Which Nintendo DS Model Was the Last Manufactured?

This article identifies the final console in the original Nintendo DS family, detailing its release timeline and production end. It clarifies the distinction between the DS lineage and the subsequent 3DS series to provide a definitive answer regarding Nintendo’s handheld manufacturing history.

The Nintendo DS family underwent several iterations before production ceased. While many collectors often confuse the subsequent 3DS line with the original DS series, the final model bearing the specific Nintendo DS branding was the Nintendo DSi XL. Released as an enlarged version of the Nintendo DSi, this handheld marked the conclusion of the original DS hardware line before Nintendo shifted its full focus to the stereoscopic 3DS family.

The Nintendo DSi XL launched in late 2009 in Japan and early 2010 internationally. It featured larger screens and a stylus compared to its predecessors, the DS Lite and the standard DSi. Manufacturing for the DSi XL continued for several years, officially ending around 2013 in most regions. This cessation paved the way for the Nintendo 3DS, which launched in 2011 and eventually became the dominant handheld for the company.

It is important to distinguish between the DS and 3DS families when discussing manufacturing timelines. Although the Nintendo 3DS family is backward compatible with DS games, it is technically a separate generation of hardware. The very last handheld in the broader DS lineage, including the 3DS series, was the New Nintendo 2DS XL, which ceased production in September 2020. However, regarding the specific question of the last Nintendo DS model, the DSi XL remains the definitive final unit produced under that specific branding.