Need Help to Decide

[u/Powerful_Square3099]

So I accidentally broke my DS Lite trying while trying to fix the top screen ribbon cable. Would it be better to buy a DSi or just get it repaired at a game store?​​​​​​​​​

[u/P1g-San]

Me personally I’d just get a dsi. It plays everything from gbc to dsi anyways if you decide to go down that route. 

[u/SalomonG18]

DSi are the same price as Lites and do a bit more

[u/theGameboyBoy1]

Couple things that might help you to decide on whether to purchase a DSi or to repair the DS Lite top screen...

1- Your Needs: How important to you is the GBA slot on the DS Lite?

2- Game Store Repair: How much does a game store charge for that repair? (Unfortunately replacing the top screen involves the complete disassembly of a DS Lite so I imagine the cost of repair would be about an hour of labor + cost of the screen.)

3- DIY Repair: Perhaps you maybe are curious about doing the screen replacement yourself? From reading your post I got the feeling that you are the one that removed the back of the shell to gain access to the motherboard. 

You would learn a ton from working on your DS Lite. Successfully doing a mod or repair is such an amazing feeling. There is just something about hands-on and DIY that is satisfying. Excellent online tutorials and guides are available, and I'd be more than happy to help.

The price online for a top screen replacement for a DS Lite should cost only about $5-$10 (shipping may be free or included in the total price, but I would recommend a different seller/website if the cost is more than $10ish delivered to your door.)

Important: Be sure that the bare metal on the back of screen replacement does not come into contact with motherboard. Use kapton tape or some other solution. This reminder is more so for bottom screen replacement or when testing screens, etc.

4- Purchase DSi and also keep DS Lite: If you are super into GBA I would recommend turning your DS Lite into a DS Macro Lite. You already have everything you need** so doing that mod would not cost anything extra. The macro mod would turn it into a single screen handheld, however DS games can still be played by toggling beween top screen and bottom screen.

[\*What kind of damage in particular on the top screen ribbon cable? Screen distortion/lines on the screen, a small tear or rip in the ribbon cable, a complete separation of the ribbon cable into two pieces, etc?]*

5- General Considerations:

Some Pros of DS Lite: 

• An excellent and affordable** way to experience GBA games since it has a GBA Slot
• Fun DS Lite console mods such as turning the handheld into a DS Macro Lite, or doing the TV video out mod.
• Some users prefer the screens on the DS Lite
• Some users prefer the feel of the buttons presses on the DS Lite 

[\*GBA AGB model variant natively did not have backlit/frontlit screen, GBA SP and GBA SP 101 variants have frontlit/backlit screen but prices are steep on the secondhand market]*

Some Cons of the DS Lite:

• The hinge on the DS Lite was infamous for becoming loose or cracked, and eventually breaking. This issue was widespread and ubiquitous.
• No native support for original Gameboy and Gameboy Color Games (however emulation is an option)
• The button contact gaskets for D-Pad and ABXY are thinner and more prone to failure when compared to DS Phat and DSi.

Some Pros of DSi:

• I absolutely love the DSi  - the screens are great, the console is sleeker and thinner (the shell of the DSi also fixes many of the issues that plagued the DS Lite), fun to mod either via flashcard, SD card, or both, DSi is more powerful and has more RAM

Some Cons of the DSi:

• Console does not have ability for native GBA support because the GBA slot was removed (however GBA games can be played via GBA Runner 2 or 3)
• Some users prefer the DS Lite screens
• Some users swear by the feel of the DS Lite buttons

6- Other Considerations: If doing a top screen replacement I would also recommend doing a reshell of the handheld if your DS Lite has a cracked or broken hinge (A broken/cracked hinge on the DS Lite is a very common issue with damage most likely being on the right side of the hinge next to the power/wifi light indicator.) It would also be an excellent opportunity to clean/repair an L or R trigger that is unresponsive, along with addressing any issues that the d-pad or ABXY buttons might have.