Nintendo upgrades handheld DS with 4.2 inch screen

Nintendo has confirmed that it will be launching an upgraded version of its popular handheld DS device in November. The DS LL features dual, 4.2 inch screens and is expected to retail for ¥20,000 (US$220) in Japan.

According to PC World, screen resolution has not been increased, so games will “appear larger, but not sharper.”

The device will also be slightly larger and weigh approximately 50 percent more than earlier models. Battery life is expected to hover at around 3 hours, which exceeds the DSi’s limit by some 30 minutes.

The Nintendo DS LL will be available outside of Japan during the first quarter of 2010.

Additional specs include (via GameSpot):

  • 4.2″ screen, TFT color liquid crystal (260,000 colors)
  • Width 161.0mm
  • Length 91.4mm
  • Thickness 21.2mm
  • Stylus length: 96.0mm
  • Large stylus length: 129.3mm
  • Weight: 314g
  • DS card slot
  • SD memory card slot
  • AC adapter
  • Stereo headphone/Microphone connected terminal