Nintendo DS vs. GBA

Technical Specifications

• The GBA and Nintendo DS both use ARM processors; the GBA has an ARM7 processor, while the Nintendo DS has an ARM9 processor as well as a secondary ARM7 chip. The GBA has a total of 384KB of RAM, while the Nintendo DS has 4MB RAM and 256KB of Flash memory storage for system updates. The GBA has a single screen with a resolution of 240 by 160 pixels, while the Nintendo DS has two screens, each with a resolution of 256 by 192. The superior technical specifications of the Nintendo DS give it the ability to produce accelerated 3-D graphics with far greater ease than the GBA.

Touch Screen

• The Nintendo DS has a clamshell orientation. When opened, the console features one screen on each section of the console. The bottom screen is touch-sensitive, allowing you to use it as a means of controlling games by touching it with your finger or the included stylus. Some games use the touch screen as a persistent menu, while others allow you to control the game by touching your character directly. The GBA doesn't have a touch screen.

Wi-Fi

• The Nintendo DS has a built-in wireless adapter, allowing you to play multi-player games over the Internet or by connecting wirelessly to other Nintendo DS units. The Nintendo DS also includes an application called PictoChat, which allows you to send instant messages to nearby Nintendo DS owners by writing directly on the screen. The GBA does not have Wi-Fi.

Backward Compatibility

• Most Nintendo DS models -- with the exceptions of the Nintendo DSi and DSi XL -- can play GBA games via a cartridge slot on the bottom of the console. When you start the Nintendo DS with a GBA cartridge inserted, the console prompts to ask whether you want to launch a game from the GBA or DS slot. This backward compatibility allows GBA owners to upgrade their consoles without losing access to their existing games.

Nintendo 3DS

• Nintendo released DS's successor, the Nintendo 3DS, in 2011. Like the DS, the 3DS features two screens, the bottom of which is touch-sensitive. However, the top screen of the 3DS can display stereoscopic 3-D images that are viewable without glasses or any other hardware. The 3-D effect can be disabled if desired. The Nintendo 3DS can play DS games. However, it lacks a cartridge slot for GBA games.