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The Difference Between Game Boy & Game Boy Advance SP

At the time of its release in 1989, the Game Boy hand-held device changed the world of video games. Throughout the years, technology had advanced to the point where the Game Boy Advance SP provided an improved, more sophisticated gaming experience.

Screen Resolution
- The original Game Boy system had a reflective LCD screen 160 by 144 pixels big, and recognized four colors ranging from light to dark olive green. The Game Boy Advance SP had a reflective color LCD screen 240 by 160 pixels big with a full-color display.
Sound
- The original Game Boy relied mostly on MIDI sound files and occasional white noise emitted from a mono speaker, but had a headphone jack for a stereo sound experience. The Game Boy Advance SP had more sophisticated sound files, but lacked the built-in headphone jack. Both had a volume control on the side of the device: a wheel for the Game Boy and a slider for the Game Boy Advance SP.
Controls
- The original Game Boy had only four buttons -- "A," "B," "Select," "Start" -- and a directional pad to control game play. The Game Boy Advance SP had similar controls, with "L" and "R" buttons on the upper-left and upper-right corners of the device for more sophisticated game play.
Power Supply
- The original Game Boy ran on the power of four AA batteries that needed to be replaced semi-regularly. The Game Boy Advance SP had a built-in rechargable battery pack that could last for at least 10 hours of continuous gaming.

Game Boy