Nintendo DS Lite
Nintendo · Released Jun 2006 · DS Lite (USG-001)
The definitive original-era DS: dramatically slimmer and brighter than the launch model, and still backward compatible with GBA carts.
Pros
- +Far slimmer and brighter than the original DS
- +Adjustable screen brightness and long battery life
- +Still plays GBA cartridges
- +Iconic, beloved design
Cons
- −Low-resolution screens
- −Glossy shell scratches easily
- −Single speaker grille design
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
- 218 g
- Dimensions
- 133 x 74 x 22 mm (closed)
- Cooling
- Passive
Display
- Size
- 3″
- Resolution
- 256x192 (x2 screens)
- Panel
- Dual TFT LCD (brighter, lower is touch)
- Refresh rate
- 60 Hz
- Touchscreen
- Yes
Battery & Connectivity
- Battery
- 1000 mAh
- Real-world life
- ~10 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 Lite is the model most people picture when they think of the Nintendo DS — a sleek, bright, pocketable redesign with adjustable brightness and excellent battery life that still played the entire GBA library. Its screens are low-res by modern standards and the glossy finish scratches, but it sold by the tens of millions and remains a fantastic, affordable way to enjoy the DS catalogue.