Photo: Evan-Amos · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons
Nintendo DS
Nintendo · Released Nov 2004 · Original DS (NTR-001)
Nintendo's boundary-breaking dual-screen handheld with touch and a vast, inventive library — and it still plays your GBA cartridges.
Pros
- +Innovative dual screens with touch and stylus
- +Plays the entire GBA cartridge library
- +Local and online wireless play
- +Gigantic, creative software library
Cons
- −Low-resolution screens
- −Bulky original 'Phat' model
- −Single-speaker original revision
What can it play?
Emulation performance by platform, based on real-world testing.
Full specifications
Hardware
- Chipset (SoC)
- Nintendo (ARM9 + ARM7)
- CPU
- ARM946E-S @ 67 MHz + ARM7TDMI @ 33 MHz
- GPU
- Custom 2D/3D rasteriser
- RAM
- 4 MB
- Storage
- Cartridge DS Game Card + GBA slot
- Weight
- 275 g
- Dimensions
- 148 x 84 x 28 mm (closed)
- Cooling
- Passive
Display
- Size
- 3″
- Resolution
- 256x192 (x2 screens)
- Panel
- Dual TFT LCD (lower is touch)
- Refresh rate
- 60 Hz
- Touchscreen
- Yes
Battery & Connectivity
- Battery
- 850 mAh
- Real-world life
- ~8 hours
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi (802.11b)
- Bluetooth
- None
- Ports
- DS card slot, GBA cartridge slot, Stylus, 3.5mm headphone
- Expandable storage
- No
Controls
- Analog sticks
- 0
- D-pad
- Yes
- Face buttons
- Yes
- Analog triggers
- No
- Gyroscope
- No
- Hall effect sticks
- No
Software & custom firmware
Ships with: Nintendo DS menu
Also plays natively: Nintendo DS cards, Game Boy Advance cartridges
No third-party custom firmware tracked for this device.
Our verdict
The DS redefined what a handheld could be with its two screens, touch input, microphone, and local wireless. It went on to become one of the best-selling gaming devices of all time, with a uniquely creative library spanning Brain Age, Mario Kart DS, and countless experiments. The original model's screens are low-res and it is chunky, but its influence is immense.