Nintendo New 3DS XL - Black

Until I bought this, I was using an original red 3DS that I purchased in early 2012 and finally decided to upgrade this past holiday season (winter 2018). The upgrade was, I feel, worth it. The matte finish means that this system isn't a fingerprint magnet like some previous pieces of Nintendo hardware, and the grays and purples of the classic SNES design complement each other well. The super-stable 3D takes some getting used to, but it's better overall than the set 3D viewing range on older models. The processing and loading boost for some games is nice but not game-changing. The system comes without a charger, but they can be picked up for cheap if you don't already own one. It also ships with a free code for Super Mario Kart. It's a fun, nostalgic game, but one that has definitely aged compared to more modern Mario Kart entries. I have had only two software crashes on the system so far, but online research has shown that this may be the fault of the software I was playing (both crashes were when playing Bravely Second) and not the system itself. The 3DS family already has an excellent library of physical and digital games along with backwards compatibility with most Nintendo DS games. This system expands that horizon even farther by giving the player access to New 3DS exclusive titles like Xenoblade Chronicles 3D and Fire Emblem Warriors, a small handful of exclusive eshop games, and SNES titles on the Virtual Console. This system has something for almost everyone.

I get that question a lot from friends and family. The Switch is out, and it’s better than everyone could have ever hoped for from Nintendo, and the New 2DS XL is much cheaper and plays the same games. Yet here I am, with my New 3DS XL. And I LOVE this thing. Summary: The New 3DS XL’s face-tracking 3D, rich library of games, and faster processing power make it the premium 3DS system. The design on the cover is unique and cool. However, knowing the flaws the system has and what other options are available is extremely important before making this purchase. Details below. For this review, the term “older 3DS model” refers to the original 3DS, original 2DS, and original 3DS XL, and the term “newer 3DS model” refers to the New 3DS, New 3DS XL, and New 2DS XL. The real main reason I bought a New 3DS XL is my original 3DS XL started having problems; it couldn’t read game cartridges as quickly as it used to, and the volume slider started adjusting itself. I had replaced my circle pad at least twice from playing Smash, which voided my warranty (if not for having the device for so long). I still wanted to play Smash and all my other games in all their glory, though, so instead of repairing the old system, I got a New one. While it is just an upgrade in my case, the New 3DS XL has renewed my interest in the 3DS for a few reasons. Number one is processing power. Those upgrading from a newer 3DS model or buying a 3DS for the first time won’t notice a difference, but people upgrading from the older 3DS models definitely will. The device is extremely fast when loading menu options or performing simple tasks, like downloading software or updates. Of course, cartridges load a little quicker, too. Games that require more processing power like Smash or Generation 7 Pokémon are noticeably faster to start up on the newer models. If you have an older 3DS model, you’ll know that these games require the system to entirely restart when exiting the software, much like normal DS cartridges. However, with the newer 3DS models, these games just close much like other software does - they just take you back to the Home Screen, no restart required. This makes the newer 3DS much more efficient on the go. For example, when playing with friends on the school bus ride for a field trip, you can easily switch games in a matter of seconds with a newer model in comparison to a matter of minutes with an older model. Number two is the selection of games. If you’re not satisfied with the incredible library the 3DS has, all 3DS models have backwards compatibility with original DS games, too, making the 3DS’s collective library one of the most rich and diverse. While it is true that the 3DS does not have any 10/10 IGN games (and probably won’t see one in its lifetime, since Nintendo will most likely stop pushing the 3DS no later than 2019), game experiences like those found in Animal Crossing: New Leaf and Fire Emblem Awakening have yet to be replicated on the Switch at the time of writing. Number three is the face-tracking 3D, or “Super-Stable 3D,” as Nintendo calls it. The New 3DS and New 3DS XL have a second front-facing camera that tracks facial movements and adjusts the 3D to fit the angle of your point of view. You’ll know it’s activated because a little red light in the second camera will glow (it’s not glaring or bright, but it’s just enough to know it’s on). I watched video reviews of face-tracking 3D online, but I didn’t know how much I would enjoy it until I tried it out on my friend’s New 3DS XL. I have recently begun playing Mario Kart 7 again. I had the 3D almost always off when I played it on my old 3DS XL, since it was hard to keep my face straight to look at it and admire it, but on the New 3DS XL, it adjusts well, even when I have glasses on, and I have almost exclusively played it with 3D on since I transferred my save data to the new system. An advantage the New 3DS XL has over the Switch is the price. When compared to the Switch, the 3DS is obviously cheaper on the outside, but the price goes much deeper than that. For a Switch to be fun for everyone, you either need several Switches or several controllers, be they Joy-Con or Pro. The best Switch games cost around $60, maybe a little less if you hunt online or buy used games. The 3DS, on the other hand, only requires other people to have the console. Most games are $40 max, but some of the best were dropped to $20 because of the Nintendo Selects Program (this, unfortunately, does not include Smash, Mario Kart 7, or any main series Pokémon game). In my case, I had a ton of 3DS and DS games already and just needed a faster, more reliable console to continue playing them. While one might argue that the requirement that everyone needs a console to play is steep, I think having a 3DS to play with others also allows everyone who owns a system to enjoy the single-player games as well. Also, all DS models also have DS Download Play, allowing anyone with a DS to wirelessly connect and play together as long as at least one person has the game in question. Undoubtedly, the most popular game to use this feature is Mario Kart DS/Mario Kart 7: as long as one person has one of these games, everyone else can join in. A New 3DS XL can play an original DS game with an original Nintendo DS, but keep in mind that an original Nintendo DS can’t play a 3DS game at all, even through DS Download Play. Why buy this New 3DS XL over the 2DS models (2DS and New 2DS XL)? The main reason is the face-tracking 3D. It is well worth the price on games like Mario Kart 7 and Animal Crossing: New Leaf - games that utilize it well definitely have a more enriched experience, and I can no longer imagine how they’d play without it at this point. However, I will say that if 3D is not your incentive for buying any 3DS or 2DS model, then investing in a New 2DS XL is a better option: it’s cheaper, comes with a charger, and plays the same games. Why buy this specific SNES version of the New 3DS XL? While the other New 3DS XL colors might be cheaper, the New 3DS XL based on the SNES is definitely one of the cooler designs. The colors are perfectly toned, and the design is not a sticker on the cover: it is indeed plastic. There is no texture, but the device still pops. The device also does not have a metallic luster like the New Black or New Red models: it has a matte finish, which means it won’t shine in someone’s eyes when you’re playing outdoors. Plus, the SNES edition comes packed with a download code for Super Mario Kart, which, while not the same as Mario Kart 7 or 8, is still loads of fun to play. Other notes - commenting on reviewers’ issues: One debate in the reviews discusses TN and IPS screens. I have played on my friend’s New 3DS XL, which has a top IPS screen, and it does appear brighter, but the colors also look a bit too strong. 3DS software was designed with TN screens in mind, so I personally am more comfortable with the TN screens this device comes with. My system also doesn’t have any scan lines or anything on it (it just looks like my old 3DS XL screen). If you desperately need an IPS screen for some reason, the New Black model is the one that most likely has them, but Nintendo sometimes mixes and matches. The SNES edition, though, always has TN screens, so keep that in mind when purchasing. One source of negative reviews is the lack of charger. This, while a bad move on Nintendo’s part, should not dissuade you from buying this system if you want its design and functionality. Chargers are often less than $10 at this point, and third parties are coming out with 3DS-to-USB cables to let you use your portable charger with your 3DS (which, I have to say, comes in really handy on long trips without access to power, especially if you’re using StreetPass). The other main source of negative reviews is the complicated system transfer, which requires a user to take off the back panel using a screwdriver to replace the MicroSD card that the system comes with. I did end up damaging the back panel on one side, but it’s completely unnoticeable, and I didn’t remember until writing this review, weeks after I replaced the SD card. The transfer didn’t take more than half an hour for 8-16 GB, but it is still a significant portion of time you might need to sit down and monitor to ensure nothing goes wrong. My best suggestion is to buy a 32 GB Micro SD right off the bat. If you plan on downloading games, 32 GB is the maximum size the system can take naturally, and after installing it, you wouldn’t ever need to take off the back panel unless your battery needs replacement, which for me on my original 3DS XL system, has never happened. Overall, this New 3DS XL is, unexpectedly, the premium 3DS. Its face-tracking 3D, rich library of games, and faster processing power push it above and beyond all other 3DS systems. While $200 is steep when the 2DS and New 2DS XL are much more manageable in price (and the Switch is just around $100 more), understanding which model suits your needs becomes all the more important. If you want the top-of-the-line 3DS system with all the new features, this system is the one for you. However, if the price is too steep, I would drop to the New 2DS XL, and if you don’t want to be left behind with older games, I would invest in a Switch.

I am a big gamer, always have been since I started playing Final Fantasy 1 on the NES when I was a toddler and have owned the Game Cube, Nintendo 64, Game Boy, and DS Lite. However, I took a break from Nintendo during the Wii years because I was so enamored by the PlayStation and PC games that I just didn't have time. The past couple of years I have really gotten back into games and have wanted to be caught up on all of the latest, greatest things. Last year I ended up impulsively buying a Switch. I had a Mario craving that couldn't be filled alone by my Raspberry Pi...I wanted something new and different. I love the Switch a LOT, but how does it stack up to the 3DS (or 2DS)? Is it worth owning both? Or is one better than the other? I had a DS Lite from a long time ago, but I haven't used it in forever. I started playing Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp on my iPad and suddenly has a HUGE desire to play a real console Animal Crossing game - the last time was the GameCube. And I realized my only real option was to get Wild World and use it on my Lite (which really looks pitiful now, to be honest) or get a 3DS and Animal Crossing: New Leaf. The price is not so bad - a really pretty SNES edition system that comes with a classic game for under $200? And I get to play Animal Crossing. But it turns out the 3DS is much more than that. It now has a massive library of over 1,200 games and even though the system is pretty old now, they STILL are making new games for it and sales are still up. I thought maybe I was being greedy by buying this when I already own a Switch, but they are for completely different things. The Switch is still in its infancy and although the few blockbuster exclusives it has are amazing (like Zelda and Super Mario Odyssey), it has no backwards compatibility and there are not many games for it, and not many coming out in the very near future. With the 3DS you have a HUGE selection of classic games. I'm talking about the original Super Mario World and other Mario titles, all of the old Zelda games, the Zelda games on the 64 in RE-MASTERED 3D, Pokemon games, and it works with all older DS games too, so I'm able to use my DS Lite games with it. So basically, the Switch is great for new massive hits, some ports (mostly recent like Skyrim or Wolfenstein) and has also surprisingly become a hub for indie games. The 3DS has a completely different selection of games - older ports, more Mario, Pokemon and Zelda games, etc. So they are completely different. And now is a great time to buy the 3DS because the price is really good and the value is high, yet it's still a current gen system that is still making new games - you can't really go wrong with it. I'm sure the Switch will have a great future too, but it's definitely not as established yet. As far as the console itself, the SNES special edition is really beautiful and is very nostalgic to me. The battery lasts a lot longer than the Switch, and the 3D feature is interesting. I did a lot of research on whether or not I should get the 2DS XL or the 3DS XL. The 2DS was primarily thought of with children in mine (they can't break off the hinges for example and there is no 3D for eye strain), but it's certainly not only for children. A lot of people prefer the design and the price on that is really good right now too - about half of a 3DS XL. I would suggest looking up some YouTube videos and seeing which you would prefer to hold for hours on end. I have to admit, I don't use the 3D as often as I thought. If you are switching your eyes back and forth from game screen to a television screen for example (I watch and game a lot at the same time) it won't stay stable and will be kind of annoying. Overall, I am extremely happy with the 3DS XL and am proud to own both it and the Switch. The library is huge, the price is at an all-time great value, and it's still a relevant and exciting system.

I bought this as a gift for my 5 year old. I remember having a gameboy when I was about his age so I wanted to get him one especially since he loves watching people play Mario Party on Youtube. I saw this system and that the Top 100 Mario Party games were being released around the same time and I remember also having a friend with a Super Nintendo so this purchase was perfect in my mind. I have watched him play this system and I have played with him and I must say this is a pretty neat system. The 3D isn't perfect but it works in giving you a more immersive game experience. We usually leave it on 2d as we play together more often then not and the viewing angles of the 3d aren't the greatest. The game loads from a cartridge which I think is nostalgic more than anything as with todays technology I believe this is an archaic way to load and play a game. There is also a lot built into this system. It has a microphone, a stylus and really good speakers along with a really good touch screen. I really appreciate the sliders for the 3d effect and the volume as I believe if it was a scroll wheel or hidden into the touch screen it would be as responsive when I ask to have the volume turned down when it is too loud. I like the quick boot time and shut down time seems to be pretty instant which is nice to see on a game system. The only issue I have is the set up takes some time as you need to go through a bunch of steps to keep your child safe but it is worth it to lock out some features that my 5 year old isn't ready to experience. I also don't like the constant pushes of software the system seems to do. I have it connected to the wifi for system updates but it seems to push items that are not system updates. Other than those small issues I really like the system and want to see how well it stands up because up until about 3 years ago my original gameboy from the late 80's early 90's was still working.

Amazing product! Actually, I think this is what the original 3DS should have been like, particularly with regard to the super-stable 3D. And I was not disappointed in the least by the previous version. If you haven't bought a DS system yet, and this is your entry into portable gaming, I highly recommend this system. I didn't expect to be impressed when I bought the precious model 3DS XL, but I was, so much so it gave me the confidence to buy the Wii U and know I would like it. The 3DS XL was my first Nintendo system since GBA SP and GameCube more than a decade ago, and is what got me to enjoy gaming again (wish I had more time to play, but weekends are fun because I have this and the Wii U). Believe me, as someone who has the previous generation 3DS XL also, the super-stable 3D performs better than I expected, and truly is super stable. I liked how I could aim weapons, like the bow and arrow in Zelda by rotating the console to look around and aim (which makes it very easy to be quick and accurate, especially compared to using the circle pad to aim), but on the previous version of the system, I had to turn the 3D off to do it because I would see double every time I rotated to aim, which would make me miss. With the super stable 3D, you can move all around and the 3D stays 3D and stable, which means now I can aim great using the 3D and no longer need to switch it off ever. It also makes it so much more comfortable on the eyes, and doesn't cause strain over long periods like the older system sometimes did. I've seen some people say it's not worth upgrading if you have the previous generation 3DS XL, but for me, the super stable 3D is worth it. And since I have Amiibo's I used with my Wii U, I like that I can use them for my 3DS now also. With regard to the extra C-stick, it's nice, but I only have one game that supports it since only the newer games are starting to take advantage of it. On my previous 3DS XL, I bought the Circle Pad Pro for the extra stick, but I hated that it made the system too bulky to be considered truly portable. The XL barely fits in your pocket as it is, so it just wasn't worth hauling the CP Pro around for what little it did. That said, I'm glad the new generation XL has it built in. The C-stick does not work as comfortably and easily as the CP Pro did, but like I said, it barely gets used even when it's supported. It does work decently, though, and it is pressure sensitive. It's a lot like when laptops had that crappy little rubber joystick in the middle of the keyboard to control the mouse/pointer. But unlike that situation, where it was a pain to use to control a pointer, it is much more appropriate and easier to use for the purpose of controlling external camera angles (the typical purpose in games). The New 3DS also has the additional shoulder buttons like on the CP Pro. All in all, it is not a feature that alone is worth upgrading to this system from the previous generation. The only other thing there is new about it is the faster processor. The New 3DS XL does perform noticeably faster than the previous, but it's not like the previous version was slow, so it's not a major selling point with regard to upgrading. All-in-all, I'm happy about my upgrade. But I am a working adult who grew-up with Nintendo, and so I have my own money to buy things to fill my spare time. As a parent, I probably wouldn't be ready to fork out the money for my kid to upgrade from the previous 3DS XL (unless you're rich and like to spoil your kid). If they have the first 3DS version, I'd consider buying them the upgrade, but not and upgrade from the immediate predecessor. Like I said, the super-stable 3D made it worth the buy for me, and I would consider it the greatest selling point if you are considering upgrading. I bought a PSP (the predecessor to the PlayStation Vita portable console, upon which the Vita is based), and I did not enjoy playing it very much for very long. It was packed with features, but it just didn't hold my attention. That's what I worried would happen when I first bought the 3DS XL, but it was totally different. In terms of fun, the 3DS smokes the PSP/Vita to me. The Nintendo system is just way more fun to play, and I can't describe it in any other way other than I don't get bored 15 minutes later like I did with PlayStation's system.

I haven't owned a "Game boy" in years so I decided to purchase the latest and greatest of the Nintendo handheld line (outside of the Nintendo Switch of course). The attractive SNES graphics attracted me to purchase this version. It looks really cool and reminds me of holding an old school SNES controller, with a screen in the middle of course. The 3D feature is really cool, it took a little while for my eyes to get adjusted to it though. Then I decided to actually read the manual for once and observed that you can change the depth of the 3D screen to adjust to your eyes better. Perfect! I am able to play Pokemon and monster hunter again. There are also a lot of cool games you can download onto the 3DS from the marketplace, but be sure that you upgrade the Micro SD Card to a 64 GB one or mod it to hold the 128 GB SD card. The battery life is really nice. I can play Pokemon throughout the work day and by the time I get home, it is time to plug it in to the charger. I would say you can play around 5 straight hours non stop using the 3D function before the battery gives out or 7 straight hours without the 3D function.The graphics on some of the games are amazing and all of the games so far have kept me entertained. 10/10 would recommend. Please message me if you want to know additional information.

I really debated getting this because I was holding out for the smaller version, but I finally gave in (about a month or two before the small one hit stores, but oh well!). I went ahead and got the black New 3DS XL, which is now my very first XL sized system ever. My very first impression of the unit is that it's quite a bit larger than I'm used to, but that makes sense since it's an XL unit. I got used to the feel of it after a few days. However, the graphics look worse, but I'm sure that's entirely due to older DS games being stretched to fit on an XL screen. Of course, never having used an XL sized unit before, I can't say for sure what is the effect of the larger screen or not. Still, things don't look unplayably bad, just a bit pixelly and fuzzy at times. Strangely, my copy of the first Phoenix Wright game looked pretty bad, and I wasn't expecting that since it's just 2D flat anime-style graphics, and those tend to look nice even at low resolutions. Still, other games looked relatively fine. The new 3D face tracking effect does seem to work better than the older one, but this doesn't help me because I tend to get dizzy/nauseous if I use the 3D effect (I usually keep it turned off), and this one seems to effect me worse (but that might be purely due to the larger screen size). Another change to the system is some new button placements (I rather like the new position of the power button because it's easier to avoid accidentally pressing). Also, the wifi setting is now just a menu setting instead of a physical switch, which I feel neutral about. I should also note that anyone who has owned the old 3DS model might know about its notorious screen scratch problem where some units would close too tightly and scratch their own screens. This problem has been fixed for the New 3DS XL, as the unit is now molded to prevent this issue. The change I like the best, though, is the new auto-brightness feature (which no one ever talks about, strangely). This is super-handy, as I can go from playing in the dark to in a brightly lit room without having to constantly change the screen settings (it works surprisingly well – I haven't had an issue with it yet). As for other improvements, I've heard that the processor is better in this, but I haven't really experienced any faster load times (at least that I noticed). I did get a 10 hour battery life out of it, though, but I was playing mostly in the dark and it was an old DS game, so that might be the reason. Now, onto some changes that were rather negative. The new stylus is short and stubby and doesn't expand anymore, which I miss. Also, like many older models, the outside seems to attract fingerprints. Why can't they ever release nice matte versions that don't show fingerprints?! Sigh. Other than that, the placement of the SD card inside the cover (such that you have to remove the cover to access it) is kind of stupid. Overall, this seems like a great, solidly built system, but I'm not sure it's really worth it to switch over now if you already have the old 3DS. You might want to wait until there's more exclusive games out for it. If you don't have a 3DS yet and want to acquire a Nintendo handheld, then this is a great system to jump in with. I, personally though, will probably swap this XL unit out for the smaller version later – I think the smaller size suits me better.

I'll be upfront about it: the only bad thing about this product is you have to pay extra for a charge cable. I get why they do it, at least in Japan, but in America its a little silly. Imagine being a kid getting this for Christmas and you come to find out you can't even play it more than a couple of hours before you're totally done? That aside, this is a great product. This 3DS CAN play SNES games and other "virtual console" games offered on the E-Shop. You can also transfer your data from an older 3DS through several options but they are all a little time consuming. I did this with my launch aqua colored 3DS. You can also set background themes through the device (also purchasable from the e-shop). The 3DS library is a little weak, in my opinion, compared to the regular DS but what can you do. At this point in the 3DS' life there are still plenty of great games to play but the overall catalog is certainly weaker than previous Nintendo handhelds. The theme for this device, SNES, is fantastic but I would have preferred a Super Famicom paint scheme given the chance. Sadly, they do not provide you any sort of matching theme to download from the e-shop which sounds like a real missed opportunity and something they could have easily done. There are themes for SEGA consoles on the e-shop but no Nintendo ones? Very weird, very shortsided. Battery life is...fine. I find that the handheld's batteries are not up to my expectations compared to even more powerful handhelds like the Sony PSP or Vita. I know that after a day or two of being in suspended mode my handheld is either dead or almost dead. If you're looking to upgrade your regular 3DS to a 3DS XL or something that can also play SNES games on the go I highly recommend this device, for the right price.

Cette console portable est magnifique. La plus belle et la meilleure grosseur possible. Pas trop petit, pas trop gros, parfait. Beaucoup plus rapide que la 3DS de première génération ! Je la recommande fortement. (Le chargeur n'est pas inclus mais c'est moins de 15$ donc pas de soucis ici.) Stylus de taille adéquate. *Les protecteurs d'écran sont conseillés*

Entrega dentro do prazo, produto bem embalado. Foi presente para o meu filho que ficou extremamente satisfeito com o console. Para quem estiver interessado, ele sugere comprar um carregador compatível com o aparelho, que não vem junto. Meu filho faz questão de ressaltar que não é uma falha da empresa parceira e sim da Nintendo.

Para mi un abogado de 30 años que nunca había tenido un nintendo DS, lo más lejos que llegue en consolas portátiles fue el gameboy advance, que además fue perdiendo el gusto por las consolas, tenia el X-Box 360 pero la verdad lo dejé, pero no piensen otra cosa, soy muy muy gamer de toda la vida, simplemente pase de consolas a juegos de computadora donde puedo perder horas y horas de mi vida en World of Warcraft, sentía que las consolas ya no llamaban mi atención y entonces un amigo me convenció de dar una oportunidad al nintendo 3DS XL, la verdad es que si lo veo como un complemento para horas muertas o para un juego ligero que no me represente horas de vicio es una consola magnifica, los títulos con los que cuenta son muy diversos desde revivir mi infancia con los nuevos títulos de pokemon, jugar Zelda o pasar un buen rato jugando monster hunter. En especificaciones, no podría compararla con sus predecesoras ya que es la primera DS que tengo, pero si puedo decir que su procesamiento es rápido, la calidad e imagen y sonido impecables, el tamaño es óptimo, ni muy pequeño que cuesta ver la pantalla, ni demasiado grande que hace poco práctico un aparato que debe ser considerado portátil, un detalle que me sorprendió fue que no incluye cargador, elemento muy curioso en un portátil. En conclusión el aparado es increíble la variedad de títulos muy buena y el costo de los mismos no es demasiado, la potencia del mismo es buena y su tamaño óptimo, una herramienta para tener en el arsenal de todo buen gamer de corazón.

Excelente diseño me recuerda a mi infancia

Its nice, the c stick is a nice addition and the arrangement of the buttons are better then the older 3DS models. Everything also loads faster thanks to the extra power it has. The 3D actually works good and it has me using it where I wouldn't even bother with it on my 3DS XL . But is it worth the extra money, I don't think its worth the upgrade if you have a 3DS XL atleast, if you don't have one I'd say go with this model. It also seems some games benefit from the extra power like monster hunter the textures are all loaded where on normal 3ds it all looks bad.