Nintendo's DS Lite getting redesigned?

Don't place your bets just yet, but rumors are beginning to swirl in the DS Lite arena about a possible redesign. Considering all the PSP2 whispering that has been going on of late, it wouldn't be too surprising for Nintendo to plunk down a bombshell of its own in the face of competition, but moreover, we know Nintendo has a history of keeping its handheld hardware fresh. Be it colors or miniaturization, we've seen the firm's handhelds shrink and don new hues for ages, and the most recent blurb suggests that a new iteration of the DS could "feature a larger screen and more readable fonts for users who may have a difficult time playing on the smaller machine." Hey, it's not like grandpa isn't already getting his game on with another Big N product, right?

[Via DSFanboy]

[strider_mt2k @ Jun 20th 2007 12:15PM]

Wow.
The DS Lite is pretty darn awesome as-is.

I'd say keep the form factor and tweak it under the hood with a faster processor, more memory and a built-in [FULL FEATURED] web browser.

But that's me.

[Jesse S @ Jun 20th 2007 12:16PM]

And I just got a black DS Lite too...

[Kurt @ Jun 20th 2007 4:53PM]

Break it, make it look like an accident, utilize your warranty. That's fraud, but oh well.

[Beefthing @ Jun 20th 2007 12:16PM]

So...Nintendo DS Mini? Starting to sound like the GBA heritage line, SP was great, why did they bother making the micro? I wonder just how many people actually bought a micro?

[Jico @ Jun 20th 2007 12:41PM]

I did, and I'm happy with it. Shortly afterwards I bought a ds lite, and by comparison the lite feels heavy, off balance and kind of clunky (I never spent much time with the ds phat, so I'm probably pretty unappreciative).

I hope this rumor is true. If I could bend the ears of N's designers, I'd ask for a metallic finish(ala iPhone), brighter LED screens, a thinner lighter & more balanced feel (to make it much thinner they might have to include an adapter for gba games, rather than having a full-size gba slot), and lastly-but not leastly-better speakers.

[Jico @ Jun 20th 2007 2:00PM]

Oh, and no writing on the back! From the front the Micro was sleek as hell, but flip it over and there's a big ol' barcode and like a short novel on how the thing was assembled. Nintendo, keep learning from Apple.

[Mr. B @ Jun 20th 2007 12:22PM]

...nothing wrong with a new model, but the DS-Lite is already a fine little device. I suppose there is a little room for improvement. It would be nice to adjust setting without the unit shutting down. Built-in rumble perhaps?

[Jonathan Keim @ Jun 20th 2007 12:26PM]

I have a PSP and love it for the most part.

Strange though that Nintendo would update twice before Sony does anything.

[DarkOne @ Jun 20th 2007 8:22PM]

Wow... Microsoft comes out with the Elite and everybody complains. Nintendo has two updates for the DS and nobody complains... Hmmm
Didn't the DS lite just come out last year?

[Erwos @ Jun 20th 2007 12:29PM]

I'm predicting a DS sans GBA slot, so they can slim the DS down somwhat.

[Tavis Veighey @ Jun 20th 2007 12:32PM]

If they do make a new DS with a larger screen, and easier to read fonts. I will have no problems getting it right away. I'll give/sell my current DS Lite to one of my brothers.

[Dan @ Jun 20th 2007 12:35PM]

I love my DS, but I would have no problems with them coming up with a new update. A larger screen sounds nice, and I would cross my fingers they put some new hardware underneath, like a faster processor and more RAM to help improve the Wifi games. Also, having more memory would allow them to come out with a much improved web browser.

Only other thing on my wish list is an SD Memory card slot, in place of the GBA slot. That way we can view photos, videos, and save games, contact information and friend codes (and much more), just by sliding in a memory card like the Wii.

[DG @ Jun 20th 2007 1:27PM]

Brilliant idea on the SD slot. It would quickly and easily make the DS a media player. Not that I don't already had a something I can use for that -- because I do, but on airplanes, I would imagine a DS Lite could become even more useful.

[KineticOnline @ Jun 20th 2007 12:39PM]

If we tired to list all the changes they could make to it we'd be here all day.
But there is a few things I think would be great.
Built in Web Browser and Mp3 (possibly radio too?) and then take out GBA slot and add memory expansion slot (for the music)

[Andune @ Jun 20th 2007 1:03PM]

MP3 and Radio?

Nintendo seems to always focus on games...

[zerosozha @ Jun 20th 2007 4:39PM]

You just kinda described a PS right there...

[zerosozha @ Jun 20th 2007 4:41PM]

*obviously meant PSP*

[Matt @ Jun 20th 2007 12:44PM]

I would love to see a DS redesign with a sidekick style flip screen. Have it flipped down for a single screen GBA experience to play GBA games. Flip it up and you got two screens for your DS goodness.

That would be great.

[Kunikos @ Jun 20th 2007 12:57PM]

Actually, that _would_ be pretty kick-ass.

[Jeff @ Jun 20th 2007 1:40PM]

Except that it kind of defeats the purpose of having a clamshell design to protect the screen. Nobody wants to have to carry their DS around in a case all the time.

Yes, yes, GBA, GBC, GB... when was the last time you saw Nintendo go back to an "old" design? They're not doing external screens anymore.

[drtekger @ Jun 20th 2007 9:09PM]

How would you arrange the buttons then? Like a second set of buttons on the lower half too? Weird

[Mile @ Jun 20th 2007 1:07PM]

This better be the triple screen version I've been waiting for.

[jps @ Jun 20th 2007 3:46PM]

Screw that noise, I want 5 screens, one for each set of digits, and shaped like a soccer ball.

...

ok not really, but wouldn't three screens be overkill? Sometimes I think 2 is, given that the gap between the two tends to kill the effect when you have a game span across both.

[Dale @ Jun 20th 2007 1:25PM]

It's odd that so many of you would give up the GBA slot. For me, the GBA support is definitely one of the key strengths of the system - with hundreds of dirt cheap titles for the older system, there's plenty to play on the DS.

Still, as someone who didn't make the jump to the DS Lite, I would happily plunk down extra change on a new DS with a built-in browser, and music storage/playback. Especially if the browser wasn't Opera based and the music component talked to iTunes so I could easily transfer from my Mac to the DS.

[Christopher M. @ Jun 20th 2007 1:37PM]

Let's see some mockups!

Remember this? :)
http://www.modojo.com/media/features/125/gba2.jpg

[Jeff @ Jun 20th 2007 1:44PM]

Nintendo's not doing anything that isn't game related, so get all this mp3 playing, SD card slot, radio crap out of your minds. Every single time there's any rumor of a redesign of anything Nintendo-related, people come up with the same stuff.. and it never ends up happening. And you think it's coincidence that the DS Lite is selling so much better than the PSP?

They're not going to be changing any of the core functionality. What was the difference between the GBC and the original GB? Color. That's it. Everything else was cosmetic. DS Lite vs. DS? Again, really just some minor improvements to the screen - and everything else was cosmetic.

It'll be the same this time if these rumors are true. Maybe a couple of larger screens, maybe a different case. My bet is that's it. I do think it's possible they will ditch the GBA slot to cut production costs and either offset the costs of the larger screens or cut the price of the system (my bet would be the former), but I think the chances are better that they'll leave it alone.

[Phoenixfury @ Jun 20th 2007 1:49PM]

Personally I like the DS Lite as it is already. Cosmetically I don't see where the Big N can make it look any more beautiful than it already is considering (in my opinion) the DS Lite is a work of art as it is. However the internal improvements I'd like to see are a faster processor, more memory, beefier battery, and have PictoChat replaced with the DS web browser. All of this improvement wouldn't necessarily be for the games although it wouldn't hurt to have DS Lite 2 titles that took advantage of these improvements. However these improvements can be used for other things like a far better browsing experience than the current one.. Like having flash support for instance, faster web page rendering. Youtube and internet radio also comes to mind. Oh and a DS version of the virtual console would rock too! Hopefully if they did this, they don't make the mistake Sony did by making downloadable games only available by linking to a game console.

[Almadi @ Jun 20th 2007 2:07PM]

Better not smaller.
I wanted to put a link to my concepts of a DS redesign and Gameboy Omega. But Engadget has this rule against linking to your site.
So I hope someone else puts a link to them in their comment (loophole?)

[Mile @ Jun 20th 2007 2:20PM]

I'll do it. The Big E Blog loves me.

What's your URL?

[Thesi @ Jun 20th 2007 2:41PM]

I would really like to see a slider or button to change the backlight. When lighting conditions change, I hate having to choose between just dealing with it or restarting. Also I think some kind of wifi pictochat would be awesome. It was always fun shooting messages across class but when not at school, it becomes useless. I agree that some sort of media storage would be awesome but I think having the web built in isn't all that important.

[gork @ Jun 20th 2007 2:59PM]

I want a stronger hinge. Make the hinge similar to the one in my thinkpad. I had 3 white DSlites get the crack and after I bought a black one and gave my son my old white one, in 6 months, he cracked the hinge and the part with the lights on it has fallen off. Now that the white one is out of warranty, I am SOL. (Never by white....they are always the ones that I see cracked)

My son does not touch my black DS unless I am in the room until I get a new unit for him.

Nintendo has doen a MUCH better job on the Wii so I hope that if there really is a redesign, the design it with kids in mind.

I swear you have to treat the DSlite like it's GLASS to never ever get the crack.

[Blue Yoshi @ Jun 20th 2007 2:59PM]

I have bought quite a few DS's as gifts to my friends and family. The touchscreen allows for better access to casual gamers. Everyone loves em except the 60yr old man I got one, he is too embarrassed to enjoy it I think.

The only reason I didn't get my grandparents a set yet is because THE SCREEN IS TOO SMALL for old people. Games like Club House Games with all types of cards and stuff they would really love, but not unless they can see it well.

I hope Nintnedo does this.

[Nam @ Jun 20th 2007 3:05PM]

It's rumours like this that makes me afraid to buy a DS lite now...I'll just wait after min-E3

[James @ Jun 20th 2007 3:14PM]

I just got an Onyx Lite in preparation for the new Zelda (which I know is a ways off, but still). If the revision is going to be bigger (DS "Phat", then Lite, now DS Medium?), I'll pass -- the Lite is the perfect size, and any bigger would mean it doesn't fit in my shirt pocket. My only gripe is that my Lite would probably have been cheaper in 6 months...

[PS3guy @ Jun 20th 2007 3:16PM]

How about a DSphone? pretty sure if Nintendo come out with a phone it would kill the iphone.

[TC @ Jun 20th 2007 4:03PM]

I personally will buy every DS they come out with just because I like them. I may not get every color of each version (I have bought a white and black DS Lite) but I will get any new one they come out with. Not being a kid and having plenty of disposable income for cheap little gadgets like the DS Lite is wonderful.

[Jesse S @ Jun 20th 2007 5:08PM]

Closer-together screens perhaps?

[Twist @ Jun 20th 2007 6:42PM]

I was thinking about getting a DS Lite but the d-pad and buttons are tiny. If they would redesign the thing so that people with adult sized hands could use it and hold it comfortably then I might pick one up.

[CaptSaltyJack @ Jun 20th 2007 8:37PM]

I can see maybe a new DS Lite coming out that has:

- built in browser
- WPA/WPA2 support (get with it, Nintendo..jesus)

Other than that, I wouldn't expect the looks to change much. One of the major reasons Nintendo redesigned the original DS was so it would match the Wii when it came out. Now that it does, do you really think they would change the design of it again?

[drtekger @ Jun 20th 2007 9:23PM]

Okay folks, forget about the beefed up processor and memory thing really quick because that isn't going to happen. The actual games would have no improvement at all and the "new" games would not run on the X-billion lites already sold.

Following updates seem reasonable and realistic:

- Two bigger screens
- Improved hinges
- A touchscreen without that yellow "stain"
- Maybe improved buttons (remember d-pad)
- WPA, WPA-2 support
- Better battery life
- Brightness adjustable ingame
- Uber-protection that renders flashcards useless
- Maybe, if we all behave - a built in browser.

I love my DS Lite as it is besides that nasty yellow stain every European or at least German DS Lite tends to have but I would buy the improved version in an instant.

[Son @ Jun 21st 2007 5:05PM]

Nintendo needs to stop with these damn updates to their design, and just put out a new hand held console. I wonder how many suckers have bought the DS, the DS lite, and, after reading this, ran out and reserved their copy of a DS "ultra" - lite. Think about the money you just spent so that you can have a system you already owned, just with some newer improvements that don't even affect the game play, ie the buttons are the same, up still goes up, down still goes down, etc. Damnit Nintendo, just put other hand held console, people are paying more money for the design iteration then your games.

[Brady @ Jun 27th 2007 11:45AM]

You can say that again, Nintendo makes a handheld with little afterthought into the hardware, selling it instantly to the millions of fanboys (that were born with a copy of Super Mario Bros. for the NES in their hands) because it is something new that has (Nintendo) engraved on it. Then once all of the fanboys have their new gameboy, nintendo decides to redesign it, market it as a "New" console, and instantly sell to the majority of those with the same exact thing in a different case and maybe a few minor improvements that should have been there all along.
I am not a Nintendo hater though, i grew up with all of the Nintendo consoles and I have owned one of every console, not redesign, Nintendo has made, except for the original gameboy. I did own a DS but I sold it because it was collecting dust.

[Mr. Sneakery @ Jun 25th 2007 11:27AM]

I think the new DS should ditch the GBA slot, even though I love GBA games, I think if they opted to do Virtual Console (handheld version) where you could download all games from original gameboy to GBA it would be awesome, it'd still be a nice integration to the Wii and free up more space to make the model a bit slimmer with more screen space or a longer battery.
Just my 2 cents

[eric @ Jun 25th 2007 11:52AM]

a few things id like to see from the ds redesign are:
-bigger screens
-built in browser
-the ability to send games from the VC to the new ds

i could do without a music player but it would be nice

[Aceo @ Jun 25th 2007 8:05PM]

I just want them to add WPA, and maybe interface with the wii a bit more. As long as they have a trade in system like the DS lite and original DS, I'm fine.

An SD card might be cool, in terms of ds games interacting with wii games.

[Joe @ Jun 26th 2007 7:41PM]

Uhh, you can already play MP3s on your DS, listen to the radio, and stick an SD card in it with R4 and many other extensions.