Nintendo DSi XL (NEW MODEL) / 2010 DS2 Rummers

Post Reply New Topic

A new larger model with bigger screens is called the Nintendo DSi LL in Japan and Nintendo DSi XL in Europe and North America. The handheld was released in Japan on November 21, 2009 and will be released in Europe and North America in Q1 2010.

[UPDATE] Fourth DS hardware revision will sport 4.2-inch screens and larger stylus, cost ¥20,000 ($220.50) in Japan; 11.7 million units of DS hardware sold in last six months.

Two days after it dismissed a Nikkei newswire article as speculative, Nintendo has confirmed that a new version of its DSi handheld, the DSi LL, will go on sale in Japan this year. [UPDATE] European and US reps for Nintendo have now confirmed it will also debut in Q1 2010 in North America and Europe, where it will be called the DSi XL.

As had been reported, the new DSi will sport two screens measuring 4.2 inches in diagonal diameter, far larger than the current DSi's 3.25-inch screens or the DS Lite's 3-inch screens. The DSi LL's screens almost as large as the single screen of the Sony PSP-3000, which measures in at 4.3 inches. Battery life will run 4 to 5 hours on maximum brightness and 13 to 17 hours on lowest brightness, on par with the DS Lite. (A translation error initially indicated the battery life would only be 3 hours, which is the unit's charging time.)



As shown on Nintendo Japan's official Web site, the handheld will also sport both a regular stylus and an easier-to-hold stylus shaped like a rounded pen. The handheld will go on sale in Japan on November 21 for a cost of ¥20,000 ($220.50) and will be available in three colors: wine red (pictured), dark brown, and natural white.



The handheld is the fourth version of DS hardware in as many years, following the original DS (2004-2005), the DS Lite (2006), and the DSi (2008-2009). As part of an earnings report today, Nintendo announced that as of September 30, it had sold 113.48 million units of DS hardware, with 11.7 million units sold in the six months from April to September. The portable remains the best-selling platform in the US, selling 524,200 units during the NPD Group's September 2009 reporting period.

The DSi's introduction will raise some issues with the US' 2.2 million DSi owners who have bought games from the DSi store. According to reports, DSiWare games are not transferable to another handheld, meaning they would have to be repurchased on any new DSi. The larger screens, however, will have greater appeal to demographics with poor eyesight, such as the elderly.

[UPDATE] When contacted by GameSpot UK, Nintendo issued this statement regarding the new handheld's European launch: "Nintendo today confirms that a new Nintendo DSi XL console is launching in Europe in the first quarter of 2010. The retail price of the Nintendo DSi XL is expected to be higher than that of the Nintendo DSi. Further details will be released soon."

[UPDATE 2] Nintendo of America reps have now confirmed it will also be released in the US and Canada in Q1 2010, but had no further information other than the following statement:

"A new iteration of the Nintendo DSi system will be introduced in Japan on November 21, 2009. To be known as Nintendo DSi LL in Japan, and as Nintendo DSi XL in North America and Europe, it will offer a screen 93% larger than the current Nintendo DS Lite with a better view angle, an additional longer touch screen stylus, and pre-installed Nintendo DSiWare software. The new version will arrive in North America and Europe in the first quarter of calendar year 2010."

DSi XL TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

4.2" screen, TFT color liquid crystal (260,000 colors)
Width 161.0mm
Length 91.4mm
Thickness 21.2mm
Stylus length: 96.0mm
Large stylus length: 129.3mm
Weight: 314g
Battery life: 4-5 hours maximum brightness, 13-17 hours minimum brightness
Charging time: 3 hours (when fully depleted)
--DS card slot
--SD memory card slot
--AC adapter
--Stereo headphone/Microphone connected terminal

Last edited by Shenzie on 06 Dec 2009, 4:25 am, edited 1 time in total.

Will it be able to run Skype?

Skype says the DSi can do it, Nintendo says no. Maybe it's some sort of licencing thing, if they allowed VOIP it may change it to a communication device.

Idk I think skype is a non nintendo product that you must install from the internet I know the PSP has Skype it came out on a psp update

Not sure on the 4:3 ratio (it appears that way to me) I prefer the 16:9 the PSP 3000 series has

I think this is only the beginning of what Nintendo has in store for it I'm getting it for sure

Probably making it more appealing to people with sight problems whereas the PSP Go has a physically smaller screen, the proposed DS has a larger screen..
Let's see what they do with it in the future

I'd kind of like to see pictures of it next to an original DS fat.

...not like I'll ever get one anyway. I'm glad I skipped out on all the revisions so far, because a new DS is supposed to be coming out next year.

I don't know if it's Skype specifically, but the original DS already runs VOIP. You just need a flash cart to be able to load the program.



Sort of.

It's mostly so that people can watch you play a game, and not have to strain their eyes as much. It also is supposed to have a much wider viewing angle.

The PSP3000 has a wide viewing angle. From what I have seen, it has no bad viewing angles. Except when you can't see the screen itself. THAT'S impressive... Still glad I purchased a PSP 3000 series, though.

What is the point of this model? Okay, it's bigger and pricier than the regular DSi (which was also pointless to release as well), but I guess it's for bigger hands? I would rather get an original Nintendo DS anyday...

I will probably get one if Gamestop has a reasonable trade in deal for the DSi.

Gah! I just got the DSi! No more new systems for a while!

My dad is going to LOVE this thing I saw it on Kotaku and that was my very first thought. My mom will probably like it too, but she's not the one always complaining about how the screen of her current DS is too small!

I will be interested to see when this comes to the US, though. I mean, it is clearly geared toward older gamers and people with vision or other impairments that keep them from using smaller handhelds, but I don't think the market for that in the US is nearly as big as it is in Japan.

Ok Ive herd from a friend that works with Nintendo that this system will have faster browsing and higher capabilities because of the Extra RAM and it will have allot of stuff to it. I WISH IT HAD RUMBLE TO IT SO YOU DIDNT HAVE TO HAVE A STUPID RUMBLE PACK

That already applied to the original DSi, I'm sure this model has the same specs.



DSi got rid of the GBA slot, so no more Rumble Pak.

Barely any games used it anyway =/

I'm surprised that Activision ended up putting out another Guitar Hero game on the DS, and even added a new grip for it. I guess they figured the millions of people who bought the first one (and maybe the other two) would still have a non-i DS laying around?

Another pointless DS remodel! That makes three that I'm not buying.
So... How about a system with games that my current one can't play?
...I'm not counting DSiWare.

I've got a DS Lite, and don't want to replace it with a DSi without GBA slot.

They must working on the next generation by now.