Best backlit screen for the GBA SP (and the original GBA)

The Game Boy Advance SP was the first GBA with a lit screen, but most SPs have a frontlit panel that looks gray and washed out next to anything modern. The original Game Boy Advance is worse: it has no light at all. A modern backlit display fixes both. Here is how the options compare, and what we install on our GBA SP screen mod and GBA screen mod.

First, which SP do you have?

Check the label on the back of the SP. AGS-001 is the common frontlit model. AGS-101 is the later model that came with a backlit screen from the factory. An AGS-101 already looks much better than an AGS-001, but a modern display is still sharper and adds brightness and color settings.

The three kinds of screen upgrade

1. An original AGS-101 screen

Some people move a backlit screen from an AGS-101 into an AGS-001. It keeps the console all Nintendo parts and looks the way the late SP did from the factory. The catch is that these screens are only available used, they are getting harder to find, and the result is still a 2005-era display.

2. Modern IPS screens

IPS replacement screens are bright and sharp, with wide viewing angles and an on-screen menu for brightness and color. They are the most common upgrade and a big jump over any original screen.

3. Modern AMOLED screens

AMOLED screens light each pixel individually, so blacks are truly black and colors look rich. Like IPS kits, they have on-screen controls for brightness and color. This is the kind of display we usually install, because the contrast makes GBA games look their best.

Side by side

Things to know before you upgrade

• Battery life. A brighter screen uses more power, so battery life goes down. Turning the brightness down in the on-screen menu helps a lot.
• Shell fit. Some screen kits, especially for the original GBA, need the inside of the shell trimmed to fit. If your shell is already scratched or yellowed, getting the screen and a new shell together makes sense, and the bundle is priced lower than doing them separately.
• Game Boy and Game Boy Color games. They still play exactly the same. The new screen only changes how they look.

Our recommendation

For an AGS-001 SP or an original GBA, a modern backlit display is the single best upgrade you can make. For an AGS-101, it is a nice-to-have rather than a must: get it if you want sharper text and the brightness and color settings.

The same kind of upgrade is available for the original Game Boy and the Game Boy Pocket, including palettes that recreate the classic green look.