Side by Side: A comparison of Nintendo’s DSi and DS Lite game systems

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Side by Side: A comparison of Nintendo’s DSi and DS Lite game systems

by PJ Hruschak on May 21, 2009 at 11:34 PM

nintendo dsi taking a picture of the nintedo ds lite With the release of the new DS system, it's not always clear exactly what has changed. As a super simplistic comparison, here's a side-by-side physical and observational breakdown of the similarities and differences between Nintendo's DS Lite and the DSi handheld game systems.

Also check out the Photo Gallery of comparison shots of the two systems next to each other as well the several of just the DSi.

Note that, for the images on this page, the DSi is on the left and the DS Lite is on the right. That may not be the case in all of the Photo Gallery images.

	Nintendo DSi	Nintendo DS Lite
Cost:	$169.99	$129.99
Release Date:	April 5, 2009	November 24, 2004
Weight:	7.4 oz (210 g)	7.4 oz (210 g)
Width:	5 3/8 in. (5.375 in).	5 1/4. in (5.25 in).
Length:	5 3/8 in. (5.375 in.)	5 3/16 in. (5.1875 in.)
Thickness:	3/4 in. (0.75 in.)	13/16 in. (0.8125 in.)
Top Screen:	• 2 10/16 x 1 15/16 in. viewable. • Non-touch.	• 2 7/16 x 1 3/16 in. viewable. • Non-touch.
Bottom Screen:	• 2 10/16 x 1 15/16 in. viewable. • Touch.	• 2 7/16 x 1 3/16 in. viewable. • Touch.
Face/Top of Open System:	• + Pad • X-Y-A-B control pad • Star button • Select button • Power button • Digital Camera on the center hinge	• + Pad • X-Y-A-B control pad • Star button • Select button
Front Edge:	• Headphone port	• -/+ volume slider • GBA cart slot (aka Slot-2) • Headphone port
Right Edge:	• SD card slot • Stylus port	• Power slider • Stylus port
Top Edge:	• Right and Left shoulder buttons, slightly raised from case • DS/DSi cart slot • Power cord slot • Holes for wrist strap	• Right and Left shoulder buttons, flush to case • DS cart slot • Power cord slot • Holes for wrist strap
Left Edge:	+ and - volume buttons	Nothing.
Top:	• WiFi, Corded Power and • Power On lights on upper left hinge • Digital camera	• DS Logo • Power On and Corded Power indicator lights on upper right hinge

	Nintendo DSi	Nintendo DS Lite
Preloaded Software:	• PictoChat • DS Download Play • Nintendo DSi Shop • Ninendo DSi Camera • Nintendo DSi Sound (record and play)	• PictoChat • DS Download Play
Camera:	• Two VGA digital cameras: • One digital camera on the face (aka cover) • One digital camera on the center hinge (visible when top lid is open). • Resolution: 0.3 megapixels, 680 x 480 pixels	None.
Internal Storage:	256 MB (aka 1000 blocks)	256 K Serial Flash Memory
Settings:	• Data management (SD card and System Memory) • Wireless communications (On, Off) • Brightness • Profile (User Name, Message, Color, Birthday) • Date • Time • Alarm • Parental Controls • Touch Screen test/calibration • Mic Test • Internet (Connection settings, Options, User Agreement) • Language • Country • System Update • Format System Memory	• Options (Startup Mode auto vs. manual, Language, GBA mode/screen preference) • Clock (Time, Date, Alarm clock) • User (Birthday, Menu color, Nickname, Personal message) • Touch Screen test/calibration • Brightness

	Nintendo DSi	Nintendo DS Lite
Downlaodable Content:	• Web Browser • System Updates • Games	None.
Compatibility:	• DS games • DSi games • DSiWare games	• DS games • GBA games
Screens:	• TFT-LCD • Resolution: 256 x 192 pixels and.24 mm dot pitch (260,000 colors).	• TFT LCD • Resolution: 256 x 192 pixels
RAM:	16 MB	4 MB
WiFi:	• Built-in • 802.11b/g	• Built-in • 802.11b
CPU:	• ARM9 (133 MHz) main CPU • ARM7.[41] co-processor	• ARM946E-S (67 MHz) main CPU • ARM7TDMI co-processor (33 MHz).
Battery:	• Rechargeable ithium ion battery • Lasts approximately 3 to 14 hours (according to Nintendo)	• Rechargeable lithium-ion battery • Lasts approximately 4 to 10 hours.
Slots	• Slot 1: DS carts, DSi carts • Slot 2: SD and SD HC memory cards	• Slot 1: DS carts • Slot 2: GBA games and accessories (Rumble Pak, Nintendo DS Memory Expansion Pak, Guitar Grip)

	Nintendo DSi	Nintendo DS Lite
Additional Notes:	• Web browser (Opera) can be downloaded for free through the DSiWare Shop	• Web browser (Opera) must be purchased as a DS cart ($30) and requires a memory cart (included with purchase) that goes into the GBA slot.
	• Cover is adjustable with a soft stop-click point just before it is parrallel with the base.	• Cover is adjustable with a hard stop-click point just before it is parrallel with the base.
	• Case has a matte finish (that does not show finger prints).	• Case has a glossy finish (that shows all finger prints).
	• No logo appears on the system's lid.	• The dual-screen logo is embossed on the lid.
	• The DSi power cable uses a unique plug to the system not compatible with any other system.	• The DS power cable uses a unique plug to the system not compatible with any other system.
	• Most accessories made for the DS will not work with the DSi. The exception are headphones (the audio port is the same as the DS).	• Most accessories for the GBA and original DS system (except cases) will wirk with the DS.
	• The system does not require a power down or restart after changing Settings or exiting applications.	• The system must power off after exiting the Settings.
	• Three LEDs with mini icons alert theuser of status indictations including WiFi.	• Two LEDs on the upper right hinge handle all status indications.
	• The system is put into stanby mode when the lid is closed, dimming the screens but keeping the game active (and conserving power).	• The system is put into stanby mode when the lid is closed, dimming the screens but keeping the game active (and conserving power).
	• Hackers will likely use the DS cart slot and the SD card slot to install modified applications, as well as the Opera web browser to download apps.	• Hackers have utilized the GBA slot (GBA ROMs and microSD cards in GBA cart cases) and cards specially developed for the DS slot.
	• The pre-loaded software allows users to record audio and manipulate it with basic settings. Audio can be save inernally or on an SD card.
	• Users can take phtotos using either built-in digital camera (button-press swappable) and manipulate images using basic tools. Images can be saved internaly or on an SD card.
	• Downlaodable games must be purchased through the DSi Store and are purchased using the Nintendo Points system (you can use Wii Points) at a rate of $1 per point, sold in increments of $10 or 1000 points. DSiWare games can be saved to the internal memory.
	• The DSi Menu on the main screen has 39 slots, which may indicate is a hard limit to the number of installed DSiWare games and applications.
	• Wii system Mii avatars can be imported into DSi games using the WiFi connection.

Photo Gallery [Gamertell]

Check out the gallery: Nintendo DSi compared to the Nintendo DS Lite

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Comments

james braselton said:

HI THERE WOW WHAT A BIG DIFFEREANCE BETWEEN THE DS LITE AND THE DSI I HAVE BOTH MODELS
on June 16, 2009 at 11:01 AM - LINK
james braselton said:

HI THERE FORGOT TOO MENCHINE YOU SAID THERE WERE 39 SLOTS BUT IN THE NINTENDO DSI MANUAL SAYS YOU CAN STORE UP TO 300 APPS AND GAMES AND STORE 400 PICTUERS ON THE INTERNAL MEMORY OR 3,000 PIUCTUERS USEING A SD CARD SOO ANY BODY DOWN LOAD MORE THEN 40 ITEMS SHOULD BE FINE BY THE DSI MANUAL I JUST DONT THINK IT WOULD SHOW ALL 300 SLOTS AT FIRST BECUSE I DONT THINK ANY BODY WOULD DOWNLOAD 300 APPS AND GAMES ON THE FIRST DAY OF RELEASE THATS PROBALY WHY IT SHOWS ONLY 39 SLOTS THE ONLY DOWN LOAD I DID WAS THE FREE WEB BROWSER
on June 16, 2009 at 11:09 AM - LINK
PJ Hruschak from Cincinnati, OH said:

The iPhone and iPod Touch have a similar issue with menu slots. With the iPhone’s/iPod Touch, you can own and download more apps than slots, but you cannot access them through the device’s menu. You have to remove items from the menu in iTunes and then reload the apps. The hardware and storage space simply allow for more than the menu system will show.

With all the free app on the Apple App Store, that quickly became an issue. But, you are right, it’s impossible to fill up the DSi (for now). It’ll likely become an issue in the next year much as the limited space on the Wii became an issue.
on June 16, 2009 at 12:32 PM - LINK
james braselton said:

HI THERE YOUR RIGHT ONCE MASS DSI GAMES AND APPS FILL UP THE MEMORY THEN YOU WILL NEED TOO BUY A SD CARD THE NINTENDO DSI CURENTLY SUPPORTS UP TO A 32 GB SDHC CARD IF NINTENDO NEEDS MORE THEN 32 GB THEN THEY WOULD SUPORT THE NEW SDXC CARDS UP TO 2 TB SDXC CARDS I WOUNDER IF ANY ONE CAN FILL UP A 2 TERABYTE SD CARD THROUGH A SOFTWARE UPGRADE LIKE THEY DID WITH WII WHEN THEY RAN OUT OF 512 MB OF MEMORY WII NOW SUPORTS UP TOO A 32 GB SDHC CARD
on June 16, 2009 at 03:37 PM - LINK
Bryan said:

Thank you for such a detailed comparison between the two systems. However, your photos are flip-flopped and don’t match the correct columns of information, which kinda threw me off. (Your DS lite info is on the left, but the photo for the DS lite is on the right hand side.)

Other than that, I really appreciated the time you took to compare them!
on November 25, 2009 at 01:27 AM - LINK
Phil said:

I agree about the pictures above the comparison tables, SOMEONE NEEDS TO SWAP THEM AROUND, or better, leave the DSI on the left and MOVE THE COMPARISON COLUMNS to match.

Most people will be wanting to get a DSI and so naturally will want that info on the left where it can be seen quicker when looking for details of what we might be buying.

There are also a few spelling mistakes, a minor point but as webmaster of http://www.websitesediting.net, it is something that I point out to webmasters if they ask for my help in correcting errors.
on February 3, 2010 at 05:29 AM - LINK
PJ Hruschak from Cincinnati, OH said:

All right, all right, I’ll switch the DS Lite/DSi columns around.
on February 3, 2010 at 03:34 PM - LINK
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