Sign on Options
Theme:
To Dark

New DS hitting Japan March 2

  • By Staff, GameSpot
  • Posted Jan 26, 2006 2:15 am PT

Reworked handheld will feature improved weight, size, and four levels of brightness control; interface to also have minor face-lift.

See it »

TOYKO--Since the beginning of the year, rumors have been spreading that Nintendo is developing a new model of its popular DS handheld. After weeks of playing coy with noncommittal statements, today the company finally confirmed it. Nintendo announced that it will release the new DS, called the "Nintendo DS Lite" in Japan on March 2. The handheld will be priced at 16,800 yen ($145), which is a little more expensive than the original DS, which sells for 15,000 yen ($130). No US or European release plans were announced.

Nintendo DS Lite will come with all the unique features of the original DS, but its weight and size have been trimmed down. While the original DS weighed in at 275 grams, DS Lite is 218 grams. The handheld's size has been improved overall, as its width has been reduced from 148.7mm to 133mm, and its height has been reduced from 84.7mm to 73.9mm. Its thickness has also been reduced by nearly a third, from 28.9mm to 21.5mm (when folded).

Capability-wise, the DS Lite has all the functions that were present on the original DS, including the dual screens, touch panel, microphone input, and Wi-Fi connection. As a new hardware feature, the DS Lite will come with four adjustable levels of screen brightness. Nintendo said it decided to name the new model DS Lite because of its light weight, and also for its screen brightness. One feature that has yet to be clarified is whether the unit will be backward compatible with Game Boy Advance games.

Nintendo has released a mock-up image of its DS Lite (pictured), which reveals that the handheld has undergone a minor face-lift. While the original DS had its microphone and battery power indicator on the bottom, it's been relocated to the middle hinge between the two screens. The layout of the main four buttons is the same as on the original DS, but the start and select buttons have been placed on the bottom, and their sizes have been reduced. The image released by Nintendo shows the DS Lite having a white body, versus the metallic silver color of the original DS. Nintendo hasn't said whether this will be the default color of the machine.

Specs released by Nintendo are as follows.

Product Name: Nintendo DS Lite
Release date: 3/2/2006
Price: 16,800 yen

Size:
DS Lite: 133.0 x 73.9 x 21.5mm (when folded)
Original DS: 148.7 x 84.7 x 28.9mm (when folded)
Weight:
DS Lite: 218g
Original DS: 275g

671 Comments

  • samam005

    Posted Oct 2, 2008 1:01 pm GMT

    OMG, i want it so badly, guess ill not get that PSP after all

  • samam005

    Posted Oct 2, 2008 1:01 pm GMT

    OMG, i want it so badly, guess ill not get that PSP after all

  • Shuzen

    Posted Jul 30, 2007 8:10 am GMT

    Very old news XD

  • Garrett101

    Posted Apr 16, 2006 12:09 pm GMT

    nintendo needs to stop releasing better gear just a few months after the release of the original hardware. it's too frustrating.

  • PorungaRa

    Posted Mar 28, 2006 5:42 pm GMT

    I dont have a DS so when the DS Lite comes out I am definitely getting it I saw a light blue one that caught my eye

  • gunslingercid

    Posted Mar 2, 2006 12:59 pm GMT

    please please please please be able to play GBA advanced games

  • Juanton3790

    Posted Feb 26, 2006 2:51 pm GMT

    y would n e 1 buy a ds it suks PSP #1

  • Thorpe89

    Posted Feb 20, 2006 5:39 am GMT

    I'm going to trade my current DS in for this beauty. It is so sleak.

  • KuramaRose9

    Posted Feb 18, 2006 9:57 am GMT

    I think im still going to get the orig. its pretty much the same except the measurements- which doesnt matter to me. The EXACT price is around 141 dollars so its pretty much more money for something that is smaller then the original.

  • ringuzi

    Posted Feb 16, 2006 4:01 am GMT

    The DS is great, but why do you guys still cling to your GBA games. If you really want to play them, then do so on your original GBAs.

  • AlexL576

    Posted Feb 15, 2006 8:57 pm GMT

    Yet to be clarified, unless nintendo has gone nuts with expantions for the DS it WILLplay GBA games if it has a GBA slot, and i dont care this DS will be able to surf the web and talk live over a chat system. So overall I beilive it will play GBA if it has a GBA slot, and I saw the release date for america is somewhere around spring.

  • kamakaz2088

    Posted Feb 9, 2006 2:16 pm GMT

    Nintendo pulled a GBA SP on us with the DS!!!! First the gameboy, then gameboy color, then gameboy advance and right after that gameboy advance SP, and now they have a improved version of the DS!!! WHY? who cares if its slimmer? The DS is already extremely portable and already has a bright backlight. It looks like Nintendo took a que from Apple, with the DS lite. its white, shiny, and smooth as botter, just like an iPod. Oh well, i've been loyal to Nintendo since the N64 and I gotta follow them to the end

  • BlueMint2004

    Posted Feb 9, 2006 2:06 pm GMT

    My hands still cramp when I'm playing my DS... so I won't be planning on getting a smaller one... TOO SMALL!

  • L337Hampster

    Posted Feb 8, 2006 11:34 pm GMT

    When they announced the GBA SP that was cool because it was significantly different, but the DS lite just doesn't seem to have a purpose.

  • 1sean

    Posted Feb 8, 2006 8:36 pm GMT

    I told yall like 90 times it does play gba games. look at the new pictures on ign.com .

  • wesi_man

    Posted Feb 8, 2006 8:23 pm GMT

    it better be able to play game boy advance games. If not why would you pay more for less? Ya it's smaller but the games are what most people would be looking at. The more the better

  • Zerofitz

    Posted Feb 8, 2006 5:35 am GMT

    Cool but pointless

  • epain

    Posted Feb 7, 2006 8:05 pm GMT

    I was thinking about getting a DS, and they come out with this?

    Nah. I'm getting the Mario Kart bundle. A red DS? Yeah I love red, so it works out.

  • d3L3710n

    Posted Feb 7, 2006 7:55 pm GMT

    For those brain-whacked idiots who cry, "OMFG, it's not gonna have backwards GBA compatability!!! *sob*" well, it's time you actually read the article, studied it in full, and stay in school. If you want, I'll just quote it as I see it fit this massacre of incorrect proportions.

    "One feature that has yet to be clarified is whether the unit will be backward compatible with Game Boy Advance games."

    What that actually means, in plain English, is that Nintendo has yet to actually spill the beans about backwards GBA compatability. And to the guy/girl who said 1UP already confirmed it, it has to be confirmed on the most--not ALL--major gaming news sites (including our beloved GameSpot) for it to be believeable. Sites like 1UP are third-party in my eyes, which means they would believe anything they marginally see work out for them. Kinda like with all those web comics out there.

    And if anyone really thinks that I mention web comics to be alike with gaming news sites, you need to wring that brain dry of alcohol and rain clouds.

  • d3L3710n

    Posted Feb 7, 2006 7:55 pm GMT

    [This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

  • DrSpud

    Posted Feb 7, 2006 4:54 pm GMT

    I still like my blue DS, lol

  • Bluestorm-Kalas

    Posted Feb 7, 2006 4:23 pm GMT

    the ds sucks compared to psp, no matter how much people say it is, i buy handheld games for car rides jus tthe same as i bought my iPod but the touch screen is so damned awkward so i switched to psp and like mcdonalds says, I'm lovin it, even with the new smaller ds the touchscreen sucks...DS SUCKZORS

  • nature-elf

    Posted Feb 7, 2006 5:24 am GMT

    Who cares if they have a new design...all the games will still be the same...so those with DS don need to regret,this DS Lite is only lighter and have brighter screens but their functions are the same,and the Lite is only a few grams lighter,its not like its feather light,and the brighter screen isn't much use too,only brighter but who needs a brighter screen,Nintendo is just trying to suck out more money,create so many design like GBA but all play same game.

  • katodenstra

    Posted Feb 6, 2006 10:35 pm GMT

    now i will buy a ds, i didnt like how big it was

  • thechosenone827

    Posted Feb 6, 2006 4:20 pm GMT

    I have the Mario Kart DS bundle and I love it. The redesign will have to play gba games and if they are really redesigning it, they should make the gba port to where it will take all gameboy games (I'm talking the original gameboy and gameboy color games) since they won't fit on the current DS. If they address that issue, I will gladly trade in my current DS for a redesigned one.

  • azzazthing

    Posted Feb 6, 2006 12:46 pm GMT

    dose it play gameboy advance games?

  • cantlooseu

    Posted Feb 6, 2006 6:29 am GMT

    y cant they say wen it will be released in europe}

  • JuHae

    Posted Feb 5, 2006 2:25 pm GMT

    im lovin it

  • GreenFire123

    Posted Feb 5, 2006 11:17 am GMT

    i already have a DS, why should i waste my money on some other smaller DS.

  • Jolmer

    Posted Feb 4, 2006 4:31 pm GMT

    Im getting it since PSP costs too much. I knew nintendo would remain my #1 for handhelds. Go Animal Crossing

  • f1l200

    Posted Feb 4, 2006 2:01 pm GMT

    i really dont care if they scrap the gba port cause i dont have any gba games and they all kinda stink....................i had one and played all the good games so theres no point of putting one in if there just gnuna stop making good games

  • dadeisvenm

    Posted Feb 4, 2006 11:27 am GMT

    THE DS IS NOT A CONSOLE! THE PSP IS NOT A CONSOLE! THE TITLE IS PORTABLE PPL!!! PORTABLES!!!

  • deepdreamer256

    Posted Feb 4, 2006 11:25 am GMT

    The old DS was one of most successful console released in recent years. DS lite will do so much better now it's a lot smaller than the old one and even the PSP.

    The DS was already smaller than the PSP, not by little either.

  • Lambri

    Posted Feb 4, 2006 10:11 am GMT

    Good news. Making a facelift for a new console is very interesting move. Hope it will be in Europe soon!

  • DownloadingData

    Posted Feb 3, 2006 11:55 pm GMT


    The old DS was one of most successful console released in recent years.

    DS lite will do so much better now it's a lot smaller than the old one and even the PSP.

  • smwat

    Posted Feb 3, 2006 11:51 pm GMT

    My ds hinge broke so I might buy a new one if its bc.

  • Kaiser786

    Posted Feb 3, 2006 4:15 pm GMT

    i think it is a good change and shold be brought to the US

  • NintendoDSChik2

    Posted Feb 3, 2006 3:28 pm GMT

    Kind of annoyed because i bought my DS about a month ago and now a smaller, more light weight DS is coming out.
    I'll be happy if the new DS doesn't play GBA games because then i won't be annoyed that i didn't wait.
    I actually think it looks uglier than the original and if they were going to bring out a new version, they could have added more features. Screen brightness... wow . I'm blown away.

  • Nagly

    Posted Feb 3, 2006 12:14 pm GMT

    And now it looks good!!!

  • nekrotaunter

    Posted Feb 3, 2006 12:00 pm GMT

    ds is already bulky, so i'll buy the new one. brightness feature helps, played castlevania and thought it was too dark.

  • L_N

    Posted Feb 2, 2006 11:30 pm GMT

    I've got the original DS and my sister has a GBA SP if it is like them with the brighter screen it will look heaps better. I find GBA games have much brighter and vivid colours than on a GBA.

  • Bluestorm-Kalas

    Posted Feb 2, 2006 8:23 pm GMT

    the first ds sucked and this one will too

  • zoned_out14

    Posted Feb 2, 2006 5:43 pm GMT

    cool

  • SparkyArki

    Posted Feb 2, 2006 5:42 pm GMT

    Awesome, but I don't really need a DS to play awesome handheld games though. If someone could give me a game that i would die for on this I would buy it. lol

  • Darkhawk_64

    Posted Feb 2, 2006 2:43 pm GMT

    This looks awesome. Much better than the original. I just hope it can play gb games. I think ill get it when pokemon Diamond and Pearl come out.

  • volpexpress

    Posted Feb 2, 2006 12:28 pm GMT

    this is koola nd all but i already hve one and i dont need another one. i dont care how kool it looks or how small mine is good enough.

  • kopakauk

    Posted Feb 2, 2006 6:22 am GMT

    Why are you moaning? Christ it's not like you have to buy the damn thing. If you haven't got an original DS like me then it's nice to get a lite but if you already have one then why keep complaining just stick to your old one, it's not exactly rocket science just common sense.

  • Super_Munch

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 10:20 pm GMT

    It looks exactly the same as the DS.

    OMG YHEY ITS LITER OMFG IT SMALER LOOLLOO

  • marcoguerra

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 5:32 pm GMT

    why do they didn't get it out before the DS,
    I don't think is fear.

  • shrum91

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 5:28 am GMT

    now...to get white or black...thats the hard part...

Subscribe to GameSpot's YouTube Channel

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Tags

ds lite   japan   nintendo

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!