Nintendo Game Boy vs SEGA Mega Drive

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Only show differences

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Share comparison

Game Boy compared with Mega Drive

	NintendoGame Boy	SEGAMega Drive
Overview
Released
Released	September 1990	September 1990
Performance
Type
Type	Handheld	Home console
CPU
CPU	Sharp SM83 (8-bit), 4.19 MHz	Motorola 68000, 7.6 MHz, plus Zilog Z80
GPU
GPU	Nintendo DMG-CPU (built-in picture processing)	SEGA VDP (custom LSI)
Memory
Memory	16 KB	128 KB (better)
Disc drive
Disc drive	No	No
CPU
CPU	Sharp SM83 (8-bit) at 4.194304 MHz in the Nintendo DMG-CPU (mGBA documentation)	Motorola 68000 at 7.60 MHz on PAL consoles and Zilog Z80A for sound (SEGA technical overview)
GPU
GPU	Picture processing built into the DMG-CPU; 40 sprites, up to 10 per line (mGBA documentation)	64 of 512 colours at once; 80 sprites and 2 scroll planes
Memory detail
Memory detail	8 KB work RAM and 8 KB video RAM; compatible cartridges can add up to 128 KB RAM (Nintendo programming manual)	64 KB RAM for the 68000 plus 64 KB VRAM; 8 KB for the Z80
Storage detail
Storage detail	Game Boy Game Paks (cartridges); saves on the cartridge	Cartridges; some save on the cartridge
Storage expansion
Storage expansion	–	Expansion slot (Mega-CD); extension control port
Display and video
Built-in screen
Built-in screen	2.5″ LCD, 160 × 144	–
Built-in screen
Built-in screen	2.5-inch monochrome LCD, no backlight; 160 × 144; four shades; about 59.7 Hz (Nintendo and mGBA documentation)	No built-in screen
Video output
Video output	–	A/V out; 320 × 224 or 256 × 224, with 240-line PAL and interlaced modes (SEGA technical overview)
Audio
Audio	Four channels (2 pulse wave, 1 wave, 1 noise); mono speaker and stereo headphone jack (Nintendo and mGBA documentation)	6 FM channels (one usable for PCM) plus 3 PSG channels and 1 noise; stereo headphone jack
Design and power
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	Up to 30 hours	–
Weight
Weight	220 g	–
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	4 × AA batteries, up to 30 hours (Nintendo)	–
Power use
Power use	About 0.7 W from the external 6 V DC input (Nintendo US manual)	–
Connections
Ports
Ports	Game Link Cable port, Game Pak slot, headphone jack, 6 V DC input (Nintendo)	2 × control ports, headphone jack with volume, A/V out, AC adaptor input, cartridge slot, expansion slot
Controller
Controller	Built-in D-pad, A, B, Start and Select buttons; volume and contrast dials	Control Pad with D-pad, three action buttons and Start
Backward compatibility
Backward compatibility	–	Master System games with the separately sold Master System Converter; some titles do not work (SEGA)