The Nintendo DSi was the third handheld game console in the Nintendo DS family, released in 2008 in Japan and 2009 worldwide. It was a slimmer, more feature-rich revision of the popular DS Lite, with a focus on photography and downloadable content rather than just playing games.
Key features
- Larger, brighter screens: The DSi featured screens that were 0.25 inches larger than the DS Lite and offered five levels of brightness.
- Two cameras: For the first time in a Nintendo handheld, the DSi included two 0.3-megapixel VGA cameras—one on the exterior for taking photos and one on the inner hinge facing the user. The included “lenses” allowed for fun, interactive photo manipulation.
- SD card slot: An SD card slot was added for storing photos, music, and downloadable software, making it the first DS model with expandable storage.
- Internal storage: It included 256 MB of internal flash memory for storing downloaded applications and game save data.
- DSiWare Shop: Users could download new games and applications (DSiWare) directly to the console via an online store, a feature borrowed from the Wii’s WiiWare service.
- Enhanced sound: The DSi offered better sound quality and allowed users to play AAC-encoded music files saved on an SD card.
Differences from previous DS models
While the DSi shared the clamshell design and core DS features, it made some key hardware changes:
- No Game Boy Advance (GBA) slot: To accommodate the new hardware and slimmer profile, Nintendo removed the GBA cartridge slot, ending backward compatibility with GBA games and accessories.
- Faster processor and more RAM: The DSi’s CPU was faster and it included four times as much RAM as the DS Lite, enabling more complex software and future DSi-exclusive titles.
- More secure wireless: It supported modern wireless encryption (WPA/WPA2), though only DSi-specific software could take advantage of it.