IPS Ready Upgraded eXtremeRate Clear Blue Custom Replacement Housing Shell for Gameboy Advance SP GBA SP – Compatible with Both IPS & Standard LCD – Console & Screen NOT Included

ExtremeRate has done it again. Every single product I have purchased from them has been spot on in quality, value, and aesthetics and this one was no different. I cannot tell you how many different GBA SP shells I’ve tried from various sellers and they all felt cheap, light, and creaky. They never felt as good as the OEM shell and the pieces didn’t fit together perfectly. This feels as good if not better than the OEM shell and is drop dead gorgeous. It’s subtly transparent so you can see the internal PCB but the she’ll still has a durable matte finish that feels premium in the hand. This shell is rock solid. I personally recommend getting the Torx screws from Handheld Legend as they are better quality and won’t strip as easily as the ones in this kit but the included screwdrivers are good enough to not strip the default ones if you’re careful. Stunned at how premium this shell is given the price and cannot recommend this brand enough.

Just as with any review I want to preface this by saying I use my own tools and I generally use all the original OEM screws where possible.I have been modding multiple systems over the past year and I greatly enjoyed the quality of the shells that ExtremeRate has to offer (just wish that they offered an olive/swamp clear green color for the Rayquaza shell inserts) for both the GBA SP and the NDSL (I have reviewed those housings on Amazon as well). They're without a doubt one of the first names a recommend for reviving old consoles such as these. They're not only mod friendly (IPS ready) but they're also engineered well. Id go as far as saying theyre better than OEM shells (manufacturers have come a long ways since the GBA SP days). They have good tolerances which allow for a snappy, fresh out of the factory feel. A lot of shells out there just don't feel as tactile as these ones. When it really boils down to it, I am not sure you can this high of quality for this low of a price.Now onto the three I have bought, the two transparent ones are by far my favorite. The ABS material and finish make these not only feel good to the touch but also make them very wear resistant. The color of these two shells was just about what you'd expect from the photos. The only thing I'd say they should change is the "Emerald Green" is much more a sea green color (which my wife loved). However if they did make a shell that was the same color as the Pokémon Emerald color, I'd throw my money at them without hesitation.Now onto the golden boy. I have to say, I loved it for about a month and then the fingerprint magnet finish began to bother me a bit. If you simply want this as a display piece, this is the shell for you. Otherwise you may want to keep a polishing cloth nearby (in my case with in the carrying container I stored it in). There is nothing wrong with the functionality of the shell in fact it was just as good performance wise as the other two.I know this could be a topic that some might be curious about so here's my thought on the buttons that came with these kits. They're possibly the best buttons I have ever installed on a gaming device in years. They're very durable and they also fit excellent. I even bought some for a cheap Rayquaza shell I bought on Amazon because the Rayquaza shell buttons where smaller than the OEM. I'd highly recommend the membranes and buttons that come with these kits.The only troubles I had with the kits were the quality of the screws. I'd love to pay a few more dollars just to have better screws. The Philips heads screws were not honestly bad but the tri-wing screws were abysmal. This is one of those moments I'd recommend using the OEM hardware or if ExtremeRate wants to improve these kits just simply including all Philips head screws with the correct length and pitch.

So I heard the hype about this product, but having been involved in the modding scene, it seems like every brand of shell has it's issues. This one is it's screws. With these being the most expensive normal plastic shells I've seen, so you'd hope they would be better quality screws involved. You sneeze on them wrong and the tops will strip. Use original screws, or the one that come in the funny playing kit. Anything would be better than these. You just The shell itself is great though. They feel sturdy and higher quality than most, but will be difficult for me to recommend at it's premium price, unless you have prime and get the 2 day shipping. It does come with 2 tools, which is helpful, but would have rather traded those for better screws. Most of us in the modding scene already have the tools needed anyway. I do love the feel of these though. I got the transparent red due to the funny playing shell cracking in several places. It was pretty to look at as it was more of a candy red like pokemon ruby game, and it was a glossy, so prone to prints and smears a bit. This brand feels more satisfying in my hands though, and has a comfy weight to it now. My go with with a solid color next time though. These are definitely higher quality shells than funny playing, and does fit the IPS funny playing screen, though it is a bit off center as a previous review reads. It's hardly noticeable unless you're looking for it, but combined FP screen, FP's GBA SP battery, and this shell, you'll be pretty happy.