To test homebrew, you're going to need at least one WonderSwan hardware unit. There are many options available, between the three official models and various hardware mods; this guide lists them in order from most to least preferred.

• WonderSwan Color - this model of the system supports both mono and color software, while still remaining reasonably affordable (as of writing). There are a few important notes regarding this model:
  • The system will not turn on without a cartridge inserted. This leads many sellers to sell otherwise functional units as non-functional for a lower price - if you're adventurous, you could try looking for one in such a condition, but nothing is guaranteed.
  • The power button pad has a tendency to wear out, which may give the impression of a non-functional system. This is a fairly inexpensive fix - see the ConsoleMods wiki for more information.
  • The display technology is CSTN, as opposed to the GBC/GBA, SwanCrystal, and NGPC's much better TFT panels. This causes noticeable blurriness in use and can be fixed with an IPS mod, though that has its own caveats in the context of homebrew development.
• WonderSwan Color + IPS mod - this setup costs about as much or less than a SwanCrystal while providing the best display quality.
  • The IPS mod significantly (~5-6x!) increases battery draw.
  • The IPS mod does not correct for the console's color gamut, so you may need to use an emulator separately for validating that colors still look fine on an unmodified system.
• SwanCrystal - this is the best unmodified model of the system, but for this reason it has also become desirable among collectors.
  • This guide highly discourages IPS modding SwanCrystals, unless the display itself is damaged and there is no other choice for repair. Unlike the WonderSwan Color, the variable refresh rate trick does not work on currently available IPS kits for the system.
• WonderSwan (mono) - it cannot run WSC-exclusive software, but it is the cheapest of the models.
  • Notably, the original Swan's FSTN display has a different gamma compared to the color-capable models, including in compatibility mode! If you don't own this model, you can use an emulator to compare the reproduction of grey shades.

In addition, for capturing footage from real hardware, you may be interested in a consolizer mod, which turns an existing WonderSwan Color system into a headless device with HDMI output. The swancolorHD is open source design for DIY builders; RETRO PROTECT sells finished builds in Japan under the WSCHD brand.

TODO