DSi XL Review
DS Lite sits on a DSi XL's lap
The excitement when the UPS man arrived with my new console was dampened a little by a surprise £38 import tax (that’s what I get for importing from Japan and not waiting for the UK release). To be honest though, it didn’t bother me too much because I was so eager to get at my DSi XL. Play-Asia had packaged a pretty neat set of screwdrivers with my order (maybe to compensate for not warning me about the import tax).
The console was packed in a thin and sleek box. Inside it were Japanese instructions and a Japanese power cable (my mains adaptor is on its way) next to the console itself.
Despite all the pictures I’ve seen of it before, I was still (surprisingly) surprised at its size. The screens are really nice to look at. I’m not sure how to say it other than, “the screens look really big”. They’re certainly striking and made me say “wow”. I was definitely impressed.
Maths Brain Training also doubles as a Japanese trainer. Unfortunately for those not wishing to learn a new language, you can't change it to English (on my imported console).
Unfortunately, the Brain Training games which are included in the systems are almost impossible to play in Japanese (maybe people who have played them in English will know what to do, but I hadn’t a clue). I did find writing on the screen to be more enjoyable even if the numbers I wrote were complete guesses. Not only are the bigger screens nicer to write on, but the new pen is much more comfortable than the stylus. I don’t think I’ll ever use the stylus again. If you have an older DS and aren’t planning to upgrade to the new console, you should at least buy a new pen. I don’t know why they didn’t think of it before.
People have been worried about the larger pixels being more noticeable. I wasn’t looking for it particularly but I didn’t notice them. I was impressed all round by the screens.
Although I’ve read a lot of web pages about the DSi XL, I never picked up on the fact that (probably due to popular demand) the top of the console once again has a glossy finish unlike the matte finish on the original DSi. On the underside of the console the matt finish remains. I think the idea is that the matt finish will be easier to grip, not that the gloss finish ever caused me to drop my DS Lite.
People have said that the new system might be too big but it fits in my jeans’ pockets fine and sticks out less than my wallet (maybe because it’s stuffed with cash, more likely with overdrawn bank cards used for importing games consoles).
Who should get: I have a big TV and big laptop screen. I’m a fan of big screens so I appreciate this hardware improvement more than any of the extra stuff that was introduced with the DSi. I had a DS Lite and definitely think it is worth the cost of the upgrade if you spend a lot of time on your DS.
What do you think? Will you be buying one? If you already have one, please leave your own review.
looks awesome
im a fan of the bigger screens and the fact that i usually play ds lite at home makes it a plus 
DSi XL does look pretty cool. I have the normal DSi which is pretty cool, and I can imagine a bigger version of it being awesome.
good review i’ll definitely be picking up one of these when it comes out in the USA, i’m just hoping it will come out with black as an available colour. I don’t think i’ve ever looked forward to Q1 of a year this much!
Whoa. I’ll REALLY need one of these when it comes out in the USA.
I hate the fact that on the DSi you cant play GBA games on it. If you sold you’re DS lite for a DSi, man you’re life is over. I cant stand playing GBA games on a GBA. But when my DS came to me, my life came back. That’s why im never getting those pieces of junk. DS’s are way better and always will be.
I’m just glad the glossy texture is back.
Im waiting for it in australia, and i heard in america its only $222 american, which makes $241 australian. this makes the XL cheaper than the regular DSi.
Sorry sertres, the DSi XL is only on sale in Japan where (on Amazon) it costs 17,766 yen for a DSi and 19,800 yen for a DSi XL.
/late to the party/
I never bothered upgrading to a DSi from my DS Lite because I didn’t see the point, and I’m so glad that I didn’t because it means I can upgrade to a DSi XL when they hit the UK in March (priced at an average of £149, according to most news websites). When Nintendo announced that their new console would be a big-screen version of the DS, I was very happy. I can’t wait to see what my games look like on bigger screens, and I’m glad you addressed the screen quality in your review. (:
that should make a usb to ds lite xl cable for importing things for the internet
i think all you people are right i live in Australia and i cant wait till it comes out i fill like taking a plane to the uk and buying one my self but then i am 14 and dont own a lot of money so is if eb games.com.au dose a traed in for the dsi i will do it but i will mis the memories i have hsd with it but it will all be worth it
lol jhonny- you are in the exact same position i am in.
Im 14, live in australia, and cant wait for the dsi xl.
I never got a ds lite, because i got an original shiny silver plain old ds for my birthday (which happened to be 3 days AFTER the release date here in australia(lucky me)) So ive had my original ds for as long as it has been out. I didnt get a dsi either, why? well, because i new nintendo were going to pull something like this off. They did it with the ds- ds lite (and the only real different i can see is the shape and screen brightness) so i figured they would do this with the dsi, so now im officially going to get a dsi xl for my birthday. A big booboo for me about ALL the previous ds’s (ds, dslite, and dsi) is the stylus. Its small, its hard to use, and the little bit that sticks off the top really is the meaning of the word annoying. So when i heard about the dsi xl, i googled a picture of it, and man was i glad to see that it had a bigger “stylus” (pen, or whatever). I guess its fair to though that when nintendo first came out with the ds, that they thought making the stylus small would be easier for use or something, when really it was just something else tiny i had to worry about losing (ever tried to find a black stylus on a black restaurent floor? When its dinner time? Thats what i thought)
All in all, the dsi looks amazingly promising, and i will be getting it for my birthday, THANKYOU NINTENDO!
I am so there! My Aunt has one and every time I see her I’m often trying to snatch it either from her or my cousin who don’t like to share… (Im almost 24, and yes I do play video games, but they’re fun!) ODE TO THE ALMIGHTY NINTENDO I say!!!
You sound almost like you think 24 might be a bit old to to be playing games. Don’t worry, the average age is around 30 and getting older all the time. I think I’ll be playing them in the retirement home (if they still have retirement homes then).
Can you play Guitar Hero on the XL?
@BexieID
No.
NO GBA SLOT 2?!?!……..bah! Super-size for what??
man do you know what sucks look im from dallas texas and i gotta put up with yall~yall got money im in a poor city man but anyway look i have a ds lite but im happy with it cuz it plays my gba games somthin the dsi or dsi xl doesnt do i mean do you really want one bcuz of a bigger screen seriosly i was jealous about the free internet and cameras when i herdabout(trust me i was ) but dude thats why you have a phone or camcorder i mean am i right cmon u know and i know it the dsi dsixl are just twins for a bigger screen so go spend your 200 dollars on that when you couldve got a xbox 360 or a gamecube or psp go
@Faina
im with you on that
Thumbs up for the review. I live in England and here it costs £149.99 from what I’ve seen. I’ve wanted to get a handheld console since the GBA but lacked the money and now I’ve pre-ordered the DSi XL so it having no GBA slot doesn’t bother me. The wait is killing me, 5th March seems ages away, and the days just drag on.
I’ve read reviews that people don’t like the colours but they look good to me (I got the brown). However, saying that the yellow imported one looks better.
What are the best games I can get for the XL when I finally get it? (Please don’t mention Mario)
will it be in english when its realeashed in uk
when are they out in the United Kingdom
5th of March
@PotatoJam
I just want to say how pleased you’re going to be with the new dsi xl! Can’t tell how much more I liked the ds lite compared to the original ds! It looks better, and the screen light is soooo much better, you have a choice of four brightnesses, I could never go back to playing on the ds. No more headaches straining to see the picture! The dsi xl will have that same brightness, plus storage of photos and music! And can you imagine playing on the larger screens, it will be awesome! Can’t wait till mine comes! Happy gaming!
After you experience ds games, I dont think you will want to go back to gba games, I didnt. But i will always keep my ds lite, just in case. Screen resolution, brightness and the fact that you can interact with the touch screen, cameras and microphone leave the gba console in the dark ages! Enjoy!
@Peter
Professor layton games are awesome, if you like puzzles. They have cartoon like videos, should look really good on the dsi xl.
PLZ REPLIE TO MY COMMENT WILL THE MENU BE IN ENGLISH IF I WAIT AND BUY IT IN ENGLISH
Oh yes of course. Thats why its always best to wait for it to be released in your own country.
Only just found out about this – must learn to venture out of the cave every now and then.
But WOW looks amazing and reading the reviews it seems to kick the others outta the water. Can’t wait now
Looks awesome. I WANT ONE I WANT ONE!
(ps: You spelt jeans as Genes)
@Damien
Oops, thanks for pointing that out. I’ve fixed it now.
MUST GET FOR BIRTHDAY !!!
LOL!!
thanks but ill stick with my homebrew enabled psp 1000 XD
hi all,
I’ve pre-ordered my dsi xl coz apparantly it will be hard to get, if u haven’t pre-ordered it
the only thing that is troublin me is i can’t play the tt cards i have for the ds lite, will i be able to get tt cards for the dsi xl
WTF ADMIN Y ARNT U REPLYING TO ME THANKS PETER 4 U ANSWERING
hahahhahhhha this is thee gayest ideaa thats absoulutely shit why would we want that ?
wthh would you want with a big ds ?
@James bird if you actually looked other people have replied to your comment, I am loving the new design, I’m hoping I can get the console later on if I don’t win one, since I would love to finally have a dsi/dsi xl.
@James bird
Yes James it will be in English. I have replied to you before, I’ve even emailed you to let you know.
kirsty i did look at the other comments
and admin i lied on email im not giving u my email u will give it to randomers
will there be action replay for the dsi xl
y wont the 5th of march come any quicker
whos getting the pokemon games (heart gold soulsilver ) admin make a review of those games plz
Wow, That is such a big difference from mine (the origanal). I have the blue metalic ones. They look so much better and probably they won’t freeze like mine either.
Can u still play ds games on the new DSI XL
@Donna
Yep you can still play DS games on it.
will this DSi XL take an R4i card
ADMIN DO REVIEWS ON GAMES !!!!!!
this website is for the dsi xl not games
yer but he could make the website better by doing games coz 2morrow most people will hav there dsi xl so they wont need to come on this website
so there lol