Nintendo DS Lite

*Est. $130
Reviewed
November 2009
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Nintendo DS Lite

Pros
  • Bright dual screens
  • Slim clamshell design
  • Good selection of games
Cons
  • Darker finish can show scratches
  • GameBoy Advance cartridges stick out
  • Mediocre graphics quality
 
 
 
 

The Nintendo DS Lite handheld video game console gets excellent professional and user-review ratings. The bright screens (one screen is a touch screen) get great feedback for visibility, and owners say the console is slim, light and user friendly. It's not a multimedia player, though. The Nintendo DS Lite has not been discontinued, but Nintendo currently offers a newer version, the Nintendo DSi (*Est. $170). Most reviewers say the DSi is only a minor update to the DS Lite, but it adds a slightly slimmer design, two cameras, an SD card slot and access to online downloads from the Nintendo DSi store, DSiWare. Unlike the DS Lite, the Nintendo DSi no longer supports GameBoy Advance titles. Reviewers like the Nintendo DS line overall, but think serious gamers will be happier with the more realistic graphics and extensive game collection on the Sony PSP 3000 (*Est. $170).

There's good coverage of the Nintendo DS Lite in both professional and owner-written reviews. CNET is our top expert source for in-depth, balanced coverage. PCMag.com has a good basic write-up, and ArsTechnica.com has a nice review with accompanying photos. Amazon.com is the best place to find user feedback on the DS Lite. ExpoTV.com has fewer entries, but the video reviews are a good complement to Amazon.com's text-based write-ups.

     
 
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Nintendo DSi - White
In Stock.
Average Customer Review:  
 
 
 
 
     
   
 
 
 
Where To Buy
 
 
Nintendo DS Lite Onyx Black

 (323 reviews)
Buy new: $129.99   90 Used & new from $57.98

In Stock.

 
 
 
 
 
Featured StoresStore RatingNotesTotal Price
eBayeBay rated 3.89 (1219 reviews)1,219 store reviewsIn Stock. Earn 2% eBay Bucks on qualifying purchases! Backed by eBay Buyer Protection Program. Terms and Conditions apply.$47.42
eBayeBay rated 3.89 (1219 reviews)1,219 store reviewsIn Stock. Earn 2% eBay Bucks on qualifying purchases! Backed by eBay Buyer Protection Program. Terms and Conditions apply.$99.99
RadioShackRadioShack rated 2.25 (24 reviews)24 store reviewsIn Stock. $74.97
 
 
 

Our Sources

1. CNET

CNET has excellent coverage of the Nintendo DS Lite. Praise for the slim design, dual screen and backwards compatibility are balanced out by concerns about Wi-Fi usability and limited multimedia potential.

Review: Nintendo DS Lite (Red), David Rudden, Updated April 2009

2. PCMag.com

PCMag.com gives the thumbs-up to the Nintendo DS in this short review. Author Carol Mangis says the console's bright screen and slim design make it a worthwhile upgrade from the original DS.

Review: Nintendo DS Lite, Carol Mangis, June 2006

3. Arstechnica.com

This article is includes a nice comparison of the latest Nintendo DS with the previous version. The tone is informal, but there's some interesting content and a good balance between praise and criticism.

Review: Nintendo DS Lite, Ben Kuchera, June 2006

4. Amazon.com

Amazon.com is a great spot to find user reviews of the Nintendo DS. At the time of our last visit, there were more than 1,100 posts. Owner ratings are very high, and most give it a perfect score.

Review: Nintendo DS Lite, Contributors to Amazon.com

5. ExpoTV.com

Over 170 ExpoTV.com contributors have posted video reviews of the Nintendo DS. There's some interesting content here, and it's nice to get a close-up visual demonstration of some of the DS Lite's features.

Review: Nintendo DS Lite Reviews, Contributors to ExpoTV.com

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