The Future of Retro Gaming: Inside the ModRetro Chromatic

What would it look like if you updated your favorite Retro handheld gaming system with technology from today, not to make it more powerful, just to make it the best version of itself.

Meet the ModRetro Chromatic, an all new take on the classic Gameboy Color handheld from 1998. It’s time to open up the Chromatic and answer the biggest question on my mind: will it outlast the original Game Boy Color? Let’s find out!

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Chapters
00:00 ModRetro Chromatic overview and CT Scans
00:53 Removing the game cartridge and batteries
00:59 The rear panel is held in place with screws
01:25 The battery case comes out so easily!
01:45 The motherboard is held down by one screw
01:51 Chip ID
02:08 All the buttons come out
02:19 Finally the speaker comes out
02:36 What is up with the ModRetro Display?
03:38 Game cartridge teardown and comparison
04:33 Final thoughts

#ModRetro, #chromatic, #ifixitteardown
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[briandadude]

That Wario Land 3 game is FAKE! HAHA you got swindled.

[SonicRainbow]

the nice thing about this taking AA batteries is that this will remain usable long after they stop selling the battery pack unlike the pocket where to this day you still can't buy a replacement for its rechargeable battery. on my launch pocket I'm definitely noticing the wear on its battery and wish it were easier to replace.

[Felly]

Your authentic game is an old school repo cart. The original has a much larger board.

[Anonymous-fwtt]

Its ironic you're saying it's apparent how technology has progressed when showing the Modretro cartridge yet the other game you then proceed to show is a cheap modern chinese bootleg cartridge... THAT is not at all how an original GBC game PCB looks.

[TroyRubert]

Love mine. The screen really is amazing.

[deadvikingtrolls]

The screen means we won't be modding this for other systems. Suits me, it's perfect for gb/gbc games. Thanks for the tear down. It's nice to see there's no battery in modretro's tetris so I can get attached.

[therealvictorpo]

Eventhough I'm not a diehard fan, I am going to buy one for the love that went into them.

[NicholasKuilder]

I wonder how easily the insides of the ModRetro could be transplanted into an original GBC shell

[BenArg]

My ir window came slanted. I noticed the eye sore when I took it out of the box. Mine is a GameStop exclusive. I'm wondering what I should do. I have the ifix it kit but again IDK if I should send it back.. the power button had 2 clicks instead of one.. I ended up returning it and the second one I got the volume button was bent and was hard to scroll. I'm on my third and everything is good so far aside from the slanted ir window it also has that's less of an issue like the other 2.

[jjmcook]

A small thought on yet another fine tear-down and review:

At this point aren't tri-point and pentalobe screws exceedingly common due to their widespread use in electronics and the resulting tools to deal with them readily available? Perhaps it's time to retire this particular gripe when doing repair-ability reviews/tear-downs?

[ericochoa]

The tetris cart looks like a modern gbc flash cart. Wondering if you could flash your own rom?

[aisback]

Impressive, I’ll stick to my pocket but I wish the pocket was this repairable

[bitnation]

I have the Analogue Pocket and a modded GBA, GBC and an original DMG Gameboy. Yet after watching this video I now want a Chromatic. Also may need to reshoot the scene with Wario Land 3. That game is fake.

[overdriver]

very nice video. thanks.. I was wondering what is inside.

[gabest]

Original: "so powerful this could land us on the Moon"
Moden desing: "so powerful this could land us on the Moon"
Where is the progress?

[davidschaub]

Isn't the speaker contact more of a spring contact rather than a pogo pin?

[matthewgragg]

My Chromatic has screen issues and doesn't want to play some of my games.

[mike_wake]

Ah yes, the military industrial complex gameboy

[mariowario]

Bro quit the glazing. The dpad trace is directly below rocker plastic!

[xirxes]

Just a reminder that Palmer Lucky is a weapons dealer. Not a deal breaker for most, but worth noting who you're giving money to.