Don’t get me wrong.

The Switch 2 beats the Game Boy Advance SP in almost every aspect.

Better power.
Better graphics.
Better everything.
But..

There’s a reason why my GBA SP still gets a lot of playtime.

Before we dive into my personal why, let’s talk about the foundation of this great handheld.

The original Game Boy ruled the handheld world, or so I heard (I was born in 2001).

But Nintendo didn’t really upgrade their handheld for over a decade. Even the Game Boy Color still had the same 8-bit screen. It wasn't even a new console, officially at least. Just a colorful version of the original.

The core remained the same for nearly 12 years.

Then came 2001. 

The Game Boy Advance was released.

This was the handheld that brought the power of a Super Nintendo to our pocket, kind of. It was a 32-bit revolution. Better colors, prettier graphics, bigger worlds, and games that actually had depth.

But there was still one major flaw: you couldn’t see a thing without an external light.

In 2003 Nintendo solved their lighting problem by releasing the GBA SP (Game Boy Advance Special).

And instead of just implementing a better screen into the already existing GBA, they redesigned the entire thing. I won’t bore you with a list of every technical change.

I’ve visualized the most important ones in the design down below if you’re interested.

Long story short: they upgraded (almost) everything.

Sure, they removed the headphone jack and the size of the original GBA is more comfortable to hold (for most people), but in exchange you get a handheld that literally fits in your pocket.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the perfect segue to finish my thought from the intro and explain the title of this newsletter.

You might think I’m crazy.

Comparing a handheld from 2003 with a handheld from 2025? 

And you’re right. It isn’t a fair comparison at all.

The Switch 2 bodies the GBA SP in almost every aspect.

Except for one thing: the size.

Modern handhelds like the Switch have become so big that they’ve almost lost their purpose. If I need a dedicated bag to carry my "portable" console, the friction is already high. If you add up some accessories like a case to protect it or an extra controller, you might as well take the whole docking station with you at this point.

The GBA SP is a true portable handheld. It’s built for the 10-minute gaps in life: waiting for the train, sitting in a bus, or just killing time wherever you are.

There's also something to be said about the “lack of choice”.

On my Switch or gaming laptop, I often spend more time updating games or scrolling the steam or e-shop than actually playing.

With the SP, I pick one cartridge, and that’s my game for the trip.

Limiting? Sure.
But easy to play? You bet.

No distractions
No upsells
No notifications
Just enjoying a game

For me it’s not about which console is "better" on paper, but it’s about which console I actually use to play games and enjoy my free time. And my Game Boy Advance SP just really often wins this battle because of its portable size and fun, easy to understand games.

You can't really compare the GBA games with games released these days. The technology just changed too much to make it a fair fight.

But thanks to the pixel art style of the gameboy advance, they still hold up.

Look at other consoles from that era. Like the PlayStation 1 or the original Xbox.

Those early 3D-graphics looked good back then, but they aged quickly. These graphics still have their charm though, but they do look “old”.

Pixel art doesn’t really have that problem.

It’s timeless.

Naturally, GBA games feel just as fresh in 2026 as they did in 2003.

Besides the timeless designs of the games, there is the sheer volume of games. Not only is the GBA game library huge (1,500+ games!), but the handheld is also backwards compatible with all original Game Boy and Color games.

Of course, everyone knows popular the games like Pokémon, Mario or Zelda.

But there are so, so, so many more less popular but great games available.

I won’t go too deep into the specific titles today, that’s something for a different time, but just know there are enough games to keep you busy.

And then there is the screen of the GBA SP.

There are technically 2 types of GBA SP’s released. The main difference being the screen.

The first version released in 2003 has the AGS-001 screen. Which is easiest explained as a front lit screen. So the light comes from the front of the screen and lights up the screen like that. This was already a major upgrade compared to the non lit up screen from the GBA.

But the second version, released in 2005, has the AGS-101 screen. This is a backlit screen. Basically the same technology we still use until this day for almost all our modern screens like mobile phones, computers or modern consoles. Of course the technology wasn’t as perfected as it is now, but this screen really holds up until this day.

The AGS-001 screen is still playable in this day and age, but playing on a AGS-101 screen feels like you’re holding a modern handheld, even though it’s more than 20 years old already. 

I personally played on my childhood AGS-001 GBA SP for years. I’ve never felt the need to upgrade to the newer screen. Also because the SP’s with the 101 screen are more expensive.

But recently I decided to buy myself a Graphite GBA SP with the newer screen, and I have to say, seeing them next to each other, the AGS-101 screen is better by a country mile.

At the end of the day, it’s just plastic and pixels. Not really, but it sounded good and makes the point clear.

Use the console you like the most.
Play the games you enjoy the most.
And just have fun!

I just wanted to share my perspective on why I love the GBA SP, and why I still use it to play games, even though I have "better" and newer options available.

Hope you enjoyed my very first newsletter! If you have any tips, recommendations, or just want to say hi, feel free to reply to this email or contact me elsewhere! Cya!