'One Chip' Game Boy Advance SP IPS Kit ('2 in 1')
Channel: makho
Date: 02/08/2020

This is the new version of this kit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR3bml4oqTo

Like I mentioned in the video, the vendor has started supplying a new brand of LCD. I made a separate video just for the LCDs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1Gcq7mMjPw

Like the AGB version of the kit, this kit does have custom color palette/filters that you can apply via a touch sensor. Take a look at this imgur album I have compiled to see all the palettes and filters: https://imgur.com/a/wYgLPUt

So this is basically an updated version of the Game Boy Color kit but with a bunch of fixes that should have been implemented in both the v1 of this kit and the v1 of the GBC kit. Hardware wise, the kit is 100% identical but with a small portion shaved off the bottom for better fit in a GBA SP and the unused connectors cut off the top so I suspect that this kit will have GBC compatibility soon and will hopefully include the fixes implemented here such as the smooth framerate and hardware button controls. For science, I did test this PCB in a GBC with the ribbon cable that came with the original kit. It kinda works which is what is leading me to believe compatibility is coming. Fully compatible kits, I suspect, will be labeled '3 in 1': https://youtu.be/UBUeJ04RD7I

Update: Per the manufacturer, they have no intention to continue iterating the GBC kits so no GBC compatibility is coming any time soon. Perhaps they will revisit after their new MGB IPS and GameGear kits. 

This kit includes two touch sensors pre-soldered on so you do not have to do any soldering yourself to install. If you want to use button controls, you can still solder the kit the same way the old kits were (so one wire brightness button for SP, or three wire up and down controls for AGB) or you can use the touch sensors or you can use both. Color palette swapping is currently only supported by the touch sensor. 

Thanks again to retrogamerepairshop.com for providing this kit for testing. You can grab one of these kits here: https://retrogamerepairshop.com/collections/gba-sp-displays/products/gba-sp-game-boy-advance-sp-ips-backlight-with-palette-options

Additionally, IPS ready custom molded shells for the SP are on the way and will be stocked soon. 

Yes my shell is custom. I got it here: https://2.taobao.com/item.htm?id=622404595268

No, I cannot help you order from taobao. If the link doesn't work, it's no longer available. 

mattcurrie's ROM pack of useful test ROMs (that I used in the video): https://mattcurrie.com/gb-lcd-tests.zip

Want to just see the raw numbers for power usage and screen brightness? Check out my spreadsheet linked here (it is continuously updated and has been updated for this kit): https://www.reddit.com/r/Gameboy/comments/ehru1w/relative_power_usage_of_backlight_mods/

The links provided are NOT affiliate links. I make no money from any of the links I provide. 

I have recently enabled monetization, however, to help offset my costs for this channel. I highly recommend using adblock if you think the ads are too intrusive. If you'd like to support me directly, I've created a ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/makho

Please do not feel obligated to contribute, what funds I make there will almost entirely be put towards junk food or cat treats or other non-youtube related bullshit I don't need.