Nintendo announces their new gaming handheld: the DSi LL

Nintendo announces the new addition to the Nintendo family, the Nintendo DSi LL.  It has been just about a year since the DSi was released in Japan before this announcement.  The DSi LL would be the 4th version of the popular gaming console and is set to be sold in Japan by November 21.

The DSi LL boasts bigger screen at 4.2 inches.  It is considerably larger than it's DS Lite and DSi counterparts, with the DS Lite at 3 inches and the DSi at 3.2 inches.  As it comes with a larger screen, the whole handheld is also the largest in the Nintendo DS line.  The DSi LL will initially be released in 3 colors, the Wine Red, Dark Brown, and Natural White.

Interestingly enough, the DSi LL will also include 2 stylus instead of one.  One fits neatly into the DSi LL as it is with the other older models.  Another is a much larger pen-shaped stylus that is 129.3mm long that is carried separately.

Comparison between the DSi and the DSi LL

Aside from being able to use standard DS cartridges and DSi cartridges, the DSi LL will be capable of downloading and playing DSiWare.  The DSi LL will come with included software: the DSi Browser, Flipnote Studio, Brain Age Express: Arts & Letters, Brain Age Express: Math, and Meikyou Kokugo Rakubiki Jiten, a dictionary software.

The DSi LL's biggest selling point to me would be the larger screen which means we'll be able to view software and play games with a wider view and enhance the gaming experience.  However, it does sacrifice this with the larger, seemingly bulkier design.  One of the charms of the Nintendo DS handhelds was that it was big enough to have 2 screens for play while being small enough to fit in the small pocket of a bag or in your pants.  I doubt I would be able to do the same with the new DSi LL.

Personally, I am not completely sold on the DSi yet to warrant me to upgrade from my current DS Lite, as I haven't really seen any games or software out there that maximizes the new features of the DSi (especially the built-in camera).  And the DSi still carries the issue of the lack of the GBA slot which some gamers prefer to keep.  So for now, I would hold off until we get a litte bit more information from this release.

The unit will be sold at 20,000 Yen (or around 10,600 Philippine Pesos) on the day of its release in Japan.  The unit will be known as the DSi XL in North America and Europe.  No information yet as to the Western Market release date or what features it will include.

For a more detailed comparison between the DSi LL with the DS Lite and DSi, please visit Kotaku.