Help me identify - Gameboy Advance SP (new brighter screen)

[c0ldb33r]

I've got someone locally that will sell a Gameboy Advance SP.

I've already got a regular GBA SP, but I've always wanted the redesigned one with the new brighter screen (released around the same time as the GB Micro).

The only thing is that he does not have the box, and has lost the charger, it's just the GBA SP (which is in great condition) and he doesn't know whether its the old or new version. (I told him to toggle the light button to see if it shuts the light off or varies the brightness, but with no charger that's impossible).

So, is there any way short of meeting with this guy and plugging it in with my charger to determine whether its an original GBA SP or a newer one with the brighter screen? Can I figure it out with model or serial number? Also, it is a flame red version, if that helps at all.

Any help is greatly appreciated! :)

[Leo_A]

Flame Red is a older SP, but to be sure have him look for the AGS-101 model designation on the bottom of the GBA which would indicate its a SP2 with the improved screen.

[davidbrit2]

The redesigned one will have a pretty dark black screen when turned off. The original is a fairly reflective silverish color, as I recall.

[sisko]

The quick and dirty way is to see what color the system is. The bright screens came in 3 colors: Graphite (dark grey, but not black), Pearl Blue, and Pearl Pink.

Leo is correct with the AGS-101 designation as well.

[c0ldb33r]

Thanks guys!

I asked him to check for the AGS-101, although since it's red I know it's not.

Thanks again :)

[Anthony1]

The quick and dirty way is to see what color the system is. The bright screens came in 3 colors: Graphite (dark grey, but not black), Pearl Blue, and Pearl Pink.

Leo is correct with the AGS-101 designation as well.


I was at a gamestore called "Play N Trade", it's a new chain that has it's first store in my area. Anywho, they had about 5 used GBA SP's. I was trying to find one that had the new bright screen. So the lady let me line all 5 of them up, and turn them on, to see if any of the 5 had a bright screen. 4 of them were super dim, and the 5th one was very bright. The thing is, it's a silver GBA SP???

If Graphite, Pearl Blue and Pearl Pink are the only ones with bright screens, then how do you explain the fact that this silver one clearly had the bright screen?

[Anthony1]

Flame Red is a older SP, but to be sure have him look for the AGS-101 model designation on the bottom of the GBA which would indicate its a SP2 with the improved screen.


Can somebody take a picture of the bottom of their SP2, to show this AGS-101 designation, so I know where to look for it?

[Leo_A]

Just flip over your GBA and look, it's on a sticker on the back or something, don't feel like getting up to get mine out. If it says AGS-001, it's a original model SP.

Or you can turn it on, if the button centered under the hinge above the start and select buttons turns on and off the the front lighting of the screen, it's a SP1.

If it cycles between two different brightness levels on a backlit screen, it's a SP2.

Wikipedia also identifies a special edition SP2 that is silver with a tattoo engraved on it, called the Tribal Edition.

[omnedon]

I have an uber teh r4re NES Classic GBSap with the newer ultra bright screen.


Because I'm a stinker. =)