Faster Processor Shorter Battery Life For Nintendo DSi

Breakdown of the DSi reveals that better sound and speedier processor responsible for drop in battery life.

By Kat Bailey, 11/10/2008

The Nintendo DSi has a bigger screen, a better processor and an SD card slot, but one thing the DS Lite (and the humble DS Phat) still have on their younger brother is roughly one to six hours of battery life. And now it looks like we know why.

The Japan-based Bunnie:Studios blog (via Gizmodo) decided to tear down the DSi and have a look for themselves at why exactly the DSi needs so much extra juice. As it turns out, the blame rests not with the bigger, brighter screen but the DSi's more powerful processor and accompanying speakers.

So why a better processor? Well, the extra horsepower the DSi needs for sound, video and photo manipulation has to come from somewhere. Unfortunately, it looks like the tradeoff is a few less hours of Elite Beat Agents on a long car trip. But at least "Jumpin' Jack Flash" will sound great coming out of those killer new speakers, right?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

That's just another reason why I will not be buying one of these. Not only won't it be able to run Golden Sun, but now I will be playign even less when I need it the most.

Shit happens. I must say i'm not too happy about it myself (although, i have a car lighter adapter), but then again, with DSi, i'm interested in its download service and i'm still keeping my DSL.

That is not a good thing, but hardly surprising. I am pretty happy with my DS Lite for the time being but I could easily see my wife prefering the DSi as I doubt the battery life is as big of deal for her.

I think this also happened with the psp, but I dont think is a big problem, I mean, you get a lot more things from it.

Just because it happened on the PSP doesn't mean it should happen to the DS. Also the GBA slot one of the big things the DS had, and now it's gone.

I'll take better sound and decreased battery life. Since it's rechargable I don't really see it as a problem.

I remember seeing this and being angry about it when it was announced and I'm still angry about it.

Shorter battery life and no GBA slot means no chance in Hell I'm getting the DSi.

If the DSi and DSLite had appeared on the shelves at the same time, I would, as a consumer, not even consider the DSi as an option. I hope they re-introduce the GBA BC in a future version... but I know they will not.

Well I still have a first-model DS. Two of them. Never saw the point in DS Lite, and unless they give me GB/GBA VC games on the DSi I'm not getting that either.

They would have to make it so I can download all of my GBA games for free too for me to even come close to considering buying a DSi. I too have a week one DS and I don't see why I should get any other model. Also to the people saying it's rechargabel, it's a portable system,it's meant to last a long time. I don't have power access in a friken tent.