Looking to get into GBA collecting - original backlit GBA?

[Tanooki]

Now that looks quite right like mine did before my goof up with the shell shaving inside pre-destined it to death. It's just a perfect mix of both worlds. If I could find the will to part with the NES SP I have I'd trade up, but I don't.

[ejamer]

Yeah this picture is much better...glad I swapped out lol.

Looks awesome. Who did you buy from?

I've been kicking around the idea of getting a GBA like this. Pretty happy with my GBA Micro consoles... but have a nagging concern about battery life. People love having rechargeable batteries built-in but long-term going with replaceable double-As seems like a much safer bet.

Tried to find/buy a GBA SP with the right screen locally, but have been looking for a year with no luck so just about to bite the bullet and buy online. If doing that, might just get the work done at the same time if I can find a trustworthy source.

[Tanooki]

It's not easy in a lot of places to get the parts, got lucky once, have not since. The GBA isn't the issue, it's the 101 screen and not paying the price of a 101 to murder it to make one out of an original model.

I agree on batteries, that was a big draw for me too. If I'm going to use rechargeables I'll get AAs I can refill in an hour in a charger as they're not OEM. I have a micro, I also have 3 spare batteries I've collected from expired systems as a back-up that are all original, not chinese knockoffs. Problem is, micro hates GB+GBC. So you either buy a flash kit and throw your carts on it, or you get something else.

[ejamer]

It's not easy in a lot of places to get the parts, got lucky once, have not since. The GBA isn't the issue, it's the 101 screen and not paying the price of a 101 to murder it to make one out of an original model. ...

Yeah, at this point I'm very close to just accepting the price and paying whatever obscene going rates are. When you try to find a 101 screen online, everything feels overpriced. Should have done this when the parts were still plentiful - but it clearly isn't going to get better at this point so probably better to just get on with it, right?

[flylikeabird]

Well what do you consider too expensive? If you look around you can get a 101 for 50 bucks, way cheaper if you do some yard sale/flea market work I'm sure.

You can do that, destroy the unit and swap the screen over to your OG Gba or you can buy a pre made unit like I did. Those range from 70-100$ on the low end (from Vietnam/China) or 160$ on the high end.

I wasn't sure about the Vietnam ones but I've heard a couple guys on GAF bought them and they thought they did the job. I got mine for 160$, though the seller has now jacked his prices up to 200$ each over the last week

[flylikeabird]

Fwiw though I am horrible with money and have terrible spending habits. 160$ seems well worth the enjoyment I've gotten out of it so far (and will) but I get that its a lot to pay for an old hand held that can be had for 30 bucks without the back light...