WonderSwan:WonderSwan Model Differences

Page content & researching collaboratively taken from io55.net's WonderSwan page with permission.

There are three released models of the WonderSwan.

Models

Models are arranged chronologically.

WonderSwan (1999-2000)

The first WonderSwan system, and the only one to not have color capabilities. Didn't last on the market for long, due to the rapid rise of color-capable handhelds around this time. Easily identified by it's mostly monochromatic color schemes for the system, alongside the side-mounted power switch. Capable of supporting a variety of addons, including the ahead of it's time MobileWonderGate web browsing and e-mail addon.

WonderSwan Color (2000-2002)

Introduced color to the WonderSwan line. Easily identified by it's vibrantly colored case, the presence of a contrast wheel, and by the forward-facing power button. Retains full backwards compatibility with the original WonderSwan titles, as for all original WonderSwan addons. It is important to note that this does not go in reverse for most games, akin to the Game Boy Color - most WonderSwan Color titles will not play on an original WonderSwan. Alongside the obvious color screen addition, the Color also improved the v30 CPU within the system a little bit, again - similar to the Game Boy Color.

SwanCrystal (2002-2003)

An improved version of the WonderSwan Color that gives it a much more vibrant active matrix TFT LCD, compared to the passive matrix LCD of the original Color. This is the primary and essentially only change between the WonderSwan Color and the SwanCrystal, although the SwanCrystal does have 4 volume presets over the 3 offered by the Color. Easily identified by the non-translucent vibrantly colored case housing (except for Clear Blue SwanCrystals), the lack of a contrast wheel, a rounder and “pill-esque” yellow power button, and the “SwanCrystal” text on the bezel.