Nintendo DS Lite

Print
by Rob Williams on June 21, 2006 in Gaming

After 19 months, Nintendo has released an upgrade to the DS… but is it worthy? Nintendo paid attention to what people did not like about the original, and took care of it. We are taking a fresh look at the DS, and find out what the new revision has over the first.

Page 1 – Introduction

When Nintendo first released the DS in late 2004, it wasn’t supposed to be a “Gameboy” killer, even though it was a similar system. Instead, the Gameboy Advance continued on, alongside it’s new big brother. However, if there was a reason to get into portable gaming, the DS was it. What is Nintendo known for? Taking chances. They are one of the most innovative companies in the world, and they give us a new reason to love them each and every year. It began with the Game & Watch, then onto the R.O.B, and now the Wii.

The DS was an instant success, to say the least. If the dual screens were not enough, one of them doubling as a touch pad was. Like PDA’s, the DS included a pen. Unlike PDA’s though, there were some amazing games to take full advantage of it. One thing about the first revision DS, is that it was not appealing looking. In truth, it was plain ugly. Sure, it was functional. In the end, that’s all that really matters. However, in a time when people like their devices to be ‘sexy’, Nintendo wanted to do something to fix that.

Before we jump into lots of pictures, lets take a quick look at a technical comparison between the original and the Lite.

Nintendo DS Nindendo DS Lite
Date Released Nov. 21, 2004 June 11, 2006
CPU 67MHz ARM946E-S w/ 33MHz coprocessor 67MHz ARM946E-S w/ 33MHz coprocessor
Memory 4MB 4MB
Physical Size 148.7 x 84.7 x 28.9mm 133 x 73.9 x 21.5mm
Weight 275g 218g
Screen Res 256px x 192px 256px x 192px
Screen Size 62 x 46mm (77mm Diag) 62 x 46mm (77mm Diag)
Game Size Support 128MB 128MB
Compatability Plays DS, GBA games Plays DS, GBA games
Online Wi-Fi Capable Wi-Fi Capable

Nothing has changed except the size. Thankfully, the only thing that was not reduced was the size of the screen. In addition to what’s listed, the button layout has been changed slightly, and the D-Pad is made slightly smaller. Thanks to the size reduction, the Lite is 20% lighter than the previous model. The screen has also been made much brighter, which is one of the primary benefits over the original.

Close Look

Let’s take a look through what’s new, and if you’ve never used a DS before, this is a perfect time to learn more about it. Being the portable that it is, the DS comes in a very small box, that tightly squeezes everything in. To match the DS itself, the box is completely white. Classy.

The first things to come out are the manual, power adapter, random pamplets and an extra stylus.

Here it is in all it’s glory:

Support our efforts! With ad revenue at an all-time low for written websites, we're relying more than ever on reader support to help us continue putting so much effort into this type of content. You can support us by becoming a Patron, or by using our Amazon shopping affiliate links listed through our articles. Thanks for your support!

Rob Williams

Rob founded Techgage in 2005 to be an 'Advocate of the consumer', focusing on fair reviews and keeping people apprised of news in the tech world. Catering to both enthusiasts and businesses alike; from desktop gaming to professional workstations, and all the supporting software.

twitter icon facebook icon instagram icon