DSi XL Product Review

The DSi XL is the newest Nintendo handheld gaming device. However, do not be confused, it is simply an upgrade in a growing line of upgrades. First, there was the original DS (known now as the DS Phat). Second, there was the DS Lite (a major improvement in design, weight, and visibility). A few years later we witnessed the DSi. The DSi was similar to the Lite in appearance, except it had 4 times the RAM, an internal memory for games and apps, and two cameras. The DSi quickly became the defining version of the DS line.

So why now is there yet another DS? Released in Japan last year and in America on March 28, the DSi XL is a huge bulky device weighing in at almost 2/3 of a pound that most people can't even fit in their pockets. It almost seems like Nintendo is going backwards in their style, since each version has been progressively lighter than the last. So what makes this thing so special? Is it even worth it?

Read my review and decide for yourself!

The DSi XL weighs 316 grams, which is about 2/3 of a pound. The stylus inside is longer than the one in the regular DSi, and it also comes with a larger pen-like stylus, which is nice if you can't get used to the normal stick-sized one. The internal specs have remained unchanged from the DSi. It still has 16 megabytes of RAM, 256 megabytes of flash memory, the same CPU, and two .3 megapixel cameras. These are still nice specs compared to the Lite and the Phat, but it's a shame there was no increase in at least the flash memory; however, the SD slot allows for up to 32 Gigabytes of memory and is wonderful for music. If you need a cheap affordable SD card that works perfectly with the DSi XL, click my amazon link to the right, it's actually the one I use.

Now, where the DSi XL really shines is its battery life and huge screens. The battery life on the lowest brightness setting lasts for about fifteen hours. I use mine for music in the car mostly, so it ends up lasting much longer (its closed). On the highest brightness setting, the screens look absolutely amazing, and the battery lasts about five hours, which is what you would expect from a typical laptop. When you first open an XL, the first thing you notice is the size of the screens. They are roughly twice the size of the Lite. Unfortunately, the resolution of the screens (256X192) hasn't been changed to compensate for the larger screens; however, in my experience, this has not affected gameplay at all. The games actually look a lot better. Occasionally there are some games that look a little blockier than what you might like, but it's not absolutely unbearable!

What is really great about the screens is that anyone around you can easily watch you play a game and possibly participate in games that are made to be played by groups. As Iwata, the head of Nintendo, said, The XL offers an "...improved viewing angle on the screens to make it the first portable system that can be enjoyed with people surrounding the gamer."

The DSi XL comes packed with features, none of which that are not also available on the DSi. To go through them all:

• The DSi Sound program allows you to record and edit sounds using the microphone and listen to your .AAC music files. You can also edit songs while you listen to them; there are a lot of editing options. The songs are placed on an SD or SDHC card and inserted through the side of the XL. By the way, the music files HAVE to be .AAC files. If you don't have any, use iTunes and right click any song you want and click "create AAC version."
• The DSi Camera is one of the funnest programs available on the DSi. There are two lens, both of which are .3 megapixels. Sounds kinda on the low side doesn't it? In my video I say that these lenses are 1.3 megapixels, that was mistake, disregard it. However, the pictures turn out surprisingly well, provided that you are in a well lit area and you keep the XL still when it is taking the picture. The picture editing options are a blast, and you can play with it all day and not get bored. One of my favorite things to do is take a picture of two people at once and the XL tells you how related the two people are.
• The Flipnote Studio is an amazing piece of software that allows you to create cartoons and drawings. You can even add audio in the background to bring your flick to life. Watch the video on the left to see some Flipnote Studio cartoons. If you are a creative or artistic person, the Flipnote Studio is perfect for you.
• The DSi Shop is in short a handheld version of the Wii Shop Channel, and I LOVE the direction they are going with it. However, I must say there aren't a lot of great apps. There are a few decent ones, but I wouldn't waste my time with it. You're better off using emulators to play your old SuperNintendo, Nintendo, and Genesis games. Homebrew apps are fun too, and completely FREE! If you don't know how to hack your DS, read my hub here.
• The DSi Web Browser is a great concept. Portable web browsing, especially on your DS, an already SOLID handheld, would be amazing. The web browser on the DSi XL simply is not what it could and should be. It is slow and frustrating. Loading any page more complicated than Facebook, myspace, or email clients causes the XL to run out of available memory. Youtube isn't gonna happen either. Keep that in mind when you are purchasing your XL, you aren't going to be playing Evony Online on it.
• The Photo Clock is neat app; it's basically used for setting alarms. The alarm is actually quite loud. I use it to wake myself up occasionally. A slideshow of your camera album pictures plays on top screen, so you can see your honey boo as soon as you wake up!=D
• The Brain Age Games are mostly the same as they always have been. In the DSi version, the doctor will take a picture of you for your profile. I play it when I first wake up to get my brain working. So far my brain age is 26, I know I can get it lower. These games are pretty addictive!
• The old DS Lite's functions are still available, such as "DS Download Play" and "Pictochat." When you go to use them, you can still see what looks like an UN-updated original DS kernel in the background. Maybe it's just placed there to show that these apps are not NEW. Then again, one could take that as laziness, for not reinventing them on the DSi or the XL.
  

Yes of course, but just because a flash card works with the DSi, doesn't mean it will work the DSi XL. For example, the AceKardi will not work with the XL, an error message is displayed to the screen when you try to use it. So far, the only one that I know works FOR SURE from personal experience is the m3i zero, due to the F_CORE.DAT. It allows the m3i zero to constantly be updated to compete with the firmware updates of the XL. The R4i will work as well, but tends to have issues and is not worth the money. If you want to get the R4i though, get the SDHC version, as it works the best. However, the m3i Zero is always the best choice, as it has ZERO issues, no bugs, and built in movie and music playing capabilities.

To read my guide on how to hack your DS, go here.

^^ Above is my video review, it's quick and to the point

If you have a DSi, this might not be for you. The XL doesn't necessarily do anything BETTER than the DSi, it just has two huge screens! That's about it. All the guts are identical. If you have a DS Lite or hell... the original...god forbid, then the XL is a much needed upgrade. The XL is difficult to place in your pocket, and is awkward to carry around, but when it comes to playing games, it is without a doubt the definitive version of the Nintendo DS line.

The Nintendo 3DS will be released March 27th 2011, which is coming up very soon. The DSi XL is in a sense already outdated, and it is truly up to you whether or not you want to purchase it. I am very content with mine, and luckily I will be able to afford the new Nintendo 3DS in March (tax returns woo hoo!). However, if you are on a budget and need to choose one or the other, wait for the newer handheld. If you want to know more about the 3DS, click here!

And if you are wanting to buy a DSi XL, click one of the Amazon links below! Happy Holidays!