Nintendo DSi Versus 3DS Comparison

Buy the Aqua Blue Nintendo 3DS on Amazon
Since the announcement of the Nintendo 3DS, people have been wondering what the differences between that system and the DSi and DSi XL are, so that they can make an informed decision as to whether or not they should purchase one by the time of release.

The release date for 3DS is March 25th in Europe, March 27th in North America and March 31st in Australia. Japan got the system on February 26th. The 3DS is the successor to the DSi line of systems and is a whole new portable game system that features all-new graphics capability and all-new features.

The 3DS will cost: US$249.99, £/€ – Set by individual retailers, A$349.9 at launch and comes in two colors: Blue (Aqua Blue) and Black (Cosmo Black).

Let’s start you out with an official video from Nintendo that shows the new features of the 3DS and improvements over the DSi. Watch it here:

3DS Stats versus DSi Stats

GPU
3DS: Pica200. The 3DS is comparable to 2006’s Nintendo Wii in graphical power.
DSi: Two ARM architecture CPUs; ARM9 and ARM7. 9 is clocked at 133 MHz (double the speed of previous DS systems). The original DS was comparable to 1996’s Nintendo 64 in graphical power.

Screen Size
3DS Upper Screen: Widescreen 3D LCD (800×240 or 400×240 per eye)
Upper Screen Size: 3.52″ diagonally
Lower Screen: LCD Touchscreen (320×240)
Lower Screen Size: 3.02″ diagonally
DSi Both screens at 256 × 192 pixel

Nintendo 3DS specs sheet

Detailed 3DS Statistics

Processor: Nintendo ARM
Graphics: PICA200 by Digital Media Professionals
Storage: 2 GB NAND internal flash memory
+ Support with expandable memory slot for: SD memory cards up to 2 GB and SDHC memory cards up to 32 GB!
Note: No SDXC memory cards support, because Microsoft holds the exFAT proprietary file system patent it’s formatted in.
RAM: 128 MB FCRAM, 4 MB VRAM
Dimensions: 134 mm (5.3 in) wide × 74 mm (2.9 in) deep × 21 mm (0.83 in) high
Display: Autosteroscopic 3.53 in (90 mm), 800 × 240 px (effectively 400 × 240 WQVGA per eye), 3.02 in (77 mm), 320 × 240 QVGA, 24-bit color
Colors: Approximately 16.7 million
Weight 230 grams (8.1 oz)
Cameras: 0.3 Megapixels – (2 on the outer case and 1 inside)
Wireless Function: 2.4GHz (100 feet recommended range)
Sound: Stereo speakers to the right and left of the top screen
Stylus: Telescoping stylus (3.95 inches extended)
Power: AC adapter and lithium ion battery
Charge Time: Approximately 3.5 hours
Battery Life: Approximately 3-5 hours for 3DS games (depending on screen brightness, Wi-Fi, sound volume, and 3D effect) and 5-8 hours for DS games.

Detailed DSi Statistics
Note: These stats below are for the DSi not “DSi XL”, which features slightly improved stats.

Processor: 67 MHz ARM9 and 33 MHz ARM7
Graphics: Nintendo proprietary
Storage: Internal 256 kB NAND flash memory
RAM: 4 MB SRAM
Size (closed): 2.9″ x 5.3″ x 0.8″
Weight: 8.1 ounces
Cameras: 0.3 Megapixels – (2 on the outer case and 1 inside)
Battery Life: 9-14 hours on the lowest brightness setting, 3-4 hours on the brightest (840 mAh)

New Features of the 3DS

The 3DS includes three 640×480 0.3 megapixels cameras (one inner and two outer), similar to the DSi. The two outer cameras have the extended ability to take stereoscopic 3D photos, which you can then share with friends by sending it to their 3DS via wi-fi. The 3DS is one of the first devices, and arguably the first “mass market” device to allow for stereoscopic glasses-free 3D photo-taking and sharing.

Built-in to the 3DS is a accelerometer, and a gyroscope, giving the system the ability to interact with what’s on the screen by tilting the system, just like with a iPhone. The 3DS features the same control layout as previous DS systems with one new exception, the new analog “Circle Pad” will finally make playing 3D games without using the stylus feel natural.

You can see the accelerometer and a gyroscope being used to allow Link to look around in Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D by physically moving the system while in first-person view mode as shown in this video.

The system has a touch-screen on the bottom (the top-screen is NOT a touch-screen, just a “autostereoscope” one) with R (Right) and L (Left) shoulder buttons and A, B, X and Y face buttons, D (Directional)-Pad as well as Select, Start and “Home”. As well as a Volume Slider and Headphone Jack. The Home button will allow you to launch the system “Channels” menu without exiting out of the game you are playing. There is also a “3D Depth Slider” button that allows you to turn the stereoscopic effect of the top-screen off completely, or lower the effect of the 3D. A bigger and better telescoping stylus (Extendable up to 100 mm (3.9 in) long) comes with the system as well.

There is also a built-in microphone (more games will have voice chat) and a Wireless Communications switch (allowing you to turn off all wireless communication) and an IR (Infrared, like on a TV Remote) Port, allowing you to send data directly to another 3DS system wireless and more quickly than wi-fi. Great for Pokemon battles/trades with friends in the same room as you. The system also has an SD Card Slot, like the DSi before it. Which you can store info on or view info on the Card.

This video gives you a look at each of the 3DS launch games and the AR Games.

That about wraps up the hardware extras the 3DS has over the DS(i). Aside from games, of course there’s lots more software packaged in with the 3DS compared to previous Nintendo handhelds. For more on that check out our upcoming Nintendo 3DS review.

Nintendo 3DS Comparison Conclusion:

Now that you know all the differences between the two systems, it becomes clear the Nintendo 3DS has a lot more to offer, while remaining backwards compatible with ALL Nintendo DS games. Which makes it a shoe-in to recommend the 3DS above any older DS(i) handhelds.

Amazon still has the Nintendo 3DS in stock in the Aqua Blue & Cosmo Black colors:

Nintendo 3DS Aqua Blue box Nintendo 3DS Cosmo Black box