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Nintendo Game Boy Pocket

First written November 9, 2024

Nintendo's Game Boy Pocket was the first redesigned handheld in the Game Boy range, with a slightly large and truly black-and-white display instead of the green and black display of the DMG-style Game Boys. The Game Boy Pocket was first released in 1996 and runs on two AAA batteries instead of the four AAs of the original. Earlier examples did not have a power/battery indicator LED but it was added back in at some point in earlier 1997 and seemingly before the western releases began. The Game Boy Pocket remained in production in Japan all the way into 2003, apparently.

Silver (1996)

The original silver Game Boy Pocket has a nice matching silver screen surround. I really like the look that this lens gives the Game Boy.

The Game Boy Pocket has its contrast dial on the right side, with the new second-generation link cable port and volume dial on the right. The power switch is to the top left like the original, although it (and future Game Boys) lack the physical cartridge lock of the DMGs.

The later power-LED-equipped Pockets used the standard dark grey screen surround. This one is a later Chinese production example, and is a little beat up.

Clear (1996)

The clear Game Boy Pocket. This is an earlier example without the power LED but it was later released in the west with one.

Green (1996)

Earlier green Game Boy Pocket.

Nintendo used the same color plastics as on the Play it Louds and some of their colored cartridges, so the Pocket goes well with them. These earlier LEDless Pockets have a red sticker on part of the sliding power switch that shows through the top of the casing to show it is on.

Red (1996)

Later red Game Boy Pocket with battery level indicator LED, although not too late for Japanese production.

Black (1996)

Black Game Boy Pocket with LED. Looks great with type II cartridges. This is a later example made in China with the large rear barcode sticker used on western releases.

DMG-style (1996)

This neat grey variant with purple buttons and a special screen surround was produced both without and with a power LED. Mine is well-used.

Atomic Purple (1997)

The first of Nintendo's Atomic Purple translucent products, this was a Japanese exclusive that went on sale in 1997 after the power LED was added.

Pink (1997)

Another Japanese exclusive released in 1997. This one has a cute shiny star sticker left on the back.

Hello Kitty Sanrio Fortune Telling Party (1997)

This Japanese variation with Sanrio and Hello Kitty branding was sold with the Sanrio Fortune Telling Party game by Imagineer. This is the only Game Boy of any variation that I actually have the box for! It even has the original paperwork, including the manual for the game - but the actual game wasn't in the box when I bought it! It was pretty cheap, and I mostly wanted the Game Boy anyways.

The neat Hello Kitty Game Boy Pocket, with her face in the bottom left corner and name around the speaker.

I scanned the manual included with the Hello Kitty Game Boy Pocket, which has the matching serial number sticker on the back. The front cover shows the revised Game Boy Pocket with power LED

Health and safety and a table of contents

More health and safety info, including an insistence that you only use the original Game Boy headphones for proper stereo sound and volume

More health and safety - operating temperatures, a second section telling you not to insert or remove games with the power on, battery information

The layout and some of the features of the Game Boy Pocket... and a third reminder to not put games in with the power on. This was impossible thanks to the physical cartridge lockout on the DMG-style Game Boys

Inserting batteries and cartridges and turning the system on

Troubleshooting steps - did you change the batteries? Are you using stereo headphones designed for the Game Boy?

Accessories for the Game Boy Pocket - the Pocket-specific link cable was not originally available, with the MGB-004 adapter instead converting the existing DMG-04 link cable. A new AC adapter and a new version of the rechargeable battery pack were produced as the Game Boy Pocket accepts 3 volts instead of the 6 required by the original Game Boy.

Product specifications and VCCI (Voluntary Control Council for Interference) information, saying that the device may cause interference. The top box on page 16 mentions that this Game Boy Pocket is a special edition limited production item and that repairs will be done with regularly available parts.

Warranty and service information

Battery information (don't throw them in the fire)

Don't spill water on the Game Boy, don't leave it in a hot car, don't throw it in a fire

More don't, don't take it apart or listen to it too loud, don't put a cartridge in with it turned on, don't put the Game Boy Pocket in your pocket

More health and safety, warning of the chance of seizures and to not play it while driving.

There was also a separate battery information card saying to change the batteries if the screen turns off suddenly. I suspect this leaflet may have been included with the earlier battery indicator LED-less version of the Pocket.

In addition to the colors and styles shown here, I've also had blue and yellow Pockets at some time, as well as, I think, a red one without the power LED.