Nintendo's DSi XL: Would you want one?
You may have heard by now but Nintendo's next iteration of the DS handheld console, the DSi XL, will finally be available in Australia - and I'm presuming New Zealand - on April 15. After mulling it over and having a hands-on, I'm wondering whether you can have too many versions of a good thing.
There is no doubt that the Nintendo DS is a phenomenally successful handheld console, having sold 2.5 million in Australia and New Zealand alone since launching in Australasia. Nintendo says that 760,000 Nintendo DSs were sold in 2009 alone.
Let's look at the stats of the DSi XL: it has 4.2-inch screens, compared 3.25-inch on the DSi and 3-inch on the DS Lite. The stylus is also bigger - if feels like you're holding a pen, rather than a toothpick - and the battery is said to now offer up to 17 hours between recharges. No price has been revealed by Nintendo Australia yet, but I would expect it to be dearer than the current DSi.
I had a play with the DSi XL while in Melbourne and as soon as you see it, you can tell straight away that the screens are considerably bigger than those of both the DSi and DS Lite. Apart from the bigger screens, the larger stylus and some pre-installed software, the DSi XL is essentially a DSi.
In an age where many other technologies seem to be getting smaller, for Nintendo, it seems bigger is better when you look at the DSi XL, and with the new handheld, it means there have been four iterations of the Nintendo DS since it was originally launched (the original DS, the DS Lite, the DSi and now, the DSi XL).
What I want to know is: Is the DSi XL designed to eventually replace the DSi, which is itself a comparatively new piece of hardware, or does Nintendo plan for the two to peacefully co-exist together? And if Nintendo plans for them to co-exist, won't consumers get confused over which one to buy?
What do you think about this upgraded Nintendo DS model: Would you want one and if so, what would be the deciding factor to get you to buy one?
Want more Game Junkie? He's now on Twitter and Facebook.
Sponsored links
Newest First
Oldest First
That would make a lovely birthday present.
I have quite large hands and I have found the DS to be a bit on the small side for me, hopefully this larger one will be better. I worry that with the new DS versions games will be tailored for the newer versions and owners of the older ones will be neglected. Given the rate at which Nintendo churns out new versions it probably won't be that long till it is obsolete.
After all of that it is more likely to come down to what mood I am in when I see it and if the price is low enough.
I don't have a DS; were I to get one I'd get an XL, more than likely. If I already had one, though, I probably wouldn't bother. I guess it's similar to the PSP - I got a PSP-2000 when Chains of Olympus came out (girlfriend wanted to play it, so I got a PSP). Later they brought out the PSP-3000 (and of course, the PSP Go), but I had no interest in upgrading as I was already part of the fold. I'd have similar sentiments were I already part of the Nintendo Army.
That said, I don't have much interest in the Nintendo DS. None of the games have captured my attention so much as to desire one... even if it were cheap. I have enough consoles to keep me entertained. :(
why not make the sceen fill the whole lid that would be the only thing that would make it worth anything
I think this re-design is aimed at Japanese seniors for Brain Training etc, larger screens easier to see....
17 hours battery life is awesome, but larger screens would make ugly 3d DS graphics even more jaggy and pixellated. This wont sell as well as other DS iterations. It wont flop like the PSP Go though!
I still use my OG phat DS, I will upgrade if it decides to stop working, but its been 5 years and its still going alright :D
The XL has the same screen resoloution as the DXi. The size is just bigger. Functionally its exactly the same as the DSi and I believe they will be co existing. They are compatable. Think of the DSi as a PC, and the XL as the same PC with a bigger screen. The XL is aimed at the older generation to try and cash in on the casual gamer market they successfully tapped into with the Wii.
I'd be far more interested in this if there was any actual increase in memory/capabilities. Much like the Iphone 3g to 3gs upgrade.
So what, they've only made it bigger? Heck part of the DS value is that it is portable and SMALL.
I've sold my DS now and moved simply to iphone games. Much better, easier to pick up and play and the graphics/gameplay are usually far better.
Hey The Sceneman
I'm in the same boat as you, Phat DS from 5years ago!
@ xCaptainx The DSi did get better hardware over the DS-Lite with a slightly faster CPU and more memory, that along with WPA/WPA2 capable wireless (finally!) was enough to get me to trade in for a DSi. Now to be honest: the hardware changes also help for homebrew, which was a motivation for me. The cameras are fun but really they're something for the kids, so I don't rate them as much of a selling point.
The DSi XL will be running at the same resolution, so pixels will seem bigger and chunkier - in some cases this will result in a worse image, in some cases better. Size is a factor too - my DSi fits perfectly in my suit jacket's inside pocket. The XL would probably force the issue of a man bag, and that's not cool.
To be honest, the only problem with the DSi that this answers is the battery life. Apart from that, IMHO for most people the iphone/ipod-touch will probably be a better platform anyway. I also think this may be an inverse of the original xbox controller fiasco.
We have a couple of DSis in our household already, and as such see no need for the DSi XL. Just as we saw no need to upgrade our original PSP to a PSP 3000 or PSP Go
Wellington earthquake fear: No way in or out
Nightlife matriarch dies at show
Daily trivia quiz: February 17
Flights disrupted as severe thunderstorms hit Auckland
Cocaine-accused Kiwis in cruise clash
MP's deep baritone brings down the house
Speed, alcohol possible factors in fiery crash - police
Wellington earthquake fear: No way in or out
China 'will see Crafar ruling as racist'
Dazzling Adele silences critics
High cost of living mars return to NZ
I'm no ticket scalper, says Mallard
Marryatt skips council debate to play golf
Councillors back Marryatt's golf leave
Horsham Downs meditation pyramid planned
I think Nintendo's just gone over the top by milking this one. The DSi to begin with was a pretty pointless product, with not much to add to the DS (other than some cameras that are worse than the ones on phones).
While the change in screen/stylus size is nice, most of Nintendo's market will already have a DS/lite/DSi, so I can;t see them making much off this one.