Nintendo announces DS Lite

Nintendo likes to be a little difficult on us from time to time, but we're stoked that after they decided to redesign the DS, then reneged, that they reneged the renege and went through with it anyhow -- though honestly, knowing Nintendo, it was an inevitability given their (and everyone else's) penchant for redesigning their consoles to drive sales. Anywho, their new Nintendo DS Lite skimps on the size and weight by shaving off 1/3rd of the bulk and 20-percent of the weight, and will apparently be released in Japan on March 2nd for ¥16,800 (about $145). It's important to remember, however, that the DS Lite we see here may not be the device that you actually buy, being that these are still considered to be design mock-ups. See ya soon, DS Lite, can't wait!

Japanese release date: March 2, 2006

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

Dimensions: 133mm x 73.9mm x 21.5mm

[Liam Billington @ Jan 26th 2006 3:51AM]

I don't like it. The edges aint good. I prefer that photoshopped one with the blue light.

[Ben @ Jan 26th 2006 3:51AM]

Oooh wee! Compared to the abomination of industrial design that was the original DS, this thing is sex with two screens. I'm gonna buy one of these puppies for sure, and I don't own a DS.

[snoozy @ Jan 26th 2006 3:57AM]

About time.

The original DS was UGLY !

[Bos @ Jan 26th 2006 4:00AM]

Sooo Much Better!

[Beopenguin @ Jan 26th 2006 4:01AM]

Oh wow...
Not only does it look like an Apple product, it even comes with the "Damnit!, I just bought one" feeling as well.

[leojsoap @ Jan 26th 2006 4:02AM]

same here, I might finally get a DS, hopefully they'll make it in silver or black.

[JonSedar @ Jan 26th 2006 4:04AM]

fudge yeah!

[Reece @ Jan 26th 2006 4:06AM]

Canned peas scare the sh*t out of me.

[PhourZwanZig @ Jan 26th 2006 4:07AM]

So 2/3s the original size, is all the weight/size loss in the casing.. Im just curiuos if the screen shrunk a lil too.. If not I just might have to add this to my set of matching PSPs if it comes to the US..

[Viper_Bravo @ Jan 26th 2006 4:07AM]

This is nice, its dang near spot on the the consept pic that was done a while back about what a DS"Mini" rediesign would look like!!!!

[norebonomis @ Jan 26th 2006 4:09AM]

i like the microphone's new position

but why doesn't it have media playback capabilities?
shame on you nintendo! bad video game company! bad!


of course i'm going to get one anyway, i've had my DS since launch day...

[Version 1.0 @ Jan 26th 2006 4:27AM]

Its a Revo-DS!!

[S.A. @ Jan 26th 2006 4:28AM]

They come out with so many iterations of the Game Boy. Those Nintendo Handheld fanboys must have a tough time always having to buy a new system.

[adrian @ Jan 26th 2006 4:44AM]

12. it's not like your DS stops working.

I'm going to get the DS lite since i've been wanting to get a second DS so i can play against my brother. =)

[Will @ Jan 26th 2006 4:47AM]

Beopenguin!!! Yes best quote ever, Ah I have to put that somewhere to remeber "Not only does it look like an Apple product, it even comes with the "Damnit!, I just bought one" feeling as well."

[Dave Ford @ Jan 26th 2006 4:48AM]

Has anyone else noticed that this redesign ushers in a design which is more than reminiscent of the revolution controller we have seen prototypes of?

The D pad and letter buttons could have been lifted directly from the thing. Seems they are getting ready for a uniformity meet...

[JGE @ Jan 26th 2006 4:52AM]

Yay!!! They moved the damn power button my fat thumb kept hitting while playing.

[Kama @ Jan 26th 2006 4:54AM]

Re: #10

You said it yourself, Nintendo is a VIDEO GAME company, they won't put unnecissary media playback functionality in what is supposed to be a video game system. It may be a nice bonus to see other systems that support such things, but not when it detracts from the gaming experience by either inflating the price of the unit or being the primary means of entertainment (PSP).

[Frexy @ Jan 26th 2006 5:04AM]

At nr 14 (Dave Ford)

You should check the GB Micro then... Exactly the same buttons, only black :)

(and they feel so nice! ^^;)

[Andrew @ Jan 26th 2006 5:17AM]

Still ugly ... I think it is time to grab this opportunity and start manufacturing my own casings for DS. Why did nobody start this business yet?

[Philip @ Jan 26th 2006 5:24AM]

Did they remove the GBA functionality to make the thing smaller?

[SolarisGuru @ Jan 26th 2006 5:25AM]

In reply to #10. "but why doesn't it have media playback capabilities? shame on you nintendo! bad video game company! bad!" That's about the dumbest statement I've seen in a while, well, about a week. Nintendo isn't a bad video game company, VIDEO GAMING is what they do... It's not meant to be a MULTIMEDIA HANDHELD DEVICE, it's meant to be a gaming handheld. I'm sure if they wanted it to do everything under the sun, like play movies, play music, play television shows, act as a telephone and a toaster, then it would. What I care about is the quality of the game device, and the games, not all the extra bells and whistles. I want a gaming device, and that's all.

[Peter @ Jan 26th 2006 5:37AM]

Looks nice, i guess it just wasn't quite ready to be announced earlier.

Peter

[E*Master @ Jan 26th 2006 5:40AM]

The size of the original Nintendo DS was the sole reason I hesitated to buy one but this makes so much of a difference and now I will purchase this one because it is reasonably sized.

[E*Master @ Jan 26th 2006 5:40AM]

The size of the original Nintendo DS was the sole reason I hesitated to buy one but this makes so much of a difference and now I will purchase this one because it is reasonably sized.

[cheezepie @ Jan 26th 2006 6:36AM]

Typical.

I held off buying one for weeks in the hope that there'd be a new version, then I finally give in and buy one three days ago! Still, I'll be able to say mine is an original ;)

[Timmay @ Jan 26th 2006 6:55AM]

This is pretty cool looking, I may pick one up... but then i'll have some full pockets (Tungsten t2, SE phone, DS).

What ever happend to the rumor that Nintendo had a Palm licence? That would rock if the DS could run the Palm OS!!


Timmay

[Blaje @ Jan 26th 2006 7:06AM]

I'm soooo importing this! I was about to import a Pure White DS in a few weeks, but I'm defintiely waiing! And THANK YOU NINTENDO for moving the power button, it was the reason I bricked my old ds. (hit it when installing FlashMe)

[Khurrum @ Jan 26th 2006 7:07AM]

Philip: No they still have the GBA support! :D

[Lita @ Jan 26th 2006 7:13AM]

Oh my. Good thing I hadn't enough money to buy a DS yet.. Now I can transfer my "DS" money to my new "DS Lite" fund. I wonder when it'll come out in the states/what colors will be available.

[Solidstate @ Jan 26th 2006 7:13AM]

I still think the screens should be nearer together - this would help in games when they use both screens as part of the same playfield - like Sonic.
Are these photos or CG - because they look like the latter to me.

[Desides @ Jan 26th 2006 7:32AM]

#25, the DS is region-free. Just import it.

#26, they're renders.

[lite-ds @ Jan 26th 2006 7:40AM]

IMHO Sony should respond to this by releasing PSP SP ;)

[Greg @ Jan 26th 2006 7:44AM]

I wonder if they decided to include the WPA support this time... WEP is just so oldschool :) (seriously, it is already timely to leave the lacking security of WEP far behind)

[szkud @ Jan 26th 2006 7:55AM]

I love it.

...but I don't think I'm the only person that's wondering about the GB Evolution still now.

[Shin @ Jan 26th 2006 7:57AM]

Really nice name too, don't you guys think so?

[Anthony @ Jan 26th 2006 8:00AM]

Looks like an iBook. Nice.

[PodMonkeys @ Jan 26th 2006 8:02AM]

Looks nice. Not too different, but a little more elegent. The mic position looks kind of poorly placed, but only if you need to whisper into it with your mouth up close, to avoid looking like a total dweeb on the train. :P

Looks like once this is out, my kid and I don't have to timeshare my DS now. She can have my old one! :D

Hopefully, it'll come in at least 3 colors, with white and black being 2 of them.

[Matt @ Jan 26th 2006 8:08AM]

NOW Nintendo is thinking.

While I still prefer PSP and its design, this is a much better design for DS, and I'm going to get one for sure.

[Demios @ Jan 26th 2006 8:19AM]

How about a better coat/plastic on the DS as w,ell. I use my DS so much that paint is chipping off it and showing the differently colored plastic underneath the silver paint. I hope the new one reverts back to colored plastic and not painted plastic.

[Michael @ Jan 26th 2006 8:29AM]

I ran the Japanese web page engadget referenced through Google to check it out. The one interesting fact, is that it looks like a price increase.

According to the release the original DS debuted for 15,000 Yen in Japan (in today's $ that was a debut price of $130). I wasn't sure I was reading that correct, but I verified the orginal debut price here:
http://www.gamecubicle.com/hardware-nintendo_ds_spec_sheet.htm

Anyway, the new DS Lite carries a MSRP of 16,800 Yen ($145 US).

Since the original was $130 in Japan and $149.99 in the U.S., then that would mean a $20 markup for US prices. Add this markup to the Japan price and I get an estimated US price of $165.

I suspect that this means they will continue selling the old DS for a while; either at the current $129, or even at a slight price drop.

The only other interesting thing from the release is that the new unit has four level of adjustable brightness.

Michael

[Cem @ Jan 26th 2006 8:31AM]

Let's hope the price will stay the same as the current DS. The new design is awesome and I really look forward to the better screen.

[Mr.Ortiz @ Jan 26th 2006 8:33AM]

I think the name is awful. "Lite" might make people think they took out some features. Of course, there's no work on GBA compatibility yet, so that may be the case. To anyone who says "no way" because of the rumble-pak, I submit the following possibilities:

1. Rumble is built in.
2. Nobody liked the rumble-pak anyway.

If I find myself with a wallet full of extra cash at the end of the year, I might just replace my current DS, and add a GBA Micro to my collection if necessary. Or maybe I should wait for the GBA Micro Lite... ugh, still not liking the name.

[Michael @ Jan 26th 2006 8:42AM]

Mr. Ortiz said: "I think the name is awful. "Lite" might make people think they took out some features. "

I'm not defending the name, just reporting on what the release said. When I translated it, it said the use of the work lite was a play on words referring both to the fact that it was lighter as well as the fact that the screen is brighter. Their translated words:
"It is light ", " it is bright ", we have named " the Lite " from meaning.

[fanonboy @ Jan 26th 2006 8:44AM]

unfortunately, they can't please everyone. I'm digging the name.

[yoyoyoyo @ Jan 26th 2006 8:52AM]

i hope the superpass/passme/supercard/m3 stuff works on this new redesigned DS, i was considering getting a DS, going to hold off now...
the original DS was too embaressing to carry around with you.

[Ken @ Jan 26th 2006 8:54AM]

God Damn I just bought my DS about 3 weeks ago.

[cocomo @ Jan 26th 2006 8:57AM]

Now if only they produce a version for the left handed and I'll most definately get one.

[Ds lite boy @ Jun 6th 2007 8:53PM]

hmm, never thouoght of that. send that to nintendo. That or become a righty

[GreasyGreasy @ Jan 26th 2006 8:58AM]

The screens haven't changed size at all, AFAIK. http://www.4colorrebellion.net/media/pics/06/01/ds-comparison.jpg

I really, really doubt they removed the GBA functionality. They need the ARM7 processor in there anyway, as it's part of the DS platform, so it'd be pure laziness to not include a GBA port and compatibility. Not to mention so many DS games already expect the GBA port to be there.