The Game Boy Color is a timeless handheld that was personally my first videogame machine that was exclusively mine. Me and my brother shared an N64 when we were growing up, and that console along with Zelda: Ocarina of Time are the reason I became obsessed with gaming. However, The Game Boy Color, that I received in 1998 along with Pokemon Blue, took my obsession with gaming to another level. I was caught up in the original Pokemon craze. Back then, we thought the screen worked, and we weren’t too bothered that it didn’t have a backlight, we knew it would have been too expensive for Nintendo to add one.

In recent years, there have been a few companies releasing easy to install ‘drop in’ backlit screen kits for the Game Boy Color. We have come a long way since 1998. Some of these kits, the laminated versions (where the screen and lens are one panel), have increased the size of the screen compared to original screens. In early 2026, Hispeedido have released a screen kit with the biggest screen that we’ve seen so far. This kit is drop in with a huge 2.8 inch screen. Read on for a short review of a Game Boy Color screen kit, with a screen bigger than any Game Boy Color screen ever.

Installation

The kit comes in Hispeedido’s regular hard plastic case. It is durable. Inside, comes the screen with motherboard, ribbon cables, and some wires in case you wish to solder and have the screen functions controlled by buttons rather than touch sensors. The screen looks great, and as it is laminated you don’t need to worry about using a bracket, or having problems with aligning the screen.

This kit is drop-in. This means that you don’t need to solder any wires for it to work. Nowadays, most Game Boy Color kits are drop-in. Shows how far we have come from using magnifiers and add-on lights back at the end of the 90s. The installation is fun and there’s very little chance of messing it up. However, you have to be carful with the ribbon cables. If they rip the kit probably won’t work. Also, you need a shell that is specifically designed for this 2.8 inch kit. A shell for a 2.5 inch screen will not work. My advice is to get the shell along with the kit.

Visuals and Performance

You might think that for an 8-bit handheld having the graphics blown up to large sizes would make the image blurry. To a certain extent it does look less crisp than on smaller screens. However, none of the charm is lost, and you see the all action, pixel by pixel. The screen does well in intense action, and I haven’t notice any graphical glitches or dead pixels.

Unlike the FunnyPlaying laminated screen, the 2.8 inch doesnt have a backlit Game Boy Color logo. This is a slight disappointment as the logo looks very cool on models where it is lit. However, all the other screen options are here just like older hispeedido kits. The touch pads are easy to orientate within the shell. My advice is take your time and use some tweezers to place them along the top of the shell. Compared to having to solder to vias, using the touch pads are easily the best and most convenient option.

Conclusion

Overall, the Hispeedido 2.8 inch Laminated IPS Screen Kit is ony of the best IPS screen kits available for the Game Boy Color. It has the biggest display out of any of the Game Boy Color screen kit that have released up to this point. The original Game Boy Color had a tiny screen, even compared to the OG Game Boy, and the Game Boy Pocket. The 2.8 inch has all the features of other Hispeedido GBC screen kits. It is drop-in which means it is convenient and easy to install. I’d advice using the touch pads rather than soldering to vias for the screen controls to be button based. Soldering to vias is notoriously prodlematic, and I avoid it where ever possible. Whether you choose this kit over any other comes down to personal preference.

As far as negtives go, the logo isn’t backlit. This a minor issue, but it makes the kit feel less premium. Also, as the Game Boy Color is 8-bit, having the graphics blown up to 2.8 inches may make the gameplay look less crisp.

However, I think it comes down to whether you want the larger screen that is easer to see in comparison to a smaller screen that is harder to see but may look more crisp. This kit is one of the top tier kits, and again Hispeedido have shown that they can compete and even innovate more than their rival FunnyPlaying. I can’t wait to see what both companies do next.

BongoBongo123

BongoBongo123 is an avid Zelda fan who also likes the odd game of Smash. His interests in gaming are broad but he loves a good Metroidvania or action RPGs.