Nintendo Handheld Prices by Year, 1989–2019
The Game Boy cost $89.99 in July 1989. The newest, the Nintendo Switch Lite, is $199.99 (Sep 2019), up 122%. Overall U.S. prices rose 169% over the same time, so after inflation it actually got cheaper.
Think you know what things cost? Play today's Inflationdle: guess one real price from the past, six tries, a new item every day.
Nintendo Handheld price history
Handheld, at U.S. launch. "In Aug 2026 dollars" adjusts each price for inflation with the CPI.
| Date | Product | Price | In Aug 2026 dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 2019 ↗ | Nintendo Switch Lite | $199.99 | $260.92 |
| March 2011 ↗ | Nintendo 3DS | $249.99 | $374.74 |
| November 2004 ↗ | Nintendo DS | $149.99 | $263.06 |
| June 2001 ↗ | Game Boy Advance | $99.99 | $188.17 |
| November 1998 ↗ | Game Boy Color | $79.95 | $163.30 |
| July 1989 ↗ | Game Boy | $89.99 | $242.32 |
🔒 marks the answer to a daily Inflationdle round that is being played right now. It fills in here after the round ends.
Source
each handheld's Wikipedia article. Prices are handheld, at U.S. launch. Inflation adjustment: BLS CPI-U, all items (FRED CPIAUCNS).
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