Nintendo DS

The Nintendo DS is a handheld game system released by Nintendo in 2004. The Nintendo DS is Nintendo's fourth handheld system; its predecessor is the Game Boy Advance. It features two 3-inch screens. "DS" stands for "Dual Screen". The system introduces many new features to the Nintendo handheld lineup, including a resistive touchscreen, visible operating system GUI (in the form of the main menu), stereo sound output/audio input via microphone, and wireless connection capabilities. It is also the first Nintendo handheld to support 3D polygonal graphics as opposed to only sprites. As with previous major Nintendo handhelds, the DS and Nintendo DS Lite provides backwards compatibility for Game Boy Advance games (though this does not work with the Nintendo DSi family), although only limited to single-player experiences as the Game Link Cable and Wireless Adapter support are missing. Like the Game Boy Micro, the DS and DS Lite are not backwards compatible with Game Boy and Game Boy Color games. The charger provided with the first generation DS is the same connection as the Game Boy Advance SP. In 2011, the Nintendo DS and its models were succeeded by the Nintendo 3DS.

The Nintendo DS is the first Nintendo system to have wireless functions, allowing it to link up with other DS's without any wires or add-ons. It is also Nintendo's first system to have online capabilities, which was done through their Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service before its discontinuation on May 20, 2014. Select games were compatible with the service (Mario Kart DS being the first). Both the original DS and the DS Lite do not support connection to WPA encrypted networks.

The Nintendo DS retains the, , , , and  buttons from the Game Boy Advance, as well as two added buttons:  and , meaning that Nintendo DS's have all the same buttons as Super Nintendo Entertainment Systems.

Before the official name's release, Iris was the first codename for the handheld that would be the successor of the Game Boy Advance. Later, it was called Nitro when the new device created had two screens. Originally, "DS" was short for "Developer's System".

As of March 31, 2020, the Nintendo DS and its later models sold 154.02 million units combined, making it Nintendo's best-selling video game console, the highest-selling handheld console in the world, and the second highest-selling console overall worldwide behind the.

The graphical capability of the Nintendo DS is said to be on par with the Nintendo 64, albeit with enhanced 3D modeling, but more pixelated textures due to lack of texture filtering.

Models
The original Nintendo DS received three later models, making there a total of four Nintendo DS models.

Nintendo DS Lite
The second model, the Nintendo DS Lite, was released in 2006 and contains all the features of the original Nintendo DS with some new features such as a significantly brighter screen (with four adjustment options), a lighter weight, and a smaller overall size (having the negative side effect of a regular Game Boy Advance cartridge protruding out from the bottom, similar to playing a Game Boy or Game Boy Color cartridge in the Game Boy Advance). The Nintendo DS Lite sold 89.19 million units as of 2010. It was also the final handheld system to have backwards compatibility with Game Boy Advance games.

Nintendo DSi
A third model, called the Nintendo DSi, was released in Japan in 2008 and in other regions in 2009. It is thinner, lighter, and brighter than the Nintendo DS Lite, having removed the Game Boy Advance slot. However, this means that the Nintendo DS Rumble Pak cannot be used. Two cameras, music playback functions, Wi-Fi, internet browser, larger screens, and a Wii-like channel interface were added. Additionally, the console supports WPA encrypted networks. The DSi is also able to download games from the Nintendo DSi Shop, which are then stored on an SD Card or in internal memory. The DSi's front has a camera lens, and another, smaller lens is located where the mic was positioned on the Lite, allowing for photos to be taken with the DSi.

Nintendo DSi XL
In 2009, Nintendo released the Nintendo DSi XL, which is a larger version of standard DSi units. The "XL" stands for "Extra Large."

Nintendo DS Stylus
The Nintendo DS Stylus is a pencil-like accessory that comes included with the Nintendo DS system. The instrument is often used in conjunction with the touch screen. Usually, the stylus is used to make menu selections, which the player can do by bringing the stylus in contact with their selection on the touch screen. In most games, the stylus is either required or a control option during gameplay.

On the DS, the stylus slot is located on the back, and is inserted downwards, relatively to the DS itself. On the DS Lite and DSi, however, it was relocated to the right side of the system, and is inserted from right to left, relative to the DS Lite or DSi. The stylus for the DS is noticeably thinner than the stylus for the DS Lite. A DS generally comes with two styluses, and extras can be purchased from stores or special ones from promotions.

Nintendo DS Rumble Pak
This accessory is shaped like a Game Boy Advance game pak, which it plugs into the bottom of the Nintendo DS. Because of this, it is incompatible with the Nintendo DSi and the Nintendo 3DS.

Appearances in other media
This list also includes appearances of the Nintendo DS Lite. An individual list of said model found on its respective article.

Mario franchise

 * WarioWare: Touched! - The plot revolves around Wario obtaining a gaming console resembling a Nintendo DS and using it to market new microgames. Occasionally, a Nintendo DS can be seen in the Pushing Buttons microgame.
 * Mario Kart DS - There is a battle course named Nintendo DS. Also some billboards in Mario Circuit features a picture of the original DS, like how Nintendo GameCube battle course resemble the GameCube.
 * Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time - Shroobs call Shroob UFOs by using a silver, flip-top communicator. Because the Nintendo DS has the capability to send verbal messages to friends, this may be a reference to the Nintendo DS. Additionally, Professor Elvin Gadd is shown to own a DS time radar, which he used to locate Princess Peach at the beginning of the game; he later uses the DS to operate the Hydrogush 4000.
 * Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story - The Emoglobins that run the Gauntlet and Cholesteroad are shaped like DS systems. Dark Fawful uses a device that resembles a Nintendo DS to track down the Dark Star.
 * WarioWare: Smooth Moves - a Nintendo DS appears in the microgames Brain Age, and Wario Hunting as one of the possible baits.
 * Super Paper Mario - The game includes a computer console called the Dining Specializer, which is modeled after the Nintendo DS Lite (and can also be abbreviated "DS"). There is also a two-screened handheld that resembles a Nintendo DS known as a Training Machine, which the fortune teller Merluvlee wanted to use to train her brain (which, in turn, is a reference to the Nintendo DS game, Brain Age).
 * Mario Strikers Charged - Strikers' Times are shown on the Touch Screen of a Nintendo DS Lite.
 * Mario Party DS - when the player defeats Bowser at the end of the story mode, the five Sky Crystals join and form something like a crystal Nintendo DS, unlocking Triangle Twisters.
 * Super Smash Bros. Brawl - One of the names that can appear whenever a player presses the random button when they're naming their custom stage is "DS". Also, a stage based on the PictoChat included in the Nintendo DS makes an appearance in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, complete with its very own DS emblem. Finally, in the Trophy Hoard option, a black Nintendo DS Lite appears in the background with the presents.
 * Donkey Kong Country Returns, if left idle for long enough, Donkey Kong will pull out a Nintendo DS Lite to play a game.
 * Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon - Luigi uses a device called the Dual Scream to communicate with Professor Elvin Gadd. The Dual Scream is essentially the equivalent of the Game Boy Horror that Luigi uses in Luigi's Mansion.

Trivia

 * If the DS or DS Lite is powered on on the date that the user has set as their birthday, a high pitched chime plays. This feature was removed from the Nintendo DSi.
 * The Nintendo DS is Nintendo's only handheld system to have neither a Player's Choice or Nintendo Selects label on select video games.