A few weeks ago a new prototype DS lite was acquired by ProtonX with help from lasscat. The DS lite is a CPU-X4, which is currently the latest known prototype. The motherboard is almost identical to the retail CPU-01, with the exception of a two curious through holes for a DS phat microphone to be installed. It appears like the microphone hole is on CPU-X3 and may be on CPU-X2B as well, but this is the first time is had been properly documented. The shell uses unreleased colors, has the backwards Nintendo logo, and similar labeling to the CPU-03 proto submitted in FCC documents. There are also "dev" stickers slapped around the console that suggest it came from Nintendo's RED, however unlike the shell and board, these may not be genuine. Some have suggested they may have been added by a third party, as so far as we know Nintendo has never used that font on their stickers.

This was also only posted about online by this random Twitter account with 3 tweets only, adding to the suspicious nature of the stickers and console.

Just sold a DS Lite Prototype😁
Actually there are quite a lot differences between the prototype and the normal ones, I've noted them on the pictures. pic.twitter.com/SLSHCbyGnP

— Elune Bjergsen (@EluneBjergsen) May 10, 2023

Disappointingly this prototype did not have any new firmware/BIOS and was on the latest 2006/03/08 11:19 firmware. The console's SL1 terminal (firmware write protection) has been soldered shut suggesting that someone, either Nintendo or someone else down the line, has updated and overwritten any prototype firmware.

Check out the source for more information as well as full motherboard photos.
Source

 

[WhoIAm]

I would've totally sprung for that color if it was a thing. Always loved the cobalt blue GBA SP and this looks just like an updated version of that

 

[SushiKing]

Would've been a holy relic if it was an XL prototype

 

[17hitcombooo]

that color looks amazing

 

[1dkreally]

The colour looks great, I definitely would have wanted one!

Disappointingly this prototype did not have any new firmware/BIOS and was on the latest 2006/03/08 11:19 firmware. The console's SL1 terminal (firmware write protection) has been soldered shut suggesting that someone, either Nintendo or someone else down the line, has updated and overwritten any prototype firmware.

I wonder why they might have overwritten it? Would've been pretty cool to see the original firmware, if there was any.

 

[gudenau]

I dunno, for now I'm going to go with "this is a high quality fake" until more information is known. It's a bit too fishy and talented people have made high quality fake Nintendo consoles before...

 

[KarlslandOtaku]

Like others have already said that's a very nice color shell. I hope it's a real prototype but these days it can be hard to tell unfortunately.

 

[HarveyHouston]

That looks pretty cool.

 

[rvtr]

I dunno, for now I'm going to go with "this is a high quality fake" until more information is known. It's a bit too fishy and talented people have made high quality fake Nintendo consoles before...

It appears to be genuine hardware. The stickers are definitely fishy, yes, but the rest of it is definitely proto.

 

[SylverReZ]

Loved your well written article about it.

 

[Mike_77712]

Nice article, but I think this prototype is bs

 

[Something whatever]

Love the color

 

[urbanman2004]

Another win for game history preservation

 

[Jayro]

Dump! That! Firmware!

 

[rvtr]

Dump! That! Firmware!

I think you missed the last part of the post

Disappointingly this prototype did not have any new firmware/BIOS and was on the latest 2006/03/08 11:19 firmware. The console's SL1 terminal (firmware write protection) has been soldered shut suggesting that someone, either Nintendo or someone else down the line, has updated and overwritten any prototype firmware.

 

[halfashark]

It looks like it tastes like lego.

 

[rvtr]

It looks like it tastes like lego.

I would take a nibble if I owned it... this is why I don't own protos.

 

[protonx]

I can personally say that the motherboard and shell are legitimate. I have the console and disassembled it for the photos. The build quality of the shell is what you would expect from Nintendo.

As for the stickers- no idea, they were on the console when it was sold (but there is no way to confirm when they were placed on it).

 

[Ch4insAw_B0wser787]

I Think So This Is A Fake One Until We Have Some Proof. But The Color Is Cool.

 

[etuev]

I love prototypes, more should be shown off to the public, may even have prototype software on it too and help emulation efforts.