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Nintendo unveils a new, larger DSi handheld

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On October 29, 2009, 2:15 PM EST

Nintendo has unveiled a new model of its DSi handheld console, which will appear as the "DSi LL" in Japan, or "DSi XL" in Europe. As you've probably already guessed, the DSi XL brings larger 4.2" dual screens. That is about an inch more than the current DSi's 3.25" displays or the DS Lite's 3" screens.

The DSi XL will be packaged with a regular stylus, in addition to a longer, thicker pen-like stylus. It is reported that battery life will be about four to five hours on maximum brightness and 13 to 17 hours on minimum, which is on par with the DS Lite. Charge time is around 3 hours when fully depleted.


The latest DSi will measure 161mm wide x 91.4mm long x 21.2mm thick, and the new stylus will measure 129.3mm long. It will feature an SD memory card slot, a stereo headphone/microphone connected terminal, and will be available in red, brown, and white.

The DSi LL will hit Japanese store shelves on November 21 for 20,000 yen (around $220), and the DSi XL will arrive in Europe sometime in the first quarter of 2010. No details have been provided for a North American launch.

Update: Kotaku is reporting an early first-quarter debut for North America as well.

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User Comments (36)

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swilllx2p
on October 30, 2009
7:57 AM

I'd personally like much more to see a completely new handheld system come out from nintendo. I'm tired of them just redoing the design or adding a couple features here and there so people will run out and buy there stuff again.

Reply

Afroaggie
on October 30, 2009
9:28 AM

Bigger isn't always better. I understand that Nintendo is trying to keep as big of a lead in the handheld device department, but I think that as many of you all said before at what price are we going to have to pay. All the older games are going to be at the old resolutions and unless they change that then the graphic quality will suffer.

Also it is a handheld device are we really wanting the thing to not be able to fit in to the average males pant pocket. I know that when I had my ds lite I rejoiced in the fact that I didn't have to carry any extra luggage to make sure it was safe. It was always right there in my pocket.

I will have to say it was a good move to improve the battery life because that is one of the most important things to have with any handheld device.

Reply

fref
on October 30, 2009
12:39 PM

Wow, wasn't the original DSi just released? Pirates haven't even had time to fully crack that one...

Reply

TorturedChaos
on October 30, 2009
12:50 PM

I like the idea. DS is a bit small for my hands.

Reply

pioneerx01
on October 30, 2009
1:28 PM

I wonder what happened to technology, getting smaller, lighter, faster and more advanced. Look at cellphones. Every cellphone of mine is fatter and heavier that the previous one.

Reply

ET3D
on October 30, 2009
3:24 PM

From a comment I saw somewhere, this is supposed to be for older people. That's why it has a bigger screen and comes with brain practice games. Nintendo is trying to expand the target demographic as much as possible.

Reply

Wagan8r
on October 30, 2009
5:52 PM

I'd like to see them come out with an entirely new handheld system. The DS is aging, and it would be nice to see the capabilities of Nvidia's Tegra platform. Not to say that the PSP Go is bringing any competition or threat though.

Reply

kaonis92
on October 31, 2009
6:38 AM

The screen size enlargement would make sense if they also increase the resolution, otherwise that means bigger and nastier dots.

Reply

aceofspaids222
on October 31, 2009
10:04 AM

How many DS variations does Nintendo need? I have the ORIGINAL DS. Yes, the very first one. It still works and I love it. All these other ones tend to fell very breakable to me.

Anyway, I hope they increased the resolution to fit the new screen. If not, the image quality might be kinda bad.

Reply

JieMan
on October 31, 2009
8:37 PM

My little niece has a DS and I think this bigger screen is a great idea, I would have done some focusing on some scratch resistance tho

Reply

Jokumies
on November 1, 2009
11:12 AM

Soon introducing, the DSLaptop!

We at Nintendo decided to make the DS just a little bit bigger, so, it now gives an output of 1024x764 resolution, the touchscreen now acts as a keyboard.

We have completely revamped the User menu, it now uses a Operating system made by Microsoft specifically to use with the new DSLaptop.

In a few months after the release of DSLaptop, all other Nintendo DS's will be useless, because all the games made for DS now use 1024x764 resolution!

..So seriously, if DS gets any bigger, you can't fit it in your pocket and carry it with you. Isn't that a main point of a handheld console, that you can carry and play it where ever you go?

In my opinion, they just should've released this at the same time as DSi, because this is just pure exploitation of customers. "Oh you want the newest DSi? Well, you can just throw your old one into water and pay up."

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