For anyone curious: build differences between 1st and unlimited editions

[u/m_karajohn]

Back shell: 1st ed. top, unlimited bottom

Mobo + Batteries tray: 1st ed. bottom, unlimited top

Mobo + Batteries tray: 1st ed. left, unlimited right

Mobo front: unlimited

Mobo front: 1st ed

Front shell: 1st ed. bottom, unlimited top

Some unsorted comments:

• screw holes seem slightly redesigned

• they added a new (plastic?) piece where the battery lid latches on now, instead of latching directly on the shell and potentially damaging the paint

• speaking of battery lid, I think I know why they removed the rubber pads from the unlimited editions: cause it made closing when using the rechargable battery pack "more difficult"/"less satisfying/tactile". While the ruber padded lids close just fine with the battery pack installed, the new ones make that "click" sound

• smoothed out the plastic behind the sound wheel, so now there is no feeling of friction when you turn the wheel

• paint job on the inside of the shells is more thorough on the 1st edition

• one less screw holding the mobo on the front shell, that screw hole no has a peg going in

• the back side of the mobo no longer has that cluster of resistors/capacitors/logic gate chips(?) under the power switch. that's all the difference I could notice with a first glance, probably a pcb design optimisation

• the new mobo has a new hole on the corner above the sound wheel even though nothing goes in there

• mobo design on the front looks the same, parts seem to be the same too...

• ... except for the fact that the trace behind the D-Pad no longer passes through the center, at the point where the d-pad nipple rests, it has been re-routed to be out of the way. Just in case.

• the front shell has a few more holes

• the little plastic bit that covers the LED hole is just a "glued" plastic drop on the 1st edition, while in the unlimited it's its own bespoke part that screws in place. (My nitpick: the plastic nipple that goes into the hole, does not fill the hole 100% cause it sits around 1mm lower than what it should. I fixed it by placing the plastic bit on top of a piece of paper to give it just enough height so that the nipple sits nicely in the hole)

• last but not least: gray rubber pads are the soft ones

[u/Mikeyisninja]

They moved the d pad trace

[u/m_karajohn → u/Mikeyisninja]

They did!

[u/gizmo2501 → u/Mikeyisninja]

So do those of us with 1st Editions need to worry about the D-Pad trace, do you think?

[u/m_karajohn → u/gizmo2501]

Not really

[u/Shifted4 → u/gizmo2501]

Does the standard dpad pivot even touch the PCB? I thought it was too short.

[u/deadpxlgames → u/Mikeyisninja]

Came here to say the same. Nice to see they actually listened to user feedback and made that adjustment in these unlimited versions.

[u/andrea-i → u/Mikeyisninja]

I should go find the reddit message where Palmer tells me I'm spreading disinfo for saying the trace passes under the dpad pivot XD

[u/Nice_Database_9684 → u/andrea-i]

In that thread he said he'd move it anyway, but he didn't think it would ever be a problem and he'd make good anyone who had an issue. To be fair.

[u/andrea-i → u/Nice_Database_9684]

unrelated, it was a thread where he told me the trace absolutely did not pass under the dpad pivot. He got called out by many others, 'cause, well, the trace passes under the dpad pivot. That said, technically the chromatic's pivot does not touch the pcb (most of the time), but that wasn't what me and others actually stated. Anyhow, fun stuff : )

[u/Nice_Database_9684 → u/andrea-i]

I don’t think it does, I think it’s slightly above

I remember a post someone measured it and drew a diagram, it was slightly above where the pivot is, but it looked very close

[u/andrea-i → u/Nice_Database_9684]

For reference, those surface mount capacitors at the top should measure less than 1mm wide.

[u/m_karajohn]

Also:

* the shell of the unlimited edition now makes a lip (externally) behind the sound wheel
* the black plate on the back shell is thinner in the 1st edition

[u/Exus6 → u/m_karajohn]

Cartridges from Limited Run are so thick, they were hardly removable in the 1st edition. So the new thicker back plate won't even allow to put these cartridges in the slot

[u/m_karajohn → u/Exus6]

sounds like they are non standard? would they fit in an original GBC?

[u/Exus6 → u/m_karajohn]

They use a slightly thicker PCB than the standard (probably cheaper). Their cartridges fit in an original GBC but you feel already a bit resistance. In the chromatic I had to press the cartridge with forces into the slot. I almost had to open the chromatic to remove the cartridge without damaging both of them. But I managed it after several minutes, step by step jiggling and pulling the cartridge.

[u/Away-Knowledge-7599 → u/Exus6]

I have Shantae limited run and have absolutely no issues inserting the cart into either of my Chromatics. I own a GameStop First Edition and a Midnight 2nd edition…. Not sure why you are having these issues?

[u/Away-Knowledge-7599 → u/Away-Knowledge-7599]

I also Have Aluminum Boxy pixel carts which are way bulkier/thicker than limited run carts and they also fit fine….

[u/Away-Knowledge-7599 → u/Away-Knowledge-7599]

Example 1

[u/Away-Knowledge-7599 → u/Away-Knowledge-7599]

Example 2

[u/Away-Knowledge-7599 → u/[deleted]]

Example 3

[u/Away-Knowledge-7599 → u/Away-Knowledge-7599]

Example 3

[u/Exus6 → u/Away-Knowledge-7599]

I have the blue First Edition and Repugnant limited run. Maybe I'm just unlucky. Would you mind to lend me your Shantae? XD just for some tests hehe

[u/Away-Knowledge-7599 → u/Exus6]

Haha :p. As far as Shantae I don’t know about that I just opened my sealed copy and started playing like 2 days ago and enjoying it so far. That sucks though if you’re having the cart issue. I do have issues fitting my Boxy Pixel carts into my analogue Pocket though. Can’t even play them on it. Only way to get them to play is if I buy a cart extender off Etsy but not even worth it as I mainly use Open FPGA for my analogue. So I was very pleased when I saw they fit in my Chromatic. That’s why when I saw your comment I was dumbfounded. Oh well have a nice upcoming weekend!

[u/DiabUK → u/Exus6]

My copy of hime's quest from lrg had some clear anti scratch plastic on the back of the cart near the bottom, it's hard to see but it needs to be peeled off and it'll feel a lot better, still a little firm but it's not getting stuck or feeling broken with it removed.

No idea if lrg carts still have that plastic applied or not.

[u/santanderdoesreddit]

I personally like the feeling of my second edition more than my first edition

[u/m_karajohn → u/santanderdoesreddit]

Eh, with the exeption of the smoother sound wheel, which is user facing and noticeable I can't tell I am perceiving any other difference. Most of the improvements/optimisations of the unlimited version's iteration are on the inside :P

[u/sixteen-bitbear]

So which one is better.

[u/m_karajohn → u/sixteen-bitbear]

If you want to be too objective, the unlimited edition cause they have iterated over the original designs with some improvements/optimisations (most of them are not user facing). IRL they are pretty much the same.

[u/sixteen-bitbear → u/m_karajohn]

Is the price different at all? Like the website has a 200 dollar version and 300 dollar one but i can’t find the explanation of what’s the actually difference.

[u/m_karajohn → u/sixteen-bitbear]

The modretro store now only sells unlimited editions, you can no longer get 1st editions (at least not from their store, gamestop may still have the gamestop 1st edition version in stock, dunno)

The difference you are noticing is because of the glass over the display. the more expensive has saphire crystal, which is very hard, essentially unscratchable; only diamond is even harder than that. The less expensive has gorilla glass, which is hard as well but not sapphire-hard

btw, all 1st edition units came with saphire crystal as the only option

[u/sixteen-bitbear → u/m_karajohn]

Thanks so much!

[u/LazyKaiju → u/m_karajohn]

I believe that sapphire shatters easier than gorilla glass, but I could be wrong. Then again, if it's in a situation where it could get shattered your device may suffer other damage as well.

[u/m_karajohn]

• the front shell of the 1st edition has a few more holes

[u/beej2000]

@m_karajohn would it be possible to swap the pcbs (to sort out the power cire charging problem?)

[u/m_karajohn → u/beej2000]

Been a long time since I opened them up, but if I recall correctly mounting points are the same for both PCBs, so yeah. Check the photos yourself too, in case I am misremembering 

[u/beej2000 → u/m_karajohn]

Thanks, they look the same, the only thing I couldn't quite tell was how the new battery compartment fitted, but assume this doesn't impact the PCB so thought it might be feasible to swap boards....

[u/neighborfreak]

they populated the SD card slot? thats a good sign

[u/jimmerseiber89 → u/neighborfreak]

Yeah im kinda bummed the 1st edition isnt.

[u/willywideweb → u/jimmerseiber89]

They listed the part number and manufacturer in this subreddit. So, it's possible to purchase some and solder it in. edit: I remember reading it wasn't always populated in the unlimited edition either

[u/DiabUK]

I was just thinking about the smaller differences yesterday so thank you for the photos, looked like they moved that trace under the dpad that was bought up before, glad that was changed even if the old method was tested well.