The race from launch day
Cumulative units by months since each console's own launch. Figures between reports are modelled; where reports are years apart, the line is a rough approximation, not observed annual sales.
Side by side
| Master System | Game Boy Advance | |
|---|---|---|
| Cumulative units (estimated) | ≈ 13,000,000 | ≈ 81,510,000 |
| After 9 years on sale | – | ≈ 81.5M |
| Released | October 20, 1985 | March 21, 2001 |
| Time on the market | 13y 2m | 9 years |
| Average per day | ≈ 3K | ≈ 25K |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Which sold more, the Sega Master System or the Game Boy Advance?
As of October 31, 2026, the Game Boy Advance leads our tracked comparison: about 81.5 million units against 13 million for the Sega Master System, a gap of 68.5 million. Figures may mix reported shipments, customer sales and estimates.
How many Sega Master System and Game Boy Advance consoles have been sold?
Sega Master System: source estimate: 13 million units as of 1998 (JavaGear research report; measurement not specified). Game Boy Advance: calculated from reported figures: 81.51 million units as of March 31, 2010 (Nintendo historical data, sales by fiscal year; measurement not specified).
Figures can measure shipments, customer sales or estimates; these are not directly interchangeable. Between reports our model projects an estimate, not observed transactions. The changing digits show the model's output, not its accuracy. Its inputs and assumptions are corrected when new figures are available. Sources and method