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Nintendo 3DS vs Nintendo DSi

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Nintendo3DSNintendoDSi
Overview
ReleasedFebruary 2011November 2008
Performance
TypeHandheldHandheld
CPUARM11 MPCore, 2 cores, 268 MHzNintendo custom ARM CPU
GPUDMP PICA200, 268 MHzNintendo TWL integrated graphics
Storage–256 MB
Memory134 MB–
Disc driveNoNo
CPUDual-core ARM11 MPCore at 268 MHz plus an ARM946 processor (original 3DS security research)Nintendo's custom ARM CPU and GPU, marked TWL in iFixit's exact DSi teardown; Nintendo's public specification does not identify clock speeds
GPUDMP PICA200 at 268 MHz (DMP and Copetti)Integrated in the TWL chip (iFixit)
Memory detail128 MB FCRAM plus 6 MB VRAM (original 3DS security research)–
Storage detailGames on Nintendo 3DS game cards; 2 GB SD card included256 MB of Samsung MoviNAND flash memory with an integrated MMC controller (iFixit); downloaded software runs from internal storage, with SD/SDHC cards used for backups rather than direct game launching (Ars Technica)
Storage expansionSD and SDHC cardsSD and SDHC card slot
Display and video
Built-in screen3.53″ LCD, 800 × 2403.25″ LCD, 256 × 192
Built-in screenUpper 3.53-inch 3D LCD, 800 × 240 (400 pixels per eye in 3D), 16.7 million colours; lower 3.02-inch LCD touch screen, 320 × 240Two 3.25-inch transmissive TFT colour LCDs, 256 × 192 each, approximately 260,000 colours; five brightness levels and a touch screen on the lower display
AudioStereo speakers (pseudo-surround); headphone jackBuilt-in speakers and microphone; DSi Sound plays unprotected AAC files with .m4a, .mp4 or .3gp extensions, 16–320 kbps and 32–48 kHz, and stores up to 18 recordings of up to 10 seconds each (Nintendo Japan)
Design and power
Battery life (maker's claim)Up to 5 hoursUp to 14 hours
Weight235 g214 g
Battery life detail5 Wh lithium-ion battery (CTR-003); about 3–5 hours with 3DS software and 5–8 hours with DS software; charges in about 3 hours 30 minutesTWL-003 user-replaceable battery pack; 840 mAh in iFixit's tested unit. Nintendo rates approximately 9–14 hours at lowest brightness, 8–12 at low, 6–9 at medium, 4–6 at high and 3–4 at highest; software, temperature, wireless and camera use affect runtime. Full charge approximately 2 hours 30 minutes
Power useAbout 4.1 W maximum while charging (Nintendo UK manual)Approximately 2.8 W maximum while charging (Nintendo Japan manual)
Size–137 × 74.9 × 18.9 mm when folded (width × depth × thickness); approximately 214 g includes battery and stylus
In the boxConsole, charging cradle, AC adapter, stylus, 2 GB SD card, 6 AR Games cardsDSi, AC adapter, two styluses, quick start guide, instruction manuals and support booklet (Nintendo Japan)
Connections
PortsGame card slot, SD card slot, AC adapter connector, audio jack (stereo out); charging cradle contactsNintendo DS card slot, SD card slot, AC adapter connector and stereo headphone/microphone connector
Wi-Fi and BluetoothWi-Fi IEEE 802.11b/g (2.4 GHz); infrared (Nintendo UK manual)Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11b/g (DSSS/OFDM), 2.4 GHz, nominal range approximately 10–30 m depending on surroundings (Nintendo's Japanese manual); WPA2 works for supported DSi functions, while older DS games retain their older wireless-security restrictions (Ars Technica)
ControllerBuilt-in Circle Pad, D-pad, A/B/X/Y, L/R buttons; motion sensor and gyro sensor; stylusBuilt-in D-pad, A/B/X/Y, L/R, Start and Select buttons, stylus and touch screen; two fixed-focus CMOS cameras, approximately 0.3 megapixels each (Nintendo Japan)
Backward compatibilityNintendo DS and DSi gamesNintendo DS and DSi games and installed DSiWare; no Game Boy Advance games or DS accessories requiring the GBA slot. DSi Shop purchases and free downloads ended on 31 March 2017 (Nintendo UK); launch-era reviews describe the service before closure

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