Custom buttons for the Gameboy Advance follow the same principle as the Pocket version — aftermarket button sets transform the appearance of the handheld immediately and at very low cost, with no soldering or electronic knowledge required. The GBA has a slightly larger button array than the Pocket: A and B buttons, D-pad, Start and Select, L and R shoulder buttons, and the Power switch. All of these can be swapped with aftermarket alternatives available in a huge range of colours and materials.
The Process
Disassembly follows the standard GBA procedure — Tri-Wing screws on the back, Philips inside, careful handling of the ribbon cable. The buttons sit in the front shell and simply lift out; the silicone membranes beneath them are equally straightforward to replace. The shoulder buttons have small springs that need careful handling during reassembly — they’re the most commonly lost component in GBA mods, so keeping them somewhere safe during the swap is worth a moment’s thought. New buttons drop straight into the shell cutouts.
Verdict
Custom GBA buttons are a satisfying, risk-free introduction to Gameboy modding — the work is accessible to anyone comfortable with small screwdrivers, the cost is minimal, and the results are immediately visible. Pairing custom buttons with a new shell and eventually a backlit IPS screen creates a genuinely excellent retro gaming handheld that outperforms the original in every way except authenticity. A recommended starting point for the GBA modding journey.
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