Nintendo DS Lite

When Nintendo and Sony launched their new handhelds last year, we remarked that the PSP looked like a Ferrari revving its engine next to the quaint Ford Focus that was the DS. Though it still lacks the great multimedia features of the PSP, the redesigned DS Lite makes up a lot of ground on the aesthetic front, elevating itself to the luxury class of an Audi without costing a bundle.

 

Nearly every aspect of the redesign is a success. Taking a page out of Apple's playbook, Nintendo transformed the DS Lite into a sleek and stylish pocketable device less than 66 percent the size of the original with a cool Polar white finish, rounded edges, and a raised DS logo.

 

Nintendo also repositioned many of the controls, moving the Power button to the right side panel, the mic to the center of the device for better sound capture, and the Start and Select buttons beneath the A, B, Y, and X buttons to the right of the touchscreen. Our only complaint is that the Start and Select buttons are too small to be placed so close together—you can accidentally push down both buttons with a simple thumb press.

 

The slot for Game Boy Advance games remains on the underbelly of the device, but Nintendo has smartly included a removable cover to keep the port clean and hidden when it's not being used. The DS game slot has stayed in place at the rear of the device. The stylus also received a much-needed upgrade. Nintendo has added to both its length and girth, which will help gamers with larger hands. 

 

The standout feature of the DS Lite is undoubtedly its new, brighter screens. Nintendo has amped up the brightness by 20 percent, which gives the displays enough juice to stay visible outdoors in direct sunlight. The vibrant colors of the New Super Mario Bros. really popped, and you can adjust the brightness level to one of four settings if you want to preserve battery life.

 

Viewed in contrast with its relative handhelds and consoles, the DS Lite is the best designed device Nintendo has ever made. Combined with the fantastic DS game library, which now features over 120 titles, the new-look DS has helped Nintendo solidify its position as a juggernaut in the handheld gaming market.