Nintendo DS vs DS Lite vs DSi vs DSi XL Comparison
Here are two useful finds for original Nintendo hardware.
For Nintendo DS: DSPico flash cartridge with USB-C.
For Game Boy Advance SP: an IPS-ready eXtremeRate replacement shell.
This page compares the four main Nintendo DS-family revisions side by side: the original Nintendo DS, DS Lite, DSi and DSi XL. The table focuses on hardware and specifications rather than recommending a particular model.
Quick differences: DS and DS Lite include a Game Boy Advance cartridge slot; DSi and DSi XL remove it but add cameras, internal storage, an SD card slot, faster hardware and DSi-specific software. DSi XL has the largest screens, while DS Lite is the lightest model with GBA compatibility.
Nintendo DS Model Comparison Table
| Family | Nintendo DSi | Nintendo DS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Nintendo DSi XL | Nintendo DSi | Nintendo DS Lite | Nintendo DS |
| Logo |  |
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| Console |  |
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| 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) |
||
Need Help Choosing a Nintendo DS?
Read more about which Nintendo DS to choose in the article on our website: “Nintendo DS Models Compared: DS vs DS Lite vs DSi vs DSi XL — Which Is Best?”.
