Game Boy Micro

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Nintendo released the Game Boy Micro in 2005, fitting Game Boy Advance games into a handheld just ten centimeters wide and weighing about 80 grams. It has an aluminum body, a backlit screen and a slot for ordinary GBA cartridges. The cartridge itself takes up a surprising amount of this tiny console.

My first impression of the Micro is excellent. It feels lovely to hold, the buttons are good, and it slips into a pocket easily. But its small size affects everything: the screen, grip, battery and even the connectors. It also drops support for old Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges.

Game Boy Micro specifications

Model	OXY-001
Japanese release	13 September 2005
Screen	2 inches, 240 × 160 pixels, backlit
Brightness	Five levels
Compatibility	Game Boy Advance cartridges; no GB or GBC cartridge support
Power	Rechargeable lithium-ion battery, stock capacity 460 mAh
Dimensions	101 × 50 × 17.2 mm
Weight	About 80 g including the battery
Connections	Cartridge slot, combined charging/link port, 3.5 mm headphone jack

Technical specifications: Nintendo.

Size and the two-inch screen

It is hard to judge the size from a photo of the Micro on its own. Here it is in a pair of hands:

Here it is beside a cartridge. The console is only a little taller.

Game Boy Micro and Game Boy Advance cartridge

The body measures 101 × 50 × 17.2 mm. Its thickness is similar to a matchbox.

The screen is smaller than that matchbox. Its diagonal is just two inches, about 51 mm, compared with 2.9 inches, or about 74 mm, on the original GBA and SP.

The resolution is unchanged at 240 × 160 pixels. The whole game fits on the screen without cropping. Everything is simply smaller, including the text. The picture looks sharp, but games with small lettering can be uncomfortable to read.

For me, the Micro’s size is both its strength and its weakness. It is very easy to carry. Before buying one, though, try a game you actually want to play and check that you can comfortably read it.

Which games work on the Game Boy Micro?

The Micro plays Game Boy Advance games. It has no separate library of Micro-only titles. Pokémon Emerald, Metroid: Zero Mission, The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap and other GBA games use the same cartridges as on the other GBA models.

Game Boy Micro and Game Boy Advance cartridges

Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges are not supported. That is an important difference from the original GBA and SP. If you collect those older games, a Micro cannot be your only system. Nintendo DS and 3DS games do not work either.

GBA flash cartridges can also work, but check compatibility and power consumption for the particular model. The Micro itself has no memory card slot or internal game storage.

For ideas on what to play first, see the GBA games list. Flash cartridge options are covered in the FAQ.

Body, controls and brightness adjustment

The aluminum body feels very nice. It gives the Micro a solid, expensive feel. The buttons are easy to press, and the D-pad is less recessed than on the SP. The controls feel closer to the original GBA.

Game Boy Micro and Game Boy Advance SP buttons

The L and R buttons and combined charging/link port are on top. Along the bottom are the cartridge slot, power switch, Start and Select buttons and headphone jack.

There are no connectors on the left side.

The volume control is on the right. Hold L and press it up or down to adjust screen brightness instead. There are five levels, which is useful when moving between a dim room and brighter surroundings.

Battery life, charging and accessories

The Micro’s stock battery has a capacity of 460 mAh. Nintendo’s Japanese specifications quoted roughly 6–10 hours for a new console. An old battery and a flash cartridge can produce a very different result.

I tested several Micros and got around three hours on average. This was a continuous test using AGS Testing Cartridge software on an EZ-Flash Omega. That flash cartridge draws more power than a normal game cartridge. The three-hour figure describes my test setup, not every Micro.

The charger

The Micro has its own charging connector. An SP charger will not fit, so make sure you have a suitable charger if you buy the console on its own. For an imported power adapter, check the input voltage on its label too.

Link cables and accessories

A standard GBA link cable does not plug directly into a Micro. Nintendo made the OXY-008 Micro cable; connecting it to a GBA or SP also needs an OXY-009 adapter. The Micro has its own OXY-004 wireless adapter, too, for games that support it.

These GBA accessories do not connect directly to the Micro.

Check accessories for Micro compatibility specifically. Nintendo’s accessory chart lists the supported connections.

Ordinary headphones do plug straight in. I like that: Nintendo removed the 3.5 mm jack from the much larger SP, yet found room for one here.

Faceplates and box contents

The Micro’s faceplate is removable. You can replace a scratched one or change the console’s appearance without replacing the whole shell. Its clips are small, so do not force it off.

Mine is the Super Mario Bros. 20th anniversary edition, styled after a Famicom controller. It came in this lovely box:

My set includes the console, charger, fabric pouch, instructions and other paperwork. Packaging and contents varied by region and edition, so check what belongs in the particular boxed version you are buying.

Buying a Micro: price and condition

There is more to choosing a Micro than a color and a nice box. Its small screen, unusual charger and removable faceplate all deserve attention before you buy.

Load a game with text and check that you can read it comfortably.
Test every button, especially L and R, and all five brightness levels.
Inspect both the screen and faceplate. A scratch on the plate and damage to the display are different problems.
Check that the faceplate clips hold it securely.
Test charging, battery operation, the cartridge slot and the headphone jack.
For a collector’s edition, check the originality of the faceplate, shell and packaging.

Price depends on condition, edition and contents. A loose standard Micro without a charger is a different purchase from a rare complete boxed one. For playing games, I would put the screen, buttons and battery ahead of the color.

Why the Micro’s timing was awkward

I think Nintendo picked an awkward moment for the Micro. By 2005, the Nintendo DS and PSP were already competing for people’s attention. The Micro offered the existing GBA games in a much smaller body. The backlit SP AGS-101 also arrived that year.

Size was its main selling point. Not everyone wanted to give up a larger display for something easier to fit in a pocket. To me, that explains much of why some people find the Micro so appealing while others have no use for it.

iQue Game Boy Micro

China received an official iQue Game Boy Micro. It has the same game capabilities as the Nintendo model, with different markings on the back.

Is the Game Boy Micro worth buying?

The Micro is a lovely little thing if the idea of a tiny handheld appeals to you. It is light and easy to carry, with a body and controls that feel good. Just compare it with a Nintendo 3DS XL:

I would not choose it as my only console for the whole Game Boy library. Older cartridges do not work, the screen is small, and the connectors need their own accessories. The Game Boy Advance SP covers more game formats, while the original GBA offers a wider grip.

If you want to play GBA games and carry the console without a bag, the Micro is worth trying. The key is whether its size works for you. It can look perfect in a photo and feel too small in your hands.