The MiSTer core powered Chromatic Game Boy Color handheld is now in stock, with no pre-order window – Just place your order and they should ship right away. The price is still $200, but there also appears to be a version that uses a Sapphire screen, instead of the Gorilla glass it usually comes with. That version is $300 and Modretro claims it’s the “most scratch-resistant display available, second only to diamond in hardness“. A slow-motion video was also posted (below) that showed the latency of the Chromatic matching the original GBA and being slightly faster than the Analog Pocket. While a $200 (or $300!?) GBC isn’t for everyone, this certainly is a premium option for people interested. More info below the link:
Purchase Here: https://modretro.com/
If you’re unaware, the Chromatic is an FPGA-based GBC clone, made with quality and performance as the focus. It has a custom screen designed only for this device, that looks excellent. And while it’s really pricey, it’s not that much more than buying an original GBC and modding it with a new screen, lens, case, etc. It’s not for everyone, but people who own it seem to love it.
Also, my guess on the lag testing, is the Analogue Pocket is using a screen that’s actually rotated 90″ from it’s intended position. This would require a buffer to draw the image and is probably adding a frame of lag. Which absolutely isn’t “bad”, but less is always better.
Lastly, if you’d like to see a really interesting tear-down of the Chromatic, definitely check out the video below from Ken!
Latency comparison between Analogue Pocket, ModRetro Chromatic, and Nintendo Game Boy Color.
We have the best FPGA engineers in the industry because we have to – it is nearly impossible to make pixel-perfect jumps when you are dozens of pixels off and more than a frame behind! pic.twitter.com/z339gNGcIJ
— Palmer Luckey (@PalmerLuckey) June 1, 2025
