It is easy to confuse this model with the Game Boy Color. In most cases it should be possible to tell which model it is.

Highly distinguishable features

These features should be given high priority when it comes to console identification, especially when presented with conflicting console designs.

• Face buttons on the Game Boy are positioned at a slant. All models following featured horizontally aligned face buttons.
• The cartridge port on the back is embedded into the original Game Boy. It extends outwards on the Game Boy Color and other models.
• The bottom right of the console is where the speaker is. It has a distinctive curved edge, and slanted grooves over the speaker. The curves are uniform and the grooves were replaced with holes on the Game Boy Color.

Less distinguishable features

• The logo is usually distinctive when present. The logo appears below the screen in both models. The original Game Boy logo is left aligned, and the Game Boy Color logo is center aligned.
• Screen may have a greenish tinting. This should not be present on the Game Boy Color and later models.
• The power switch is on top of the original Game Boy, and on the right side on the Game Boy Color. The power switch replaces a volume slider and an game link cable extension port.
• There are grooves on the right side on both the original Game Boy and the Game Boy Color. However the original Game Boy has the grooves underneath the volume slider, and extension port, and the grooves are above the power switch on the Game Boy Color. These grooves may not be present on other Game Boy models such as the Game Boy Pocket.
• It is far more common for the Game Boy Color to be drawn in bright colors such as yellow, while the original Game Boy taking on more muted grey tones. This may not always be true, so pay attention to the details.

The Game Boy Pocket is distinctive in that it is smaller than the original Game Boy, but still resembling the Game Boy construction. While its shape is consistent with the original model, its buttons are aligned horizontally like the Game Boy Color.