Compare Nintendo Wii vs Nintendo Wii U
In this technical comparison between the Nintendo Wii and the Nintendo Wii U, we analyze the key features to help you choose.
Choosing between these two Home Consoles models often comes down to your budget, with prices around $249.99 (at launch) and $299.99 (Basic) / $349.99 (Deluxe).
| Specifications |
Nintendo Wii |
Nintendo Wii U |
|---|---|---|
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|
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| Launch | ||
| Version | November 2016 | November 2012 |
| Performance | ||
| CPU | 729 MHz IBM PowerPC "Broadway" | 1.24 GHz Tri-Core IBM PowerPC "Espresso" |
| GPU | 243 MHz ATI "Hollywood" | 550 MHz AMD Radeon "Latte" |
| GPU Power | ~12 GFLOPS | ~352 GFLOPS |
| RAM | 88 MB Total (24 MB internal 1T-SRAM, 64 MB external GDDR3) | 2 GB DDR3 (1 GB reserved for System, 1 GB for Games) |
| Storage | 512 MB Internal NAND Flash | 8 GB (Basic) or 32 GB (Deluxe) Internal Flash |
| Expandable | SD/SDHC Card slot (up to 32 GB after System Menu 4.0) | Supports SD/SDHC cards and USB External HDDs (up to 2 TB) |
| Disc Drive | 12 cm Wii Optical Disc / 8 cm GameCube Disc | Proprietary 25 GB High-Density Optical Discs (Blu-ray based) |
| Video Output | ||
| Resolution | 480p (Progressive), 480i (Interlaced), 576i (PAL) | 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p, 480i |
| Max FPS | 60 FPS | 60 FPS |
| HDR | No | No |
| VRR | No | No |
| Ray Tracing | No | No |
| Audio | ||
| Formats | Stereo (LPCM), Dolby Pro Logic II (Surround) | Six-channel (5.1) Linear PCM via HDMI |
| Headphones | No direct jack on console or controller (3.5mm jack only available via 3rd party Wii-to-HDMI adapters) | 3.5mm jack located on the GamePad |
| Connectivity | ||
| HDMI | No (Requires AV Multi-Out to HDMI adapter) | 1x HDMI 1.4 |
| USB | 2x USB 2.0 | 4x USB 2.0 (2 front, 2 rear) |
| Ethernet | Requires USB-to-Ethernet adapter | Requires USB-to-Ethernet adapter (No built-in port) |
| Wi-Fi | Built-in 802.11 b/g | 802.11 b/g/n |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 2.0 (for connecting Wii Remotes) | Bluetooth 4.0 (primarily for Wii controllers) |
| Services | ||
| Online Multiplayer | Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection (Free; Shutdown in 2014) | Nintendo Network (Free until 2024 shutdown) |
| Cloud Saves | No | Not natively supported (mostly local) |
| Subscription | No | None (Standard online was free) |
| Remote Play | No | "Off-TV Play" (Stream games directly to the GamePad) |
| Controller | ||
| Included | Wii Remote (Wiimote) & Nunchuk | 1x Wii U GamePad (6.2-inch resistive touchscreen) |
| Features | 3-axis motion sensing, IR optical sensor (pointer), built-in speaker, rumble | Built-in Camera, Mic, NFC, Motion Control, TV Remote functionality |
| Compatibility | ||
| Backward | for all Nintendo GameCube discs, controllers, and memory cards (Model RVL-001 only) | Full native support for Wii Discs and Wii controllers |
| VR Support | No | No |
| Physical | ||
| Dimensions | 1.73" x 6.18" x 8.48" (44 x 157 x 215.4 mm) | 6.8" x 10.5" x 1.8" (172 x 268 x 46 mm) |
| Weight | 2.7 lbs (1.2 kg) | ~3.5 lbs (1.6 kg) |
| Color | White (Launch), Black, Blue, Red (Later releases) | White (Basic) or Black (Deluxe) |
| Power | ||
| Consumption | ~18W (Active), ~1.3W (Standby), ~9.6W (WiiConnect24 standby) | ~75W Max (Very efficient compared to its peers) |
| Misc | ||
| Inside the Box | Console, Wii Remote, Nunchuk, Sensor Bar, Stand, AV Cable, Power Brick, Wii Sports (included in most regions) | Console, GamePad, AC Adapters, HDMI Cable, Sensor Bar (Deluxe included stands and Nintendo Land) |
| Price | $249.99 (at launch) | $299.99 (Basic) / $349.99 (Deluxe) |
| Full Details | Wii - Full Specifications | Wii U - Full Specifications |