R4i 3DS Details

The R4i 3DS used to be called the R4i SDHC - which was the first compatible DSi card for the R4 brand. Originally did not work in 1.4-compatible DSi consoles but new iteration of card is completely compatible, and promises to be a very good and inexpensive DSi option! The newest version of the R4i, named the R4i 3DS, also works with 3DS consoles and can be upgraded (check first before updating though!) to newer firmware versions via WiFi.

Compatibility: DS, DS Lite, DSi, DSi XL and 3DS
Pros: All-round, cheap card that is 3DS / DSi compatible
Drawbacks: Not as feature-rich as more advanced cards like the M3i Zero, Cyclo DS iEvolution or Supercard DSTWO.
NDS-Gear's Recommendation: A good first time cost-efficient card for 3DS / DSi users or for people who want to see if they like the homebrew scene.

Download R4i Firmware / R4i Software from NDS-Gear.

Want to read more detailed information about this adapter? Check out the NDS-Gear Review of the R4i 3DS.

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

Using R4i Cards

NDS-Gear stocks the staple R4i 3DS card, designed specifically for your Nintendo DS / Nintendo DS Lite / Nintendo DSi / Nintendo 3DS console. The R4i cards come individually pre-tested to NDS-Gear's rigorous R4 testing standards. With R4 Cards you can play homebrew games as well as backups of your existing Nintendo games on your handheld - it is no longer necessary to lug 20+ game cartridges around on holiday if you have backups on your R4i 3DS Card. The card used to be called the R4i SDHC but changed its name after the Nintendo 3DS was released.

Buy R4i

You can buy your very own R4i card, also commonly referred to as the R4 DSi, which was the original and the first R4i card on the market, from NDS-Gear. To use the R4i 3DS card, you will need to use a Micro-SD card, because the R4i does not have any internal memory. If you do not have a Micro-SD card you can buy one when ordering your R4i 3DS from us, simply select 2/4/8/16GB from the drop-down menu when you make a purchase. As well as backup and homebrew games, the Micro-SD card can also house documents such as PDFs and eBooks, as well as photos and media files.

R4i Kernel

In order for the R4i card to function, the correct R4i firmware must be installed on the card. You can download the latest stable version of the R4i software from NDS-Gear, where we test the official firmware for bugs rigorously before releasing it on our own website.

Buy Genuine R4i Cards

As the first R4i card on the market, the R4i is by far the fastest selling DS slot-1 flash cartridge, has good compatibility with all types of homebrew and Nintendo backup games.

Care should be exercised, however, when buying an R4i. Because of the fame of the R4 (and R4i) name, there are many, many fake R4i cards available on the market. Some of these fakes include the R4i Gold, R4i Ultra, and R4i TT. These cards need to be avoided at all costs, as they may work temporarily and then cease to offer support, and are also likely not upgradable if the Nintendo firmware is updated in the future. NDS-Gear only sources genuine, original cards from the official supplier to guarantee authenticity and also assure our customers that they can shop safe.