Game Boy Pocket

In 1996, Nintendo released the Game Boy Pocket: a smaller, lighter unit than the Game Boy that requires fewer batteries. It requires two AAA batteries, which provide about 10 hours of game play. The Pocket has a smaller link port, which requires an adapter to link with the older Game Boy. The port design is used on all subsequent Game Boy models, excluding the Game Boy micro. The screen was changed to a true black-and-white display, rather than the "pea soup" monochromatic display of the original Game Boy. The first version, which was silver, did not have an LED to show battery levels. This was soon added due to public demand, along with new Game Boy Pocket units of different colors, some of them new to the Game Boy line.

Game Boy Light
An updated version of the Game Boy Pocket entitled the Game Boy Light was released only in Japan. Its main new feature is an integrated backlight. It is slightly larger than the regular Game Boy Pocket, and takes two AA batteries which provide approximately 20 hours with the light off and 12 hours with the light on. It was available in gold and silver colours.

The Game Boy Light was the only Nintendo handheld to contain a backlight until the release of the Nintendo DS in 2004 (the Game Boy Advance SP uses a frontlight).