USB-C Charging (GBA SP)
The Game Boy Advance SP can support USB-C charging with nothing more than connecting the 5V USB power to the EXT2 port pins.
A simple carrier board can be created to hold a USB-C port, and connect the 5V rail to pin 2, and ground to ground.
Audio can also be routed if designed correctly to allow USB-C to 3.5mm headphone jack support.
I made the only perfect USB-C port for the GBA-SP due to no others ever getting it right, despite years of them being on the market.
Our USB-C port supports:
- Shell closes perfectly without cuts
- USB-C port perfectly center
- Speaker audio quality completely unaffected
- USB-C to C cable works both ways, charges at full rate, and keeps internal speaker working
- USB-A to C cable works and charges at full rate, and keeps internal speaker working
- USB-C audio adapter included. Internal speaker mutes when connected and true stereo out of headphones
I started documenting my designs with reference to existing mods on the market as unfortunately the Game Boy scene specifically is full of glory hunters and cloners.
I have a huge issue with my designs being cloned and then lies spread saying I stole others designs when it is ironically the other way around.
The main issue being no support for USB-C to C charging and audio support at the same time. With cables only working one way. This I have solved, and this is what is likely to get "cloned" or as the scene will say they just "discovered it on their own" just after April :D.
For reference, below is the current state of the USB-C Port market, after it's been stable for over 2 years. Meaning if the inventors could figure out and improve on the design to fix the shortcomings they would of by now.
The RetroSix USB-C port is releasing on April 30th, 2025. Below is the current state of all other known mods at this time.
To install the RetroSix USB-C mod and all others is pretty much the same.
Desolder the old connector (I like to use hot air) and solder on the new USB-C port.
There are many USB-C ports on the market. However, not a single one does it right. They have one of the following issues or more:
- USB-C port not centered
- USB-C to C not supported
- USB-C to C cables only work one way
- Audio doesn't pass through so not audio support
- Audio passes through but doesn't mute speaker
We have FunnyPlaying which have models that don't work with USB-C to C at all, and another design that doesn't work with USB-C to C cables both ways:
Hispeedido doesn't support USB-C at all, is not centered.
Robot Retro doesn't support USB-C at all, is not centered, and is just a direct clone 1:1 of Hispeedido.
Giltesa doesn't support USB-C to C cables both ways and looking at the resistors isn't even configured correctly for USB-C but apparently works for that at least (but only one way around).
A very common problem with installing the small USB-C carrier boards is the end user ripping traces and vias in the area. This is sometimes due to poor quality USB-C boards by makers, and sometimes due to poor soldering/install attempts.
Either way, watch how to repair them on our YouTube.
Here are some easy to solder points which you can solder to if you have torn the pins on the GBA SP PCB.
These pins are on the front side of the PCB right by the EXT2 port, and pin 5 (headphone detect) is over to the top left above D-Pad Up.
Simple solder to these points and directly to your USB-C board if you have ripped traces.
