It is smaller than the current model - 133 x 73.9 x 21.5mm against 148.7 x 84.7 x 27.9. It is also lighter, at 218g against 295g. It will sell for 16,800 yen ($145), compared with the current model's price of 15,000 yen ($130).
Nintendo added that its DS broken a record in domestic sells reaching 5 millions units in less than 13 months. The company also confirmed it sold 5.7 millions units in 2005. Nintendo explained the name 'Lite' as a reference to the pure white used for the color and its very compact size and weight.
DS Lite's features an updated set of backlit LCD screens, allowing the user to select from four levels of brightness. The hinge has been redesigned and the mike, speakers and burrons have been moved slightly.
The announcement comes just ten days after the firm sought to dampen rumors, reported here, that a redesign is in the offing.
Our Japanese correspondent Christophe Kagotani writes, "For the moment it is an additional model in the DS line-up. It may replace it in the future but nothing has been said about such a thing yet."
"I have heard that it was designed to target the traditionally non gamer adult audience which is so excited with the DS in Japan: female users and adult users (35+ years old). It seems also that it is less expensive to make but that is not confirmed.
"As for the US, no details yet, but it will certainly cross the Pacific at some point. Japan will serve as a test I guess. Curiously, it is more expensive than the current model. This may prove that the Lite vesion is for an adult target and not kids. At lest for the moment."
Grr... Now I don't know if I should wait and get one of these instead of the current model...
. One thing to remember EBGames accepted the original GBA as a tradein toward most of the price of the upgraded SP model when that was released, so you could hope for a similar deal here.
