The table below contains a list of the major models of the Game Boy Family and their specifications for easy comparison/references.
If you have any further information or corrections on the entries here (including sources), please let us know!
Comparison of Game Boy family game systems
Product family
|
Game Boy Color
|
Classic Game Boy
|
Name
|
Game Boy Color
|
Game Boy Light
|
Game Boy Pocket
|
Game Boy
|
Model #
|
CGB-001
|
MGB-101
|
MGB-001
|
DMG-01
|
Logo
|
|
|
|
|
Image
|
|
|
|
|
Generation
|
Fifth generation
|
Fourth generation
|
Release date
|
JP: October 21, 1998
NA: November 18, 1998
EU: November 23, 1998
AUS: November 27, 1998
|
JP: April 14, 1998
|
JP: July 21, 1996
NA: September 3, 1996
PAL: 1996
|
JP: April 21, 1989
NA: July 31, 1989
EU: September 28, 1990
|
Display
|
59mm (2.34 in)
|
65mm (2.56 in)
|
160 × 144 px (23,040 px)
|
10, 32 or 56 simultaneous colors (from a 32,768 color palette)
|
4 shades, monochromatic (2-bit)
|
White screen (four shades, greyscale)
|
Olive green screen (four shades of olive green)
|
No backlight
|
Electro-Luminescent Backlight On/Off toggle
|
No backlight
|
No backlight
|
Audio
|
4 channels (2 square wave channels, 1 PCM 4-bit wave sample channel, 1 noise channel and 1 audio input from the cartridge)
|
Single mono speaker
|
Stereo headphone jack(standard)
|
Processor
|
8 MHz 8-bit CPU
|
4.19 MHz 8-bit CPU
|
Memory
|
32 kB RAM 16 kB VRAM
|
8 kB S-RAM(can be extended up to 32 kB) 8 kB VRAM
|
Physical media
|
Game Boy Color Game Cartridge
Game Boy Game Cartridge (32 kB – 1 MB)
|
Game Boy Game Cartridge (32 kB – 1 MB)
|
Batteries
|
2 AA batteries
|
2 AA batteries
- 20 hours (light off) / 12 hours (light on)
|
2 AAA batteries
- 8 hours or 10 hours
- 80 - 90 mAh
|
4 AA batteries
|
DC input
|
Barrel 2.35 mm x 0.75 mm (Center Positive)
3 V DC
|
Barrel 3.5 mm x 1.5 mm (Center Negative)
6 V DC
|
Connectivity
|
Second generation link port
|
First generation link port
|
Infrared port
|
N/A
|
Weight
|
138 grams (4.9 oz)
|
190 grams (6.7 oz) (with batteries)
|
125 grams (4.4 oz)
150 grams (5.3 oz) (with batteries)
|
220 grams (7.8oz)
394 grams (13.9oz) (with batteries)
|
Dimensions
|
75 mm (3.0 in) W
133 mm (5.2 in) H
27 mm (1.1 in) D
|
80 mm (3.1 in) W
135 mm (5.3 in) H
29 mm (1.1 in) D
|
77.6 mm (3.06 in) W
127.6 mm (5.02 in) H
25.3 mm (1.00 in) D
|
90 mm (3.5 in) W
148 mm (5.8 in) H
32 mm (1.3 in) D
|
Colors and styles
|
List of Game Boy colors and styles
|
Regional lockout
|
No
|
List of games
|
List of Game Boy Color games
|
List of games for the original Game Boy
|
Backward compatibility
|
Game Boy
|
N/A
|
Name
|
Game Boy Color
|
Game Boy Light
|
Game Boy Pocket
|
Game Boy
|