The Nintendo DSi is the third iteration of the DS franchise, which has sold over 100 million units worldwide. This latest rehash of the handheld, which sees it updated with innovative media features and online functionality, is largely believed to be its last.
Physically, the device features a much better build than either of its two predecessors. Unfortunately, that sturdiness has translated into a heavier weight, with the DSi tipping the scales at just half a pound. Surface is covered in a matte, semi-rubber finish that should help ward off the typical scratches most pocket gadgets fall prey to. It’s thinner but wider than the DS Lite.
Buttons are much more responsive with a clicking action, as opposed to the softer response they went with on previous devices. Surprisingly, they require even less of a pressing motion, registering action (with the accompanying clicking feedback) with just a light effort.
The two screens on the DSi are notably larger than the one on the DS Lite, though there isn’t much difference when it comes to brightness and performance. Same with the speaker output, which pretty much mirrors the same performance as its previous iteration.
The DSi comes with a number of very welcome features, including:
At the end of the day, the DSi is all about gaming and, if being the biggest selling portable console of all time is any indication, you can guess that it does very well on that end. One caveat, though, is it no longer supports Gameboy Advance games (the slot has been removed).
Should all DS owners upgrade to a DSi? I don’t think so. If all you want your gaming handheld to do is play game titles, you can still enjoy that on both your DS and DS Lite. A potentially interesting app store and online access, though, make upgrading a compelling choice.
If you would like to make a comment, please fill out the form below.
