View source for Nintendo DS

{{Short description|Handheld game console}}
{{other uses}}
{{distinguish|Nintendo 3DS|Nintendo 2DS}}
{{protection padlock|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox information appliance
| title = Nintendo DS
| logo = [[File:Nintendo DS Logo.svg|frameless|class=skin-invert]]
| image = Nintendo DS montage.png
| caption = '''From top to bottom''': Nintendo DS (original), Nintendo DS Lite, and [[Nintendo DSi]]
| developer = [[Nintendo]]
| manufacturer = [[Foxconn]]
| family = Nintendo DS
| codename = {{Ubl
  | Nitro (Original)
  | Twilight (DSi)
  }}
| type = [[Handheld game console]]
| price = {{USD|149.99|2004}}<ref>{{cite web|date=October 15, 2013|title=The Real Cost of Gaming: Inflation, Time, and Purchasing Power|access-date=August 28, 2020|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/10/15/the-real-cost-of-gaming-inflation-time-and-purchasing-power|archive-date=September 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915010832/https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/10/15/the-real-cost-of-gaming-inflation-time-and-purchasing-power|url-status=live}}</ref><br>{{£|99|2005}}<ref>{{cite web|date=January 28, 2005|title=Nintendo handheld given Euro date|access-date=July 11, 2025|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4214913.stm}}</ref>
| generation = [[Seventh generation of video game consoles|Seventh]]
| releasedate = {{Video game release
                  |NA|November 21, 2004
                  |JP|December 2, 2004
                  |AUS|February 24, 2005
                  |EU|March 11, 2005
                  }}
| discontinued =<!-- Do not add a year or date without a reliable source that directly verifies it, or it will be removed. --> Yes<!-- Do not add a year or date without a reliable source that directly verifies it, or it will be removed. -->; date undisclosed<!-- Do not add a year or date without a reliable source that directly verifies it, or it will be removed. --><ref name="COJP Discontinued">{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/series/index.html|title= ニンテンドーDS: DSシリーズ本体|access-date=February 20, 2022|publisher=Nintendo|language=ja| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706221835/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/series/index.html|archive-date=July 6, 2017|url-status=live|ref=none}}</ref>
| unitssold = 154.02&nbsp;million worldwide ({{as of|2016|3|31|lc=y|df=US}})<ref name="nintendosales" /> ([[Nintendo DS sales|details]])
| media = [[Nintendo DS Game Card]]<br />[[Game Boy Advance Game Pak]]
| cpu = 67&nbsp;MHz [[ARM946E-S]]<br />33&nbsp;MHz [[ARM7TDMI]]
| memory = 4&nbsp;MB [[RAM]]
| storage = [[Saved game|Cartridge save]]<br>256&nbsp;KB flash memory
| display = Two 3" [[TFT LCD]]s, 256 × 192 pixels
| connectivity = [[Wi-Fi]] (802.11b,<ref>{{cite web |title=BKENTR001 Exhibits |url=https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/498/~/compatible-wireless-modes-and-wireless-security-types |website=Federal Communications Commission |access-date=7 January 2023 |archive-date=September 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921064923/https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/498/~/compatible-wireless-modes-and-wireless-security-types |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Nintendo DS Specifications |url=https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Support/Nintendo-DS/Product-Information/Technical-data/Product-Information-619794.html |website=Nintendo UK & Ireland |access-date=January 7, 2023 |archive-date=February 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207094551/https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Support/Nintendo-DS/Product-Information/Technical-data/Product-Information-619794.html |url-status=live }}</ref> WEP)
| service = [[Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection]] (shut down)
| topgame = ''[[New Super Mario Bros.]]'', {{nowrap|30.80 million}}<ref name="nintendo_topsales">{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/sales/software/ds.html |title=Sales Data&nbsp;— Top Selling Software Sales Units&nbsp;— Nintendo DS Software |publisher=[[Nintendo]] |date=March 31, 2015 |access-date=May 24, 2014 |archive-date=April 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427092514/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/sales/software/ds.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| compatibility = [[Game Boy Advance]]
| predecessor = Game Boy Advance<!-- No need to link this. It is already linked above. See [[WP:MOS]] for more info. -->
| successor = [[Nintendo 3DS]]
| related = {{Unbulleted list
   | Nintendo DS Lite
   | [[Nintendo DSi]]
   | [[Nintendo DSi XL]]
   }}
| image_size = 250px
}}

The {{nihongo foot|'''Nintendo DS'''|ニンテンドーDS|Nintendō Dī Esu|lead=yes|group=note}} is a foldable [[handheld game console]] produced by [[Nintendo]], released globally across 2004 and 2005. The DS, an [[initialism]] for "Developers' System" or "Dual Screen",<ref>{{cite web|title=Nintendo DS Frequently Asked Questions|url=http://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3904/p/606|publisher=Nintendo|access-date=July 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117095231/http://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3904/p/606|archive-date=January 17, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> introduced distinctive new features to handheld games: two [[LCD]] screens working in tandem (the bottom of which is a [[touchscreen]]), a built-in [[microphone]], and support for [[wireless network|wireless connectivity]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Darkain|date=January 21, 2005|title=Nintendo DS&nbsp;– WI-FI vs NI-FI|url=http://www.darkain.com/nintendo_ds/nifi.php|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050217195147/http://www.darkain.com/nintendo_ds/nifi.php|archive-date=February 17, 2005|access-date=April 2, 2006}}</ref> Both screens are encompassed within a [[clamshell design]] similar to the [[Game Boy Advance SP]]. The Nintendo DS also features the ability for multiple DS consoles to directly interact with each other over [[Wi-Fi]] within a short range without the need to connect to an existing wireless network. Alternatively, they could interact online using the now-defunct [[Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection]] service. Its main competitor was [[Sony Interactive Entertainment|Sony]]'s [[PlayStation Portable]] during the [[seventh generation of video game consoles]].

Prior to its release, the Nintendo DS was marketed as an experimental "third pillar" in Nintendo's console lineup, meant to complement the Game Boy Advance family and [[GameCube]]. However, [[backward compatibility]] with [[Game Boy Advance]] titles and strong sales ultimately established it as the successor to the [[Game Boy family|Game Boy series]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=A Pillar Too Many|date=February 23, 2011|url=http://www.nintendojo.com/features/specials/a-pillar-too-many|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202235258/http://www.nintendojo.com/features/specials/a-pillar-too-many|archive-date=February 2, 2015|access-date=January 25, 2019}}</ref> On March 2, 2006, Nintendo launched the '''Nintendo DS Lite''', a slimmer and lighter redesign of the original Nintendo DS with brighter screens and a longer lasting battery. On November 1, 2008, Nintendo released the '''[[Nintendo DSi]]''', another redesign with several hardware improvements and new features, although it lost backward compatibility for Game Boy Advance titles<ref>{{cite web |date=December 14, 2009 |title=DSi XL Was Once DS Lite XL |url=http://uk.ds.ign.com/articles/105/1054873p1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100204211709/http://uk.ds.ign.com/articles/105/1054873p1.html |archive-date=February 4, 2010 |access-date=January 2, 2010}}</ref> and a few DS games that used the GBA slot. On November 21, 2009, Nintendo released the '''Nintendo DSi XL''', a larger version of the DSi.

All Nintendo DS models combined have sold 154.02&nbsp;million units,<ref name="nintendosales">{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/library/historical_data/pdf/consolidated_sales_e1603.pdf |title=Consolidated Sales Transition by Region |access-date=April 27, 2016 |date=April 27, 2016 |publisher=Nintendo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427084600/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/library/historical_data/pdf/consolidated_sales_e1603.pdf |archive-date=April 27, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>As of March 31, 2016</ref> making it the best-selling [[Nintendo video game consoles|Nintendo system]], the best-selling handheld game console, and the [[List of best-selling game consoles|second best-selling video game console of all time.]] The DS Lite model makes up a majority (61 percent) of the total number of Nintendo DS units shipped.<ref name="annual sales data">{{cite web |date=2014-05-02 |title=Consolidated Sales Transition by Region |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/library/historical_data/pdf/consolidated_sales_e1403.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508062158/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/library/historical_data/pdf/consolidated_sales_e1403.pdf |archive-date=2014-05-08 |access-date=2014-07-19 |publisher=Nintendo}}</ref>{{Efn|93.08 million DS Lite units out of 154.02 total DS family}} The Nintendo DS was succeeded by the [[Nintendo 3DS]] in February 2011.
{{TOC level|3}}

== History ==
=== Development ===
Development on the Nintendo DS began around mid-2002, following an original idea from former Nintendo president [[Hiroshi Yamauchi]] about a dual-screened console.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gameonline.jp:80/news/2004/02/13013.html|title=Nintendo DS Invented by Advisor Yamauchi - Interview|last=Yamauchi|first=Hiroshi|date=February 13, 2004|website=Game Online citing Nikkei Shimbun|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040405140350/http://gameonline.jp/news/2004/02/13013.html|archive-date=April 5, 2004|url-status=dead|access-date=April 19, 2020}}</ref> On November 13, 2003, Nintendo announced that it would be releasing a new game product in 2004. The company did not provide many details, but stated it would not succeed the [[Game Boy Advance]] or [[GameCube]].<ref name="newconsole">{{cite web|url=http://ds.ign.com/articles/541/541729p1.html|title=Nintendo Going Back to the Basics. Full story about the company offering a new system in 2004.|access-date=October 4, 2007|date=November 13, 2003|publisher=IGN|archive-date=December 11, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211003913/http://ds.ign.com/articles/541/541729p1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On January 20, 2004, the console was announced under the codename "Nintendo DS".<ref name="janpress">{{cite web|date=January 20, 2004|title=Nintendo Announces Dual-Screened Portable Game System|url=http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/040120/206239_1.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040402004236/http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/040120/206239_1.html|archive-date=April 2, 2004|access-date=July 10, 2007}}</ref> Nintendo released only a few details at that time, saying that the console would have two separate, 3-inch [[Thin film transistor liquid crystal display|TFT LCD]] display panels, separate processors, and up to 1 gigabit (128&nbsp;MB) of semiconductor memory.<ref name=janpress /><ref>{{cite magazine|author=Billy Berghammer|date=January 21, 2004|title=GI Online Interviews NOA's Beth Llewelyn About The Nintendo DS|magazine=[[Game Informer]]|url=http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200401/N04.0121.1808.42530.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070612012800/http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200401/N04.0121.1808.42530.htm|archive-date=June 12, 2007|access-date=July 10, 2007}}</ref> Current Nintendo president at the time, [[Satoru Iwata]], said, "We have developed Nintendo DS based upon a completely different concept from existing game devices in order to provide players with a unique entertainment experience for the 21st century."<ref name=janpress /> He also expressed optimism that the DS would help put Nintendo back at the forefront of innovation and move away from the conservative image that had been used to describe the company in years past.<ref name="thirdpillar">{{cite web|url=http://www.n-sider.com/contentview.php?contentid=515|title=Various Satoru Iwata comments regarding the Nintendo DS|author=Glen Bayer|publisher=N-sider.com|date=March 1, 2004|access-date=October 4, 2007|archive-date=October 9, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009134201/http://www.n-sider.com/contentview.php?contentid=515|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2004, a document containing most of the console's technical specifications was leaked, also revealing its internal development name, "Nitro".<ref>{{cite web|author=Kavanagh, Rich|date=March 13, 2004|title=More Nintendo DS (or Nitro?) specs leaked|url=http://it.vibe.co.uk/technology/2003/12/more-nintendo-ds-or-nitro-specs-leaked/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101106073212/http://it.vibe.co.uk/technology/2003/12/more-nintendo-ds-or-nitro-specs-leaked/|archive-date=November 6, 2010|access-date=July 13, 2007}}</ref> In May 2004, the console was shown in prototype form at [[E3 2004]], still under the name "Nintendo DS",<ref>{{cite news | title=Nintendo unveiling new portable | url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2004-05-11-nintendo-ds_x.htm | date=May 5, 2004 | author=Kent, Steve | access-date=July 13, 2007 | work=USA Today | archive-date=December 9, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121209140747/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2004-05-11-nintendo-ds_x.htm | url-status=live }}</ref> which [[Reggie Fils-Aimé]] announced would change for launch. On July 28, 2004, Nintendo revealed a new design that was described as "sleeker and more elegant" than the one shown at E3 and announced Nintendo DS as the device's official name.<ref>{{cite news |title=Nintendo keeps 'DS' codename, tweaks hardware |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/news/2004-07-28-no-really-its-ds_x.htm |date=July 28, 2004 |access-date=July 13, 2007 |work=USA Today |archive-date=October 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013040532/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/news/2004-07-28-no-really-its-ds_x.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Following lukewarm GameCube sales, [[Hiroshi Yamauchi]] stressed the importance of its success to the company's future, making a statement which can be translated from Japanese as, "If the DS succeeds, we will rise to heaven, but if it fails we will sink to hell."<ref name="Yamauchi=GameScience">{{cite web|title=Nikkei talks with Nintendo's Yamauchi and Iwata|publisher=GameScience |url=http://game-science.com/news/000406.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060127211555/http://game-science.com/news/000406.html|archive-date=January 27, 2006|access-date=May 27, 2014|quote="If the DS succeeds, we will rise to heaven, but if it fails we will sink to hell." — Hiroshi Yamauchi}}</ref><ref name="Yamauchi-NintendoWorld">{{cite web|title=Iwata, Yamauchi Speak Out on Nintendo DS|url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/9256/iwata-yamauchi-speak-out-on-nintendo-ds|date=February 13, 2004|first=Jonathan|last=Metts|publisher=Nintendo Worldwide Report|access-date=May 27, 2014|archive-date=May 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140528015650/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/9256/iwata-yamauchi-speak-out-on-nintendo-ds|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Launch ===
President Iwata referred to Nintendo DS as "Nintendo's first hardware launch in support of the basic strategy 'Gaming Population Expansion{{' "}} because the touch-based device "allows users to play intuitively".<ref name="Message from the President Dec 2008">{{cite web | title=Message from the President: To shareholders and investors | work=Investor Relations Information | publisher=Nintendo Co., Ltd. | location=Japan | date=2008 | url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/message/index.html | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221204655/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/message/index.html | archive-date=December 21, 2008 | access-date=November 25, 2015}}</ref> On September 20, 2004, Nintendo announced that the Nintendo DS would be released in North America on November 21, 2004, for US$149.99.<ref>{{cite web | title=Official Nintendo DS Launch Details | url=http://ds.ign.com/articles/549/549919p1.html | last=Harris | first=Craig | date=September 20, 2004 | access-date=August 13, 2007 | archive-date=May 9, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509205923/http://ds.ign.com/articles/549/549919p1.html | url-status=live }}</ref> It was set to release on December 2, 2004, in Japan for JP¥15,000;<ref name="JAPprice">{{cite web|title=IGN: NDS Japanese Launch Details|url=http://ds.ign.com/articles/554/554890p1.html|access-date=December 27, 2008|website=IGN|date=October 7, 2004|archive-date=January 3, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090103125005/http://ds.ign.com/articles/554/554890p1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> on February 24, 2005, in Australia for A$199.95;<ref name="AUSprice">{{cite web|url=http://palgn.com.au/nintendo-ds/1885/australian-ds-launch/|title=PALGN: Australian DS Launch|access-date=December 27, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525223342/http://palgn.com.au/nintendo-ds/1885/australian-ds-launch/|archive-date=May 25, 2009}}</ref> and on March 11, 2005, in Europe for €149.99 (£99.99 in the United Kingdom).<ref name="EURprice">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/nintendo-claims-most-successful-launch-ever-for-ds-in-australia|title=Nintendo claims most successful launch ever for DS in Australia|date=February 28, 2005|access-date=December 27, 2008|archive-date=May 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515222238/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/nintendo-claims-most-successful-launch-ever-for-ds-in-australia|url-status=live}}</ref> The console was released in North America with a midnight launch event at Universal CityWalk EB Games in [[Los Angeles|Los Angeles, California]]. The console was launched quietly in Japan compared to the North America launch; one source cited the cold weather as the reason.<ref>{{cite web|title=NDS Launches in Japan|url=http://ds.ign.com/articles/569/569911p1.html|date=December 1, 2004|author=Gantayat, Anoop|access-date=July 16, 2007|archive-date=November 3, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071103141706/http://ds.ign.com/articles/569/569911p1.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

====North America and Japan====
The Nintendo DS was launched in North America for US$149.99 on November 21, 2004; in Japan for JP¥15,000 on December 2 in the color "Titanium". Well over three million preorders were taken in North America and Japan; preorders at online stores were launched on November 3 and ended the same day as merchants had already sold their allotment. Initially, Nintendo planned to deliver one million units combined at the North American and Japanese launches; when it saw the preorder numbers, it brought another factory online to ramp up production. Nintendo originally slated 300,000 units for the U.S. debut; 550,000 were shipped, and just over 500,000 of those sold through in the first week. Later in 2005, the [[manufacturer suggested retail price]] for the Nintendo DS was dropped to US$129.99.

Both launches proved to be successful, but Nintendo chose to release the DS in North America prior to Japan, a first for a hardware launch from the [[Kyoto]]-based company. This choice was made to get the DS out for the largest shopping day of the year in the U.S. (the day after Thanksgiving, also known as "[[Black Friday (shopping)|Black Friday]]").<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/nintendo-reacts-to-ds-demand-orders-share-price-on-the-rise-6113031 |title=Nintendo reacts to DS demand; orders, share price on the rise |publisher=GameSpot.com |date=November 12, 2004 |access-date=October 11, 2012 |archive-date=September 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929082854/http://www.gamespot.com/news/nintendo-reacts-to-ds-demand-orders-share-price-on-the-rise-6113031 |url-status=live }}</ref> Perhaps partly due to the release date, the DS met unexpectedly high demand in the United States, selling 1&nbsp;million units by December 21, 2004. By the end of December, the total number shipped worldwide was 2.8&nbsp;million, about 800,000 more than Nintendo's original forecast.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 7, 2005|title=Nintendo News, Previews, Reviews, Editorials and Interaction|url=http://www.nintendojo.com/archives/infocus/view_item.php?1105105971|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604115505/http://www.nintendojo.com/archives/infocus/view_item.php?1105105971|archive-date=June 4, 2011|access-date=October 11, 2012|publisher=Nintendojo.com}}</ref> At least 1.2&nbsp;million of them were sold in the U.S. Some industry reporters referred to it as "the [[Tickle Me Elmo]] of 2004".<ref>{{cite web |date=February 23, 2005|title=Nintendo's DS player emerges as Tickle Me Elmo of 2004|url=http://www.sacticket.com/gamers/story/11763629p-12648524c.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050223235049/http://www.sacticket.com/gamers/story/11763629p-12648524c.html|archive-date=February 23, 2005|access-date=October 11, 2012}}</ref> In June 2005, Nintendo informed the press that a total of 6.65&nbsp;million units had been sold worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|date=September 30, 2007|url=https://www.nintendo.com/corp/report/FY06_1Qfinancials.pdf|title=Consolidated Financial Highlights |publisher=Nintendo |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930024617/http://www.nintendo.com/corp/report/FY06_1Qfinancials.pdf|archive-date=September 30, 2007|access-date=October 11, 2012}}</ref>

[[File:BlueSkinnedDS.png|right|thumb|A Nintendo DS, skinned in blue]]
As is normal for electronics, some were reported as having problems with [[stuck pixel]]s in either of the two screens. Although return policies for [[liquid crystal display|LCD]] displays vary between manufacturers and regions, in North America, Nintendo chose to replace a system with faulty pixels only if the owner claimed that it interfered with their gaming experience. There were two exchange programs in place for North America. In the first, the owner of the defective DS in question would provide a valid credit card number and, afterward, Nintendo would ship a new DS system to the owner with shipping supplies to return the defective system. In the second, the owner of the defective DS in question would have shipped their system to Nintendo for inspection. After inspection, Nintendo technicians would have either shipped a replacement system or fixed the defective system. The first option allowed the owner to have a new DS in 3–5 business days.

Multiple games were released alongside the DS during its North American launch on November 21, 2004. At launch there was one pack-in demo, in addition to the built-in PictoChat program: ''Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt'' (published by Nintendo and is a demo for ''[[Metroid Prime Hunters]]'', a game released in March 2006). At the time of the "Electric Blue" DS launch in June 2005, Nintendo bundled the system with ''Super Mario 64 DS''.

In Japan, the games were released at the same time as the system's first release (December 2, 2004). In the launch period, ''The Prince of Tennis 2005 -Crystal Drive-'' ([[Konami]]) and ''[[Puyo Pop Fever|Puyo Puyo Fever]]'' ([[Sega]]) were released.

====Europe====
The DS was released in [[Europe]] on March 11, 2005, for [[Euro|€]]149. A small supply of units was available prior to this in a package with a promotional "VIP" T-shirt, ''[[Metroid Prime Hunters|Metroid Prime Hunters - First Hunt]]'', a ''[[WarioWare: Touched!]]'' demo and a pre-release version of ''[[Super Mario 64 DS]]'', through the [[Nintendo Stars Catalogue]]; the bundle was priced at [[Pound sterling|£]]129.99 for the [[United Kingdom|UK]] and €189.99 for the rest of Europe, plus 1,000 of Nintendo's "star" loyalty points (to cover postage). By June 28, 2005, 1&nbsp;million DS units had been sold in Europe, setting a sales record for a handheld console.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/nintendo-ds-sales-hit-1-million-in-europe |title=Nintendo DS Sales Hit 1 Million In Europe |website=Game Developer |last=Maragos |first=Nick |date=June 27, 2005 |access-date=February 17, 2025}}</ref>

The European release of the DS, like the U.S., was originally packaged with a ''Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt'' demo. The European game cases are additionally about {{convert|1/4|in|adj=on|spell=in}} thicker than their North American counterparts and transparent rather than solid black. Inside the case, there is room for one [[Game Boy Advance]] game pack and a DS card with the instructions on the left side of the case.

====Australia and New Zealand====
The DS launched in [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]] on February 24, 2005. It retailed in Australia for AU$199 and in New Zealand for NZ$249. Like the North American launch, it includes the ''[[Metroid Prime Hunters|Metroid Prime Hunters - First Hunt]]'' demo. The first week of sales for the system broke Australian launch sales records for a console, with 19,191 units sold by the 27th.

====China====
"[[IQue|iQue DS]]", the official name of the Chinese Nintendo DS, was released in [[China]] on June 15, 2005. The price of the iQue DS was 980 [[Renminbi|RMB]] (roughly US$130) as of April 2006. This version of the DS includes updated firmware to block out the use of the PassMe device, along with the new Red DS. Chinese launch games were ''Zhi Gan Yi Bi'' (''[[Polarium]]'') (Nintendo/iQue) and ''Momo Waliou Zhizao'' (''[[WarioWare: Touched!]]'') (Nintendo/iQue). The iQue name was first used for [[iQue Player|a device]] that was based on [[Nintendo 64]] hardware in 2003, after China banned sales of home video games in that region years prior.

====Asia====
In India, it was distributed from September 30, 2008, through partnership between Samurai Electronics and HCL Infosystems.<ref name=rediff>{{Cite web |title=Nintendo Wii and DS to launch in India |url=https://www.rediff.com/getahead/2008/sep/16wii.htm |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=www.rediff.com |archive-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929140516/https://www.rediff.com/getahead/2008/sep/16wii.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hclinfosystems.in/pro_digi.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222052720/http://www.hclinfosystems.in/pro_digi.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2008-12-22 |title=HCL's Digital Lifestyle Products & Solutions}}</ref>

====Games available on launch====

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Publisher
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | [[North America|NA]]
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | [[Japan|JP]]
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | [[Europe|EU]]
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | [[Australia|AU]]<br /> & [[New Zealand|NZ]]
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | [[China|CN]]
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Asphalt: Urban GT]]''
| [[Gameloft]]
| {{ya}}
| {{na}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{na}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Daigasso! Band Brothers]]''
| [[Nintendo]]
| {{na}}
| {{ya}}
| {{na}}
| {{na}}
| {{na}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Feel the Magic: XY/XX]]'' ({{aka}} ''Project Rub'')
| [[Sega]]
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{na}}
| {{na}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''Kensyūi Dokuta Tendo'' (literally "Resident Doctor Tendo")
| [[Spike Chunsoft]]
| {{na}}
| {{ya}}
| {{na}}
| {{na}}
| {{na}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Madden NFL 2005]]''
| [[Electronic Arts]]
| {{ya}}
| {{na}}
| {{na}}
| {{na}}
| {{na}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''Mahjong Taikai''
| [[Koei]]
| {{na}}
| {{ya}}
| {{na}}
| {{na}}
| {{na}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt]]''
| Nintendo
| {{ya}}
| {{na}}
| {{ya}}
| {{na}}
| {{na}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Mr. Driller Drill Spirits]]''
| [[Namco]]
| {{na}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{na}}
| {{na}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Ping Pals]]''
| [[THQ]]
| {{na}}
| {{na}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{na}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Pokémon Dash]]''
| Nintendo
| {{na}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{na}}
| {{na}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Polarium]]''
| Nintendo
| {{na}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{na}}
| {{ya}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Rayman DS]]''
| [[Ubisoft]]
| {{na}}
| {{na}}
| {{ya}}
| {{na}}
| {{na}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Retro Atari Classics]]''
| [[Atari]]
| {{na}}
| {{na}}
| {{ya}}
| {{na}}
| {{na}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Robots (2005 video game)|Robots]]''
| [[VU Games]]
| {{na}}
| {{na}}
| {{ya}}
| {{na}}
| {{na}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Spider-Man 2 (2004 video game)|Spider-Man 2]]''
| [[Activision]]
| {{ya}}
| {{na}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{na}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Sprung (video game)|Sprung]]''
| Ubisoft
| {{na}}
| {{na}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{na}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Super Mario 64 DS]]''
| Nintendo
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{na}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Tiger Woods PGA Tour]]''
| Electronic Arts
| {{na}}
| {{na}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{na}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[The Urbz: Sims in the City]]''
| Electronic Arts
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{na}}
| {{na}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[WarioWare: Touched!]]''
| Nintendo
| {{na}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Zoo Keeper (2003 video game)|Zoo Keeper]]''
| [[Success (company)|Success]]
| {{na}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{ya}}
| {{na}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''Zunō ni Asekaku Game Series Vol.1: Cool104 Joker & Setline''
| [[Aruze]]
| {{na}}
| {{ya}}
| {{na}}
| {{na}}
| {{na}}
|}

=== Promotion ===
The system's promotional slogans revolve around the word "Touch" in almost all countries, with the North American slogan being "Touching is good."<ref name="nbcnews">{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna6471849|title=Nintendo DS targets teens, young adults|date=November 15, 2004|publisher=NBC News|access-date=May 24, 2016|archive-date=September 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924003738/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/6471849/ns/technology_and_science-games/t/nintendo-ds-targets-teens-young-adults/#.V0TbC5MrLao|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Nintendo DS was seen by many analysts to be in the same market as [[Sony]]'s [[PlayStation Portable]], although representatives from both companies stated that each system targeted a different audience.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Competitive Intelligence: The New Sony PSP Handheld: a Clear Victory of Form Over Function|url=https://www.aurorawdc.com/ci/000311.html|access-date=April 18, 2021|website=www.aurorawdc.com|archive-date=June 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608185913/http://www.aurorawdc.com/ci/000311.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Nintendo DS targets teens, young adults|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna6471849|access-date=April 18, 2021|website=NBC News|date=November 15, 2004 |language=en|archive-date=April 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418034710/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna6471849|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Citation needed|date=October 2007}} [[Time (magazine)|''Time'' magazine]] awarded the DS a Gadget of the Week award.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Rothman|first=Wilson|date=June 14, 2006|title=Time Magazine: Gadget of the Week|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|url=http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1204187,00.html|url-status=dead|access-date=February 1, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060703110018/http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1204187,00.html|archive-date=July 3, 2006}}</ref>

At the time of its release in the United States, the Nintendo DS retailed for {{USD|149.99}}. The price dropped to {{USD|129.99}} on August 21, 2005, one day before the releases of ''[[Nintendogs]]'' and ''[[Advance Wars: Dual Strike]]''.

Nine official colors of the Nintendo DS were available through standard retailers. Titanium-colored units were available worldwide, Electric Blue was exclusive to North and Latin America. There was also a red version which was bundled with the game ''[[Mario Kart DS]]''. Graphite Black, Pure White, Turquoise Blue, and Candy Pink were available in Japan. Mystic Pink and Cosmic Blue<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/nintendo-colours-in-ds/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216130443/https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/nintendo-colours-in-ds/ | archive-date=2023-02-16 | date=2008-08-14 | title=Nintendo colours in DS | publisher=[[CNET]] | url-status=live}}</ref> were available in Australia and New Zealand. Japan's Candy Pink and Australia's Cosmic Blue were also available in Europe and North America through a ''Nintendogs'' bundle, although the colors are just referred to as pink and blue; however, these colors were available only for the original style Nintendo DS; a different and more-limited set of colors were used for the Nintendo DS Lite.

=== DS Lite ===
{{Infobox information appliance
| name = Nintendo DS Lite
| logo = [[File:Nintendo DS Lite logo.svg|frameless|class=skin-invert]]
| image = Nintendo-DS-Lite-Black-Open.png
| caption = Nintendo DS Lite console in black
| manufacturer = [[Nintendo]]
| family = Nintendo DS
| type = [[Handheld game console]]
| generation = [[Seventh generation of video game consoles|Seventh]]
| Released = {{vgrelease|JP|March 2, 2006|AUS|June 1, 2006|NA|June 11, 2006|EU|June 23, 2006|CHN|June 26, 2006|KOR|January 18, 2007|ARG|March 2, 2008 (2 Year Anniversary)}}
| CPU = 67&nbsp;MHz [[ARM946E-S]]<br />33&nbsp;MHz [[ARM7TDMI]]
| memory = 4&nbsp;MB [[RAM]]
| display = Two 3.12" [[TFT LCD]]s, 256 × 192 pixels
| media = [[Nintendo DS Game Card]]<br>[[Game Boy Advance Game Pak]]
| storage = Cartridge save, 256 KB flash memory
| Discontinued = Yes; date undisclosed<ref name="COJP Discontinued">{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/series/index.html|title= ニンテンドーDS: DSシリーズ本体|access-date=February 20, 2022|publisher=Nintendo|language=ja| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706221835/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/series/index.html|archive-date=July 6, 2017|url-status=live|ref=none}}</ref>
| connectivity = [[Wi-Fi]] (802.11b,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nintendo of America |title={{!}} Nintendo - Customer Service {{!}} Compatible Wireless Modes and Wireless Security Types |url=https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/498/~/compatible-wireless-modes-and-wireless-security-types |website=www.nintendo.com |access-date=21 September 2022 |archive-date=21 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921064923/https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/498/~/compatible-wireless-modes-and-wireless-security-types |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Korth |first1=Martin |title=GBATEK DS Wireless Communications |url=http://www.problemkaputt.de/gbatek-ds-wireless-communications.htm |website=www.problemkaputt.de |access-date=8 July 2022 |archive-date=8 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708045045/http://www.problemkaputt.de/gbatek-ds-wireless-communications.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> WEP)
| onlineservice = [[Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection]]
| unitsshipped = Worldwide: 93.86 million (as of March 31, 2014)<ref name="annual sales data"/> ([[#Sales|details]])
| topgame = ''[[New Super Mario Bros.]]'', approximately 30.80 million units
| compatibility = [[Game Boy Advance]]
| predecessor = Nintendo DS
| successor = [[Nintendo DSi]]
| related = {{Unbulleted list
   | Nintendo DS
   | Nintendo DSi
   | [[Nintendo DSi XL]]
   }}
}}
{{For|hardware information|#Nintendo DS Lite}}
{{Redirect|DS Lite|the IPv6 transition mechanism|DS-Lite}}
[[File:Nintendo_DS_Compare.jpg|thumb|275x275px|A Nintendo DS Lite (left) and an original DS (right)]]
The Nintendo DS Lite was announced on January 26, 2006,<ref>{{cite web |last=Fahey |first=Rob |date=January 26, 2006 |title=DS Lite officially announced |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/news260106dslite |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105224255/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/news260106dslite |archive-date=November 5, 2021 |access-date=November 5, 2021 |work=[[Eurogamer]]}}</ref> and was later showcased at [[E3 2006]] in May at the [[Los Angeles Convention Center]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=Lucas |date=16 May 2011 |title=Nintendo's History at E3: 2006 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/05/17/nintendos-history-at-e3-2006 |access-date=14 December 2023 |website=IGN}}</ref> In Japan, the Nintendo DS Lite was released on March 2, 2006.<ref name="reggie_interview">{{cite web |last=Rojas |first=Peter |date=2006-02-20 |title=The Engadget Interview: Reggie Fils-Aime, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Nintendo |url=https://www.engadget.com/2006/02/20/the-engadget-interview-reggie-fils-aime-executive-vice-preside/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170626231958/https://www.engadget.com/2006/02/20/the-engadget-interview-reggie-fils-aime-executive-vice-preside/ |archive-date=2017-06-26 |access-date=2006-06-01 |publisher=Engadget}}</ref> Numerous colors and limited editions were released throughout its lifetime, such as pink casing.<ref>{{cite web |date=2006-03-02 |title=Nintendo DS Lite (Pink) |url=https://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/54236/Nintendo-DS-Lite-(Pink)/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710065208/https://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/54236/Nintendo-DS-Lite-(Pink)/ |archive-date=2022-07-10 |website=[[Centre for Computing History]]}}</ref> Due to [[Economic shortage|lack of supply and excessive demand]] following the launch, many electronics distributors raised the retail price of the redesigned handheld console. Even though Nintendo managed to release 550,000 units in March 2006<ref>{{cite web |author=Ben Parfitt |date=2008-12-02 |title=Japan: DSi sells half a million |url=http://www.mcvuk.com/news/32542/JAPAN-DSi-sells-half-a-million |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205183425/http://www.mcvuk.com/news/32542/JAPAN-DSi-sells-half-a-million |archive-date=2009-02-05 |access-date=2008-12-07 |publisher=[[MCV (magazine)|MCV]]}}</ref> (which was above their initial projections),{{Citation needed|date=December 2008}} the DS Lite was sold out soon after its launch.<ref name="soldout">{{cite web |author=David Radd |date=2008-11-05 |title=DSi Sells Out in Japan in Four Days |url=http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/dsi-sells-out-in-japan-in-four-days |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210080015/http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/dsi-sells-out-in-japan-in-four-days/ |archive-date=2008-12-10 |access-date=2008-12-07 |work=[[GameDaily]] |publisher=[[AOL]]}}</ref> The shortage was supposed to be eased after Nintendo released 700,000 Nintendo DS Lites during April 2006; however, retailers in [[Tokyo]] sold out yet again by late May 2006.<ref>{{cite web |author=Danny Choo |title=Japan DS Lite |url=http://www.dannychoo.com/post/en/528/Japan+DS+Lite.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402020606/http://www.dannychoo.com/post/en/528/Japan+DS+Lite.html |archive-date=2012-04-02 |access-date=2006-06-11}}</ref> This shortage would last for most of 2006 and 2007<ref name="soldout" /> with retailers all around the country having permanent signage apologizing for the shortage but stating that the arrival time of new stock was unknown. When new product arrived, it would sell out within days. Since restocking was erratic, looking for the product often involved several visits to different retailers, and most of the time without finding the product. This was still the case in Japan as of April 25, 2007, with stores turning away potential customers every day and selling out quickly.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Analyst Predicts Wii Shortages Into 2009 |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/analyst-predicts-wii-shortages-into-2009 |access-date=2024-06-24 |website=www.gamedeveloper.com |language=en}}</ref>

A larger model of the DS Lite was an unreleased alternative to the DS Lite.<ref>{{cite web |date=14 December 2009 |title=DSi XL Was Once DS Lite XL |url=http://uk.ds.ign.com/articles/105/1054873p1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100204211709/http://uk.ds.ign.com/articles/105/1054873p1.html |archive-date=2010-02-04 |access-date=2010-01-02}}</ref>

The Nintendo DS Lite was released in Australia on June 1, 2006, and came with a demo for ''[[Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain?]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Brain Training demo with DS lite launch in Australia |url=http://gonintendo.com/viewstory.php?id=2830 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090909084154/http://gonintendo.com/viewstory.php?id=2830 |archive-date=2009-09-09 |access-date=2009-04-06 |work=GoNintendo}}</ref> The Nintendo DS Lite was released in North America on June 11, 2006.<ref name="litemario">{{cite web |date=2006-05-04 |title=New Nintendo DS Lites The Way For Mario |url=https://www.nintendo.com/newsarticle?articleid=Og1MrMU-BTmhVNcRMku_yhCWtXhjFheh |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012183822/http://www.nintendo.com/newsarticle?articleid=Og1MrMU-BTmhVNcRMku_yhCWtXhjFheh |archive-date=2007-10-12 |access-date=2006-06-01 |publisher=Nintendo}}</ref> There had been various reports of North American [[Target Corporation|Target]], [[Wal-Mart]], [[Kmart (United States)|Kmart]], and [[Meijer]] stores having sold Nintendo DS Lite units as early as May 30, 2006, breaking the official launch date.<ref name="rumor_early">{{cite web |author=Polybren |date=2006-05-31 |title=DS Lite launches early? |url=http://www.gamespot.com/pages/news/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=24673325 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930192431/http://www.gamespot.com/pages/news/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=24673325 |archive-date=2007-09-30 |access-date=2006-05-31 |publisher=GameSpot}}</ref> On June 12, 2006, ''[[GameSpot]]'' reported that the Nintendo DS Lites had sold out at major online retailers, as well as several [[Brick and mortar business|brick-and-mortar stores]] in North America.<ref name="US sellout">{{cite web |last=Surette |first=Tim |date=2006-06-12 |title=DS Lites up US retailers |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/6152621.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060615030940/http://www.gamespot.com/news/6152621.html |archive-date=2006-06-15 |access-date=2006-05-31 |work=GameSpot |publisher=CNET}}</ref> On June 13, 2006, Nintendo announced that 136,500 units were sold in two days since the DS Lite went on sale in North America, and seemed to be on pace to the 500,000 sold by the original Nintendo DS in its first ten days.<ref name="twodays">{{cite web |date=2006-06-12 |title=Nintendo news: Nintendo DS continues to dominate portable video games |url=http://press.nintendo.com/articles.jsp?id=9872 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070108072705/http://press.nintendo.com/articles.jsp?id=9872 |archive-date=2007-01-08 |access-date=2006-06-14 |publisher=Nintendo}}</ref> Shortly after its launch, the DS Lite was sold out at major US retailers; however, it did not have the same ongoing shortages in the US as it did in Japan through 2006 and 2007.<ref name="soldout" />

The Nintendo DS Lite was released in Europe on June 23, 2006. In [[Finland]] and [[Sweden]], the DS Lite was released on June 22, 2006, due to [[Juhannus|Midsummer]]. In just 10 days, Nintendo announced it had sold 200,000 Nintendo DS Lites in Europe.<ref name="launch Europe">{{cite web |title=Lite up your life! |url=http://www.nintendo-europe.com/NOE/en/GB/news/article.do?elementId=7ag5OAeR36oL-ebBmcOm0xEA7xMSCfAg |access-date=2006-06-23 |publisher=Nintendo}}{{Dead link|date=July 2009}}<!-- An article in the Official Nintendo Magazine, no. 1 (March 2006) has the same title and topic, but at the time it was released, said that "No release date has been set for Europe". The Internet Archive's Wayback Machine might have this URL, but as of November 2025, they're not publicly available (probably Nintendo asked them to take down archives of their website). --></ref><!-- This citation was added in https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nintendo_DS_Lite&diff=60201565&oldid=60125916, and additional sentences were inserted before it in https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nintendo_DS_Lite&diff=63266809&oldid=63140733 and https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nintendo_DS_Lite&diff=83879932&oldid=83873585 --> On June 12, 2006, Chinese media organization [[Sina.com]] reported that a container intended for shipment to Europe was stolen, which contained {{HK$|link=yes}}18 million ({{US$}}2.32 million) worth of goods, including black Nintendo DS Lite consoles and games.<ref>{{cite web |date=2006-06-12 |title=Robbers steal 18 million worth of NDSL handheld (AP) |url=http://games.sina.com.cn/t/n/2006-06-12/1526154872.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015191702/http://games.sina.com.cn/t/n/2006-06-12/1526154872.shtml |archive-date=2008-10-15 |access-date=2008-01-07 |publisher=[[Sina.com]] |language=zh}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2006-06-14 |title=$2.32 Million of Black Nintendo DS Lite Gone Missing |url=http://everyjoe.com/technology/232-million-of-black-nintendo-ds-lite-gone-missing-130/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710205825/http://everyjoe.com/technology/232-million-of-black-nintendo-ds-lite-gone-missing-130/ |archive-date=2011-07-10 |access-date=2008-01-06 |publisher=Play Gadgets}}</ref> Later, ''[[GamesIndustry.biz]]'' reported that Nintendo had confirmed that "A number of White DS Lite made for the UK market were stolen in [[Hong Kong]]."<ref>{{cite web |last=Gibson |first=Ellie |date=2006-06-19 |title=Nintendo confirms theft of DS Lite shipment |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/nintendo-confirms-theft-of-ds-lite-shipment |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080424021638/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/nintendo-confirms-theft-of-ds-lite-shipment |archive-date=2008-04-24 |access-date=2008-01-06 |publisher=GamesIndustry.biz}}</ref>

Nintendo opened its subsidiary, Nintendo of Korea, on July 20, 2006. The DS Lite was the first console to be released in South Korea by the subsidiary,<ref>{{cite web |title=Nintendo Opens Korean Offices |url=http://thewiire.com/blog/post/4881-nintendo-opens-korean-offices |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090907141429/http://thewiire.com/blog/post/4881-nintendo-opens-korean-offices |archive-date=September 7, 2009 |access-date=2006-12-22 |publisher=The Wiire}}</ref> being released on January 18, 2007.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nintendo Korea's DS page |url=http://www.nintendo.co.kr/www/intro/eng_intro1.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206072113/http://www.nintendo.co.kr/www/intro/eng_intro1.php |archive-date=2008-02-06}}</ref> Popular Korean actors [[Jang Dong-gun]] and [[Ahn Sung-ki]] were enlisted to help promote the console. Nintendo of Korea stated they had sold more than one million units in the first year of sale with around 1.4 million sold as of April 2008.<ref>{{cite web |date=2008-04-14 |title=Nintendo Korea Press Release |url=http://www.nintendo.co.kr/DS/PressRelease.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080414160851/http://www.nintendo.co.kr/DS/PressRelease.php |archive-date=2008-04-14 |access-date=2010-04-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Wii Launching Conference |url=http://www.nintendo.co.kr/Wii/Wii_launching/launching02_01.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908064711/http://www.nintendo.co.kr/Wii/Wii_launching/launching02_01.php |archive-date=2017-09-08 |access-date=2010-04-26 |publisher=Nintendo.co.kr}}</ref>

The DS Lite was reportedly discontinued in April 2011.<ref>{{cite web |last=Takahashi |first=Dean |date=April 22, 2011 |title=Nintendo discontinues DS Lite handheld and ends support for GameBoy Advance |url=https://venturebeat.com/2011/04/22/nintendo-discontinues-ds-lite-handheld-and-ends-support-for-gameboy-advance/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105224254/https://venturebeat.com/2011/04/22/nintendo-discontinues-ds-lite-handheld-and-ends-support-for-gameboy-advance/ |archive-date=November 5, 2021 |access-date=November 5, 2021 |work=[[VentureBeat]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Sliwinski |first=A. |date=April 25, 2011 |title=GameStop no longer stocking Nintendo DS Lite |url=https://www.engadget.com/2011/04/25/gamestop-no-longer-stocking-nintendo-ds-lite/ |access-date=November 5, 2021 |work=[[Engadget]]}}</ref>

=== Sales ===
{{Main|Nintendo DS sales}}
As of March 31, 2016, all Nintendo DS models combined have sold 154.02&nbsp;million units.<ref name="nintendosales" /> The majority of these were made up of the first revision model, the DS Lite, according to Nintendo.<ref name="nintendosales" />

=== Legacy ===
{{See also|Nintendo 3DS}}

The success of the Nintendo DS introduced [[touchscreen]] controls and [[wireless]] [[Online game|online gaming]] to a wide audience. According to Damien McFerran of ''[[Nintendo Life]]'', the "DS was the first encounter many people had with touch-based tech, and it left an indelible impression."<ref>{{cite news |last1=McFerran |first1=Damien |title=Retrospective: The Awkward Birth of the DS, Nintendo's Most Successful System |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/05/retrospective_the_awkward_birth_of_the_ds_nintendos_most_successful_system |access-date=14 August 2021 |work=[[Nintendo Life]] |date=19 May 2017 |archive-date=October 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028031923/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/05/retrospective_the_awkward_birth_of_the_ds_nintendos_most_successful_system |url-status=live }}</ref>

The DS established a large [[casual gaming]] market, attracting large non-[[gamer]] audiences and establishing touchscreens as the standard controls for future portable gaming devices. According to Jeremy Parish, writing for ''[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]'', the Nintendo DS laid the foundations for touchscreen [[mobile gaming]] on [[smartphones]]. He stated that the DS "had basically primed the entire world for" the [[iPhone]], released in January 2007, and that the DS paved the way for iPhone gaming [[mobile apps]]. However, the success of the iPhone "effectively caused the DS market to implode" by the early 2010s, according to Parish.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Parish |first1=Jeremy |title=The DS saved Nintendo while destroying handheld gaming as we knew it |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/10/22/18000592/nintendo-ds-mobile-casual-gaming |access-date=14 August 2021 |work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |date=22 October 2018 |archive-date=August 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814221703/https://www.polygon.com/2018/10/22/18000592/nintendo-ds-mobile-casual-gaming |url-status=live }}</ref>

The DS also enlarged the market for [[female gamers]]. According to Nintendo in 2006, 44% of DS owners were female, with the majority of ''Nintendogs'' owners being female.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jordan |first=Jon |date=27 October 2006 |title=How DS created a new generation of girl gamers |url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/news/how-ds-created-a-new-generation-of-girl-gamers/ |url-status=live |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=[[Pocket Gamer]] |archive-date=May 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519202853/https://www.pocketgamer.com/news/how-ds-created-a-new-generation-of-girl-gamers/ }}</ref>

The success of the DS paved the way for its successor, the [[Nintendo 3DS]], a handheld gaming console with a similar dual-screen setup that can display images on the top screen in stereoscopic 3D.<ref name="Nintendo to unveil 3-D gaming console">{{cite web|last=Frum|first=Larry|title=Nintendo to unveil 3-D gaming console|url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/03/23/nintendo.3d/index.html|publisher=CNN.com|access-date=September 6, 2013|archive-date=October 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013201558/http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/03/23/nintendo.3d/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On January 29, 2014, Nintendo announced that Nintendo DS games would be added to the [[Wii U]]'s Virtual Console, with the first game, ''[[Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day!]]'', being released in Japan on June 3, 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.polygon.com/2014/1/29/5359746/nintendo-ds-games-coming-to-wii-u-virtual-console |title= Nintendo DS games coming to Wii U Virtual Console |last1= McWhertor |first1= Michael |date= January 29, 2013 |website= Polygon |access-date= January 30, 2014 |archive-date= January 31, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140131080446/http://www.polygon.com/2014/1/29/5359746/nintendo-ds-games-coming-to-wii-u-virtual-console |url-status= live }}</ref><ref name="VCJPrelease">{{cite news | url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-06-04-nintendos-first-ds-title-for-wii-u-now-available-in-japan | title=Nintendo's first DS title for Wii U now available in Japan | first=Tom | last=Phillips | publisher=Eurogamer.net | date=June 4, 2014 | access-date=June 4, 2014 | archive-date=June 8, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140608201653/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-06-04-nintendos-first-ds-title-for-wii-u-now-available-in-japan | url-status=live }}</ref>

== Hardware ==
[[File:Nintendo-DS-Styli.jpg|thumb|Stylus for the DS Lite]]
The Nintendo DS design resembles that of the multi-screen games from the [[Game & Watch]] line, such as ''[[Donkey Kong (Game & Watch)|Donkey Kong]]'' and ''[[Zelda Game & Watch|Zelda]]'', which was also made by Nintendo.

The lower display of the Nintendo DS is overlaid with a [[resistive touchscreen]] designed to accept input from the included [[stylus (computing)|stylus]], the user's fingers, or a curved plastic tab attached to the optional wrist strap. The touchscreen lets users interact with in-game elements more directly than by pressing buttons; for example, in the included chatting software, PictoChat, the stylus is used to write messages or draw.

The handheld features four lettered buttons (X, Y, A, B), a directional pad, and Start, Select, and Power buttons. On the top of the device are two shoulder buttons, a game card slot, a stylus holder and a power cable input. The bottom features the Game Boy Advance game card slot. The overall button layout resembles that of the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] controller. When using backward compatibility mode on the DS, buttons X and Y and the touchscreen are not used as the Game Boy Advance line of systems do not feature these controls.

It also has [[stereophonic sound|stereo]] speakers providing [[virtual surround|virtual surround sound]] (depending on the software) located on either side of the upper display screen. This was a first for a Nintendo handheld, as the [[Game Boy line]] of systems had only supported stereo sound through the use of headphones or external speakers. A built-in microphone is located below the left side of the bottom screen. It has been used for a variety of purposes, including [[speech recognition]], chatting online between and during gameplay sessions, and [[minigame]]s that require the player to blow or shout into it.

=== Technical specifications ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Mass
| {{convert|275|g|oz|abbr=on}}
|-
! Dimensions
| When closed: {{convert|148.7|x|84.7|x|28.9|mm|abbr=on}}<br />(width × height × depth)
|-
! Display
| Two [[thin-film-transistor liquid-crystal display|TFT LCD]] screens:
{{convert|62|x|46|mm|in|abbr=on}}, {{convert|77|mm|in|abbr=on}} diagonal, 0.24&nbsp;mm [[dot pitch]], [[List of monochrome and RGB color formats#18-bit RGB|18-bit depth]] (262,144 colors), 21&nbsp;mm gap between screens (≈92 lines)
|-
! [[Display resolution|Resolution]]
| 256 × 192 [[pixel]]s (4:3 [[aspect ratio (image)|aspect ratio]]) for each screen
|-
! Audio
| Stereo with 16 PCM/ADPCM channels
|-
! CPU
| Two [[ARM architecture|ARM]] processors:
* 32 bit [[ARM9|ARM946E-S]] main CPU; 67&nbsp;MHz clock speed. Processes gameplay mechanisms and video rendering<ref>{{cite book|last1=Furber|first1=Steve|title=ARM System-on-Chip Architecture|year=2000|isbn=0-201-67519-6|page=344|publisher=Addison-Wesley }}</ref>
* 32 bit [[ARM7]]TDMI coprocessor; 33&nbsp;MHz clock speed. Processes sound output, Wi-Fi support and takes on second-processor duties in Game Boy Advance mode
|-
! RAM
| 4&nbsp;MB PSRAM (expandable via the [[Game Boy Advance]] slot, only officially used by the [[Nintendo DS Browser]])
|-
! Input
|
* Power button
* Volume slider
* Eight digital buttons (A, B, X, Y, L, R, Start, Select)
* [[D-pad]]
* [[Resistive touchscreen]] (lower screen only)
* Microphone
|-
! Voltage
| 1.65&nbsp;v
|-
! Battery
| Rechargeable 850 mAh [[lithium-ion battery]]
|-
! Storage
| 256&nbsp;KB of serial flash memory
|-
! Wireless connectivity
| Built-in [[IEEE 802.11|802.11b]] wireless network connection ([[Wired Equivalent Privacy|WEP]] encryption support only)<ref>{{cite web|title=Nintendo DS and Nintendo DS Lite&nbsp;– Wireless Router Information|url=https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/wfc/en_na/ds/routerInfo.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626043123/https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/wfc/en_na/ds/routerInfo.jsp|archive-date=June 26, 2007|publisher=Nintendo&nbsp;– Customer Service}}</ref>
|}

The system's [[3D computer graphics|3D]] hardware<ref name="problemkaputt.de">{{cite web|url=http://problemkaputt.de/gbatek.htm#dstechnicaldata|title=GBATEK – GBA/NDS Technical Info|access-date=December 30, 2016|archive-date=July 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160727034359/http://problemkaputt.de/gbatek.htm#dstechnicaldata|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite conference|url=http://twvideo01.ubm-us.net/o1/vault/gdc07/slides/S3727i1.pdf|conference=Take Control: Game Developers Conference|date=5–9 March 2007|title=3D Tricks: Engineering Innovation on the Nintendo DS|first1=Chuck |last1=Homic |first2=Greg |last2=Oberg|access-date=September 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421234338/http://twvideo01.ubm-us.net/o1/vault/gdc07/slides/S3727i1.pdf|archive-date=April 21, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> consists of rendering engine and geometry engine which perform [[transform, clipping, and lighting|transform and lighting]], transparency auto sorting, transparency effects, texture matrix effects, 2D billboards, texture streaming, texture-coordinate transformation, perspective-correct [[texture mapping]], per-pixel alpha test, per-primitive [[alpha compositing|alpha blending]], texture blending, Gouraud shading, [[cel-shaded animation|cel shading]], [[z-buffering]], W-buffering, 1-bit stencil buffer, per-vertex directional lighting and simulated point lighting, depth test, stencil test, render to texture, lightmapping, environment mapping, shadow volumes, shadow mapping, distance fog, edge marking, fade-in/fade-out, and edge-AA. Sprite special effects available are scrolling, scaling, rotation, stretching, and shear. However, it uses point ([[nearest-neighbor interpolation|nearest neighbor]]) [[texture filtering]], leading to some titles having a blocky appearance. Unlike most 3D hardware, it has a set limit on the number of triangles it can render as part of a single scene; the maximum amount is about 6144 vertices, or 2048 triangles per frame. The 3D hardware is designed to render to a single screen at a time, so rendering 3D to both screens is difficult and decreases performance significantly. The DS is generally more limited by its polygon budget than its pixel fill rate. There are also 512 kilobytes of texture memory, and the maximum texture size is 1024&nbsp;×&nbsp;1024 pixels.

The system has 656 kilobytes of video memory<ref>{{cite web | title=A guide to homebrew development for the Nintendo DS | url=https://osdl.sourceforge.net/main/documentation/misc/nintendo-DS/homebrew-guide/HomebrewForDS.html | access-date=July 16, 2009 | archive-date=August 5, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805085134/http://osdl.sourceforge.net/main/documentation/misc/nintendo-DS/homebrew-guide/HomebrewForDS.html | url-status=live }}</ref> and two [[2D computer graphics|2D]] engines (one per screen). These are similar to (but more powerful than) the [[Game Boy Advance]]'s single 2D engine.

The Nintendo DS has compatibility with [[Wi-Fi]] using the [[IEEE 802.11]]b standard, optionally with [[Wired Equivalent Privacy|WEP]] encryption. Wi-Fi is used for accessing the [[Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection]] (discontinued on May 20, 2014);<ref>{{cite web |url=https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/6026/session/L2F2LzEvdGltZS8xNzQwOTE5NjU3L2dlbi8xNzQwOTE5NjU3L3NpZC9mVTRZbFZyd2FHVnhuNHJMV3lTUnlCb3Y1QXZ0JTdFM1QyeW9pZkZXNzNjQ29WZ0theHBoeW5wblo3TGdXa0hFWiU3RVYzWWZUeVY3b0NyeVYlN0VWbXFiZTMwUyU3RXltVDdzSXBNc1AxT1RWTEczaGRmRm5qTF9BMXAlN0V5ZyU3RUElMjElMjE%3D |title=Service Discontinuation: Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Service |website=Nintendo Support |publisher=Nintendo of America |access-date=2025-03-02}}</ref> play with other users playing the same Wi-Fi compatible game; PictoChat;<ref>{{cite web|date=February 2, 2009|title=Nintendo DS wi-fi protocol information|url=http://masscat.afraid.org/ninds/proto_info.php|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202194241/http://masscat.afraid.org/ninds/proto_info.php|archive-date=February 2, 2009|access-date=September 11, 2012}}</ref>{{citation needed|reason=Does not explain what PictoChat is; also [[WP:SPS]]|date=March 2025}} or, with a special cartridge and RAM extension, browse the internet. Today these standards are outdated and (in the case of WEP) considered insecure and they are no longer available on most wireless routers.

Nintendo claims the battery lasts a maximum of 10 hours under ideal conditions on a full four-hour charge. Battery life is affected by multiple factors including speaker volume, use of one or both screens, use of wireless connectivity, and use of backlight, which can be turned on or off in selected games such as ''[[Super Mario 64 DS]]''. The battery is user-replaceable using only a Phillips-head screwdriver. After about 500 charges the battery life starts to decrease.<ref>{{cite web |website=Nintendo Customer Service |title=Nintendo DS&nbsp;– Charging the Battery |url=https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/systems/ds/battery_faq.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140123004258/http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/systems/ds/battery_faq.jsp |archive-date=January 23, 2014 |access-date=January 19, 2014}}</ref>

Users can close the Nintendo DS system to trigger its 'sleep' mode, which pauses the game being played and saves battery life by turning off the screens, speakers, and wireless communications; however, closing the system while playing a Game Boy Advance game will not put the Nintendo DS into sleep mode, and the game will continue to run normally. Certain DS games (such as ''[[Animal Crossing: Wild World]]'') will also not pause, but the backlight, screens, and speakers will turn off. Additionally, when saving the game in certain games<ref>such as [[Pokémon Diamond and Pearl|''Pokémon Diamond'' and ''Pearl'']], ''[[Zoo Tycoon DS]]'', ''[[SimCity DS]]'', ''[[Tiger Woods PGA Tour]]'', ''[[Digimon World Dawn]]'', ''[[Mega Man Battle Network 5]]'', or ''[[The Legendary Starfy]]'',</ref> the DS will not go into sleep mode.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.consolewerks.co.uk/console%20info/nintendo-ds-information.html |title=Nintendo DS Fitting Guides, NDSL Repair Guides |publisher=Consolewerks |access-date=September 11, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109090226/http://www.consolewerks.co.uk/console%20info/nintendo-ds-information.html |archive-date=November 9, 2012 }}</ref> Some games, such as ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass]]'', use the closing motion needed to enter sleep mode as an unorthodox way of solving puzzles,<ref>{{Cite web |last=McFerran |first=Damien |date=2021-08-31 |title=Did You Know That Zelda: Phantom Hourglass Borrows Its Most Ingenious Puzzle From Another Game? |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/08/did_you_know_that_zelda_phantom_hourglass_borrows_its_most_ingenious_puzzle_from_another_game |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=Nintendo Life |language=en-GB}}</ref> or include gameplay sequences that require the console to be closed, such as ''[[Looney Tunes: Duck Amuck]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Woodward |first=Stephen |date=2007-10-15 |title=Looney Tunes: Duck Amuck Review – Nintendo DS |url=http://nds.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r32341.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081105154640/http://nds.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r32341.htm |archive-date=2008-11-05 |access-date= |website=GameZone}}</ref>

=== Accessories ===
{{Main|Nintendo DS accessories}}
Although the secondary port on the Nintendo DS does accept and support Game Boy Advance cartridges (but not Game Boy or Game Boy Color cartridges), Nintendo emphasized that the main intention for its inclusion was to allow a wide variety of accessories to be released for the system.

Due to the lack of a second port on the Nintendo DSi, it is not compatible with any accessory that uses it.

==== Rumble Pak ====
{{Main|Rumble Pak#Nintendo DS}}
The Rumble Pak was the first official expansion slot accessory. In the form of a Game Boy Advance cartridge, the Rumble Pak vibrates to reflect the action in compatible games, such as when the player bumps into an obstacle or loses a life. It was released in North America and Japan in 2005 bundled with ''[[Metroid Prime Pinball]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://store.nintendo.com/ | title=Nintendo Online Store | access-date=April 2, 2006 | archive-date=April 5, 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060405142126/http://store.nintendo.com/ | url-status=live }}</ref> In Europe, it was first available with the game ''[[Magnetica|Actionloop]]'', and later ''Metroid Prime Pinball''. The Rumble Pak was also released separately in those regions.

==== Headset ====
The Nintendo DS Headset is the official headset for the Nintendo DS. It plugs into the headset port (which is a combination of a standard 3.5&nbsp;mm (1/8 in) headphone connector and a proprietary microphone connector) on the bottom of the system. It features one earphone and a microphone, and is compatible with all games that use the internal microphone. It was released alongside [[Pokémon Diamond and Pearl|''Pokémon Diamond'' and ''Pearl'']] in North America, and Australia.

==== Browser ====
{{Main|Nintendo DS Browser}}
On February 15, 2006, Nintendo announced a version of the [[cross-platform]] web browser [[Opera (web browser)|Opera]] for the DS system.<ref name="Opera PR">{{cite press release|url=http://www.opera.com/press/releases/2006/02/15/|title=Giving gamers two windows to the Web: The Opera Browser for Nintendo DS|date=February 15, 2006|publisher=Opera Software|access-date=April 2, 2006|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120909/http://www.opera.com/press/releases/2006/02/15/|archive-date=September 9, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> The browser can use one screen as an overview, a zoomed portion of which appears on the other screen, or both screens together to present a single tall view of the page.<ref name="Opera Berit">{{cite web|author=Berit Hanson|date=February 16, 2006|title=Opera for Nintendo DS|url=http://my.opera.com/berit/blog/show.dml/146280|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070518001036/http://my.opera.com/berit/blog/show.dml/146280|archive-date=May 18, 2007|access-date=July 3, 2006|work=Berit's Blog}}</ref> The browser went on sale in Japan and Europe in 2006,<ref name="Opera Japan">{{cite press release|publisher=Opera Software ASA|date=June 21, 2006|title=Mark your calendars: Opera announces Nintendo DS browser release date in Japan|url=http://www.opera.com/press/releases/2006/06/21/|access-date=June 21, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110806062805/http://www.opera.com/press/releases/2006/06/21/|archive-date=August 6, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Chris Playo|title=Japan: Nintendo DS Press Conference|url=http://www.4colorrebellion.com/archives/2006/07/17/new-release-dates-for-europe/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090516013411/http://www.4colorrebellion.com/archives/2006/07/17/new-release-dates-for-europe/|archive-date=May 16, 2009|access-date=April 2, 2006|publisher=NintendoDS Advanced}}</ref> and in North America on June 4, 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ds.ign.com/articles/771/771323p1.html|title=GDC 2007: Nintendo DS Browser US Bound|author=Craig Harris|publisher=IGN|date=March 7, 2007|access-date=September 19, 2007|archive-date=July 6, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070706145309/http://ds.ign.com/articles/771/771323p1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Browser operation requires that an included memory expansion pak is inserted into the GBA slot. The DSi has a web browser available for download from the Nintendo DSi shop for free.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nintendo DSi Browser at Nintendo :: Games|url=https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/JAradEBWIIZzprAROkFTgptzEmcdKPwk|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090409091347/https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/JAradEBWIIZzprAROkFTgptzEmcdKPwk|archive-date=April 9, 2009|access-date=June 19, 2009|publisher=Nintendo}}</ref>

==== Wi-Fi USB Connector ====
{{Main|Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector}}
This USB-flash-disk-sized accessory plugs into a PC's [[Universal Serial Bus|USB]] port and creates a miniature [[Hotspot (Wi-Fi)|hotspot]]/[[wireless access point]], allowing a Wii and up to five Nintendo DS units to access the [[Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection]] service through the host computer's Internet connection. When tried under [[Linux]] and [[Mac (computer)|Mac]], it acts as a regular wireless adapter, connecting to wireless networks, an LED blinks when there is data being transferred. There is also a hacked driver for Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10 to make it function the same way. The Wi-Fi USB Connector was discontinued from retail stores and the service discontinued in 2014.

==== MP3 Player ====
{{Main|Play-Yan}}
The Nintendo MP3 Player (a modified version of the device known as the Play-Yan in Japan) was released on December 8, 2006, by Nintendo of Europe at a retail price of £29.99/€30. The add-on uses removable [[Secure Digital card|SD]] cards to store MP3 audio files, and can be used in any device that features support for [[Game Boy Advance]] cartridges; however, due to this, it is limited in terms of its user-interface and functionality, as it does not support using both screens of the DS simultaneously, nor does it make use of its touch-screen capability. It is not compatible with the DSi, due to the lack of the GBA slot, but the DSi includes a music player via SD card. Although it stated on the box that it is only compatible with the [[Game Boy Micro]], Nintendo DS and [[Nintendo DS Lite]], it is also compatible with the [[Game Boy Advance SP]] and [[Game Boy Advance]].

==== Guitar grip controller ====
The Guitar grip controller comes packaged with the game ''[[Guitar Hero: On Tour series|Guitar Hero: On Tour]]'' and is plugged into the GBA game slot. It features four colored buttons like the ones found on regular ''[[Guitar Hero]]'' guitar controllers for the stationary consoles, though it lacks the fifth orange button found on the guitar controllers. The DS Guitar Hero controller comes with a small "pick-stylus" (which is shaped like a guitar pick, as the name suggests) that can be put away into a small slot on the controller. It also features a hand strap. The game works with both the DS Lite and the original Nintendo DS as it comes with an adapter for the original DS.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/guitar-hero-on-tour/previews/guitar-hero-on-tour-first-look-6189175/|title=Guitar Hero: On Tour First Look|author=Brian Ekberg|publisher=[[GameSpot]]|date=April 14, 2008|access-date=May 26, 2008|archive-date=February 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130204140938/http://www.gamespot.com/guitar-hero-on-tour/previews/guitar-hero-on-tour-first-look-6189175/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Guitar Grip also works with its sequels, ''[[Guitar Hero: On Tour series|Guitar Hero On Tour: Decades]]'', ''[[Guitar Hero: On Tour series|Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits]]'', and ''[[Band Hero#DS version|Band Hero]]''.

===Revisions===
{{see also|Seventh generation of video game consoles#Handheld game console comparison}}

==== Nintendo DS Lite ====
The '''Nintendo DS Lite''' is the first redesign of the Nintendo DS. While retaining the original model's basic characteristics, it features a sleeker appearance, larger stylus, longer lasting battery, and brighter screens.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4111/~/what-is-the-difference-between-the-nintendo-ds-and-the-nintendo-ds-lite|title=What Is the Difference between the Nintendo DS and the Nintendo DS Lite? {{!}} Nintendo Support|website=en-americas-support.nintendo.com|access-date=January 22, 2019|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308124904/https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4111/~/what-is-the-difference-between-the-nintendo-ds-and-the-nintendo-ds-lite|url-status=live}}</ref> The screens have a maximum brightness of 200{{nbsp}}[[Candela per square metre|cd/m<sup>2</sup>]] for the top screen and 190{{nbsp}}cd/m<sup>2</sup> for the bottom screen (touch screen).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Soneira |first=Raymond Soneira |date=2006 |title=Sony PSP and Nintendo DS Lite LCD Shoot-Out |url=http://www.displaymate.com/psp_ds_shootout.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200427214640/http://www.displaymate.com/psp_ds_shootout.htm |archive-date=2020-04-27 |access-date=2020-06-14 |website=www.displaymate.com}}</ref> The lithium-ion battery (1000 mAh) is capable of delivering 15 to 19 hours of play time on a single charge; a power-saving sleep mode is also available. The console takes roughly three hours to fully charge the battery. The DS Lite uses an [[Alternating current|AC]] [[power adapter]] that differs from the one used for the original Nintendo DS and [[Game Boy Advance SP]] due to a smaller adaptor AC port on the top of the unit.<ref>[https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/systems/dslite/accessories.jsp Customer Service | Nintendo DS Lite - Accessories] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304033149/http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/systems/dslite/accessories.jsp|date=2016-03-04}}. Nintendo. Retrieved on 2013-08-23.</ref> The included [[Stylus (computing)|stylus]] is 1{{nbsp}}cm longer and 2{{nbsp}}mm thicker than the stylus of the original Nintendo DS.

{{Gallery|File:Nintendo DS Lite (closed).jpg|The Nintendo DS Lite, closed|File:Nintendo DS Lite (top open on).jpg|The Nintendo DS Lite, turned on and fully open|File:Nintendo DS Lite (closeup buttons).jpg|The Start and Select buttons have been moved to below the A, B, X, and Y button group.|File:Nintendo DS Lite (front).jpg|The front, with the volume control slider on the left side, headphone jack on the right and Game Boy Advance slot in the middle|File:Nintendo DS Lite (right side).jpg|Remodeled stylus and relocated power switch|File:Nintendo DS Lite (top with pen and cart).jpg|The Game Boy Advance filler cart and stylus, below the Nintendo DS Lite|title=Nintendo DS Lite hardware gallery|align=center}}

==== Nintendo DSi and DSi XL ====
The '''[[Nintendo DSi]]''' is the second redesign of the Nintendo DS. It is based on the unreleased larger DS Lite model. While similar to the previous DS redesign, new features include two inner and outer 0.3 megapixel digital cameras, a larger 3.25 inch display, internal and external content storage, compatibility with WPA wireless encryption, and connectivity to the Nintendo DSi Shop.

The '''Nintendo DSi XL''' features larger screens, and a greater overall size, than the original DSi. It is the fourth DS model, the first to be available as a pure size variation.<ref name="Briefing">{{cite web|date=October 30, 2009|title=Corporate Management Policy Briefing/Semi-annual Financial Results Briefing|url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/library/events/091030/09.html|access-date=November 9, 2009|publisher=Nintendo|location=Minami-ku, Kyoto|pages=9–10|archive-date=November 6, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091106150931/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/library/events/091030/09.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It features larger screens with wider view angles, improved battery life, and a greater overall size than the original DSi.<ref name="fourth">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/dsi-xl-hits-us-and-eu-q1-2010-ds-sales-top-113-million-6238345|title=DSi XL hits US & EU Q1 2010, DS sales top 113 million|access-date=October 29, 2009|author=Tor Thorsen|date=October 29, 2009|work=[[GameSpot]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|location=[[San Francisco]]|archive-date=November 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105131637/http://www.gamespot.com/news/dsi-xl-hits-us-and-eu-q1-2010-ds-sales-top-113-million-6238345|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Christopher2009a">{{cite web|url=http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/nintendo-reveals-dsi-ll|title=Nintendo reveals DSi LL|access-date=November 9, 2009|author=Christopher Dring|date=October 29, 2009|work=[[MCV (magazine)|MCV]]|publisher=Intent Media|location=United Kingdom|archive-date=October 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001192333/http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/nintendo-reveals-dsi-ll|url-status=live}}</ref> While the original DSi was specifically designed for individual use, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata suggested that DSi XL buyers give the console a "steady place on a table in the living room", so that it might be shared by multiple household members.<ref name="Briefing" />

== DS family comparison table ==
{| class="wikitable outercollapse" style="width: 100%; text-align: center;" |
|-
! style="width: 10%;" | Name
! style="width: 15%;" | Nintendo DS
! style="width: 15%;" | Nintendo DS Lite
! style="width: 15%;" | Nintendo DSi
! style="width: 15%;" | Nintendo DSi XL
|- class="skin-invert-image"
! Logo
! [[File:Nintendo DS Logo.svg|130x130px]]
! [[File:Nintendo DS Lite logo.svg|130x130px]]
! [[File:Nintendo DSi logo.svg|130x130px]]
! [[File:Nintendo DSi XL logo.svg|130x130px]]
|-
! Console
| [[File:Nintendo-DS-Fat-Blue.jpg|alt=|125x125px]]
| [[File:Nintendo DS Lite Ice Blue 01.jpg|150x150px]]
| [[File:Nintendo-DSi-Bl-Open.jpg|150x150px]]
| [[File:Nintendo-DSi-XL-Burg.jpg|150x150px]]
|-
! In production
| colspan="4" {{N/a|Discontinued}}
|-
! Generation
| colspan="4" | [[History of video game consoles (seventh generation)|Seventh generation]]
|-
! Release date
| {{Video game release|NA|November 21, 2004|JP|December 2, 2004|AU|February 24, 2005|EU|March 11, 2005}}
| {{Video game release|JP|March 2, 2006|AU|June 1, 2006|NA|June 11, 2006|EU|June 23, 2006}}
| {{Video game release|JP|November 1, 2008|AU|April 2, 2009|EU|April 3, 2009|NA|April 5, 2009}}
| {{Video game release|JP|November 21, 2009|EU|March 5, 2010|NA|March 28, 2010|AU|April 15, 2010}}
|- style="text-align: left;"
! Launch price <!-- DO NOT CHANGE PRICES IN THIS SECTION. This section is about the LAUNCH PRICE, as in, the price WHEN IT WAS FIRST RELEASED. -->
| {{Unbulleted list|US$149.99}}
| {{Unbulleted list|US$129.99}}
| {{Unbulleted list|US$169.99}}
| {{Unbulleted list|US$189.99}}
|-
! Current price
| colspan="4" {{N/a|Discontinued}}
|-
! Units shipped
| colspan="4" | '''Worldwide:''' 154.02&nbsp;million <small>(as of June 30, 2016)</small>
|-
! rowspan="2" | [[Display device|Display]]
| {{cvt|3.03|in|order=flip}}
| {{cvt|3.12|in|order=flip}}
| {{cvt|3.25|in|order=flip}}
| {{cvt|4.33|in|order=flip}}
|-
| 256x192&nbsp;px
| 256x192&nbsp;px
| 256x192&nbsp;px
| 256x192&nbsp;px
|-
! [[Central processing unit|Processor]]
| colspan="2" | 67&nbsp;MHz [[ARM9|ARM946E-S]] & 33&nbsp;MHz [[ARM7]]TDMI
| colspan="2" | 133&nbsp;MHz ARM9 & 33&nbsp;MHz [[ARM7]]
|-
! [[Random-access memory|Memory]]
| colspan="2" | 4&nbsp;MB PSRAM
| colspan="2" | 16&nbsp;[[Megabyte|MB]]
|-
! Camera
| colspan="2" | No
| colspan="2" | One front-facing and one outward-facing 0.3&nbsp;[[Megapixel|MP]]
|-
! [[Data storage device|Storage]]
| colspan="2" | 256&nbsp;KB of serial flash memory
| colspan="2" | 256&nbsp;MB of internal [[flash memory]] with an [[SD card]] (up to 2 [[Gigabyte|GB]]) and SDHC card (up to 32&nbsp;GB) [[expansion slot]]
|-
! Physical media
| colspan="2" | [[Game Boy Advance Game Pak]]<br />[[Nintendo DS game card|Nintendo DS Game Card]]
| colspan="2" | [[Nintendo DS game card|Nintendo DS Game Card]]<br />[[Nintendo DSi Game Card]]
|-
! Input controls
|
* Power Button
* Volume slider
* Eight digital buttons (A, B, X, Y, L, R, Start, Select)
* [[D-pad]]
* [[Resistive touchscreen]] (lower screen only)
* Microphone
|
*Power flick-switch
* Volume slider
* Eight digital buttons (A, B, X, Y, L, R, Start, Select)
* [[D-pad]]
* [[Resistive touchscreen]] (lower screen only)
* Microphone
| colspan="2" |
* Power button
* Ten digital buttons (A, B, X, Y, L, R, Start, Select, Volume Up, Volume Down)
* [[D-pad]]
* [[Resistive touchscreen]] (lower screen only)
* Microphone
* Front and back cameras
|-
! Battery
| 850&nbsp;mAh lithium-ion battery<br />~10 hours{{efn|group="Comparison Table"|name=Battery}}
| 1000&nbsp;mAh lithium-ion battery<br />15–19 hours{{efn|group="Comparison Table"|name=Battery}}
| 840&nbsp;mAh lithium-ion battery<br />9–14 hours{{efn|group="Comparison Table"|name=Battery}}
| 1040&nbsp;mAh lithium-ion battery<br />4–17 hours{{efn|group="Comparison Table"|name=Battery}}
|-
! Weight
| {{cvt|275|g}}
| {{cvt|218|g}}
| {{cvt|214|g}}
| {{cvt|314|g}}
|-
! Dimensions
| {{ubl
  | '''W:''' {{cvt|148.7|mm}}
  | '''H:''' {{cvt|84.7|mm}}
  | '''D:''' {{cvt|28.9|mm}}
  }}
| {{ubl
  | '''W:''' {{cvt|133|mm|2}}
  | '''H:''' {{cvt|73.9|mm}}
  | '''D:''' {{cvt|21.5|mm}}
  }}
| {{ubl
  | '''W:''' {{cvt|136.9|mm}}
  | '''H:''' {{cvt|74.9|mm}}
  | '''D:''' {{cvt|18.8|mm}}
  }}
| {{ubl
  | '''W:''' {{cvt|161|mm|2}}
  | '''H:''' {{cvt|91.4|mm}}
  | '''D:''' {{cvt|21|mm}}
  }}
|-
! [[Regional lockout]]
| colspan="2" {{good|No}}
| colspan="2" {{maybe|Only for DSiWare and DSi-enhanced/exclusive Game Cards}}
|-
! [[Backward compatibility]]
| colspan="2" | '''Physical only'''<br />[[Game Boy Advance]] Cartridge
| colspan="2" | '''Physical only'''<br />'''[[Nintendo game card#Nintendo DS Game Card|Nintendo DS Game Cards]]'''
|}
{{notelist|group="Comparison Table"|refs=
{{efn|group="Comparison Table"|name=Battery|Determined by screen brightness, Wi-Fi, sound volume}}
}}

== Software and features ==
=== Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection ===
{{Main|Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection}}
Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection was a free online game service run by Nintendo. Players with a compatible Nintendo DS game could connect to the service via a [[Wi-Fi]] network using a [[Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector]] or a [[wireless router]]. The service was launched in North America, Australia, Japan and Europe throughout November 2005. An online compatible Nintendo DS game was released on the same day for each region.
{| class="wikitable"
|+Nintendo WFC Service launch date by region
!Region
!Launch date
!Compatible launch title
!{{Refh}}
|-
|North America
|November 14, 2005
|''Mario Kart DS''
|<ref>{{cite web|date=November 15, 2005|title=Mario Kart, Nintendo Wi-Fi Launch|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/11/15/mario-kart-nintendo-wi-fi-launch|access-date=May 19, 2014|publisher=IGN.com|archive-date=May 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521032141/http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/11/15/mario-kart-nintendo-wi-fi-launch|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|Australia
|November 17, 2005
|''Mario Kart DS''
|<ref>{{Cite web|date=2005-11-09|title=Aussie Nintendo Wifi Connection launch details, hotspots and more!|url=https://www.vooks.net/aussie-nintendo-wifi-connection-launch-details-hotspots-and-more/|access-date=2022-01-22|website=Vooks|language=en-AU|archive-date=January 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122161632/https://www.vooks.net/aussie-nintendo-wifi-connection-launch-details-hotspots-and-more/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|Japan
|November 23, 2005
|''[[Animal Crossing: Wild World]]''
|<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gantayat|first=Anoop|date=2005-10-05|title=Nintendo Finalizes WiFi Plans in Japan|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/10/05/nintendo-finalizes-wifi-plans-in-japan|access-date=2022-01-22|website=IGN|language=en|archive-date=January 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122161633/https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/10/05/nintendo-finalizes-wifi-plans-in-japan|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|Europe
|November 25, 2005
|''Mario Kart DS''
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Game Is On As Nintendo Wi-Fi Storms The Globe|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/the-game-is-on-as-nintendo-wi-fi-storms-the-globe|access-date=2022-01-22|website=GamesIndustry.biz|date=February 9, 2006|language=en|archive-date=January 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122161630/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/the-game-is-on-as-nintendo-wi-fi-storms-the-globe|url-status=live}}</ref>
|}

Additional [[List of Nintendo DS Wi-Fi Connection games|Nintendo DS Wi-Fi Connection games]] and a dedicated [[Nintendo DS & DSi Browser|Nintendo DS web browser]] were released afterwards. Nintendo later believed that the online platform's success directly propelled the commercial success of the entire Nintendo DS platform. The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection served as part of the basis of what would become the Wii.<ref name="Famitsu March 2006">{{cite magazine | magazine=Famitsu | title=The Zen of Wi-Fi | date=March 2006 | url=http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/2006/03/25/103,1143298259,50588,0,0.html | language=ja | access-date=November 13, 2015 | archive-date=December 4, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204012924/https://www.famitsu.com/game/news/2006/03/25/103,1143298259,50588,0,0.html | url-status=live }}</ref> Most functions (for games on both the DS and Wii consoles) were discontinued worldwide on May 20, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|date=February 26, 2014|title=Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service for Nintendo DS and Wii to end in May|url=https://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/vyWpoM6CBIe6FjW8NIY7bvzOrgBURhzw|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227060752/https://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/vyWpoM6CBIe6FjW8NIY7bvzOrgBURhzw|archive-date=February 27, 2014|access-date=May 20, 2014|publisher=Nintendo of America}}</ref>

===Download Play===<!-- This section is linked from [[DS Download Play]] and [[Nintendo DS Download Play]] -->
{{See also|Nintendo Zone}}
With Download Play, it is possible for users to play [[multiplayer video game|multiplayer]] games with other Nintendo DS systems, and later Nintendo 3DS systems, using only one game card. Players must have their systems within wireless range (up to approximately 65&nbsp;feet) of each other for the guest system to download the necessary data from the host system. Only certain games supported this feature and usually played with much more limited features than the full game allowed.

Download Play is also utilized to migrate [[Pokémon]] from fourth generation games into the fifth generation [[Pokémon Black and White|''Pokémon Black'' and ''White'']], an example of a task requiring two different game cards and two handheld units, but only one player.

Some Nintendo DS retailers featured [[DS Download Station]]s that allowed users to download demos of current and upcoming DS games; however, due to memory limitations, the downloads were erased once the system was powered off. The Download Station was made up of 1 to 8 standard retail DS units, with a standard DS card containing the demo data. On May 7, 2008, Nintendo released the [[Wii Menu|Nintendo Channel]] for download on the Wii. The Nintendo Channel used WiiConnect24 to download Nintendo DS demos through it. From there, a user can select the demo they wish to play and, similar to the Nintendo DS Download Stations at retail outlets, download it to their DS and play it until it is powered off.

=== Multi-Card Play ===
Multi-Card Play, like Download Play, allows users to play multiplayer games with other Nintendo DS systems. In this case, each system requires a game card. This mode is accessed from an in-game menu, rather than the normal DS menu.

=== PictoChat ===
{{Main|PictoChat}}

PictoChat allows users to communicate with other Nintendo DS users within local wireless range. Users can enter text (via an on screen keyboard), handwrite messages or draw pictures (via the stylus and touchscreen). There are four chatrooms (A, B, C, D) in which people can go to chat. Up to sixteen people can connect in any one room.

PictoChat was not available for the subsequent Nintendo 3DS series of systems.

=== Firmware ===
Nintendo's own [[firmware]] boots the system. A health and safety warning is displayed first, then the main menu is loaded. The main menu presents the player with four main options to select: play a DS game, use PictoChat, initiate DS Download Play, or play a Game Boy Advance game. The main menu also has secondary options such as turning on or off the back light, the system settings, and an alarm.

The firmware also features a clock, several options for customization (such as boot priority for when games are inserted and GBA screen preferences), and the ability to input user information and preferences (such as name, birthday, favorite color, etc.) that can be used in games.

Japanese,<ref>{{cite web |author1=Nintendo |script-title=ja:ニンテンドーDS Lite取扱説明書 |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/support/pdf/dsLitemanual.pdf#page=30 |access-date=12 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120044023/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/support/pdf/dsLitemanual.pdf#page=30 |archive-date=20 November 2021 |page=30 |language=ja |format=PDF |url-status=live}}</ref> American,<ref>{{cite web |author1=Nintendo of America |title=Nintendo DS Operations Manual |url=https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/ds_english.pdf#page=12 |access-date=12 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205084346/https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/ds_english.pdf#page=12 |archive-date=5 December 2021 |page=12 |language=en |format=PDF |url-status=live}}</ref> and European<ref>{{cite web |author1=Nintendo of Europe |title=Nintendo DS Manual |url=https://fs-prod-cdn.nintendo-europe.com/media/downloads/support_1/nintendo_ds_19/NDS_Manual_UK_DE_FR.pdf#page=12 |access-date=12 August 2022 |page=12 |language=English |format=PDF |url-status=live |archive-date=February 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207094549/https://fs-prod-cdn.nintendo-europe.com/media/downloads/support_1/nintendo_ds_19/NDS_Manual_UK_DE_FR.pdf#page=12 }}</ref> consoles support the following languages: [[English language|English]], [[Japanese language|Japanese]], [[Spanish language|Spanish]], [[French language|French]], [[German language|German]], and [[Italian language|Italian]].

On consoles from mainland China, [[Chinese language|Chinese]] replaces Japanese, and on Korean consoles,<ref>{{cite web |author1=Nintendo of Korea |title=Nintendo DS Lite 사용설명서 |url=https://support.nintendo.co.kr/Download?category=manual&sfn=DS_Lite_manual.pdf&fn=DS_Lite_manual.pdf |access-date=12 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812163737/https://support.nintendo.co.kr/Download?category=manual&sfn=DS_Lite_manual.pdf&fn=DS_Lite_manual.pdf |archive-date=12 August 2022 |page=30 |language=ko |url-status=live}}</ref> Italian is replaced by [[Korean language|Korean]].

Later revisions of the DS released after 2006 feature the added option to toggle screen brightness levels, as with the DS Lite.

== Games ==
{{See also|List of Nintendo DS games|List of Nintendo DS Wi-Fi Connection games|List of cancelled Nintendo DS games}}
{{more citations needed section|date=May 2015}}

=== Compatibility ===
[[File:Game-Boy-Nintendo-DS-Slots.jpg|thumb|[[Game Boy Advance]] game slot on Game Boy Advance SP (below) and Nintendo DS Lite (above)]]
[[File:Nintendo Game Cartridge Size Comparison.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Clockwise from left: A [[Game Boy]] game cartridge, a [[Game Boy Advance]] game cartridge, and a Nintendo DS game cartridge. On the far right is a [[Nickel (United States coin)|United States Nickel]] shown for scale.]]
The Nintendo DS is [[backward compatibility|backward compatible]] with [[Game Boy Advance]] (GBA) cartridges. The smaller [[Nintendo Game Card|Nintendo DS game cards]] fit into a slot on the top of the system, while Game Boy Advance games fit into a slot on the bottom. The Nintendo DS, like the [[Game Boy Micro]], is not backward compatible with games made for the original [[Game Boy]] and [[Game Boy Color]] because the required hardware is not included and the console has physical incompatibility with Game Boy and Game Boy Color games.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3900/p/606|title=Can the Nintendo DS or DS Lite Play Game Boy Games? {{pipe}} Nintendo DS Family {{pipe}} Nintendo Support|website=en-americas-support.nintendo.com|language=en-US|access-date=March 17, 2018|archive-date=July 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701192538/http://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3900/p/606|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/systems/micro/faq.jsp|title=Nintendo - Customer Service {{pipe}} Game Boy micro - Frequently Asked Questions|website=www.nintendo.com|language=en|access-date=March 17, 2018|archive-date=July 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705150657/https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/systems/micro/faq.jsp|url-status=live}}</ref>

The handheld does not have a port for the Game Boy Advance Link Cable, so multiplayer and GameCube–Game Boy Advance link-up modes are not available in Game Boy Advance titles. Only single-player mode is supported on the Nintendo DS, as is the case with Game Boy Advance games played via the [[Virtual Console]] on the Nintendo 3DS (Ambassadors only) and Wii U.

The Nintendo DS only uses one screen when playing Game Boy Advance games. The user can configure the system to use either the top or bottom screen by default. The games are displayed within a black border on the screen, due to the slightly different screen resolution between the two systems (256 × 192 px for the Nintendo DS, and 240 × 160&nbsp;px for the Game Boy Advance).

Nintendo DS games inserted into the top slot are able to detect the presence of specific Game Boy Advance games in the bottom slot. In many such games, either stated in-game during gameplay or explained in its instruction manual, extra content can be unlocked or added by starting the Nintendo DS game with the appropriate Game Boy Advance game inserted. Among those games were the popular [[Pokémon Diamond and Pearl|''Pokémon Diamond'' and ''Pearl'']] or ''[[Pokémon Platinum]]'', which allowed the player to find more/exclusive Pokémon in the wild if a suitable Game Boy Advance cartridge was inserted. Some of the content can stay permanently, even after the GBA game has been removed.

Additionally, the GBA slot can be used to house expansion paks, such as the [[List of Nintendo DS Rumble Pak games|Rumble Pak]], [[Nintendo DS Browser#DS memory expansion pak|Nintendo DS Memory Expansion Pak]], and Guitar Grips for the ''[[Guitar Hero: On Tour series|Guitar Hero: On Tour]]'' series. The Nintendo DSi and the DSi XL have an SD card slot instead of a second cartridge slot and cannot play Game Boy Advance games or ''[[Guitar Hero: On Tour series|Guitar Hero: On Tour]]''. In certain Wii games such as [[Band Hero]], the player can use a Nintendo DS for additional features.

=== Regional division ===
The Nintendo DS is [[regional lockout|region free]] in the sense that any console will run a Nintendo DS game purchased anywhere in the world; however, the Chinese iQue DS games cannot be played on other versions of the original DS, whose firmware chip does not contain the required [[Chinese character]] glyph images; this restriction is removed on Nintendo DSi and 3DS systems.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023|reason=Any reference source that DSi/3DS can be playable switchable vice-versa Chinese/Non-Chinese devices/cartridges?}} Although the Nintendo DS of other regions cannot play the Chinese games, the iQue DS can play games of other regions. Also, as with Game Boy games, some games that require both players to have a [[Nintendo DS game card]] for multiplayer play will not necessarily work together if the games are from different regions (e.g. a Japanese Nintendo DS game may not work with a North American copy, even though some titles, such as ''Mario Kart DS'' are mutually compatible). With the addition of the [[Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection]], certain games can be played over the Internet with users of a different region game.

Some Wi-Fi enabled games (e.g. ''Mario Kart DS'') allow the selection of opponents by region. The options are "Regional" ("Continent" in Europe) and "Worldwide", as well as two non-location specific settings. This allows the player to limit competitors to only those opponents based in the same geographical area. This is based on the region code of the game in use.{{Citation needed|date=October 2008}}

The Nintendo DSi, however, has a region lock for DSiWare downloadable games, as well as DSi-specific cartridges. It still runs normal DS games of any region, however.

=== Media specifications ===
{{Main|Nintendo Game Card}}

Nintendo DS games use a proprietary [[solid state (electronics)|solid state]] [[mask ROM]] in their game cards.<ref name="darkfader">{{cite web|url=http://files.darkfader.net/ds/files/cartridge.txt|title=First Nintendo DS cartridge information|first=Rafael|last=Vuijk|website=Dark Fader |date=October 11, 2006|access-date=February 10, 2010|archive-date=October 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002074532/http://files.darkfader.net/ds/files/cartridge.txt|url-status=usurped}}</ref>{{self-published inline|date=March 2025}} The mask ROM chips are manufactured by Macronix and have an access time of 150&nbsp;[[nanoseconds|ns]].<ref name="gaingame">{{cite web|url=http://blog.gaingame.com/2010/01/31/nintendo-disassembly-3/|title=Nintendo: NDS Disassembly|date=January 31, 2010|publisher=GainGame's Blog|access-date=February 10, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100225161503/http://blog.gaingame.com/2010/01/31/nintendo-disassembly-3/|archive-date=February 25, 2010}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=September 2011}} Cards range from 8 to 512&nbsp;[[mebibyte|MiB]] (64&nbsp;[[mebibit|Mibit]] to 4&nbsp;[[gibibit|Gibit]]) in size (although data on the maximum capacity has not been released).<ref>''[[Ni no Kuni: Dominion of the Dark Djinn]]'' was the first DS game to use a 4-gigabit card. {{cite web |url=http://gonintendo.com/?p=94312 |website=GoNintendo |title=Level 5's press conference&nbsp;– massive info roundup (Fantasy Life announced, Ninokuni's massive DS cart, and much more!) |date=August 25, 2009 |access-date=February 13, 2013 |archive-date=November 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103170010/http://gonintendo.com/?p=94312 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cubed3.com/news/8133/|title=E3 2007 News &#124;Archaic Sealed Heat (Nintendo DS) RPG Details|first=Adam |last=Riley |work=Cubed3 |date=July 15, 2007|access-date=November 4, 2007|archive-date=September 28, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928003049/http://www.cubed3.com/news/8133/|url-status=live}}</ref> Larger cards have a 25% slower data transfer rate than more common smaller cards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.ign.com/MechAssaultDS/2006/06/16/21863/|title=MechAssault DS Developer Diary|first=Sara |last=Guinness |work=IGN |date=June 16, 2006|access-date=November 4, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070509124121/http://blogs.ign.com/MechAssaultDS/2006/06/16/21863/|archive-date=May 9, 2007}}</ref> The cards usually have a small amount of [[flash memory]] or an [[EEPROM]] to save user data such as game progress or high scores. The game cards are {{convert|35|x|33|x|3.8|mm|in|abbr=on}} (about half the width and depth of Game Boy Advance cartridges) and weigh around {{cvt|1/8|oz|g|order=flip}}.

== Hacking and homebrew ==
{{Main|Nintendo DS homebrew}}In South Korea, many video game consumers exploit illegal copies of video games, including those compatible with the DS. In 2007, over 500,000 copies of DS games were sold, while the sales of the DS hardware units was 800,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chosunonline.com/article/20071211000038|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100207215151/http://www.chosunonline.com/article/20071211000038|archive-date=February 7, 2010|title=ニンテンドーDSの違法コピーにご注意!|publisher=[[The Chosun Ilbo]]|language=ja|date=December 11, 2007|access-date=September 10, 2008}}</ref>

Another modification device called [[Action Replay]], manufactured by the company Datel, is a device which allows the user to input cheat codes that allows it to hack games, granting the player infinite [[Health points|health]], [[power-ups]], access to any part of the game, infinite in game currency, the ability to walk through walls, and various other abilities depending on the game and code used.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Datel|date=2007|title=Datel Trainer Toolkit for Nintendo DS User Manual|url=http://us.codejunkies.com/support_downloads/Trainer-Toolkit-for-Nintendo-DS-User-Manual.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007175921/http://us.codejunkies.com/support_downloads/Trainer-Toolkit-for-Nintendo-DS-User-Manual.pdf|archive-date=October 7, 2009|access-date=June 30, 2021|website=Codejunkies}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
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