Tech head-to-head
Nintendo DS LitevsGame Boy Advance SP (AGS-101)
Nintendo DS Lite and Game Boy Advance SP (AGS-101) are both Nintendo, and they average 7.8 and 8.2. Game Boy Advance SP (AGS-101) takes Durability, 8.4 to 6.6.
Nintendo DS Lite
Nintendo
7.8
Two libraries in one slim body, with a Game Boy Advance slot. Inspect its hinge before anything else.
Price and availability change constantly, so we don't quote them here — the link opens current listings on eBay. eBay listings come from individual sellers: condition, battery health, and what's in the box differ from one to the next, so read the listing and the return terms before you buy.
Game Boy Advance SP (AGS-101)
Nintendo
8.2
The backlit last revision of the SP, and the best stock way to play three generations of Game Boy carts.
Price and availability change constantly, so we don't quote them here — the link opens current listings on eBay. eBay listings come from individual sellers: condition, battery health, and what's in the box differ from one to the next, so read the listing and the return terms before you buy.
Where they diverge
The widest gap is Durability, Game Boy Advance SP (AGS-101) ahead 8.4 to 6.6. They come closest on Performance, 7.8 to 7.6. Left of center is Nintendo DS Lite, right is Game Boy Advance SP (AGS-101).
Which one to pick
Take the Nintendo DS Lite
Leads on Performance and Value.
- You want the DS library and GBA cartridges on one device with a headphone jack
- Battery life matters more than screen size
- You want the lowest cost of entry on this page for a large library
Take the Game Boy Advance SP (AGS-101)
Leads on Durability, Ease of use and Design.
- Your library is Game Boy, Color, and Advance cartridges, and you want them on original hardware
- A clamshell that protects its own screen in a bag appeals to you
- You want a console where every wear part costs little and swaps out with one screwdriver
What each one gets wrong
Nintendo DS Lite
- The hinge photos are missing or show any white stress lines at the corners
- You only play Game Boy and Game Boy Color, which the DS Lite cannot run
Game Boy Advance SP (AGS-101)
- You want headphones without a dongle, since there is no 3.5mm jack
- The listing cannot prove AGS-101 from the label on the back, because the original front-lit AGS-001 sells for less
Specs, side by side
| Spec | Nintendo DS Lite | Game Boy Advance SP (AGS-101) |
|---|---|---|
| Screens | Two 3 in LCDs, 256×192, bottom resistive touch | — |
| Plays | DS cartridges, Game Boy Advance cartridges (Slot-2) | Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance |
| Brightness | Four levels | — |
| Battery life | 15 to 19 hours at lowest brightness (Nintendo) | — |
| Audio | Stereo speakers, 3.5mm headphone jack | Mono speaker; headphones need an adapter |
| Screen | — | 2.9 in TFT, 240×160, backlit |
| Battery | — | Rechargeable lithium-ion, user-replaceable |
| Form | — | Clamshell |
Rankings they both appear in
Questions
- Both are Nintendo. Which one do I want?
- Game Boy Advance SP (AGS-101) leads on Durability, Ease of use and Design. If Performance and Value matter more to you, take the Nintendo DS Lite instead. Nintendo DS Lite averages 7.8 and Game Boy Advance SP (AGS-101) averages 8.2, over the 5 axes Tech is scored on.
- Where do the two Nintendo models actually differ?
- Durability is the widest gap, Game Boy Advance SP (AGS-101) ahead 8.4 to 6.6. Every axis lands somewhere different, so the profile shapes differ as much as the totals.
- Which one ranks higher in "Retro handhelds: the five worth buying used"?
- Game Boy Advance SP (AGS-101) sits at #2 in "Retro handhelds: the five worth buying used", Nintendo DS Lite at #3.