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Reviews (2)
29 April 2017
Best Bang for Buck, Some Faults
1 of 1 found this helpful Pros: it's under $20, plays most games, is lightgun-compatible, it's small, the controllers are good, sound for most games works fine. Lots of games work as intended and without a lot of a difference.
Cons: It grips cartridges very heavily (common issue with Famiclones), cartridges tend to have some wiggle and can require fussing with them or blowing cart to run fine, cartridge connector is not very good and pins lift a little after repeated use, sound is not perfect on every game (Super Mario Bros, for instance, seems to almost be missing a sound channel or something), plastic housing on console and controllers is cheap plastic, a rare video image jump to left and right, PCB looks cheaply put together inside and components are not very good quality.
Missed opportunities: no branding on the controllers which makes them look bare in the top-middle, no coax out (RCA only, mono audio/yellow and white plugs only), voltage is 6V which throws off being able to use USB for power input, could've used ABS plastic and they didn't, could've used better components but didn't.
Things I love: the controllers are actually pretty good and feature turbo and slow, aside from no branding and cheap outer housing. Most games work just fine with little difference. It's compact, about the size of 2 NES cartridges. It's simple and easy to set up, aside from some catridge frustrations.
Thoughts: You know, Hyperkin, if you just made your console with quality parts, you could charge more money, build brand loyalty, and I would totally buy it. I would drop $50 on the same device but with sturdier plastic, professionally made PCB with quality components, and a better cartridge connector. Your concept is phenomenal but you're held back by how cheap it was made.
08 October 2016
Excellent 3rd Party Kit!
Very satisfied with this kit and having bought it. Before you do, keep in mind a few things: this is NOT made by Nintendo, and as such there might be some imperfections in manufacturing, but if you can get past that this is a great kit to fix up a cut-up GBA SP.
Pros:
--Case feels good despite different plastic used.
--Case is manufactured to be almost exactly like OEM, down to screw holes and part dimensions.
--Compatible with OEM buttons, power/charge plastic piece, etc., as it was a copy of the OEM model's shell.
--Adhesive Nintendo logo was actually passable!
--Shell decal looks amazing and was applied well.
--Opens fine, everything seats fine inside.
Cons:
--About a 95% perfect fit. Seam does still end up a tiny bit off but not noticeable except at very close distance.
--Tri-wing screws included are dome-shaped and push out the screen's rubber feet. Use OEM around screen if possible.
--Hinges, glass screen, battery cover sticker not included. Salvage from previous unit.
--You may prefer your own serial number label if it's in good condition.
--Plastic grooves for buttons are a little sunken in, affecting use of OEM start/select/light buttons but not enough to ruin use. Included buttons work fine, in comparison.
--Not original plastic, but is very sturdy despite.
Not sure if con:
--Screen snaps open but does not snap closed. Not sure if due to my hinges.
You'll also need:
--Y0 Tri-wing screwdriver
--00 Phillips screwdriver
--Something to get under screen's rubber feet, i.e. pen knife, pin, etc.
--Tweezers
--Pair of Hinges from a GBA SP.
--Motherboard, screen, screen cover.
--A tutorial if you're not well versed in refurbishing electronics, instructions not included.