Game Boy
Nintendo's original 1989 Game Boy (DMG-01), a cartridge handheld with a four-shade monochrome screen that runs for up to 30 hours on four AA batteries, for collectors and anyone comparing it with its successors.
- Type
- Handheld
- Output
- –
- Memory
- 16 KB
- Storage
- –
- Weight
- 220 g
Specifications
Report a wrong or missing specPerformance
- Type
- Handheld
- CPU
- Sharp SM83 (8-bit), 4.19 MHz
- GPU
- Nintendo DMG-CPU (built-in picture processing)
- Memory
- 16 KB
- Disc drive
- No
- CPU
- Sharp SM83 (8-bit) at 4.194304 MHz in the Nintendo DMG-CPU (mGBA documentation)
- GPU
- Picture processing built into the DMG-CPU; 40 sprites, up to 10 per line (mGBA documentation)
- Memory detail
- 8 KB work RAM and 8 KB video RAM; compatible cartridges can add up to 128 KB RAM (Nintendo programming manual)
- Storage detail
- Game Boy Game Paks (cartridges); saves on the cartridge
Display and video
- Built-in screen
- 2.5″ LCD, 160 × 144
- Built-in screen
- 2.5-inch monochrome LCD, no backlight; 160 × 144; four shades; about 59.7 Hz (Nintendo and mGBA documentation)
- Audio
- Four channels (2 pulse wave, 1 wave, 1 noise); mono speaker and stereo headphone jack (Nintendo and mGBA documentation)
Design and power
- Battery life (maker's claim)
- Up to 30 hours
- Weight
- 220 g
- Battery life detail
- 4 × AA batteries, up to 30 hours (Nintendo)
- Power use
- About 0.7 W from the external 6 V DC input (Nintendo US manual)
Connections
- Ports
- Game Link Cable port, Game Pak slot, headphone jack, 6 V DC input (Nintendo)
- Controller
- Built-in D-pad, A, B, Start and Select buttons; volume and contrast dials
Pros and cons
Pros
- Up to 30 hours from four AA batteries
- Link cable for two-player games
- Stereo sound through the headphone jack
Cons
- Monochrome 160 × 144 screen with no backlight
- 8-bit CPU at 4.19 MHz with 8 KB of RAM
Closest rivals
Model | Type | Output | Memory | Storage | Weight | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home console | – | 128 KB | – | – | Sept 1990 | |
| Home console | – | 24 KB | – | – | Aug 1987 | |
| Handheld | – | 48 KB | – | 138 g | Nov 1998 |
Newer model: Game Boy Color.
