Nintendo's DSi XL: Not Quite Living Large

The portable game machine's big twin screens are easier on the eyes for adult players. But the Wii does more for about the same price

By Cliff Edwards

Editor's Rating:

The Good: Large dual-screen format; improved battery life vs. DSi

The Bad: No MP3 support; competes with Nintendo's other DS models and comparably priced Wii console

The Bottom Line: A good choice for new Nintendo users, plus older and casual gamers

Reader Reviews

(Corrects the second color of Nintendo's DSi XL game machine from black to gold in the 11th paragraph.)

Since it introduced the seminal Game Boy in 1989, Nintendo has been the undisputed leader in the portable video game market. But competition from Sony's (SNE) PlayStation Portable and Apple's (AAPL) iPod Touch in this decade has forced Nintendo to pick up its pace.

Nintendo's latest mobile game device, the $190, dual-screen DSi XL, went on sale Mar. 28. The machine, which runs popular games such as those in Nintendo's Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog franchises, features twin 4.2-inch screens, each of which are roughly an inch larger than the screens on its smaller sibling, the DSi.

Nintendo is also touting the DSi XL's much-improved viewing angle compared with the the DSi, which made its debut last year. The idea is that a few players can crowd around the machine to collaborate on puzzles or other casual games. It's an interesting premise: that consumers might purchase a DSi as a personal mobile console, and use the larger-screen DSi XL more at home or in social settings.

The big flaw in this theory, though, is that Nintendo also sells its full-fledged Wii game console, capable of connecting to giant HDTVs, for around the same price. As a social gaming machine, there are more compelling options.

Simple Software

The DSi XL is still a reasonably good addition to Nintendo's portable line. Nintendo makes its software simple to use, long a hallmark of the company. The DSi XL comes preloaded with two popular Brain Age puzzle games, one devoted to math, the other to games with an artistic focus, such as drawing, photography, and voice acting. And the Photo Clock app that has been available for download off the company's DSiWare online store also is included. It overlays a digital clock onto pictures snapped with one of the handheld's two cameras.

DSi users will be familiar with the XL's layout. Its lower display is overlaid with a touchscreen that accepts input from a stylus that tucks away into a slot on the right side, or from a second, larger stylus that inconveniently has no storage spot. To the right of the screen are four lettered function buttons, and buttons labeled "start" and "select." On the left is a power button and four-way directional pad.

Under the console's hinge are two trigger buttons, a slot for game cords, and a power cable input.

The new portable offers longer battery life than the DSi. At the lowest level of screen brightness, the DSi XL delivered 15 hours of game play, vs. nine hours from the DSi. For adults with large hands, the device also feels better ergonomically than the smaller DSi.

Are the improvements enough to get current Nintendo handheld users to upgrade? It seems unlikely, given that the DSi XL shares many of the same features as the DSi. It's also heavier, at a little more than 11 oz. vs. the DSi's 7.5 oz, and harder to slip inside a pocket.

Cheap Looks, No MP3 Capability

Apple's iPod Touch and iPad tablet computer are also compelling mobile game machines. And Sony with its new PSP opts for a smaller size and no outdated card slot (games can only be downloaded via the Internet).

Part of my antipathy toward the DSi XL also has to do with its looks. I wasn't a fan of the wine-colored glossy finish on the front lid (it also comes in gold). Finger smudges show up clearly, and the device looks cheap compared with rival handheld game consoles such as Sony's glossy black PSP, Apple's iPod Touch, and earlier Nintendo handhelds.

My biggest quibble is that the DSi XL still doesn't play MP3 music files. It continues to support the newer but less popular AAC file formats for storing downloaded software. The portable also stores AAC audio files on an SD memory card.

The XL's timing also appears a bit strange. Just a few days before releasing it in the U.S., Nintendo said it plans to begin selling a 3D-enabled Nintendo DS console by March 2011. Some analysts and developers speculated that Nintendo may not have high hopes for DSi XL sales, since the pre-announcement of a follow-on device could hurt sales.

Nintendo hopes to expand its market to more adult users with the DSi XL. Software such as interactive cooking tutorials and classic book downloads could entice consumers who otherwise might purchase another device.

The DSi XL may not bring the outsize sales Nintendo is used to. But it could be a worthy addition to the DS family.

Edwards is a correspondent in Bloomberg BusinessWeek's San Francisco bureau.

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