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Posted by:
David Oxford
Senior News Editor
NEWS
Nintendo Takes Everyone by Surprise, Reveals DSi LL, aka DSi XL
October 29, 2009 | 9:14 AM PST



You'll never guess what Nintendo unveiled today.

Proving the Nikkei article to be much more than mere "conjecture," the company has revealed the new deluxe-sized version of their hit portable, the Nintendo DSi LL. Or, as Official Nintendo Magazine says it will be called when it arrives in Europe next year, the Nintendo DSi XL.

For those wondering, "LL" is apparently the Japanese clothing equivalent of the Western "XL," according to Kotaku. And it seems to be a moniker well earned, as they also compare the weight of all handhelds from this generation, with the DSi XL proving to be the heaviest by 34g-- almost double that of the PSPgo.

Nintendo has posted a new website for the handheld here, which also includes a series of spec comparisons between the DSi LL, the DSi, and the DS Lite. And for the non-Japanese reader, Kotaku has it all broken down here.

The basic gist is that the DSi LL will feature screens which are 4.2 inches, be released in Japan on November 21st, and cost ¥20,000 (about $220), which is a bit more than the regular DSi's ¥18,900 (about $207). In addition, it provides a longer battery life, depending on the level of screen brightness, and requires three hours to full charge, which GoNintendo points out is the same as a DS Lite and half an hour more than the DSi.

You can see how it compares to the regular DSi in the image above, or go to Nintendo's DSi LL website above and use a sliding scale to compare the DS Lite to the LL.

Kotaku notes that the device will come in three colors for its Japanese release: Dark Brown, Wine Red, and Natural White. It comes with an extra stylus, one shaped more like a regular pen (129.3mm in length), and three DSiWare programs pre-installed, which GoNintendo labels as A Bit of Brain Training: Arts, A Bit of Brain Training: Science, and Kiyou Akira Rakuhiku Language Easier.

Kotaku also notes:

The redesign comes at the request of customers who said they wanted a larger screen, and the screen is a 93 percent increase over the DS Lite's screen size — the number of pixels is the same, however. The DSi LL is geared for those who want to use their Nintendo handheld for internet and as a music player as the larger screen is able to display letters and characters in a bigger font.


And while Nintendo of America has not yet made any statement regarding bringing the DSi XL to North America, Nintendo UK told VG247:

Nintendo today confirms that a new Nintendo DSi XL console is launching in Europe in the first quarter of 2010. The retail price of the Nintendo DSi XL is expected to be higher than that of the Nintendo DSi. Further details will be released soon.


With that said, it seems that it will only be a matter of time before it makes its way Stateside.

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November 20, 2009
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