Upgrade Your Game Boy Advance SP Battery With the Megabat 800mAh
231In this episode, we walk you through the steps to Upgrade Your Game Boy Advance SP Battery with the Megabat 800mAh Battery, available from Stone Aged Gamer.
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
1:01 - Unboxing
2:02 - Disassembly
2:42 - Comparisons with OEM
2:51 - Optional Battery Spacer
3:24 - Installation with Battery Spacer
4:00 - Optional USB Charging Adapter
4:41 - Initial Impressions
It is hard to believe that the Game Boy Advance is nearly 20 years old, but that just means that the Game Boy Advance SP turned 18 in February of 2021! One of the major improvements on the GBA SP over the original was the inclusion of a rechargeable battery instead of relying on expensive alkaline batteries. While a lot less expensive over its life, even these batteries wear out. That means there are a ton of handhelds out there with aging batteries that may be approaching the end of their useful life, and it's a matter of when not if you will need to replace your GBA SP battery. While not something widely advertised, the battery from the Game Boy Advance SP can actually be replaced, and all you need is a jewelers screwdriver.
The folks from Stone Age Gamer actually gave us the hook-up with the MegaBatt 800, a replacement for the original battery with a few twists. Where the original had a 600mAh LiIon, or Lithium Ion battery pack the MegaBatt800 uses an 800mAh LiPO, or Lithium Polymer battery. Now, having spent as much time in the RC world and with different batteries as I have there's some good and concern here. First, 200mAh of extra capacity means more playtime per charge. That's very good. The concern I have is that LiIon and LiPO batteries don't charge quite the same way, at least in the RC World. There are different charger settings and configurations for each, and I honestly don't believe the charger integrated into the GBA SP properly determines cell-type. You should be ok, but if you ever notice the battery starting to puff or swell, completely discharge it and dispose of it IMMEADIATELY! I really would have preferred seeing LiIon for the cell type here, just for safety sake.
To swap out the battery packs, all you need is a jewelers screwdriver. Unlike other Nintendo products they didn't rely on Tri-Wing or Security Bits, which is greatly appreciated. Once inside the GBA SP, simply pop the old battery out and safely dispose of it. The MegaBatt800 is slightly shorter than the OEM battery, so to accommodate for this they include a small 3D printed shim to take up any excess space. While I felt my contact was fine I used the spacer, just in-case. I charged the MegaBatt 800 up using my USB pigtail shown in the video and played for a few hours while watching a NASCAR race. Overall battery life was significantly improved over the original battery in my GBA SP, and there weren't any issues that I ran into.
Why It RoX:
- Only $11.99
- Roughly 35% more capacity than the original
- Included spacer to ensure proper fitment
- Super easy to install
What Could Be Improved:
- Changing chemical types without changing the charger makes me nervous
- LiPo batteries NEED to have a Low Voltage Cutoff to prevent possible damage to the battery, there's no indication that this does.
Should You Buy One?
On the surface level this is an incredible upgrade for those with aging Game Boy Advance SP batteries. As I mentioned it is not a matter of if but when you'll need to replace your battery. I am glad to see that the MegaBatt800 sticks with a Lithium-based battery type instead of opting for NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) as that would have definitely been a no-go for me. That being said, I will be paying attention for signs of battery swelling or puffing, a common occurrence with LiPo batteries that are not charged or discharged properly. I also wish there was some kind, any kind, of documentation to go with the battery. LiPo batteries need to be kept above 3.0 volts per cell. Below 3.0 volts and you can risk damaging the battery. Does the MegaBatt800 have some sort of integrated circuitry, as some batteries can indeed have, to prevent over charging or over discharging? These are important questions that simply lead to more questions. I will be sharing these concerns with Stone Age Gamer and asking that they look into them and address them on the product page.
#GameBoyAdvanceSP #GBASPBattery #StoneAgeGamer
The footage used in this review are used under the Fair Use laws, referenced below:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/107
(Pub. L. 94–553, title I, § 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2546; Pub. L. 101–650, title VI, § 607, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5132; Pub. L. 102–492, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3145.)