If you already own a Nintendo DS do you really need to buy a new Nintendo DS Lite? Just like new computers, cars, and digital cameras, it seems like Nintendo is always coming out with new video game consoles to replace the old ones. If you still enjoy playing video games on your old DS you probably don’t need to invest in anything new. However, if you don’t already own either hand-held game console you’ll definitely want to buy a DS Lite instead.

If you’re not a gamer it can be pretty difficult trying to keep up with the latest gadgets. What makes things even more confusing is that many people use the term “Nintendo DS” interchangeably for all the units instead of being specific. So, if you want to purchase a Nintendo DSi or a Nintendo DS Lite console online, make sure the listing is very specific so you don’t end up buying the wrong thing.

There are many subtle differences between the DS consoles and if you don’t know a lot about video games you probably wouldn’t even notice. However, the original Nintendo DS would probably appear slightly bulky when compared to the DS Lite which was released in 2006 and the DSi which came out in early 2009. The transition from the original DS to the DS Lite was quite noticeable in terms of improvements and functionality but some people say the DSi is not much of an upgrade if you already own a Nintendo DS Lite.

Yes, the DSi is newer and has a couple more features than the DS Lite but depending on your needs you might find them unnecessary or even unattractive. For instance, the new DSi has the capability to take photos and play music. In exchange for this functionality you’re going to lose some battery life. If all you like to do is play video games you’ll probably want the longer battery life instead of the ability to play music and take photos.

The DSi has less battery life than the DS Lite but for some the larger screen and brighter settings are worth it. You no longer have the ability to play Gameboy Advance games on the DSi which is a disappointment to some. However, once more games become available for download this problem could be addressed with the addition of classic Game Boy games. You can also take pictures with the DSi and manipulate them with included applications but don’t expect high resolution results. The quality of the photos taken with the camera are similar to those of cell phones.

If you already own a Nintendo DS Lite you may or may not need to make an upgrade. If you play a lot of the older Game Boy Advance games you probably won’t be happy since they won’t play on the newer unit. However, if you’d like to try something different you might enjoy some of the new features that come bundled with the DSi such as the web browser, music, and camera applications.