UPDATE 2/18: Nintendo Announces DSi Release Date!

White Nintendo DSi Photograph of Right Side

Nintendo DSi is now rumored to launch in April this year for $179.99. According to IGN’s sources close to Nintendo the exact release date for the US DS-i is April 4, 2009. The price is the same as the Japanese version and $50 more than the currently available Nintendo DS Lite.

Nintendo is considering the Nintendo DS-i an alternative to the Nintendo DS Lite and will not be replacing the DS Lite with the DSi for the time being at least.

As you no doubt already know, the Nintendo DS-i was announced in October, 2008 and features two 640×480 cameras, larger screens (same resolution) built in SD card support for music playback and other purposes, and lacks a Game Boy Advance cartridge slot.