Slot-2 (GBA) port

Slot-2 (GBA) port

The original DS and DS Lite both carry a second cartridge slot at the bottom of the console, known as slot-2. It accepts full-size Game Boy Advance cartridges and a variety of expansion accessories. The DSi and later models dropped this slot entirely.

What it does

• Plays GBA games natively. The DS contains real GBA hardware, so original cartridges run perfectly with full sound and speed.
• Accepts GBA flashcarts for loading GBA backups and homebrew from your own dumps.
• Hosts expansion packs, such as memory expansion packs that some DS homebrew uses for extra RAM, and the rumble pak.

Native GBA vs emulation

Because slot-2 runs GBA games on genuine hardware, it is the highest-quality way to play them on a DS. By contrast, GBA emulation through a slot-1 card requires a powerful card like the SuperCard DSTwo, and even then native slot-2 hardware is more accurate.

Fit by model

On the original DS, GBA carts sit flush. On the DS Lite they protrude slightly because the slimmer shell is shorter than a GBA cartridge. Both work; the Phat just looks tidier.