Nintendo DSi

The basics

The Nintendo DSi is the third generation of Nintendo’s handheld gaming console. Now sporting a bigger 3.25-inch dual touchscreen, it has a bag of new tricks, including two cameras, each capable of snapping 0.3-megapixel images, Wi-Fi web browsing and over-the-air downloads.

The good

The online shop has more potential than Charlotte Church before she discovered beer, letting you download apps just like an iPhone. The biggest improvement isn't anything new fangled though: the Nintendo DSi is just much more comfortable to hold, vital when you're likely to spend more time playing it than sleeping most days. Or breathing.

The bad

Yeah, that second touchscreen Nintendo promised? S'not there, so don't expect any innovation in games, or the gimmicky camera to make up for it. The thin shell (19mm thick when closed) meanwhile comes at a price: the battery life takes a hit and the Game Boy Advance slot has gone the way of the Sega Game Gear.

The bottom line

If you don't already own a Nintendo DS or DS Lite, buying a Nintendo DSi will guarantee you more hours of wasteful bliss than a lorry made of maltesers. But some shonky cameras and a few millimetres shaved off aren't reason enough for an upgrade. The online shop could change that, but not yet.