Nintendo Handheld Console DSi XL - Blue

I had a DSi and convinced myself that it would be a waste to get an XL, but it turns out I was wrong. The screens.. I never really gave much thought to how small the regular DSi screens are. The XL screens in comparison are massive. They are lovely and bright, and very clear.One thing I didn't like with the regular DSi was that the sound was pretty bad. The slot design of the speaker made everything sound a bit tinny. There's no issue here. The XL sounds great with no distorting or crackling.The interface is the same as with the DSi. You can scroll through the menu left and right to see what installed games/apps you have and you can connect with the Nintendo eShop via wifi. The nice thing with the DSi/DSi XL is that you can press the home button to quit back to the menu screen if you want to reset or change games, rather than having to turn the console off and on again like with the DS Lite.There are two cameras on the XL, but they're not up to much. They mostly serve as a bit of a diversion when you first get the console but with so many good DS games, I never used them past the first day to be honest.The other great thing about the XL is that although you get the regular skinny stylus, it also comes with a big pen shaped one too. I never gave much thought to how my hand used to get a bit cramped using the little stylus, but it's so comfortable using the pen one that I'll never go back now. The only downside is that it doesn't attach to the console, so you have to be careful not to lose it. The skinny stylus still slots into the unit itself though, so if the worst happens and you do lose the pen then you still have a backup.Lastly, I really like the fact the DSi and DSi XL have proper up and down buttons for the volume instead of the slider on the DS Lite. I would regularly be nudging the volume accidently on the DS Lite. No more accidental silent gaming here.The XL is solidly built and looks, and sounds, great. It's a bit heavier than the regular DSi but considering how nice the screen are it's a compromise worth making. The only downside is that probably won't fit in your pocket anymore.

I recently purchased this as my old-style DS (original) had begun to show signs of 'wear' - like a crack going through it. The large screens are a welcome sight - yes I can see the smaller one easily but (in this case) bigger is better. I like the way is flips open allowing the LEDs (for charging etc) to be shown when closed. The larger stylus (and especially the pen) are also a welcome. This is because you can grip it more naturally (and less 'hard') so that your fingers don't start going numb (after a few hours of playing!).The new software is also a welcome sight as it is much easier to use. Microphone and cameras are a novel addition although I doubt they'll replace the 3.2MP camera (aka phone) that I use. Free brain training (arts edition) is an interesting addition, along with the translation dictionary (although not much use for me).The only flaw is that the web browser is poor at best. My suggestion is do not use this to surf the web at all. It has slow loading times (which are excusable) but 9/10 times I go on it and google something the system crashes. (If this happens you have to hold the power button 5 seconds or more to reset the system). If you want to surf use your PC/Mac/lapton/tablet or even your phone before considering to use the DSi browser.

I have just used some birthday money to upgrade from my DS lite to this and I have to say I am very, very impressed! There are so many more features but the main reason I upgraded was for the screens. I was finding it really hard to play for any length of time with the smaller screens but this little (erm, well maybe not so little) gem is amazing. The screens are bright and give your DS games a new lease of life. I have not noticed any pixilation as some have reported, just massive, easy to see and play versions of all my favourite games.For anyone with a DSI, it's worth upgrading just for the screens alone in my opinion. Note that they are the only difference between last years DSI and this years XL. All other features (cams etc) are the same. For those with a Phat or Lite, it's a must buy! I will admit that it is not as portable as it's smaller cousins but that is not a problem for me as I only use my DS at home. Anyone wanting to pop this in a pocket will need BIG pockets!Overall though, for me, this has been a great decision and I am now enjoying my DS games much more than I ever have. I highly recommend buying it, you won't regret it!Edit: The above review was written the day I bought it. Since then, the hinge has worked loose so that the top screen waggles about and I have had 6 instances where my games have stopped working. After turning the console off and back on again, the game cart was not being recognised and had to be taken out and put back in several times before it would read it. This has happened with 3 different games so it's not a cart issue and they work fine on my nephew's DS lite. I'm taking it back to store to get an exchange - though I'm not sure I'll get another XL, might swap for a DSi. It's still an amazing console though despite this - there are always bugs to iron out when new hardware is released.