people who manage to break every single thing in a matter of months, because they care zero for their stuff, it's unbelievable.
Got to laugh about how you complained about this console and that snapped SP gaslighted the hell out of you.. 🤣 "the screen won't work" 💻 Plugs it into board whilst completely disassembled, Guess again Buttons won't work 🎮 Guess again, we will work flawlessly. "Hinges wont go in and they'll often break it if they don't go in" 🚪 Guess again, those hinges will go in perfect.. I remember playing zombies on a rare dualshock controller and I played a game that lasted 11 hours and it worked flawlessly, took it to Cex next morning because it was part of a collection I bought cheap and did all the potentiometers on them, they said "sorry this controller has major stick drift in both sticks, we couldnt even get it past the testing stage it was that bad" I take that controller home and play GTA for 7 hours and win 3 1V1 matches, two games of slasher, completed a heist (platinum award) 15:47 won the podium car, won the track meet prize ride and sold 3 loads of cargo crates.. controller worked spot on even when I typically used snipers which on a large screen, drift is so visible.. (my projector was set up to run an 85in display on full 1080p HD so my entire bedroom wall is the screen) technology is the most judgemental thing ever.. Winds me up when i also try to find the fault and it almost masks it from you til someone else has a look.. 🤣 then your like "i just played on this all day and it worked perfect" just to get confused looks like your either insane or a compulsive liar.. 🤣
SP is also bad because it doesn't support AA batteries. Only proprietary battery that may be difficult to find in the future. That's why I chose the original GBA.
I wouldn’t complain about screw quantity that’s just plain bitchy. You’re very good at what you do a few extra TWENTY screws shouldn’t even be a problem
For something you don't want to open up more than once to maybe get working why does it matter how many screws it has. I just did a shell swap and ips screen mod to my sp and that was easier than a DS phat shell swap and screen replacement
So they're hard to fix if you break them. So just, don't break them? I still have my SP and it works perfectly. I've had an SP run over by a car and it was fine.
Woahhh the GBA in a GB DMG body is sweeeet! I feel that's pretty much the ideal combo of form factor and functionality for me. I know the landscape format of the original GBA makes more sense ergonomically, however i do own one of those and I STILL prefer the 'portrait' layout of OG GBs or GBA SPs. I'm sure it's 95% nostalgia, but hey 🤷🏻♂️
Back when nintendo made quality almost unbreakable products, now with the switch the joycon rails fail sometimes the usb c port other times the stick drift other times the srsl board breaks in the joycons other times they dont conect, yep that gba sp is old nintendo quality thats why it works, i dont get why you hate the sp honestly i think its amazing, i respect your opinion but i dont share it, and the hinches is the best hinches nintendo has ever made in the ds and the 3ds is a million times more complex and harder to work on
Thank you for respectfully disagreeing. The biggest thing for me is the buttons failing constantly and how much harder it is to fix compared to the other models :/
An advance with a modded screen and a built in battery is so much nicer. I have both with IPS screens, upgraded battery and i always and up using my advance over my SP
BRO SAME- I’ve never liked the SP. but it was for different reasons. Mainly because I love my normal gba and am sick and tired of people constantly talking about how the SP is SOOOO much better and that you NEED a backlit screen. But his points do stand.
Backlight mods for the classic GBA is so easy, that's not even a good argument for SP's side. Also SP's are so tiny, it makes blackberry keyboards look like full mechanical ones. GBA shells also look gorgeous especially the modded ones but the SP versions look super bland.
So tldr : hinges= bad Electronics have screws, imagine that. Soaking electronics is usually a bad idea, again who knew? Proceeds to get annoyed/surprised that the gameboy still worked And last but certainly not least, he sees a moshed screen cable and DOESN'T do what most repairmen would do and replace the screen.
GBA SP is better. great screen, protective design, rechargeable battery. its not the most comfortable gba but its definitely the most convenient, i can overlook the small size, it makes it more pocketable.
Bro complains about 2 more screws, bad 3rd party shells breaking, and user error on switching the buttons. Its not the SP by any means it is your craftmanship.
I happen to love my sp I have had mine for 20 plus years and I have one of them near perfect condition it’s well cared for it’s kept in a case it’s whole life so am sorry you had a bad experience with the sp I do respect what you think about it everyone is different and will not always like the same thing so I happen like I said I love my game boy sp sadly the ds has hinge issues and not built to last long I know from experience however the sp zero problems!
The reason why the sp sucks for me is because I've gotten so used to playing on wide form factor handhelds like the DS,3DS,PSP,PS Vita,Switch & Switch Lite. I realized how cramped the Sp is & to make it even worse for the sp there's a mod that will let me have a backlit screen & the original GBA form factor so the sp is pretty much lame the original GBA was always better than the sp.
I don't have the largest hands nor the smalest but even as a kid that damn thing would make my hands and fingers hurt. But the OG GBA was amazing, but it did not have a backlit screen. So my favorite GBA is the N3DS with open_agb_firm 😂.
Do not want to sound rude, but your lack of knowledge and training for performing maintaince and repair work on the GBA-SP dose not make it bad, just means you have things to be learned ahead of you, do not worry and keeping practicing.
I have learned more and had a lot more practice since this video and while it’s a little easier working on them now, I still feel the same about it. I think that the majority of my points have nothing to do with my skill level of fixing things
You seem to have misunderstood me my bad for not being clear, you indeed do have skill, all I was trying to convey was a lack of general knowledge the teach you in electronic repair such for example keeping liquids of anykind away from smd tact switchs, and like you said it is a hobby so it understandable that you might not know it, glad to know it has become easier for you to work with them as a fellow hobbyist, and as for a few points mentioned are up to personal preference and are completely subject, and overall the GBA SP is still up there in my books.
In conclusion, they're SPcially bad to fix and maintain.
You earned the pinned comment 😂
@@JakeSimmons your opinion sucks
@@Tyc323 no u
but half of us don't fix sps so its totally irrelevent.
I thought they were easy when I've worked on them, at least relative to them DS consoles.
I still feel it's the best Gameboy ever.... the light, the size of the screen, the recharging, the fact that it closed so I could put it in my pocket and not damage the buttons....
Exactly, I don't wanna imagine the scratched I'd have on my screen if it didn't close
Yeah
I've had several and had one or two last YEARS. hands down my favorite handheld. I just did a unhinged mod for one and love it but still miss the flip. Going to re shell and ips another good board I own with a bigger battery to keep one that still has the satisfying flip. They are a NIGHTMARE to work on though. That hinge combined with the paper thin ribbon display cable makes it so easy to ruin your display lol
Exactly
Yeah....the color and advanced need screen protectors....casings on the outside to protect the shell....the only annoying thing about the so is certain mods usually stay out of stock a lot longer then the color or advanced (like the retroglow button mod for so)
The GBA SP is easily the best Gameboy imo. The compact size is great, screen size is the same size as the original GBA without any of the unnecessary bulk. Not to mention that the buttons feel significantly better than the original GBA. Feels great in the hands too imo.
Agree to disagree
that d-pad is like butter
It's just too small for an adult.
I personally prefer the springy buttons of the original GBA to the clicky buttons of SP. Same in regards to the DS Lite vs the DSi
Nah original gba is better bruh
I had my SP for years, it was perfectly fine, and I loved the thing, I even passed it on to a kid in a hospital.
The single WORST thing about the GBA SP is that there is no headphone jack.
I love how factual you are about not spraying screens, but you're using a paper towel to clean it. (Paper towels can scratch screens, especially plastic ones, ita better to use a flat cotton swab, a microfiber, or a shammy)
Yeah I was cringing when he used that harsh paper towel.
Oh my god shutup it’s not gonna scratch it
@@Sungroovethere is a reason microfibers exist
@@PizzaFreaak yeah and its not because paper towels are sandpaper lol
paper towel isn't gonna scratch up your screen
@@Sungrooveyeah, it does. Tell me you've never cleaned a console without explicitly saying such.
I've recently worked on 3 GBA SP consoles and I honestly don't see the problem. These are very minor complaints and you shouldn't drench any electronics in IPA... That is not recommended at all. Toothbrush, qtip are good. But they're very simple to work on for me. I think you just need to work on them more imo
The SP is the least comfortable Gameboy I own for long use (the micro even feels better), but because the clamshell design protects the screen it's also the one that I use outside my house the most, especially when travelling.
I literally can play pokemon with one hand while I'm kicked back relaxing and if I want to play 2 hands I just hold with with my fingers kinda weaved together.
"We don't know if it's reading cartridges" I mean maybe you could just wait for the gameboy advance screen to go away and try to hear the game sound but I am not experienced with these
but apparently I'm not the only one here lmfao
So u hate it becsuse it's hard to open and fix?
Most of us just play on them
My favorite GameBoyAdvance is the classic. It has a better grip, big L and R buttons, directional pads and softer action buttons. headphone jack...It just doesn't have a good screen. But even using batteries these days is better. Because every SP I got used has a bad battery. If you get a GBA with a backlit screen, it becomes the ultimate Gameboy
You can still pretty easily replace the SP battery if it dies though. Yeah it's not as commonplace as AAs but that's not a big deal when you'll not need to replace it for years, maybe decades.
I love how a lot of electronics repairs are just that something got unplugged internally
In my opinion, the 3DS its the most anoying handheld console to work with. Man, the part of working with the ribbons in the hinges its just a pain.
I love the sp. imo it’s the best console ever. It’s compact, yet still large enough to be comfortable, and I love the era of games on it. I also just re-shelled my sp, and found it surprisingly easy. Sure it took a bit of time, but it was straightforward and I didn’t break anything despite having no experience doing it before, and only referring to a guide once. I also have large pockets, but I like knowing that nothing in my pocket will scratch my gameboy’s screen.
Also the screen is actually usable out of the box. No more relying on outside sources of light. Even the 001’s screen is good
This video is basically 15:46 worth of whining, but as a novice modder, I can so totally relate.
*SUBBED*
LOL
I like the SP a lot and am looking into modding my old one so it was really useful to hear about some of the challenges, especially the button switch issues which I'd never heard before
"No fancy intro today"
Proceeds to play the fancy intro xD
A little heat will evaporate trapped IPA.
Just messed up 2 of my D-pad tactile buttons because I used alcohol and a toothbrush. Worked fine before, until I attempted to clean it. My own ignorance cost me my childhood SP. New buttons are on the way to hopefully remedy this. I hope no one else makes the same mistake I did.
Repaired with new ones and the dpad feels brand new. Very hard to solder these though. The solder points are small and right next to each other.
I think a lot of people missed the point of the video
After soaking the board in IPA, let it air dry and then put it on a hot table, hot enough to dry out the board but not hot enough to desolder. Never had a problem.
At first I was on the other side but hearing the explanation I understand where you're coming from - nice green Gameboy though
I just watched your How to Upgrade your GBA SP video and came here right after. I never owned a GBA (of any kind) as a kid and just bought one to refurbish along with some parts, so when I watched that vid and saw you mention this one I was like... "oh no, was this a mistake?" Glad I ended up watching this to clear things up because it seems like most of your complaints come from the standpoint of someone who does a lot of modding. I don't have a problem screwing 11+ screws of all different kinds, or potentially having to replace some button switches, since I'm not liable to do it that often. Your upgrade video is the best one I've seen on so far because it clearly goes over every step of the process and makes specific mention of everything you need to be careful of, so knowing your main complaints are about the process of taking things apart and not the viability of the system itself, I feel a lot more confident in starting my project.
Also wow I had no idea people were that confused about how to use IPA. I thought spot cleaning was just common sense??? Would have appreciated you mentioning in the SP Upgrade video what you ARE supposed to do because it made it sound like you shouldn't use IPA at all. I hadn't even considered soaking the whole board so was very confused. But anyway clearly not everyone knows that so hopefully your info saves a life lmao
7:25
Never really crossed my mind but when you put it that way it makes perfect sense
If you mod a usbc with this do you still have trade function between pokemon games ?
yes. the charger uses a different port
The SP was and is the best Gameboy period.
Sure, the clamshell design is a point of failure, but only if cack handedly used, while offering protection to the screen and buttons the standard GBA and Micro don't have.
Combined wirh the improved screen, rechargeable battery and greater portability, it's simply a better device all round.
I ordered one of those IPS SP systems from Etsy. Worked for a full year but now won't charge and everything worked fine til then. Sucks too cuz I use the SP for reviewing games on TH-cam
As someone who has never touched a solder or let alone replaced a shell on my gameboys prior to doing it. It's really not that hard to do anything that doesn't involve de soldering. Everything else is easy peasy. De soldering is an art form so I'd recommend learning the skill before doing it to your gameboy
Desoldering surface mount components especially is terrible. I do occasional soldering and desoldering for my work, and the desoldering literally takes me 60-80% of the time of the total repair, sometimes more if I have to make sure I don't damage the components I'm removing...
5:54 Is there a link for that video where you replaced those switches on the motherboard?
I pretty much agree with all points tbh, also nice shout out to the Slab 11:11 . Legit looking forward to it, I am sure it will be 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I have to say, after attempting a New 3DS XL top screen replacement, the SP seems like a kids toy to disassemble. The New 3DS XL is a literal hell to work with. It made me go nuts. Hopefully I can finally get one working this year lol.
Yeah the whole 3DS line is a pain
@@JakeSimmons The DS line is also a pain but could be worse.
I've had mine but I think either mine doesn't hold a charge and the battery is gone or there was some gunk on the inside.
Love the SP and it's still my daily use, my only issues working on them is the ribbon cable. However, the original gba imo is the most comfortable while playing
Lmao i cant believe that screen worked after you whipped it around like a pair nunchucks 😂
I only just got into gameboy modding a couple weeks back as a friend of mine had a couple and didnt need 2 so i got it pretty cheap, and wanted to install a better screen, now ive fallen down this rabbit hole. From someone coming in with no knowledge, it was pretty easy to work on. Hardest thing was plugging the screen ribbon into the board when reassembling. Other than that it was a breeze, especially compared to modern tech. Most of the things that are covered here i feel are nitpicks. I agree with you on the buttons, sucks you cant work on them really, but other than that i see all of this as a non issue. I grew up with it, and even unbiased i see it as my favorite portable console nintendo made before the switch. Great piece of tech, especially for its time.
omg the hinges are that simple?! I spent a whole hour hammering my gba sp against the walls of my room to get those suckers to fit.
They’re simple-ish if you know the tricks😂
@@JakeSimmons Yep. Thankfully, I figured out the Bic Round Stic trick when the SP was still in stores but even today I see so many people forcing them out without opening to the detent position. There are more videos out there telling people the wrong way than there are videos telling them the right way.
It’s obvious from the way you installed them in this video that you know how they work: All the grooves and tabs only align for the hinges to go in/out when the screen is open to a specific position (the one where you normally feel a self-supporting detent).
If my ribbon cable got pulled out of its placement will the hinges be broken
I am a fairly large guy and I play on PC with a full sized 104 key keyboard comfortably. And I've got zero issue with the size of the GBC or the SP. I don't really know what the problem is.
Yea idk either - I have smaller hands so maybe it’s better for me but the SP is extremely comfortable for me. Waiting on my everdrive and new IPS screen before I dive into modding my OG 001 version.
is a matter of preferences....i have two GBASP 001 and three 101, all are working well, and aside few scratches outside, their in good condition.
The only thing i did for all was to clean the contacts with tech alcohol.
I love GBA SP, but i do not use them too much for gaming...i have them mostly for chiptune music...Nanoloop/ LSDJ.
Just for me, i am an amator...is my fun for free time to mess with old style games sound music chiptune.
The only thing is need badly are those adapters charge/audio jack 2in1...
Hinges are always a problem because of the mechanical wear and tear of cables. It is still the best design regarding compact size and protection because the buttons and display are inside. Like a clam-shell phone (or flip-phone)
what rom is he using to test the buttons?
Nice that i get to know not to use ipa on the switches right after I did exactly that today and guess what... multiple switches are now failing to operate
MY biggest and only issue with the sp is the rechargable battery. THEY ARE SO ANNOYING For ONE REASON. It is insanly hard to find a good condition replacment bettery for one that is actually the correct power. And not only that but if you are getting a gba sp nowadays with no replaced parts its likely that the battery is fully dead and you need to go through a insane hassle to get a new one with the same POWER. It does not make mine any better because the screw is all chewed up. i personally perfer non rechargable batterys for gameboys.
I’m about to mod my SP and it was extremely easy for me to find a 900 mah replacement battery. Cost me like 7 bucks and arrived in 5 days (USA shipping). You’re entitled to your own opinion, but not having a rechargeable battery would drive me nuts. Replacing the battery is one screw….. sounds like just bc your screw is fried is more of a you problem vs the majority of folks doing the same replacement.
my thing with that is when you buy an SP they usually leave the dang power on and ship it causing the battery to get messed up.
Sounds like you just need to get good scrub
These are my favorite becuse of the compactness and simplicity... not stupid.. for a, "repair beginner" these are simple to fix.. if your gentle, as you should be, they shouldnt have a whole lot to break. I've never broken anything on these and usually they have the easiest fixes. I've broken more playstation shells than I have on anything else. Not writing a nasty comment, I did hate how you kept calling them stupid lol. However, this was your opinion and im sharing mine! It was a great video.
I had gameboy advance sp long ago but it got broken and now it is gone. I don't know where it is.
Really not that many screws, prefer screws ober brittle plastic clips that break when you open it
The hinges and tge little peice that covers the screen wire. Are hell pure hell. I had to hammer the hinges in. Still sticking out. And the little cover would not screw on. It's still sticking out. Hate these things.
1:06 need me a gameboy holster.
I am appalled, I can't wait to watch the video
Thanks for keeping it real! If you are going to buy an Oem gameboy, get a SP. If you are going to get a modded gameboy get a regular gba. If you specifically want to play gba and dont care for gb and gbc get a ds lite/macro.
Sp- backward compatible w/ backlit screen. Also rechargeable. Clam shell.
Gba- most comfortable. Battery powered. Easy to modify. Backward compatible.
DS Lite- plays ds games and gba. Rechargable battery. Clam shell. Ergonomic. Backlit screen. Emulation capabilities.
All gameboys are great. it just depends on what you need. Everyone needs every type of gameboy.
What do you mean 10 screws that's alot though ._. to get to GBC display - 6 outside, 3 inside = 9. GB Classic? 6 outside, about 10 inside = 16. The SP is actually generous.
I now understand your hatred. Im literally in the middle of putting my first custom sp together and the hinges dont go in absolutely no matter what i do. No idea which ones left and right, no idea how to line anything up, nothing on the internet shows a definitive fix other than everybody but me gets it right on the first try. Im at my whits end to say the least and now dont even wanna see if my ips screen and 101 motherboard even work or not cuz the hinges are enough of a heartbreak right now after spendin like 160 or close to it on everything
Never had one break on me.
tl;dr they suck to take apart and put back together
How long did you think about making this video?
IPA for screen cleaning?
Nope these things don't suck. I own 2 and they still work perfectly. Parts are readily available to fix or replace any part or even mod and upgrade. Lazy people who don't pay attention are always the first to complain. I know because I know a few people who manage to break every single thing in a matter of months, because they care zero for their stuff, it's unbelievable.
Not if you have the Unhinged or the Slate. It bypasses this problem altogether but at a cost.
Got to laugh about how you complained about this console and that snapped SP gaslighted the hell out of you.. 🤣 "the screen won't work"
💻 Plugs it into board whilst completely disassembled, Guess again
Buttons won't work
🎮 Guess again, we will work flawlessly.
"Hinges wont go in and they'll often break it if they don't go in"
🚪 Guess again, those hinges will go in perfect..
I remember playing zombies on a rare dualshock controller and I played a game that lasted 11 hours and it worked flawlessly, took it to Cex next morning because it was part of a collection I bought cheap and did all the potentiometers on them, they said "sorry this controller has major stick drift in both sticks, we couldnt even get it past the testing stage it was that bad"
I take that controller home and play GTA for 7 hours and win 3 1V1 matches, two games of slasher, completed a heist (platinum award) 15:47 won the podium car, won the track meet prize ride and sold 3 loads of cargo crates.. controller worked spot on even when I typically used snipers which on a large screen, drift is so visible.. (my projector was set up to run an 85in display on full 1080p HD so my entire bedroom wall is the screen) technology is the most judgemental thing ever.. Winds me up when i also try to find the fault and it almost masks it from you til someone else has a look.. 🤣 then your like "i just played on this all day and it worked perfect" just to get confused looks like your either insane or a compulsive liar.. 🤣
The damn backlight lens falling apart while you are working on the top screen,,,ugh...
IPA is fine if you use it lightly to clean contacts you don’t want to soak boards unless you’re gonna leave them for a day to dry
Yeah, you’re right. Playing a normal GBA without a backlit screen that eats batteries faster than Pac-Man is much better.
He's just saying it's because how hard it is for him to fix it but thats why you have to take care of it very well
SP is also bad because it doesn't support AA batteries. Only proprietary battery that may be difficult to find in the future.
That's why I chose the original GBA.
I wouldn’t complain about screw quantity that’s just plain bitchy. You’re very good at what you do a few extra TWENTY screws shouldn’t even be a problem
For something you don't want to open up more than once to maybe get working why does it matter how many screws it has. I just did a shell swap and ips screen mod to my sp and that was easier than a DS phat shell swap and screen replacement
hey man,Can I get one of the original AGS 001 screens, it's hard to find in Indonesia... even used ones don't matter
So they're hard to fix if you break them. So just, don't break them? I still have my SP and it works perfectly. I've had an SP run over by a car and it was fine.
I love them lol they are crazy durable damn near indestructible 🏋🏻
Woahhh the GBA in a GB DMG body is sweeeet! I feel that's pretty much the ideal combo of form factor and functionality for me. I know the landscape format of the original GBA makes more sense ergonomically, however i do own one of those and I STILL prefer the 'portrait' layout of OG GBs or GBA SPs. I'm sure it's 95% nostalgia, but hey 🤷🏻♂️
Back when nintendo made quality almost unbreakable products, now with the switch the joycon rails fail sometimes the usb c port other times the stick drift other times the srsl board breaks in the joycons other times they dont conect, yep that gba sp is old nintendo quality thats why it works, i dont get why you hate the sp honestly i think its amazing, i respect your opinion but i dont share it, and the hinches is the best hinches nintendo has ever made in the ds and the 3ds is a million times more complex and harder to work on
Thank you for respectfully disagreeing. The biggest thing for me is the buttons failing constantly and how much harder it is to fix compared to the other models :/
@@JakeSimmons 100% I had the same issue. IPA destroyed 5 buttons for me. Lol
The original Game Boy Advance is much more comfortable to hold. If you give it a rechargeable battery and an IPS screen it is much superior to an SP
An advance with a modded screen and a built in battery is so much nicer. I have both with IPS screens, upgraded battery and i always and up using my advance over my SP
It fold = good console lol
Plus a backlit display, plus a rechargeable battery.
BRO SAME- I’ve never liked the SP. but it was for different reasons. Mainly because I love my normal gba and am sick and tired of people constantly talking about how the SP is SOOOO much better and that you NEED a backlit screen. But his points do stand.
Backlight mods for the classic GBA is so easy, that's not even a good argument for SP's side. Also SP's are so tiny, it makes blackberry keyboards look like full mechanical ones. GBA shells also look gorgeous especially the modded ones but the SP versions look super bland.
Batteries?
Bro I literally laughed out loud when the thing turned on after being magled!!! 🤣😅
Gameboy advance SP dose Not suck in my opinion 😭, I still have mine Gameboy advance SP for 20 years and mine still actually works
Replace a top screen on a new 3DS XL. Thats suck
Attaching the screen ribbon cable to the mobo after it's in the shell...I want to punch a pony about it.
So tldr :
hinges= bad
Electronics have screws, imagine that.
Soaking electronics is usually a bad idea, again who knew?
Proceeds to get annoyed/surprised that the gameboy still worked
And last but certainly not least, he sees a moshed screen cable and DOESN'T do what most repairmen would do and replace the screen.
you do great work! I learn a lot watching Thanks! I want to mod my sp to a slab or slate, I just have not pulled the trigger on a soldering iron yet
10 screws....................................Try fixing a PS5 mate and then complain about 10 screws
GBA SP is better. great screen, protective design, rechargeable battery. its not the most comfortable gba but its definitely the most convenient, i can overlook the small size, it makes it more pocketable.
I’m thinking about modding my first gba SP, just wish there was a laminated screen for the regular gba to avoid any dust and I would mod that instead
There is now. It’s just an ITA screen and not IPS
Bro complains about 2 more screws, bad 3rd party shells breaking, and user error on switching the buttons. Its not the SP by any means it is your craftmanship.
I happen to love my sp I have had mine for 20 plus years and I have one of them near perfect condition it’s well cared for it’s kept in a case it’s whole life so am sorry you had a bad experience with the sp I do respect what you think about it everyone is different and will not always like the same thing so I happen like I said I love my game boy sp sadly the ds has hinge issues and not built to last long I know from experience however the sp zero problems!
The reason why the sp sucks for me is because I've gotten so used to playing on wide form factor handhelds like the DS,3DS,PSP,PS Vita,Switch & Switch Lite. I realized how cramped the Sp is & to make it even worse for the sp there's a mod that will let me have a backlit screen & the original GBA form factor so the sp is pretty much lame the original GBA was always better than the sp.
Hi, you need a dedicated toaster with temp control to truly dry even 99% IPA.
God bless.
Reminds me of the original 3dw model absolute nightmare to work on
I've had one for years and it works fine and is in good condition.
the sp doesn’t suck, you do.
I don't have the largest hands nor the smalest but even as a kid that damn thing would make my hands and fingers hurt. But the OG GBA was amazing, but it did not have a backlit screen. So my favorite GBA is the N3DS with open_agb_firm 😂.
The SP is the ideal form factor
Are you ill?
Nope.
@@Owenmilitariahow the hell do you like the normal GBA? It doesn’t even have a backlit screen and uses batteries.
No, cap. Soaking them is crazy bro.
Do not want to sound rude, but your lack of knowledge and training for performing maintaince and repair work on the GBA-SP dose not make it bad, just means you have things to be learned ahead of you, do not worry and keeping practicing.
I have learned more and had a lot more practice since this video and while it’s a little easier working on them now, I still feel the same about it. I think that the majority of my points have nothing to do with my skill level of fixing things
You seem to have misunderstood me my bad for not being clear, you indeed do have skill, all I was trying to convey was a lack of general knowledge the teach you in electronic repair such for example keeping liquids of anykind away from smd tact switchs, and like you said it is a hobby so it understandable that you might not know it, glad to know it has become easier for you to work with them as a fellow hobbyist, and as for a few points mentioned are up to personal preference and are completely subject, and overall the GBA SP is still up there in my books.
I never thought about buying a sp... there's a better chance i buy the original.
WTF did you do to get that happen tear it half in a crappy attempt at making a controversy?
a lot of people are looking for a better video on how to mod/reshell their GBA SP at their pace. and not a lot of people do this on TH-cam.
I feel like the ds lite had bad hinges