Nintendo DS Lite US launch - June 11 for $129.99

As expected, Nintendo has announced the US launch date and pricing for the DS Lite. The handheld gaming system will arrive on US shores on June 11 for about $129.99, and will come in an "inaugural color" of white. Since we've already seen the Lite in other colors, we assume those and more will make their way to the US soon enough, and the Wii factory is just teasing us by making us wait. Everything else you already know about the Lite remains unchanged, including the fact that, if you really can't wait a whole month to get it, your favorite gray market dealers can still get it for you sooner for about $200 plus shipping.

[Yuri Walkiw @ May 4th 2006 9:25AM]

Didn't someone say the DS Lite was going to cost 200 bucks? Hmmm.

[Carlos @ Jul 7th 2007 9:30AM]

I would like to receive some information about the best price of Nintendo DSLITE .
I am brasilian and i am searching around the world the best price.
If someone could help me. I thank very much

Carlos

[M3PH15T0 @ May 4th 2006 9:32AM]

What about european price and release date?

[delerious @ May 4th 2006 9:34AM]

I'ma hit that up. Good things come to those who wait, and I've been waiting to get a new one for a good while.

[Alex @ May 4th 2006 9:36AM]

Any details about Europe? No doubt there will be the usual 30-40% markup for the UK despite having a 17.5% tax rate.

$130 = �70

+17.5% VAT = �81.75

+UK no-reason-at-all price hike = �120?

[Oddmanout @ May 4th 2006 9:41AM]

Used to be everytime there was a DS post of some type the comments section would always devolve into a fanboy bash-battle-field. PSP boosters on one side, and DS proponents on the other.

Funny how that's sort of tapered off over time :)

I'm far from a fanboy of...we really anything...but it is amazing how far the popularity of the DS/Lite has gone, and almost equally surprising how interest in the PSP seems to have flagged (really, before both launches I thought Sony had the match in the bag).

It's a shame too, based on hardware alone, both machines had a lot of potential to entertain. They still do I guess. 'Lumines' proves Sony can produce fun NEW games for the PSP...if they'd just do so a bit MORE OFTEN I think Sony would continue to see new sales and satisfied customers.

But that DS Lite is lookin' mighty tempting. particularly at $129. Get Skype working on it with reasonable efficacy and I'm sold...

[Erick @ May 4th 2006 9:43AM]

So it's launching on a Sunday? (thanks google calendar!)

[JonSedar @ May 4th 2006 9:43AM]

No stealth black version?? me cry!

I held out in hope of a black version, but since I want it right now, there's no way Im waiting to import from the US (to UK).

I'm off to lik-sang (other importers are also available)

[Ali @ May 4th 2006 9:43AM]

The current DS in the UK is currently �89.99 ($165) so theres no way this will launch for less than �110 over here

[angrytaxman @ May 4th 2006 9:44AM]

I just bought one on Tuesday, and now they go and say it'll only be $130. That's just my luck I guess. Maybe I'll throw it up on ebay and wait until June 11.

[Dean @ May 4th 2006 9:54AM]

My best-case scenario was this thing going on sale for $140. This rocks.

[Princess Zelda @ May 4th 2006 9:56AM]

Yes,
I wanted a white one so I'm more then happy right now especially with the $130 price, that's a lot cheaper then I thought it would come out at. I finally get to play Mario Kart online and Tetris. I have to go practice...

[mike @ May 4th 2006 9:57AM]

i am so getting one. i wasn't even interested in the DS-Phat, but this thing is cool as hell.

[Michael Quell @ May 4th 2006 10:06AM]

I -still- don't understand why Nintendo make a new DS so soon...we had two...three revisions for the Advanced?

Now don't get me wrong, DS Lites are pretty sweet, but the only real improvement I care about is the backliting - it's just easier to see than a regular DS (my friend imported 3 from E-Bay. O.o)

I already have a regular DS, though (used w/ broken hinge = $20), and I'm not going to buy a new one until the price goes down. If you've already got a DS I don't see many reasons to buy the new one.

That's just me, though, apparently. =P

[mark @ May 4th 2006 10:38AM]

This is great news.

Hopefully the lite will make it to Australia by at least September.

[Akshat @ May 4th 2006 10:38AM]

Didn't u guys say this was gonna cost $200 on the podcast? $130 is pretty reasonable!

[anon @ May 4th 2006 10:41AM]

Reasons to love the DS lite

1) it's sexy

2) there are finally good games to play on it (tetris, mario, mariokart)

3) it's sexy

[Avery @ May 4th 2006 10:44AM]

Nintendo is selling (not just shipping) 150,000 a week of these in Japan. I wonder how the restof the world will take to it? PSP Killer?

[Tomas @ May 4th 2006 10:46AM]

Can it play Punch Out?

[Jacob @ May 4th 2006 10:51AM]

NICE. About damn time, too.

Now, it had better have a price no higher than C$144.95 in Canada, given the awesome exchange rate these days, or I'm buying it when I go south.

[citizen @ May 4th 2006 11:05AM]

Michael Q-

I agree, $130 is too steep for minor upgrades to something we own already.

Also, why does engadget keep using this crappy FCC picture of the DS? C'mon now.

[Brandon @ May 4th 2006 11:15AM]

PSP Killer? Last time I checked, the PSP wasn't on the top of anything and the DS was already nailing it to the wall in Japan and going neck in neck with it here in the states. That's like saying something is a Zen Killer. Sure, its beating the Zen, but the iPod is trashing it.

[Astanine @ May 4th 2006 11:37AM]

Will it kill off the PSP though, now that - shock horror- no one is using their psp as an mp3 player or umd viewer, all thats left is games, which DS is winning on by a mile . Most PSP users seem to be using it as a portable SNES thesedays.

[Michael @ May 4th 2006 11:42AM]

I guess my imported white DS isn't so special anymore. :(

[Kevin Hanson @ May 4th 2006 11:57AM]

great news! I thought it was going to cost $150!

[Alfred @ May 4th 2006 12:03PM]

Interesting. I guess Nintendo likes the June 11th date. That was the day the first GBA was released in 2001.

[Josh* @ May 4th 2006 1:07PM]

Michael Quell, and anyone else - If you are happy with your Phat DS.... why grumble? No one's forcing you, or expecting you to buy this, functionality wise you can do everything on the Phat that you can do on a Lite (except actually see the screen).

I owned the DS from launch and took it back a week later, and have been begging for such improvements ever since. I'm visiting the US in July and can't wait to get my hands on one (or three).

It's a very good price, and one I can't hope to see replicated in the UK (as Alex #3 points out).

[Josh* @ May 4th 2006 1:13PM]

PS guys -- why do you keep using that fugly proto DS with your Lite articles? =p

[Atanas Boev @ May 4th 2006 1:17PM]

Is this Pentax Optio MX-4 in the reflection? Any guesses?:)

[B1gC72 @ May 4th 2006 1:23PM]

i was hoping 4 a black 1 or at least the navy 1. i wanted it 2 closer match my PSP (no clue why). so how long is it usually b4 they release new colors of nintendo handhelds (never really got into the color thing with my gameboys, although i did have the pokemon edition gameboy color the came with pokemon yellow version, lol)?

well i hope they dont wait 2 long 2 release the black 1 cause if they wait 2 long then thats gonna cut into PS3 and Wii release time and i wont b able 2 afford a Lite then...

[red_devil2k2 @ May 4th 2006 2:04PM]

Any word on video capabilities of the DS lite? Will that adaptor thingy that was released it Japan make its way over here?

[Justin @ May 4th 2006 2:48PM]

You can buy a brand-new Nintendo DS and a copy of Animal Crossing: Wild World for the same price from Electronics Boutique. Why in the world would you want to buy something less for the same amount of money?

'Lite' systems are dumb.

[otakucode @ May 4th 2006 2:54PM]

What is a Wii factory? A bladder?

And of course I'm buying the Lite the second I can get my hands on it... even if it is only in white. Nintendo knows just how to string me along.

/and I fully intend to mock the name Wii for a minimum of 10 years

[Brian @ May 4th 2006 3:04PM]

Well the Lite is the same price as the current DS, so I imagine that Nintendo is just going to phase out the DS Phat. Awesome that it's only $130, I was expecting $150

[Sir Not Appearing in this Blog @ May 4th 2006 3:19PM]

"You can buy a brand-new Nintendo DS and a copy of Animal Crossing: Wild World for the same price from Electronics Boutique. Why in the world would you want to buy something less for the same amount of money?

'Lite' systems are dumb."

It's called The DS Lite because it's smaller and lighter, not because it's missing features. I've seen the original DS screen compared to the lite's, and the lite's is FAR superior. It's brighter and more clear.

[Mele @ May 4th 2006 5:06PM]

$130 USD! Yessss! thats like $144 CND right now with the loonie at what it is! And on Best Buy.ca the Ds Phat is listed at $154 CND. I wonder if they will take into account the change in dollar value when they release it[Lite] in Canada

[Anders @ May 4th 2006 5:57PM]

Shh... they will hear you.

[silly @ May 4th 2006 7:29PM]

It's way too much money for an "upgrade" from the standard DS, for something that for some reason does not include WPA support. Thumbs down.

[Shannon @ May 5th 2006 9:17AM]

Well Australia's getting it on June 1st (10 days earlier) for A$199.95, or $20 more than the current DS. Good enough for me!

[Josh @ May 5th 2006 9:27AM]

Any reason to not wait? Is there any advantage the current ds has over the lite?

[josh @ May 5th 2006 10:47AM]

"It's way too much money for an "upgrade" from the standard DS, for something that for some reason does not include WPA support. Thumbs down."

Isn't this the same price as the DS? Did you expect it to cost LESS than a DS?

[polly @ May 5th 2006 10:48AM]

I suppose it might hurt more if you threw it at someone.

[canuch @ May 6th 2006 2:11PM]

Canadians always get screwed on the price of asian goods. About 9 months ago, I a Panasonic cordless phone which the US MSRP was $99. Available at pretty much any US etailer for $75 to $89, USD. The MSRP up here, $179 CDN, although I did find it for $175 CDN. The exchange rate 9 months ago was around .70 USD. So you do the math, I was getting hosed. I bought it from the US, payed %15 duty, plus tax, put a handling fee too Canada post for collecting duy and tax. And it was still cheaper. I actually phone Panasonic Canada to ask them what the scam was. The CSR told me that the price of importing to canada from the country of manufacture was more than importing to the US. I told her, that I bought one from the US and imported it up here, and did it for less than Panasonic Canada did it for. The CSR robot didn't know what to say. I don't mean to pick on Panasonic, I think this is quite common. I will be swinging down across the border to pick mine up.
~S

[Liepins @ May 6th 2006 2:24PM]

Same with EU. Prices as always higher than in Japan or USA.

[Lionel @ May 7th 2006 12:49AM]

That's good news considering that not too long ago, fans were complaining over the $200 price range that was rumoured not too long ago.

[david @ May 7th 2006 6:19AM]

I wonder how this will impact the pricing for sites like liksang and renchi.com, where the pricing is at 198, at least they have the other colors now...

d

[Brad @ May 8th 2006 1:53PM]

June 11 = MY BIRTHDAY!!! but thats a sunday so theres no way I'm going to be able to get it before i leave for israel that night i really want it for the plane though

[Daniel @ May 8th 2006 9:32PM]

I'm fairly happy about the Canadian pricing (look at the press release on nintendo.ca): $150. Given that the CAD equivalent of the US price is about $145, it's unlikely to be worth shipping cross-border.

[Sally @ May 12th 2006 3:19PM]

I'm so excited for the new DS. AND I just recently found out I can use it as an MP3 and MP4 player with this 4GB Hard Drive. I nearly peed my pants when I found out! :o) Check it out here: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7785079&type=product&id=1142290252947.

[SpenceT @ May 15th 2006 11:27PM]

Yeah #21, portable, snes, nes, sega, gb/gbc (something a ds can't even do), AIM, web browser, portable DVD player. Nvm, you're right PSP is dead.

Both systems have their good points, and I love both, I keep one in each pocket.