I've been messing around with Game Boys and clones for years at this point, but remakes like the Modretro Chromatic hit a bit different. While many copycat emulation handhelds sometimes miss the mark on authenticity, the FPGA device takes Nintendo's original concept and injects it with premium vibes. The catch? Well, it's pretty darn expensive, but if you are hellbent on getting one, it just dipped under $170 for Black Friday.
Normally, the Modretro Chromatic will set you back $199.99, and that's for the cheaper version with a Gorilla Glass screen. However, that model is now $169 thanks to the aforementioned 15% Black Friday retro deal, and the bougie Sapphire screen edition is now $239.99 rather than 300 bucks.
The Modretro Chromatic is undeniably one of the best retro handheld options for playing physical Game Boy Color games. That's not to say it's the absolute top contender, as for $219.99, the Analogue Pocket is going to provide you with a more comprehensive portable experience. You're talking cartridge support everything from the Game Boy Advance to even the Sega Game Gear, Atari Lynx, Neo Geo Pocket Color, and even the PC Engine, and it can even serve as a retro console stand-in thanks to openFPGA support.
If I'm being real, the Analogue Pocket is in a different league. That said, you could argue that its ambitions do result in it being slightly less authentic than the Chromatic. By focusing solely on GB/GBC functionality, Modretro has created a handheld that feels like a premium version of the original in the hands, especially since it sticks to using just A and B buttons and a similar screen size packed into a magnesium alloy shell.
While the Chromatic does use a shiny new 2.56-inch backlit IPS display, it happens to be the exact same 160 x 144 resolution as the Game Boy Color. This is something that helps the Chromatic achieve super-accurate pixel accuracy that saves the need for emulating scanlines or effects, in turn providing a true representation of original visuals across the original Game Boy and GBC libraries.
That's not to say you can't achieve similar results with the Pocket; the company has a real knack for making authentic-feeling visual filters. It can even match the Chromatic's color tones using selectable options, which all result in accurate graphics across a larger 3.5-inch, 1600 x 1440 display. Plus, you'll have the option to go for a more vibrant, saturated vibe or even no scanline effects at all if that's your preference.
Both Modretro and Analogue take wildly different approaches to modern Game Boy features too, even outside of the aforementioned wider cartridge and FPGA support. The Chromatic does have some neat tricks up its sleeve, like native video streaming over USB-C, the option for either AA batteries or a rechargeable pack, and the ability to patch cartirdges using "Cart Clinic" software.
However, the Pocket leads the charge in terms of integrated abilities, boasting everything from save states and screenshots to a library that will track all your inserted cartridges and provide metadata. That all might feel like it'll cramp the '90s plug-and-play nature that the Pocket is going for, but you're ultimately getting more functionality with Analogue's portable.
The TL;DR here is that if you do want a modern way to play Game Boy cartridges with great accuracy and an authentic backlit screen, the Modretro Chromatic is well worth a look for under $170. There's plenty of room to argue that the Pocket is a better all-around FPGA solution for retro handheld gaming, but just like the recently released Analogue 3D 4K N64 console, stock drops are a rare occurrence.
It is well worth noting that Modretro's Founder, Oculus Quest creator Palmer Luckey, also founded the US defense contractor Anduril. That in itself will lead to some players waiting for Pocket restocks or exploring other emulation options, understandably on moral grounds. If you can look past that, the Chromatic is a super authentic Game Boy Color remake, but there is no shortage of other options out there.
Looking for more handheld-shaped offers? Swing by Black Friday Steam Deck deals for Valve discounts and more. You'll want to peek at Black Friday gaming monitor deals and Black Friday 120Hz 4K TV deals, too for discounted displays big and small.
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