Formfactor

Handheld console · 2001

Game Boy Advance

Game Boy Advance in Arctic, front view (illustration)
Illustration — archival photograph pending

Nintendo's 32-bit successor to the Game Boy Color, and the first Game Boy held sideways. It kept compatibility with both earlier Game Boy libraries.

6 finishesShowing Arctic

Introduced
Not yet documented
Model
AGB-001

Finishes

6 documented

Specifications

Record

Manufacturer
Nintendo
Family
Game Boy
Generation
Sixth generation
Released
  • 21 March 2001 — Japan
  • 11 June 2001 — North America
  • 22 June 2001 — Europe
Discontinued
Not yet documented
Model numbers
AGB-001

Processor

CPU
32-bit ARM7TDMI at 16.78 MHz
Compatibility core
8-bit Z80-derived processor for Game Boy and Game Boy Color software

Memory

Work RAM
  • 32 KB internal
  • 256 KB external
Video RAM
96 KB

Display

Type
Reflective TFT LCD, no front or back light
Size
2.9-inch diagonal
Resolution
240 × 160 pixels
Colors
32,768 (15-bit)

Media

Format
Game Boy Advance Game Pak
Backward compatibility
Game Boy and Game Boy Color Game Paks

Controls

Buttons
Control pad, A, B, L, R, Start, Select

Power

Source
Two AA batteries
Battery life
About 15 hours

Connectivity

Link
External extension connector for the Game Link cable
Audio
Headphone jack

Physical

Dimensions
144.5 × 82 × 24.5 mm
Weight
About 140 g without batteries

History

  1. The first Game Boy with a horizontal layout and the first with L and R shoulder buttons.

  2. The unlit screen was hard to see in dim rooms. The folding Game Boy Advance SP added a front light in 2003.

  3. Nintendo reports 81.51 million units sold across the Game Boy Advance family, which includes the SP and the Game Boy Micro.

  1. 1989Game Boy (not yet catalogued)
  2. 1996Game Boy Pocket (not yet catalogued)
  3. 1998Game Boy Color (not yet catalogued)
  4. 2001Game Boy Advance
  5. 2003Game Boy Advance SP (not yet catalogued)
  6. 2005Game Boy Micro (not yet catalogued)

About this entry

Finish names follow the North American releases. Japanese and European color names, release dates for individual colors, and the many special editions have not been catalogued yet.

Sources: Nintendo, dedicated video game sales units.