Handheld battery check

[SoThankful]

I have a GBA SP that I stopped using a few years ago because I could not get it to turn on. I did not think much of it until recently when I realized I had left the battery inside the whole time. I opened it up to remove it and saw the battery was slightly swollen, which I could not notice from the outside when it was closed.

Now I am a bit concerned about my other (Nintendo) handhelds that I do still take care of and charge regularly. Would you recommend opening them up occasionally to check the battery even if there are no visible signs of a problem from the outside?

 

[Sorion]

If they're stored for too long without use, then yes, it is wise to store the battery in a separate compartment or turn them on from time to time. Also, avoid charging them either at 100% or 0% charge, that tends to deteriorate the battery faster, leaving the battery at 80% is ideal to preserve them.
Also, if you replace your gba SP's battery for a new one, there's a good chance it will start to work again, older nintendo consoles tend to not work without a battery, even if they're connected to power.

 

[SoThankful]

If they're stored for too long without use, then yes, it is wise to store the battery in a separate compartment or turn them on from time to time. Also, avoid charging them either at 100% or 0% charge, that tends to deteriorate the battery faster, leaving the battery at 80% is ideal to preserve them.
Also, if you replace your gba SP's battery for a new one, there's a good chance it will start to work again, older nintendo consoles tend to not work without a battery, even if they're connected to power.

Thanks for your help! I tried a new battery but that did not solve the problem, so I think it might be a dirty power switch and I am going to try fixing that.

At the moment I am following the general guidelines you mentioned, so I am wondering if opening them up to check is really necessary.

I have also considered taking them out, but I am worried about losing them, mixing them up, or not storing them safely. Do you have any tips for handling that?