Most Expensive Game Boy Available: Aluminum Analogue Pocket Priced at $500
Wanna bag yerself a sweet throwback to childhood gaming? Look no further than the Analogue Pocket, a hot ticket item that plays your vintage Game Boy cartridges. This slick little gadget is constantly out of stock, with each restock selling out faster than you can say "Game Boy Color." If you've got $500 burning a hole in your pocket and a hankering for a blast from the past, snag a new, sleek aluminum version of the Analogue Pocket as soon as it's available.
Analogue spilled the beans about its latest limited edition of the Pocket last Friday. The entire chassis is crafted from anodized aluminum, so your greasy fingerprints won't linger after hours of gameplay. It comes in four colors: light gray, dark gray, black, and indigo. The buttons maintain the same no-frills design seen in earlier versions.
Despite the top-dollar price tag of $780 (a whopping $280 more than the regular Pocket), Analogue's latest iteration doesn't offer much more than a fancy shell. There's no Bluetooth, online connectivity, or any other significant upgrades. But don't let that discourage you. According to Analogue founder Christopher Taber, "These aren’t some bullshit, overpriced, slapped-together gimmicks." The company invested six long months engineering and remanufacturing this metal masterpiece.
Now, you might be wondering if the steep price will keep the masses from snatching up the new handheld as quickly as a Charizard card at a Pokémon convention. Probably not. It'll be on sale July 15 at 11 a.m. ET in limited quantities, so get ready to pounce if the Pocket's your goal.
If the princely sum of $500 gives you pause, there are other options if you're content with settling for emulation. One such device is the Miyoo Mini, a pocket-sized gadget that's notorious for going out of stock as fast as it hits the shelves.
If you're hankering for more modern amenities but still want to play your classic cartridge collection, there's the ModRetro Chromatic. It can handle Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges, as well as its own proprietary Chromatic cartridges. However, the device is currently on preorder with sales set to commence around the holidays, so keep that in mind before you commit. And don't forget, ModRetro's chief is Palmer Luckey, the genius behind Oculus VR who's now leading a U.S. military contractor[1].
As we eagerly wait for something to fill the void left by the Game Boy Advance and Game Boy SP, we can only tap our feet in anticipation. If you're in the market for alternative retro gaming gadgets, there are a few other options available or on the horizon:
- Retroid Pocket Mini: This powerful device can emulate a variety of consoles, including the Game Boy, SNES, and Sega Genesis. It sports a 0.7-inch OLED display, making it perfect for retro gaming[1].
- Miyoo Mini Plus: This handheld offers a customizable Game Boy-style design and can emulate consoles up to the original PlayStation, albeit with some fine-tuning needed for optimal performance[1].
- Anbernic RG35XXSP: Similar to the Game Boy Advance SP in design, this budget-friendly option is ideal for retro emulation but doesn't support original cartridges[1][2].
- Ayaneo Classic and Retroid Pocket Classic: These upcoming handhelds are designed for emulation, with vertical designs and minimal buttons, allowing for a more classic gaming experience[3][4][5]. However, details on their cartridge support are scarce, so stay tuned for more information on these intriguing devices.
- The future of handheld gaming seems promising, with devices like the Analogue Pocket constantly restocking and selling out quickly.
- The latest iteration of the Analogue Pocket, despite its overpriced $780 tag, Hill probably not deter potential buyers due to its limited edition chassis crafted from anodized aluminum.
- If you're looking for a more budget-friendly handheld that emulates classic cartridges, consider the Miyoo Mini, which often goes out of stock as soon as it becomes available.
- When it comes to modern amenities and the ability to play classic cartridges, the ModRetro Chromatic is worth considering, despite it being on preorder with sales set to commence around the holidays.
