Table of Contents

Comparison of the Nintendo DS Family of Consoles

Comparison table of all Nintendo DS family consoles. Starting from Nintendo DS and ending with Nintendo DSi XL.

Table

Family Nintendo DSi Nintendo DS
Name Nintendo DSi XL Nintendo DSi Nintendo DS Lite Nintendo DS
Logo Nintendo DSi XL Nintendo DSi Nintendo DS Light Nintendo DS
Console Nintendo DSi XL Nintendo DSi Nintendo DS Light Nintendo DS
Release Date
Japan:
November 21, 2009 Europe:
March 5, 2010 North America:
March 28, 2010 Australia:
April 15, 2010
Japan:
November 1, 2008 Australia:
April 2, 2009 Europe:
April 3, 2009 North America:
April 5, 2009
Japan:
March 2, 2006 Australia:
June 1, 2006 North America:
June 11, 2006 Europe:
June 23, 2006
North America:
November 21, 2004 Japan:
December 2, 2004 Australia:
February 24, 2005 Europe:
March 11, 2005
Launch Price ¥20,000
US$189.99
€179.99
£159.99
A$299.95
¥18,900
US$169.99
€169.99
£149.99
A$299.95
¥16,800
US$129.99
€149.99
£99.99
A$199.95
¥15,000
US$149.99
€149.99
£99.99
A$199.95
Display 4.2 inches (107 mm) 3.25 inches (83 mm) 3.12 inches (79 mm) 3.0 inches (76 mm)
256 × 192px (both screens)
262,144 colors
5 brightness levels 4 brightness levels Backlight on/off
Audio Stereo with 16 PCM/ADPCM channels
Processor 133 MHz ARM9 46E-S & 33.514 MHz,
ARM7 TDMI
67.028 MHz ARM946E-S & 33.514 MHz,
ARM7TDMI
RAM 16 MB PSRAM 4 MB SRAM
(expandable via Game Boy Advance cartridge slot)
Camera Front and external 0.3 MP sensors None
Storage 256 MB internal NAND flash memory, expandable up to 32 GB with SD/SDHC card slot None
Cartridge Slot Nintendo DS cartridge (8-512 MB) Nintendo DS cartridge (8-512 MB)
Game Boy Advance cartridge (2–32 MB)
Controls D-pad Buttons: A/B/X/Y, L/R and START/SELECT Touch screen Microphone Camera D-pad Buttons: A/B/X/Y, L/R and START/SELECT Touch screen Microphone
Battery 1050 mAh lithium-ion battery 13–17 hours (at minimum brightness) 4–5 hours (at maximum brightness) 840 mAh lithium-ion battery 9–14 hours (at minimum brightness) 3–4 hours (at maximum brightness) 1000 mAh lithium-ion battery 15–19 hours (at minimum brightness) 5–8 hours (at maximum brightness) 850 mAh lithium-ion battery 6–10 hours
(determined by screen brightness, wireless communication, and sound volume)
Connectivity Integrated 802.11b/g
(compatibility only with WEP or unencrypted networks when playing regular Nintendo DS games)
Integrated 802.11 (traditional mode)
(compatibility only with WEP or unencrypted networks)
Stylus 96 mm (3.8 inches) in length × 4.9 mm (0.19 inches) in width 92 mm (3.6 inches) in length × 4.9 mm (0.19 inches) in width 87.5 mm (3.44 inches) in length × 4.9 mm (0.19 inches) in width 75 mm (3.0 inches) in length × 4 mm (0.16 inches) in width
Weight 314 grams (11.1 ounces) 214 grams (7.5 ounces) 218 grams (7.7 ounces) 275 grams (9.7 ounces)
Dimensions

Width: 161 mm
Height: 91.4 mm
Thickness: 21.2 mm

Width: 137 mm
Height: 74.9 mm
Thickness: 18.9 mm

Width: 133 mm
Height: 73.9 mm
Thickness: 21.5 mm

Width: 148.7 mm
Height: 84.7 mm
Thickness: 28.9 mm

Online Service Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
Nintendo DSi Shop
Nintendo DSi Browser
Nintendo Zone
Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
Nintendo DS Browser
Preloaded Software Nintendo DS/DSi Game Card launcher
DS Download Play
PictoChat
Flipnote Studio
Nintendo DSi Browser
Nintendo DSi Camera
Nintendo DSi Shop
Nintendo DSi Sound
Brain Age Express: Arts & Letters/A Little Bit of... Brain Training Arts Edition
Dictionary 6 in 1 with Camera Function (UK)
Clubhouse Games Express: Card Classics (Aus)
Photo Clock (Aus)
System Settings
Nintendo DS/DSi Game Card launcher
Brain Age Reading
Brain Age Math
DS Download Play
Nintendo DSi Browser
Nintendo DSi Camera
Nintendo DSi Shop
Nintendo DSi Sound
PictoChat
Flipnote Studio
System Settings
DS Download Play
PictoChat
System Settings
Region Lock Yes No
Backward Compatibility None Game Boy Advance cartridge
(only single game)

Which Nintendo DS to Choose?

Read more about which Nintendo DS to choose in the article on our website: «Which Nintendo DS to Buy?».

Nintendo DS versions