Nintendo announces DS Lite [Update 3]
by Vladimir Cole 
{ Jan 26th 2006 at 3:37AM }
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:
[Update 2: added higher-res photos.]
[Update 3: added details from Japanese press release.)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Miranda @ Feb 11th 2006 3:25PM
Caspar, I bought my (regular) DS in Japan, and I was able to set it to use English for its menus, pictochat, etc. I would think the DS Lite would be the same way.
Of course, the *games* I bought in Japan are still in Japanese. ;-) (I knew they would be, I'm just kidding.)
That's why I stuck with games that would not be text-dependent. :-)
Uncle Darryl @ Feb 28th 2006 7:39PM
It is cool. A question. Is there still the spot on the back for the wrist-strap? Stylus on the side is cool. Easier to grab it and put it back quicklyier.
How did u have accidental shutdowns. U have to hold the power botton for a few seconds before it turns off.
Chris @ Mar 2nd 2006 4:11PM
Is there going to be an internet browser and live TV on it?
Dagnabbith @ Mar 8th 2006 2:32PM
Well, ultimately, it's a complete piss-off to early adopters. Perhaps the rich kids who have been saying, "Learn 2 play, n00b, just get teh n00 1" wouldn't have a problem with buying two systems in two years just because of the looks, but I certainly would appreciate some props from Nintendo for buying into their new concepts. Instead, I get buggered with an electric toothbrush with the Nintendo logo on it.
Let's hope for a trade-in so I won't look like a complete tool for having what will be known as the "old-school" DS.
On the bright side, the new DS Lite does look awesome, and that's what inspires such wrath: it is awesome, and makes chumps like me covet it with foamy-mouthed fervour. The improved screens look tasty, though I already thought the old DS screen was more than adequate - I have used the GBSP, the DS, and the iPod Nano as flashlights, because of their awesome backlight capabilities.
norebonomis @ Jan 26th 2006 3:49AM
/me screams
TJ @ Jan 26th 2006 3:51AM
Good thing I hold out on getting the white one from ebay. I almost bought it when they deny a redesign. lol any info on when it will be out?
Kuhnaydeein @ Jan 26th 2006 3:56AM
Where's the Power Button?
Probot @ Jan 26th 2006 3:58AM
Another site said it's been moved to the site, but that could have been speculation. I'm glad they moved it, too many accidental shutdowns for me.
Too bad my DS is brand new, or I'd consider getting this one.
Ranma13 @ Jan 26th 2006 4:23AM
I have to agree, I must scream also. Just bought a DS for Christmas, I hope this one doesn't come out too soon!
Cyberclaws @ Jan 26th 2006 4:42AM
If it's thinner, where's the GBA slot? No? No more rumble pak? But I guess for a brighter and higher screen resolution it will be worth it? I hope.
Jay @ Jan 26th 2006 5:22AM
"The all-knowing geniuses right here at DS Fanboy have already told you not to expect a new DS until next year. We said it wouldn't happen on Monday and we said it wouldn't happen at E3."
All knowing geniuses eh?
Varian @ Jan 26th 2006 5:31AM
There is a GBA slot. Other features not officially announced yet...
-Stylus will go in on the side.
-Power button is a switch you flick on the side.
-Will be launched in Japan in three colors. (White for sure. Other two have not been revealed.)
Also, I want the DS Fanboy to make a post that OFFICIALLY EATS IT when they post, "See? We enjoy being right. New DS won't come out next year" and then the next post is the re-designed DS.
Talk about egg on your face... :)
helio @ Jan 26th 2006 6:24AM
the d-pad side looks naked O_O
but the shell for my current ds broke
so im gald i dont have to buy a new "old" ds :)
piff @ Jan 26th 2006 6:29AM
i think its STUPID.
edwin @ Jan 26th 2006 6:53AM
It's very clever from Nintendo !
The DS have great games and now it is a gorgeuse
peace of hardware !
If they had new functions to the OS, like agenda,
notepad ... it will be the killer handheld gaming
device !
metusalem @ Jan 26th 2006 7:18AM
Famtisu.com reported that there will be 2 more colors other than white as well.
Nick @ Jan 26th 2006 7:19AM
I made a similar redesign a while ago and was pretty happy with how close it was. Not spot-on, but pretty good.
I posted a comparison on my blog:
http://tinyurl.com/7tmbm
phl0w @ Jan 26th 2006 7:27AM
Is it me or did they increase the gap between the displays even more (in relation to its new size of course)?
What I liked the most about the current design was its understatement. iPods and PSPs are most attractive to wannabe pickpockets in the tube. What if they mistake a closed NDS for an iPod. As a result two people would be disappointed, not just the victim :P
Please don't let the DS become just another accessory like iPods and PSPs...
Tom @ Jan 26th 2006 7:50AM
Definatly not as ambitious as their GBA redsigns (SP & Micro), but its cute I guess. Unless theres some other cool features with it that haven't been announced yet, I'll be fine with the red DS I got in the Mario Kart bundle.
Ipsum @ Jan 26th 2006 7:58AM
That looks wonderful, but the buttons are still too damn close. Someone contact Nintendo and tell them to do something about it ASAP.
PodMonkeys @ Jan 26th 2006 8:06AM
I'm definately getting one. With Animal Crossing in the mail, my DS is going to have to do a lot of time sharing between my kid and myself. Now if only it could come out sooner!
zverg @ Jan 26th 2006 8:11AM
OMG I'm so buying this. I just got my DS in November but this thing looks sweet.. as long as they release a charcoal model.
DKNY @ Jan 26th 2006 8:11AM
But---but if you're resting your right thumb on the buttons, then the odds of accidentally pausing with the thick part of your hand seem much higher in this design. Yech.
Neko Tsukimi @ Jan 26th 2006 9:10AM
Just as I guessed... The DS redesign looks JUST like the Revolution controller. I half expected it to be coming out of a milky substance when I first laid eyes on it. If it comes in pink, it's mine ASAP! I will have had my current pink DS for just a little under a year by the time it comes out. Most of all, I'm happy that they improved the screen since that was my only real complaint about the DS.
jdiddy @ Jan 26th 2006 10:17AM
Nick --
Uh... wow. You made a DS design that looked like the original, except it was white. Awesome.
...not. Your design looks NOTHING like the new DS. Stop being an idiot, no one cares about your stupid blog.
Josh @ Jan 26th 2006 10:42AM
It looks much more pocketable than the original. I would like to have the brighter screen, but I use my older electric blue DS for homebrew a lot, mostly Moonshell and ScummVM. I wonder how long it will take to crack the lite firmware. And will it need a new PassMe3? I wouldn't buy a lite unless homebrew was possible. And also, I wonder how would the smaller design affect battery capacity.
CrowsSong @ Jan 26th 2006 11:00AM
But---but if you're resting your right thumb on the buttons, then the odds of accidentally pausing with the thick part of your hand seem much higher in this design. Yech.
Look a little closer. See how the start and select buttons are to the left of the game buttons? Unless you're wrapping your right hand around the bottom of the DS instrad of the right side, there's no way you'll accidentally hit those buttons. Unless you're using your right hand for the D-pad and your left hand for the buttons?
Marco @ Jan 26th 2006 11:15AM
Question, my DS came with a best buy service agreement, can i "break" my old ds, and get store credit (instead of a the replacement ds) which might just happen to go towards this redesigned ds? that would be awesome.
Pixelantes A @ Jan 26th 2006 11:21AM
Are the displays the same size as before?
Jacoplane @ Jan 26th 2006 11:30AM
Check out the wikipedia article on the DS Lite:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_DS_Lite
Dan @ Jan 26th 2006 1:30PM
Won't someone PLEASE think of the large-handed gamers?? I'll be sticking with my large, bulky DS, thnak you very much.
Lazy American @ Jan 26th 2006 1:45PM
What a total crock!!!!
I am a little pissed for a few reasons. First off didnt some big wig at Nintendo just say that there were no plans for a new one before E3??? Is this some kind of hoax? I half hope it is, unless Nintendo is gonna do it like cars where a "different" slightly improved one comes out every year. Its the same damn look only smaller, hardly a "redesign" or at least the one I was looking for. I mean physically they changed the color and moved some buttons, a mic, and the lights so you can see them when its closed, guess i just expected more... come on nintendo get a real job.
The only advantage I see to picking up this one is the brighter screen, definitely needed for daylight play.
hkpuipui99 @ Jan 26th 2006 1:54PM
Is this an opposite day joke? :-D
unreal mccoy @ Jan 26th 2006 3:48PM
I wish it had Play-Yan built in
King Bigos @ Jan 26th 2006 3:57PM
The redesign was pointless...
owen @ Jan 26th 2006 4:18PM
"Is it me or did they increase the gap between the displays even more (in relation to its new size of course)?"
I dont know, but if you think in scale, the actual gap (if you measured it with a ruler) seems less to me with this new design. I think it's an "optical illusion" that it seems bigger.
Josh @ Jan 26th 2006 5:53PM
To Lazy American,
What he said was that they had no plans to reveal it at E3. Which is true since it will be available for purchase two months BEFORE E3!
To everyone else who is complaining about a lack of new features, remember:
It is still a DS. They can't change the platform or it wouldn't be a DS anymore. They would have to change the name.
How about one of these?
DS Advance
DS SP
DS XP
iDS
TJ @ Jan 26th 2006 6:17PM
"Question, my DS came with a best buy service agreement, can i "break" my old ds, and get store credit (instead of a the replacement ds) which might just happen to go towards this redesigned ds? that would be awesome."
I think you can but its called "fraud" lol
TJ @ Jan 26th 2006 6:23PM
I forgot to add.
You guys do know that even if Nintendo release a newer revision of DS, it does not mean that your DS wont work anymore. It will still play all those fun and great games. It has the same functionality and enjoyment factor that it has yesterday/last week.
Vagabond Artist @ Jan 26th 2006 6:58PM
YESSSSSSS... so awesome.
Let's hope for the screen tech used in the new SP and the micro.
I love how this comes on the heels of your report stating that a DS redesign won't come until after or around E3.
Brilliant!
si2k78 @ Jan 26th 2006 11:49PM
Woohoo!!.. and i was just about to head to wal-mar to pick a DS up this evening... talk about timing. This thing looks sweet. I hope the US release is not far off from the Jap release date. I dont want to have to wait till the summer for this.
mike @ Jan 27th 2006 2:18PM
The DS redesign looks JUST like the Revolution controller. I
---
Hmmm... is it possible that this can act as a revolution controller of sorts?
lionzub @ Jan 27th 2006 11:26PM
I really hope it comes in good colours like black or blue or whatever. I don't want my gaming system to look like a stupid iPod. Oh if there is any people who have an iPod please take offence to that ;)
mike @ Jan 28th 2006 9:21AM
Oh if there is any people who have an iPod please take offence to that ;)
--
only about 42 million.
btw, the PSP looks like a 'stupid' ipod too.. white earbuds are no coincidence.. this is meant to look like a revolution.
dest @ Jan 28th 2006 3:17PM
boring
anthony angiada @ Jan 28th 2006 8:05PM
rrrrrrr!! im so frustrated because i just wasted my money on the phat one now this one make up your mind nintendo when you make another potable system
Nathan @ Jan 29th 2006 12:59AM
Smaller and lighter sound great the old DS dont sit to well in pocket. I hear theres 3 brighness levels and a battery meter fantastic!! Great job Nintendo.
Nathan @ Jan 29th 2006 1:06AM
Is this like when lisa from the simpsons makes the doll lisa lion heart (old DS) and then they put a new hat on malibu stacey (new DS) and everyone gobbles it up :P
Nick @ Jan 29th 2006 7:33PM
It's nice. I knew that Nintendo was going to redesign the DS. It's a nice redesign. I like the fact that they made it a glossy coler like the PSP and thats a plus from the original color. I love the fact that its smaller, more lightweight, and, of course, sexier, BUT..... when I looked at it it was beutiful, but i just dont like where they positioned the Start and Select buttons. It looks like i will be accidentily pressing them unless you have to push them with a bit of force like you did on the original DS. That's all I'm really worried about. Otherwise, Nintendo, YOU ROCK!!!
play games @ Jan 30th 2006 1:20AM
This is sweet redesign, but I just got a DS for Christmas!. Hopefully it will be available in black/charcoal later this year. Slim is good, 20% lighter is great!