Nintendo’s new DS Lite is thinner, lighter, and brighter than the original DS. It’s available in Japan as of March 2, 2006, with a U.S. launch to follow later this year.

The newer, slimmer, and lighter Nintendo DS.

The Nintendo DS Lite keeps the original’s clamshell concept while getting rid of the extreme “underbite” look that plagued the old version.

The Nintendo DS Lite’s stylus slides out of the side, instead of the top of the body. This doesn’t change anything, but at least the picture is a great reference for people with stylus placement difficulties.

The game card slot and the power port are in the same basic spots on the top of the DS Lite’s body. Based on the shape of the port, the Nintendo DS Lite looks to use the same power connector as the Game Boy Micro.

The Nintendo DS Lite includes a plastic cover for the system’s Game Boy Advance cartridge slot. Now gamers can use a piece of plastic to protect their DS’s vulnerable slot, instead of an old copy of Advance Wars.

Because of the Nintendo DS Lite’s smaller form, Game Boy Advance cartridges no longer fit flush inside the unit–they stick out just a bit.

In a rare break from its focus on gaming, Nintendo has announced that Web browser and voice-chat applications for the DS will be available later in 2006.