Nintendo announces DS Lite

203 Comments by Vladimir Cole Jan 26th 2006 3:15AM
Filed under: Nintendo DS, Portable, Wireless

Nintendo just emailed us the following announcement of the redesign of the Nintendo DS (dual screen) handheld.

"Nintendo President Satoru Iwata today announced Nintendo DS Lite, a slimmer version of the best-selling Nintendo DS™. Also featuring brighter screens, Nintendo DS Lite will launch in Japan in March. Nintendo DS Lite will be less than two-thirds the size of the original Nintendo DS and more than 20 percent lighter.

Nintendo DS has enjoyed extremely strong sales in Japan and around the world, selling more than 14.4 million units worldwide. The Japanese sell-through of the existing Nintendo DS hardware exceeded 5 million within 13 months, which made Nintendo DS the fastest-selling video game system there.

Nintendo will announce more information about the availability of Nintendo DS Lite in North America and other territories in the future."

Additional details can be found on Nintendo's Japanese site.

Japanese release date: March 2, 2006

Weight: 218g (compare to 275g for the current Nintendo DS)

Dimensions: 133mm x 73.9mm x 21.5mm

Higher-resolution images for you.

And closed:

(Page 1) Reader Comments

Probot: Jan 26th 2006; 3:25AM

You know, I warned my friend that there might be a redesign soon, so she should hold off on getting a DS. After no news came last week, she decided to get one. I can't wait to share this little bit of news with her.

As for the redesign, it looks like they've moved the power button from next to the conrol-pad, which I think is a great idea. I'm used to it now, but when I first got it, I was shutting it off accidentally all the time.

SoBe: Jan 26th 2006; 3:26AM

Wow I'll have to be importing. Very very slick.

yjs: Jan 26th 2006; 3:26AM

This addresses all problems I have with the current DS. D-pad, buttons, screen brightness, style, weight, size. I can't WAIT for this baby.

BTW it still retains the GBA slot. Here are the measurements: 133.0 x 73.9 x 21.5mm, at 218g. The old DS was 148.7 x 84.7 x 28.9mm at 275g)

Jau_Peacecraft: Jan 26th 2006; 3:30AM

I got my DS as a christmas present... so I guess I'll actually buy the DS lite. It depends; if it's just slimmer and dosen't have any other major differences other than the button positioning, then there'd be no point.

NyaR: Jan 26th 2006; 3:32AM

lets announce were not making design changes and then make design changes!

Raven: Jan 26th 2006; 3:36AM

That looks way to photoshopped...

James: Jan 26th 2006; 3:38AM

I can't believe Nintendo denied the whole thing after Lik-Sang said there would be a new DS unit soon.

Silver: Jan 26th 2006; 3:41AM

Source for those who care:
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n10/news/060126.html

MaC01: Jan 26th 2006; 3:44AM

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG! IM SOO GLAD I WAITED!!! yes yes i am a 'fanboy'!

SetupWeasel: Jan 26th 2006; 3:45AM

They probably delayed it *because* Lik-Sang said they would announce it. Nintendo likes their secrets, and they may have wanted a little egg on Lik-Sang's face.

robotplague: Jan 26th 2006; 3:45AM

I can't wait to see pictures of it. I'll definately be getting it but I'm a bit dissapointed. I was hoping they would fix the ergonomics of the design. Either way this is a welcomed improvement. I can't wait to get my hands on one.

Jed Merrill: Jan 26th 2006; 3:46AM

I want three!

Conrad Quilty-Harper: Jan 26th 2006; 3:48AM

Had to happen only a month after I bought my "fat" DS!

Ninegauger: Jan 26th 2006; 3:50AM

That looks pretty neat... definitely in the Revolution/iPod vein. I'm definitely looking forward for some real pictures and such.

Varian: Jan 26th 2006; 3:51AM

For a size comparison:

http://www.australian-postcodes.com/ds-comparison.jpg

Original dimensions: 148 x 85 x 28mm
New dimensions: 133 x 73.9 x 21.55mm

Old weight: 275g
New weight: 218g

Microphone is in the middle of the two screens.

Power button is moved.

Still has the GBA slot.

Uses the GBA Micro D-pad.

Chris: Jan 26th 2006; 3:51AM

PSWhat?

That is better then the iPod.

Thanks nintendo, I never lost faith.

Colin McCain: Jan 26th 2006; 3:52AM

I held out from buying a DS because I had heard of a redesign. Then they said they weren't issuing one, so I went out and bought the mario kart DS package (good buy either way). Now I'll have to find out when it's being released and sell my DS so I can get this new one.

Anyone want to buy a DS?

Charlie Tang: Jan 26th 2006; 3:54AM

Finally, a smaller DS. Now I could go buy one.

Trev: Jan 26th 2006; 3:55AM

Pretty slick! I want some of that!

Jago: Jan 26th 2006; 3:57AM

Man...now that thing looks awesome!!!

If they don't release it in the US (I'm sure they will tho), then I shall be importing it (and this would be my first time importing a console or portable.)

weaszel: Jan 26th 2006; 3:59AM

Haha... brilliant sucker punch from Nintendo. I'll definitely be getting one of these guys.

Pseudo: Jan 26th 2006; 4:00AM

I still don't believe it...
This still smells like a fake to me.

peter: Jan 26th 2006; 4:00AM

THE DS IS NOW OFFICIALLY SEXIER

dusda: Jan 26th 2006; 4:00AM

Oh god yes. I'll buy one as soon as they're available here. Hell, I might even import one!

Jed Merrill: Jan 26th 2006; 4:01AM

I like the brand mark on the top of the unit. This is pretty slick, and is especially interesting to compare with the PSP:

PSP = Black and Shiny
DS = White and Opaque

The DS has been outselling the PSP in all territories on a week-to-week basis even in its clunky form, so it will be interesting to see how it tears out Sony's throat with this design!

So this is what Reggie has been looking at for weeks... Better looking than the PSP in my opinion.

Where are the buttons to adjust screen brightness? (Four settings.)

mboy: Jan 26th 2006; 4:02AM

Woot! This is too sexy!
I want two.. must import.

Any news on additional features

El: Jan 26th 2006; 4:03AM

Dammit. They ALWAYS do this. I buy a GBASP, and they announce a better GBASP. I buy a DS, and not more than a month later, they announce a new, better DS. This is getting really old. You can't wait because you can't seperate rumors from truth and if you DO wait and nothing happens you just wasted time. You can't win. It's ridiculous.

Andi Smith: Jan 26th 2006; 4:04AM

Had to happen 12 hours after I bought a DS...

RobotJesus: Jan 26th 2006; 4:05AM

Wow. Just wow.
I lvoe you Nintendo.
Im buying one. Having sex with it, then buying a new one.

>_< Right after I bought my lardoDS. Oh well, I want both of them anyway.

Badison: Jan 26th 2006; 4:07AM

sweeeeeeeet, now i'm gonna get a DS (it will sit next to my psp and all will be right in the world).

SetupWeasel: Jan 26th 2006; 4:07AM

I will continue to carry my launch-day titanium with honor. I had a DS before having a DS was cool.

Jago: Jan 26th 2006; 4:14AM

"Where are the buttons to adjust screen brightness? (Four settings.)"

They are probably on the side (front or back area) like the GBA SP.

JRM: Jan 26th 2006; 4:19AM

It's a cool redesign, but not a wild departure. It isn't enough for me to get rid of my blue DS, but this should be excellent for those who waited, or were on the fence.

Kye: Jan 26th 2006; 4:22AM

*He remembers reluctantly accepting a DS for his birthday in Dec 'cuz he KNEW there would be a re-design soon*

(To Nintendo) I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you...

*He gazes lovingly at new redesing and decides to sell old DS and buy new one*

(To Nintendo) I love you I love you I love you I love you...

Ah the trials of being a fanboy. But seriously who didn't expect this? They ALWAYS make a handheld, then make it smaller, then make it brighter (not neccessarily in that order).

Gameboy -> Gameboy Pocket -> Gambeboy Colour.

Gameboy Advance -> Gameboy Advance SP -> Gameboy Micro.

DS -> DS Lite -> DS Lite Extra [with yet still more battery time, bigger buttons and an even brighter screen.]

*sigh*

mboy: Jan 26th 2006; 4:25AM

Guys, don't sell your Ds yet, this might not run homebrew so you might still need the other one.

Steve: Jan 26th 2006; 4:27AM

Best functional change for me has to be the microphone being moved. That's going to make Mario Kart ballon battles a darn sight easier. Looks great, though I'd like to know if the reduced size and brighter screens have an impact on battery life. As for importing one... I'll wait to see the European release date, might as well use it as an excuse to pick up a decent bundle deal if I can. But if it's going to be the usual six months to a year wait I'd actually consider importing a machine for the first time ever.

Out of curiosity, anyone here used the Micro and have any thoughts on that joypad? If I was going to criticise one aspect of the existing DS it'd be the buttons and pad being a fraction too 'short' (in other words, not sticking up enough from the case). Hopefully this redesign will fix that.

Jago: Jan 26th 2006; 4:28AM

Who cares about the homebrew stuff...

Steve: Jan 26th 2006; 4:34AM

Oh, and big thumbs up to the new positioning of power and wi-fi lights. A couple of times now I've missed seeing a blinking power light while playing, this should solve the problem nicely.

Frexy: Jan 26th 2006; 5:01AM

To Steve:

I really like the Micro's d-pad and buttons, they're really really nice to use. And I think Ninty did a good job implanting those on the new DS too. Very very nice. It's going to be so much easier for your fingers now ^^;

Lagomorpho: Jan 26th 2006; 5:12AM

dammit...

My only hope is that the US release will be far enough away to justify buying this thing (bought one this past November)

...if they make it in black and I can use my m3adapter...

kel: Jan 26th 2006; 5:14AM

Homebrew is for the hardcore not for the sissy boys

Steve: Jan 26th 2006; 5:33AM

Frexy - Thanks for that. Good to hear this should be an improvment over the original. Providing the first reviews are good then I can see an import on the horizon.

hp: Jan 26th 2006; 5:35AM

the japanese site say it will be 16800 yen which is 149 USD , 199 AUD and 82 GBP. by the way isint the d pad the same as the rev?

defferoo: Jan 26th 2006; 5:40AM

seriously, have you guys seen the homebrew program for DS that let's you control your computer wirelessly? 1337!!! http://www.1emulation.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=16859&st=0

groucho: Jan 26th 2006; 5:42AM

well i guess ill be trading in my old for the new. is it just me or has ninty been really inspired by apple. first the revolution now this. Oh and when exactly is the next gameboy coming out ninty.