It’s always wise to hear from real-world users before you buy, but keep in mind that everyone is unique, and your wants and needs for the DSi handheld may be different from other people’s. You may prefer the Nintendo DS Lite handheld instead. One way to investigate this is to compare reviews of the different products, as well as reviewing the key features, product descriptions, and images of Nintendos DS Lite handheld vs. its DSi handheld.

Knowledge is power. Get your knowledge about these popular Nintendo handheld products, below.

Nintendo DSi Handheld Console Reviews

4 Stars A Good Step Forward for Nintendo’s Prime Handheld

Pros:

+Bigger and slightly brighter screen
+New interface is easy to navigate
+DSi Ware is a nice implementation
+Digital camera to take photos with
+Internal memory and SD card slot are nice for storing data
+Downloaded games are inexpensive and the service has a lot of potential

Cons:

-Photos taken on camera only really look good on the DSi screen
-Shorter battery life
-Web browser isn’t the greatest
-The lack of a GBA slot means you can’t play GBA games, use some of the DS Lite’s accessories (such as a rumble pack) and makes some games like Guitar Hero World Tour virtually unplayable

In 2004, Nintendo released the original Nintendo DS. Just two years later, the Nintendo DS Lite debuted and was better than the original by far. Since its original release, the Nintendo DS has gone on to sell more than 100 million units worldwide. With sales numbers like that, why would Nintendo need to release another revamp of their prized handheld? More than that, are the new features worth picking up if you have a DS Lite or if you still have an original DS? Well, it can be, but if you’re perfectly content with your original DS or your DS Lite there’s nothing wrong with that, and you don’t have to buy it. That’s not to say it would be a bad investment. For some it might be worth it.

Certainly if you still have the original DS, it is worth investing in this newer update. There are quite a few new things about the Nintendo DSi that can make it worth buying. One of the first changes that is obvious from the moment you see it is that it’s slightly smaller and designed a little differently. The power button has been moved and now doubles as a reset button. The screen is also slightly bigger and brighter than the DS Lite. When turning it on, there is also a notable difference in the interface which has been completely reworked all together. It’s been made a bit easier to use.

Perhaps the biggest and most notable difference is that the DSi no longer has a slot to play Gameboy Advance games. If you’re still playing your GBA games a lot, this is probably a pretty big subtraction when it comes to the DSi, no matter how much it includes. If you’re someone who hasn’t used your DS for playing GBA games in a while, it’s probably not a big deal, but I would’ve gladly taken a slightly thicker handheld just to maintain the GBA slot. There is, however, a slot for an SD card to store more data. The first of these is the wi-fi service which you can get on and download some downloadable games for the DSi. Much like the Wii, you’ll spend points (100 points is equal to one dollar) to buy games. There’s also the built in web browser, but this is not something to jump up and down over really, as it isn’t a very good web browser.

The camera is a nice addition, allowing you to customize and mess around with the pictures you take. They don’t look good on anything but the DSi screen, however, but you can store them on an SD card or the DSi’s internal memory. You can take quite a bit of photos, and mess around with them in interesting ways, such as drawing on them or manipulating faces. It can be fun to mess around with.

While the new additions are nice the more expensive price is a bit much for those who are already carrying a DS Lite. There are some new features but there isn’t too much done here to enhance the gaming experience itself outside of a larger screen. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t worthwhile. The download service in particular can be very worthwhile in the future. The games on the download service also aren’t too expensive. In short, even DS Lite owners might find it worth the extra money after a while.

Another big hit to the DSi is that the battery life just isn’t as long as the previous incarnations. For those wanting to use it primarily for gaming, it might surprise you that the DSi will need to be charged a lot more frequently, as the battery last five hours shorter than that of the DS Lite. It takes a bit shorter to charge as a result, but you’ll find yourself charging it quite a bit, especially if you play with the screen on the brightest settings.

In the end some may wonder if the upgrade is worth it. It’s a bit more expensive than the DS Lite and doesn’t have a GBA slot and a shorter battery life. However, you are getting some nice extra features, and with Nintendo planning to implement them in some of their games in the future, it’s at least worth consideration. DS Lite owners may not need to upgrade immediately, but in the future it might be worth considering. If you don’t own a DS at all, the DSi is probably the best bet.

The Nintendo DSi is a nice step in the evolution of Nintendo’s handheld. It has a lot of new features that can go a long way. Even DS Lite owners might want to consider updating at some point, but it still stands: if you’re content with your DS Lite or original DS you don’t have to get it. It’s certainly worth considering, though.

5 Stars Nintendo DSi: Great System. Kids Have Played With This Continuously!

Overall, I really like the DSi and think it is a huge improvement over the DS & DS Lite, however, I wish they had released the device with more games and applications that take into account the new camera system. We also own a DS Lite and my kids are playing with the new version more than they ever did with the older version.

First, the device feels great to hold. I bought the black version and the brushed surface gives the DSi a textured feel that is very comfortable to hold and makes you feel confident you won’t drop it.

Setup could not have been easier. The DSi connected with my wireless network on the first try, upgraded the software with no problems, and then downloaded the Opera browser and the WarioWare Snapped game immediately. No problems using my 1 GB SD card (I will be installing a larger SD card soon).

The screen on the DSi is .25 inches bigger than the DS lite. Overall the colors on the screen seem a bit crisper to me and “pop” a little more on the DSi.

The Opera Browser works great, though the screen is pretty cramped and they don’t appear to have released a flash player for it yet, so forget streaming YouTube or similar video at this time. The Wii also did not have the Flash Player when it was released, so we can hope that flash will be arriving soon for the DSi as it did for the Wii.

I only wish they had released the game with more titles that take advantage of the camera system. The WarioWare: Snapped is a nice game, but a bit cantankerous. Make certain you use it against a high contrast wall. It’s a simple game, but entertaining. Still, I would have hoped for a couple more games that used the camera system to better effect. Hopefully soon.

The applications for the camera and the recording applications are great fun and my son is having a great time playing with them. Still, I wish they had released the device with more overlays and templates; I am guessing more will released in the near future. Nevertheless, my kids really like playing with the sound and video gadgets and have had a great time with them…need to remember to get them headphones…

So, overall, I highly recommend this game system, but advise patience while Nintendo releases more games and applications for it. There are still plenty of DS Lites on the shelves, but I’d advise getting this system unless you really want to be able to play your older GBA titles which do not play on the new system.

I also highly recommend getting the Dsi Nerf Armor – Blue/Black to protect the system. Works great!!

Week of 13 April Update: Nintendo released two more titles to the DSi shop that are available for download. Have to admit some disappointment so far in this aspect of the game system. So far, nothing available that evokes much excitement. Still, I’m optimistic that the game titles will follow soon.

To date (19 October), the following downloads are available:

1. DSi Opera Browser -Free
2. Birds & Beans – 200pts
3. Brain Age Express: Math – 800pts
4. Master of Illusion: Funny Face – 200pts
5. Maters of Illusion: Shuffle Games -500 pts
6. Aquia – 500pts
7. Warioware: Snapped – 500 pts
8. Mixed Messages – 500 pts
9. Dr Mario Express – 500 pts
10. Master of Illusion Express: Deep Psyche – 200 pts
11. Clubhouse Games Express: Card Classics – 500pts
12. Paper Airplane Chase – 200 pts
13. Animal Crossing Clock (not a game) – 200 pts
14. Animal Crossing Calculator (not a game) – 200 pts
15. Real Soccer 2009 – 800 pts {looks like a good one/ 1-4 players, customize aspects of the game using the DSi camera.
16. Art Style(tm): PiCTOBiTS(tm) -500 pts (looks like another good one)
17. Photo Clock -200 points
18. American Popstar: Road to Celebrity – 800 pts
19. Mighty Flip Champs! – 800 DSi Points {this looks like fun!!)
20. Mario vs. Donkey Kong(tm): Minis March Again! – 800 pts
21. Mario Calculator – 200 pts
22. Mario Clock – 200 pts
23. BOXLIFE – 500 pts
24. SUDOKU MASTER – 500 pts
25. Art Style: BASE 10 – 500 pts
26. Brain Challenge (48 mini-games) – 800 pts
27. ZENGAGE (a puzzle game) – 500 pts
28. Sudoku Student – 200 pts
29. Art Style: precipice(tm) – 500 pts
30. Facebook Connect — FREE!!! {Facebook integration}
31. Brain Age Express: Arts & Letters – 800 pts
32. Brain Age Express: Sudoku – 500 pts
33. Guitar Rock Tour – 500 pts
34. Pop Solo -500 pts
35. Puzzle League Express – 500 pts
36. Clubhouse Games Express: Family Favorites – 500pts
37. Art Academy(tm): First Semester – 800pts
38. Oscar in Toyland – 800pts
39. MySims Camera – 200 pts
40. Clubhouse Games Express: Strategy Pack – 500 pts
41. Art Academy: Second Semester – 800 pts
42. Dragon Quest Wars – 500 pts
43. Thorium Wars – 1000 pts
44. Pinball Pulse: The Ancients Beckon(tm) – 500pts
(October 19 – DOMO EXTRAVAGANZA WEEK!!)
45. Crash-Course Domo – 200 pts
46. Hard-Hat Domo – 200 pts
47. Pro-Putt Domo – 200 pts
48. Rock-N-Roll Domo – 200 pts
49. White Water Domo – 200 pts

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4 Stars Solid performer for a handheld console and it has a (limited) web browser

INTRODUCTION:

I was getting this system, as an adult gamer, with the intention of playing games, and to use this as a browser for when I am away from home. I do not play Game Boy Advance games, although my daughter does. I have to warn parents looking into this system that there is no slot for Game Boy Advance (GBA, for short) or the Guitar Hero interface. This system is by no means a major upgrade with the exception of being able to download games or take photographs.

WHAT IS IN THE BOX:

Console
Two styli
Instructions
Plug

Taking this item out, I proceeded to protect the screen with a screen protector. I purchased a DSi Starter Kit to give me cases for cartridges, extra styli and a carrying case.

CONSTRUCTION:

The Nintendo DSi comes in a matte finish with a smooth texture. The touch screen measures 2.5 inches. An internal microphone is placed in the center just under the top screen. A rubber cover secures the port for the SD card. A slot for the DS games is in the same spot, as previous generations. Volume control is by a +/- switch, unlike the sliding volume switch of the DS phat. An LED indicator notifies you that the WiFi radio is on.

The keypad buttons feel firm not mushy.

The power button also serves as a reset button. This is convenient when switching from one cartridge to the next or when switching from the internet to the main menu. The directional buttons, X, Y, A, B, and L, R are in the similar neighborhood as prior generations.

The matte finish is fingerprint-proof but I have a feeling it is not scratch proof. The screens are very glossy and may create a perceptible glare in bright lights or outdoor settings. The case opens up to nearly flat.

I was disappointed that the plug was not a matching black color. It was more of a grayish white.

SETUP:

I set up the DSi with the pre-existing charge from the factory to enter my name, a phrase, the parental controls with a PIN, accessed my Club Nintendo account, and downloaded the Opera Browser.

The DSi recognizes handwriting (not really “Doctor’s Handwriting”, like mine) or uses the keyboard. The handwriting boxes give a choice of what you are trying to write but it is slow. Typing is faster but cumbersome.

Setting up the browser is hidden in the Tools Menu. You can toggle the WiFi radio on or off. When you set up the internet, it is a matter of choosing what type of encryption your router uses. I use WEP so I entered the “Hexadecimal” key which was quite long – no paraphrasing is allowed. Once my information was entered, it connected rather quickly. When I logged into Club Nintendo, I had to read the `license agreement’, agree and then the firmware was upgraded. That took about 2-3 minutes and then the system had to be restarted. As soon as the technicalities were completed, I was ready to download the Free Opera Browser.

When you link your DSi account with the online Club Nintendo account, you get 160 coins that can be applied to acquiring products.

BATTERY LIFE

When compared to the DS, the battery life is less. When you factor in the wireless capability, it is even shorter in life. So, if you are not in a `hotspot’ or have access to a wireless network, then shut it off to conserve battery life.

THE CAMERA

The 0.3 megapixel cameras are toggled by the touchpad’s `switch’ button. When you take a photograph, you can edit it with the various programs and save it to your album. I find it fun to edit photos and allow morphing (from the adult perspective) and I will likely use my photo for an avatar for various websites. For casual photography, this will not be too useful given the low resolution. Its purpose is solely for entertainment and DSi-type photo-editing.

Photos can be shared only 2 ways, wirelessly to other DSi units within 65 feet or by the SD/SDHC Card. It cannot be emailed through your browser.

No video can be recorded.

SOUND QUALITY

AAC is Advanced Audio Coding unlike the iPods which are MP-3 players (Motion Pictures Expert Group, Layer 3). AAC is a lossy compression format, that some experts say may have better sound quality than an MP3. To me, they sound virtually identical. How do you convert to AAC? If you use iTunes:

Highlight the songs to convert (Control and Left Mouse Click)
Click Advanced
Select “Create AAC Version”.

I would recommend highlighting the song and renaming it “Song A AAC” so you can search for AAC version on iTunes, utilizing the finder bar. I select/highlight the songs in iTunes, and then “pasted” them into my SDHC card. The DSi automatically finds the `music’ files but I was able to listen to the audio portion of my videos that I recorded from my HD Camcorder.

Sound quality from native speakers is quite good and it has `stereo sound’. Will I find myself using this as a music player? Unlikely. You can alter the music to play fast/slow or high/low pitch. Another fun thing is to choose `visualizations’ while listening to music – which can be toggled with the `ring on a string icon’. Lastly, there are `percussion effects’ that are activated by your Left and Right keys: Clapping, tambourines, drums, Dog/cat sounds, etc.

You can also record 10 second ‘sound clips’ which can be stored on a memory card. It cannot be assigned to a photograph.

SCREEN QUALITY / BRIGHTNESS

Default is on a setting of 4, which is brighter than the DS Phat (which is what my daughter uses). The size of the screen is larger and the subjective quality of the graphics looks better to me. I don’t personally think it does anything for gameplay, aside from aesthetics. However, I do like the larger screen.

WEB BROWSING / PARENTAL CONTROLS

Download time of the browser was 2 minutes.

With regards to a Wii Points card, if it is unused, it can be used in the DSi shop. However, it cannot be transferred back to the Wii, so be careful. There is not a lot in terms of choices of DSiWare to download, at this time. You can have a maximum of 20,000 points on your account. Points can be added by a pre-paid card or using a credit card ($10 for 1000 points, $20 for 2000 points and $50 for 5000 points).

The choices are below (I chose none of them):

500 points
Warioware
Aqua

200 points
Bird and Beans
Master of Illusion Express: Funny Face

800 points
Brain Age Express: Math

Limitations of the browser:

No Flash, Animations, Sound, Video, PDFs or anything requiring a plug-in
Video playback

Use of the browser:

Like conventional browsers, you can set up your home page, add favorites or enter your URL. There are shortcut keys like “WWW” or “.COM” to make it less painful. There is an overview setting or `column view’ setting, as well as navigation or zoom view. I was actually able to load my Amazon profile, although it took nearly 45 seconds. I found that conventional websites can be viewed, albeit slowly, when compared to a PC. It is about average for a handheld (like my old Palm Tungsten C PDA). Realistically, you can check movie times, email, news and weather. Beyond any of those functions, loading times of websites would make the tasks cumbersome.

A bit of advice for you, do a Google search for “Mobile Friendly” websites that have limited graphics which are suited to browsing with items such as the DSi, Pocket PCs, Palms, or “Smartphones” (for example, eboogie, phonefavs or gahtan are a few sites that have that capability). With sites like these, you can check a lot more information quickly and efficiently. Loading time is a fraction of the full featured sites.

Parental controls:

Parental controls can be set by a 4 digit PIN. If you forget your PIN, you can get a `secret question’ to unlock this unit. This can control many parameters including the following: Access to Nintendo DSi Exclusive and Compatible Software (ESRB Ratings), PictoChat, DS Download Play, Nintendo DSi Browser, Nintendo DSi Shop, Photo Exchange, and User-Generated Content. You don’t want your child to download games, use the internet or chat, you can toggle what features to enable or disable. Very nice!

SD AND SDHC CARDS

The DSi can recognize up to 2 GB on an SD card and 32 GB on an SDHC card. No SD or SDHC card is included with this system.

Games cannot be played from the SDHC cards but they can be stored. Aside from that, photos and audio can be stored onto the cards.

PROS

Faster processor and more RAM than the DS Lite (for improved future applications)
Bigger Screen than the DS Lite
Digital Camera
Records audio clips
SDHC Card capability up to 32 GB
Faster internet browsing than prior generations of DS (per report)
Downloadable gaming capability
1000 DS Points, included until October 2009
Supports Firmware updates
Better sound than its predecessors

CONS

Shorter battery life than its predecessor, the DS Lite (less if the WiFi radio is on)
No Gameboy Advance Slot
Higher cost than the DS Lite
As of April 2009, there are only 6 applications to download (but more are coming)
No DSi specific titles with the release of the DSi platform

WHO IS THIS FOR?

Teenagers
Adults
Older children, 8 and above, given the size of DS cartridges and fragility of the touch screen

VERDICT

If you already have a DS Lite, don’t bother upgrading, for now. This is not worth the $60 depreciation for trade in and you lose your ability to play Guitar Hero and other Game Boy Advance Games.

If you don’t have a gaming console, this is a solid platform to play games, listen to music (casual basis), make Avatars for your discussion groups/forums and use a somewhat functional web-browsing experience (especially, away from home, as in a free public “Hotspot”).

If you do casual surfing on the net for news, weather, or email, this can do this function fairly well (especially if you use PDA/Mobile Friendly websites). This function, alone, is worth the $169 to me since it is like a little “Netbook” with regards to internet functions (no word processing or other PC functions).

The larger screen and improved sound (compared to the 1st generation DS Phat), is up by leaps and bounds. The future ability to download applications, will further secure its place in the pantheon of modern gaming.

UPDATE 4/14/2009

You cannot log onto Webkinz World (my daughter wanted to know).

UPDATE 5/9/2009

I tried using the WIFI on the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL and the network connection did not work (using internet set up).

UPDATE: 5/12/2009

Well, I finally found a game that I was interested in getting with my ‘free points’. I bought Real Soccer 2009 which is quite detailed. The download took about 4 to 5 minutes. I am glad I didn’t settle for the other games, since they weren’t inspiring.

If you’re interested in the Nintendo DS Lite handheld game consoles, check out these reviews, below.

Nintendo DS Lite Handheld Reviews