If you have the AGS-001 GBA SP, then you know that the front-lit display still leaves room to be desired in terms of visibility. That is why if you planning to take apart your GBA SP for any reason, then you might as well add in this fully drop-in backlight mod kit that installs exactly the same way as the original display for a vibrant, laminated display with brightness controls, color modes, and pixel settings. Soldering is completely optional and would involve soldering 1 wire from the display to the motherboard.
What You'll Need:
Aside from a working GameBoy Advance SP system, below are the kits and tools you'll need to complete this build. Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning I may receive a small commission if you purchase using the links below.
- GBA SP Backlight Kit
- Phillips head and Tri-Wing Screwdriver
- Soldering iron (optional)
Of course, if you are planning to solder, I assume you also have other tools such as soldering mat, safety goggles, fume extractor, ESD tweezers, etc. Just make sure you use proper safety protocol for the entirety of this modification. Myself and Vetro Gaming will not be liable if any harm or damage occurs in any capacity. But with all of that out of the way, I encourage you to watch this full video tutorial showing off the full GBA SP disassembly process and installation process.
My Final Thoughts on this Drop-In GBA SP Backlight Mod
Given that absolutely no shell trimming is required and soldering is completely, optional, I would say that this GBA SP kit is a no-brainer. Especially if you are going to open up your GBA SP anyway, because of the HD resolution, vibrant colors, and laminated display that removes any screen misalignment or dust stuck between the screen and lens. The only drawback I have about this mod is that it can eat the battery life from a normal GBA SP battery pretty quickly, which makes sense because it is a brighter screen that draws more power. To fix that, I would recommend purchasing a GBA SP battery with a higher capacity.