Nintendo DSi XLClassic Handheld
Classic HandheldDiscontinued
Nintendo DSi XL
Nintendo · Released Mar 2010 · DSi XL (UTL-001)
A super-sized DSi with big, easy-to-read screens and long battery life — the most comfortable way to play the DS library.
8.4
out of 10
$189
Launch price $189
Pros
- +Big, comfortable screens, great for all ages
- +Excellent battery life
- +Ships with multiple styluses
- +Cameras and the DSi Shop
Cons
- −Low-resolution screens stretched larger
- −Large and heavy
- −No GBA cartridge slot
What can it play?
Emulation performance by platform, based on real-world testing.
Full speedPlayableLimitedNot supported
Nintendo DSFull speed
Full specifications
Hardware
- Chipset (SoC)
- Nintendo (ARM9 + ARM7)
- CPU
- ARM9 @ 133 MHz + ARM7 @ 33 MHz
- GPU
- Custom 2D/3D rasteriser
- RAM
- 16 MB
- Storage
- Internal + SD DS Game Card + SD card
- Weight
- 314 g
- Dimensions
- 161 x 91 x 21 mm (closed)
- Cooling
- Passive
Display
- Size
- 4.2″
- Resolution
- 256x192 (x2 screens)
- Panel
- Dual TFT LCD (lower is touch)
- Refresh rate
- 60 Hz
- Touchscreen
- Yes
Battery & Connectivity
- Battery
- 1050 mAh
- Real-world life
- ~11 hours
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi (802.11b/g)
- Bluetooth
- None
- Ports
- DS card slot, SD card, Stylus, 3.5mm headphone
- Expandable storage
- Yes (microSD)
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 DSi Menu
Also plays natively: Nintendo DS cards, DSiWare downloads
No third-party custom firmware tracked for this device.
Our verdict
Value8.0
Build8.4
Screen7.0
Performance6.5
The DSi XL blew up the DSi's screens to a roomy 4.2 inches, trading pixel sharpness for comfort and readability that players of all ages appreciated. Battery life was excellent and it shipped with multiple styluses. It is large, the low-res panels look soft at that size, and it lacks a GBA slot, but as a relaxed, big-screen DS it is lovely.