M3i Zero Details

The M3i Zero is the card that many early DSi / 3DS gamers most anticipated. The reason for this is simple - the M3 team historically make the most sturdy cards with the best software, usually at an higher cost but worth it. It is the oldest of the "established advanced cards" and has a unique ability to update itself via a separate USB cable, hoping to make it more future-proof.

Compatibility: DS, DS Lite, DSi, DSi XL and 3DS
Pros: A solid DSi / 3DS card with a unique upgrading cable to try and make it future-proof. Software part-designed by chief designer of Moonshell!
Drawbacks: Update mechanism uses external cable, a little more complex than other cards but may be more future-proof as a result.
NDS-Gear's Recommendation: The M3i Zero is the oldest "advanced 3DS" card on the market (more established than the DSTWO / Cyclo iDS), is rock solid, and the interface is silky smooth. Recommended for advanced users who have used homebrew for a while and require a feature-rich, unique card.

Download M3i Zero Firmware / M3i Zero Software from NDS-Gear.

Want to read more detailed information about this adapter? Check out the NDS-Gear Review of the M3i Zero.

Still not sure which card to buy? Check out our guide to Choosing a DS Card.

Buy M3i Zero

The M3i Zero is one of the later DSi compatible cards to come to market, which later became 3DS compatible as well. As far as card construction is concerned, it is quite similar to the EZFlash Vi in build. Smartly, the Micro SD card slot is located on the side of the M3i Zero card rather than on the top. This means that it is impossible for a Micro-SD card to accidentally fall out of the M3i Zero card during play, and therefore the card and the memory are both less likely to become dislodged in general (whether it be in transit or otherwise). The mechanical construction and dimensional control on the M3i Zero is exceptional, and is made of extremely sturdy plastic that feels slightly denser than most other DSi compatible Nintendo DS flash carts.

M3i Zero Software / M3i Zero Firmware

The M3i Zero card supports Micro-SD TransFlash and Micro-SDHC cards up to a maximum of 32 gigabytes of size. On average, each gigabyte of data can store about eight games, which means more than two hundred and fifty games can be stored on a single card. Striking a balance between price and memory size usually means a 4GB of an 8GB Micro-SDHC card although 16GB cards can be used at increasingly reasonable prices due to the price of memory gradually falling worldwide. There is usually more than enough room to store many MP3s as well as a movie or two, with some room left over for a user's favourite games. You can buy a Micro SD card with your order for an M3i Zero, in sizes from 2GB through to 16GB, from NDS-Gear.

Flashing / Updating the M3i Zero Card

The firmware / software for the M3i Zero is what makes it stand out the most amongst DS cards. It is a well known fact in homebrew community circles that the firmware for the M3i Zero was co-written by the creator of the popular Moonshell multimedia software for Nintendo DS cards. The M3i firmware is one of the most well written and comprehensive pieces of software available for any DS or DSi card, and was the first in the world to support smooth scrolling when using the firmware menu.

Kernel updates on the M3i Zero have a novel approach to them: a cable that plugs directly into the M3i Zero from a USB port is supplied with the box. The user can put the upgraded firmware on a Micro SD card then plug the M3i Zero card in to 'flash' it, which will make a red light on the back of the M3i Zero flash for about thirty seconds. When flashing, leave the cable in until the flashing stops, and do not interrupt it in-between. A good online shop such as NDS-Gear will have already pre-flashed the M3i Zero so that the end user doesn't have to do this, though.