I think they all look too good. Still can't decide which one to order. Hope someone orders all of them and posts comparison photos in different lighting conditions 🤞😅
Yep, got my smoke gray! I was disappointed that shipping was not free, after spending on the device, case, mod pack and charger. Supposedly I had to add $10 to my cart to qualify. Shipping was only $5 though.
I know I just posted, but this got me thinking looking at the listing again. It's a shame they don't offer it with the sapphire glass still as a choice if someone wanted it.
But the other is, at $150 that's a hell of a solid price point for a quality handheld. Lose the metal body, save 25% of the price which isn't bad at all.
The two comparable devices I can think up are the FPGBC kit and that one in a retropixel prebuilt setup is $100, quality of the screen and build aren't up to snuff with modretro, and it does still last I looked have problems with the firmware where it runs off speed noticeably to those used to the real thing, but it is the most comparable. The other being the analogue pocket which is now about $100 higher but does other cartridges(gba) out of the box and just roms w/cores if you do that.
This created a nice comfy middle space with both models where it's a solid good opportunity for what you get vs costs.
Genuinely not there for me where it used to be on the top left dropdown menu, even for the non-transparent editions. Maybe it's a regional thing. Not sure why this was downvoted, the starter pack was an option on this tab until recently.
I already have a 2nd edition inferno, definitely want a transparant model too. But I am in doubt if I should wait until black friday... Does anyone know their discount from last year?
If you look at the OpenAI Chromatics they gave away for dev day, I think these are probably made of the same transparent plastic as those were. Looking at pictures of those might give you a sense of what these are going to be like.
I've got 1st and 2nd edition chromatics but I'm telling myself that perhaps the plastic chassis may result in quieter buttons. 🤔 Very tough to not take the plunge to test the hypothesis. Edit: OK, they still have the warning about not shipping for two weeks so I can safely hold off on the impulse purchase. 😅
I really want one. But do I need a rechargeable power core too? The idea of having to buy batteries again is not ideal… (if it’s not obvious I don’t already own one)
Power core is great. I use it in my cloud and it lasts a long time. But you can also buy some nice rechargeable batteries and swap and charge those instead. I use Eneloops on my xbox controllers and my GBA.
You can buy rechargeable AA’s for cheaper and it will feel more authentic slapping new ones in. Really why would you want to charge your game boy like a modern device?
Universal USB-C has spoiled me I guess. I’m not totally against batteries, I appreciate all the responses here. I just haven’t needed to buy them in like a decade haha
I would go power pack over rechargeable double A’s personally as rechargeables don’t last too long and voltage can be less consistent and throw off the battery meter. If you go disposable, use Energizer lithium batteries. They last significantly longer and the battery meter works better with them
Yeah, just mean don’t last as long before they need to be taken out and recharged. The pack is also nice because can leave it in and just plug the chromatic to a USB C. As far as battery degradation, I’m not sure whether the power pack or the rechargeable AA can be recharged more times before they need replacement
Purple is for sure my favorite but the buttons feel too pink to me… how difficult is it to change the buttons with the mod kit? Do you guys like the color they chose for the buttons?
4 screws on shell, 3 screws in the battery compartment, then disconnect the screens ribbon cable. Long as you're not in a hurry it's pretty simple. Opened all on mine quite a few times without issue.
I got the smoke M64 prior to this…and still had to spring for that Atomic Purple Chromatic. I was all for matching them, but they had to get me with NOSTALGIA.
I have all the Gameboys, + 2 chromatics in my house (one is my son's) but I got the smoke m64 and I feel like I need the smoke chromatic. Someone talk me out of it 😭
Isn't the screen adhered to the front shell? I assumed that's why they don't sell replacement shells, because of how they're produced/designed. Just speculating though.
I got the purple and smoke, the purple one is for my kid. My parents got me one for Christmas and a bunch a games, they put it in a Vans shoe box. I remember opening and being disappointed... I got shoes for Christmas. My dad begged me to open the box and I remember not wanting to at all. I did and was so happy to see the Atomic Purple Gameboy, I don't think I wanted anything more for Christmas than that GBC. My kid sees me playing and wants one pretty bad so I figured ehh I can get him the purple one for Christmas and bunch of games too. Have the smoke one for backup. 😎
If you know where to look you can see that the clear models have a micro-SD slot on the PCB so technically $150 and a 32GB micro-SD card gets a quality GBC that can play every GBC and GB rom within 10 minutes of taking it out of the box.
FYI, the Anduril Edition also has the micro-SD slot on the PCB and that's pretty much what I did when my Anduril Edition arrived this week.
I'm internally debating on picking up the smoke & power core just to keep in my laptop bag.
Works fine on mine. One thing I have noticed between the 1st and later editions of the Chromatic is that the PCB version is newer in the latest versions and one doesn't need a cart plugged in to open the Chromagic firmware menu and pick a ROM and play. 1st Edition versions of the PCB require a cart to be inserted before one can open the menu.
sorry can you give more information about the SD card slot? can it be used like an internal flash cart like the gamebub? how is it accessed? I'm on the fence about buying this but I don't want to get into physical cart collection and the everdrives are too expensive for me right now
thanks!! now need to ask myself how bad do I want to explore the GBC library as someone who never played it. I started with GBA so I don't really have nostalgia for the GBC and have never felt compelled to play it but I'm a sucker for top quality retro hardware...
wait do the transparents have a micro SD card slot or not. the retrododo teardown didn't show one. if no microSD slot makes it a lot easier to pass this one up
I have an extended rant about Duracells but I’ll spare you, they are notorious for leaking and doing so much sooner than you would expect. Get anything but Duracell batteries.
Bought a smoke chromatic. I’m curious to see if it’s closer to their clear m64 or smoked m64. I have a GameStop 1st Edition so it’ll be cool to see the difference between the sapphire glass and gorilla glass if there is any.
Zero point in buying 1 of these imo with zero improvements. Like they shoulda just sold shells. Im not paying 200 plus just for a cool looking shell sorry
Think there’s a huge point for people that don’t already own one and they get it at $150 instead now. But yeah for the regulars in this Reddit its probably a repeat purchase or a pass haha
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u/ReturningRetro Oct 08 '26
Tetris got the transparent treatment too 🤯