# Game Boy Advance SP Screen Opinions **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 15, 2003, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-boy-advance-sp-screen-opinions/201733 "2003-09-15T16:11:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jkirkman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac8455/32.png) [@jkirkman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jkirkman)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-boy-advance-sp-screen-opinions/201733/1 "2003-09-15T16:11:57Z")
I’m looking for opinions from Dopers that have used the Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP. Having heard all the hype about the fantastic backlit screen on the SP, I bought two this weekend for my kids. The units are pretty cool—EXCEPT for the screen. To my eyes, the display is only bright enough with the light off and in direct sunlight. Indoors, even in a dimly-lit room and with the backlight on, I have a very difficult time seeing the game images on the screen. If you turn the backlight off in any lighting conditions at all, the screen is just black. The other adult who has seen them thinks the same thing—that they are very dim and difficult to see with the light on under any conditions. If I had only bought one, I would have already returned it as defective, but BOTH GBA’s exhibit the same behavior. My kids say they can see the screen fine, but it is their new toy, and they are not likely to find fault yet. I know that brightness is in the eye of the beholder and they have sharper eyes than I do, but those things are DARK with the light on. They are a LOT darker than the color display on my Samsung S105 cell phone, and a LOT darker than a laptop display. They are a bit darker than a Pocket PC Phone Edition. So, adult Dopers that have seen these toys—how does the display (when backlit) look to you? I have searched the web and USENET for other complaints/comments about the display, and I seem to be the only person in the world that thinks they are too dim. Are both my units defective, or am I (and the other adult who looked at them) going blind? –jack ---
**Author:** ![Duderdude2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cdc98d/32.png) [@Duderdude2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duderdude2)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-boy-advance-sp-screen-opinions/201733/2 "2003-09-15T17:15:52Z")
I don’t know if you’re going blind, but I can assure you I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’ve found the light to be incredibly bright, and have in fact even used it as a flashlight copious times. Perhaps both units are from a batch of defective units (which is rare, but does happen)? ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-boy-advance-sp-screen-opinions/201733/3 "2003-09-15T18:14:44Z")
Something is wrong. I’ve played my Game Boy SP in pitch-dark rooms and had absolutely no problem with the backlight turned on. ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous\_Coward](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/94ad74/32.png) [@Anonymous\_Coward](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anonymous_Coward)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-boy-advance-sp-screen-opinions/201733/4 "2003-09-15T18:30:13Z")
Just a nit to be picked. AFAIK, the GBA SP screens are frontlit, not backlit. There are 3 or 4 tiny lamps around the screen which provide the illumination. Cheap, but for the most part effective. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-boy-advance-sp-screen-opinions/201733/5 "2003-09-15T18:40:41Z")
Another doper with a bright SP screen checking in. It certainly is bright enough to use as a flaslight (‘flashlight’? namby pamby American word! pht, ‘TORCH’ is the REAL word) ---
**Author:** ![Severian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@Severian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Severian)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-boy-advance-sp-screen-opinions/201733/6 "2003-09-15T19:54:55Z")
Something’s awry. I’ve used my SP in all sorts of lighting conditions and have been nothing but pleased. I too have used it to light my way through the house at night. ---
**Author:** ![BraheSilver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@BraheSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BraheSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-boy-advance-sp-screen-opinions/201733/7 "2003-09-15T21:32:09Z")
Sorry, **jkirk** , but I have to side with the SP on this one. Mine’s very bright, and works quite well in the dark. ---
**Author:** ![Undead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b3f665/32.png) [@Undead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Undead)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-boy-advance-sp-screen-opinions/201733/8 "2003-09-15T22:24:41Z")
That’s odd that your screen is barely visible. I just bought a black one for myself the other day and I’m amazed at how bright it is compared to the old GBA. I can play it in pretty much any light setting. ps:: I only have one game, Final Fantasy Tactics Advanced, so I don’t know how well it fares with darker games. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-boy-advance-sp-screen-opinions/201733/9 "2003-09-16T00:40:48Z")
I purchased a Game Boy SP in late June, and have had no problems like the OP is describing. The lighting is perfect, and the images are very vibrant. With proper ambient lighting, I can switch the Game Boy’s light off and continue playing without a decrease in image quality. ---
**Author:** ![lilbtagna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4491bb/32.png) [@lilbtagna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lilbtagna)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-boy-advance-sp-screen-opinions/201733/10 "2003-09-16T02:15:34Z")
I got my SP during the beginning of June and have been nothing but pleased with it. I’ve been able to use mine as a flashlight too. Maybe there is something wrong with the two gameboys? ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-boy-advance-sp-screen-opinions/201733/11 "2003-09-17T14:21:27Z")
Either that or you need to use alkaline batteries or the ac adapter & see if the screen is brighter. Sometimes even fully charged rechargeable batteries aren’t strong enough. ---
**Author:** ![Duderdude2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cdc98d/32.png) [@Duderdude2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duderdude2)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-boy-advance-sp-screen-opinions/201733/12 "2003-09-17T17:24:24Z")
handy, the SP contains an internal rechargeable battery, you can’t replace is with standard double As, etc. However, if the battery is the problem, then the unit is faulty.