Customer Ratings & Reviews

I have the original 3DS already but after upgrading to a larger screened phone recently and the impact it made, I decided to grab the 3DSXL to see if the larger screen made a difference, especially with the 3D effect. I wasn't disappointed, the larger screen is better, the games are fun, nothing too deep, but I'm from that old generation that played Mario on the coin operated machines, so I would have to say I'm a bit nostalgic in my choice of here as well, are there better handheld machines out there, Yeah, are they are as easy to use? As fun? that depends on your definition of fun. In my opinion you can't go wrong with the 3DS and the larger screen does make enough of a difference to prevent buyers remorse.

The 3 d function on this is great and the extra large screen makes it easier to use, Would have liked to had the aqua-blue but was not available at this time

A fun gadget, with many games available. The 3D takes a little time to get used to, but it is well rendered.

Gi bought this for my kidsand they play with it almost every day. This has good battery life. Large screen and lots of games to choose from.

The screen is much bigger, it's so much fun, my son and I play on our 3DS, and you can tell the difference between 3DS and the 3DSL

This is perfect for my 4 yr old. It is the perfect size for his hands and I love the fact we can do regular or with 3d

My 7 year old has never really been a big video gamer, but a friend of his had a DS and he asked for one. He learned very quickly how to play it and loves it so much we had to set time limits on it. The graphics on 3DS games are very clear on this. The older games play on it, but are a little grainy. The size is perfect for him and it isn't so fragile that scared he will break it. We have not had any trouble finding accessories for it. Overall, I'm glad we bought this one for him.

Playing games on the larger screen much nicer than the standard 3DS. 3D games are displayed clearly. Sound is great.

My kid loves it takes it everywhere he goes easy to use. I would recommend it to anyone . Not bad 4 the price. Games are not bad for the price either. Screen is good size. Volume is good also. Likes the color also is blue. Better than the old ds. Has better games than the older model. Can't wait till the next one comes out.

With Nintendo's 3DS XL your getting the best gaming handheld out there. The Nintendo 3DS XL also has a bigger screen size. This was a gift for a family member but I already own one also and I just love it. Mind you I'm a huge Playstation fan and I also own a PS Vita which is great but I always come back to my 3DS. Why? More games and more fun. Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong etc.. And it plays older " less expensive" DS games also. Great fun games you and your family can enjoy.

Ever since Mario Tennis on the Virtual Boy, I've always thought 3D gaming is a gimmick. It causes headaches, it darkens the picture, and it's a power drain. That being said, this handheld is spectacular. It turns out Nintendo was decades ahead of its time. With the slider, you can turn the 3D up or down or off entirely, but you would be cheating yourself if you didn't try it every chance you get. It is incredible 3D. The battery is dismal in comparison to previous iterations, but that can easily be managed by moderating 3D usage and internet connection. Augmented Reality cards come in the box and provide a few hours of actual gaming and, paired with the pre-installed games, make it feel like you bought a fully furnished house with a finished basement. On top of that, you can download demos of countless games from classic to upcoming to indie for free. There's a built in web browser which may be lacking to many, but that's because they're forgetting how crazy awesome it is to have the internet on a Game Boy (basically). It's also a huge asset when you're stuck on a particular level - you can pause, go back to the home screen, fire up the browser, look up a walkthrough, and go back to the game without missing a beat. If you're worried it's too much for you, don't. I had my technologically challenged mother try out an AR game and she picked it up like it was nothing. I had my five year old nephew try one and it blew his mind. If you're worried about the price point, don't. The extra bit pays for itself before you even buy your first game and will continue to pay off in time. Even if you don't play games on it it still has nifty fitness tracking features, Netflix capabilities, the entire internet, and doubles as a 3D flashlight. Did I mention you can take standard AND 3D pictures and video?

Love the bigger screen and the Christmas pricing was awesome. When I first heard of the bigger size it didn't sound like much of a change. After holding one I realized I was soooo wrong. It is clearer and much larger than I thought it would be. Graphics are fantastic and the sleek design is easy to hold and play. Would reccomend to everyone. Staff was friendly and well informed. Did not have to wait in a long line either. The store had plenty in stock as well.

While I enjoyed the original DS, and 3DS, I find I need a bigger screen to really seen what's going on. The 3DS XL has great size, making games like Super Smash Bros and Lego Batman 3 easy to see, play, and enjoy, allowing you to take in all their graphics. It holds a fairly significant change, though that varies depending upon how much 3D you use. Internet connectivity speeds are fast, allowing for easy downloads of updates and other products.

After holding both the 3DS and 3DS XL, the 3DS XL just feels better. The battery life is longer and the screen size is what makes the difference. Although most people don't use the 3D feature...I don't know why....but for those who do the images of your games just pop and this allows you to enjoy more detail.

My daughters love the larger screen! Comfortable to hold, great design, easy to use. Highly recommend.

I'll just elaborate on some of the pros and cons here... PROS Games: The 3DS is compatible with both 3DS /and/ standard DS games, and there are hundreds of amazing titles between the two handhelds. Even if you don't travel much (I mostly play mine at home), there are so many unique experiences to be found on here that don't exist on the bigger consoles (XBOX, Playstation, etc.). This is great on-the-go or at home. Streetpass: This is a really neat feature that allows one 3DS to passively communicate with another 3DS within a certain range, exchanging avatars and gaming data with each other without any effort from the user. Nintendo also recently implemented a "relay" system that allows you to Streetpass with the last person who visited a Nintendo Zone (located at places like Best Buy and McD's), so it's easier to get tags without having to pass another 3DS user in real time. Apps: While this is primarily a gaming system, it has its share of fun apps, including Augmented Reality (where your real life surroundings become the background for different games); Swapnote (which lets you swap letters or drawings with friends using various stationary -- you can even add short soundbites to them); Netflix (can't have enough devices with this on it, and it works just fine on here); built-in pedometer that tracks your steps and awards you with "play coins" that can be redeemed for various in-game items, new stationary, etc. (note: you can only earn 10 coins per day, which requires 1000 steps (about 10 minutes)); activity log that keeps track of literally everything you do; and an eShop for purchasing all manner of digital games, from the latest retail games to old Nintendo classics like the original Mario Bros. or Zelda. CONS Battery Life: This was improved with the XL version, but it's still short (3-8 hours depending on things like your level of activity and the 3D setting). A non-issue for me, since I mostly play at home, but it's something to consider for those who might be traveling for long times without a power source. Touch Screen: This will get scratched, and quickly. Obviously certain games require more intense use of the stylus than others, but I highly recommend you invest in a pair of Hori screen protectors (one for the top and bottom screens) for under $10. A scratched screen doesn't seem to impair function too much, but it's grating and aesthetically unpleasant. The protectors are easy to remove and replace, and your screens will remain in pristine condition. 3D: Results will vary from person to person and game to game, but it doesn't do much for me. It's a fun gimmick, and I like to turn it on during cutscenes or 3D movies, but I rarely play games in 3D. It's been known to give some people headaches and shouldn't be used by children under 7. A 2DS is coming out at a bargain price for the holiday that might be a better option for those who don't want 3D and don't mind the new form factor, but still want access to all the great DS and 3DS software. Web Browser: I don't think this could be any worse. I have my fingers crossed that Nintendo will improve it in the future, but as of now, it's a mess. It is super handy to look up some websites like Gamefaqs for information while I'm playing a game (the browser and apps/games can run simultaneously), but you won't want to use it for general browsing; most pages aren't formatted at all or just don't load all the assets. On balance, however, this is an amazing piece of hardware that I would recommend to anyone of any age who likes great games or just wants to play around with cool technology. 5 stars.

Huge screen! Great battery life! I love using my new DS XL!!!!!!

If it wasn't for my younger brothers, I probably wouldn't have bought one but after asking around, I was convinced to get one. Now I'm not the avid gamer I once was but I still enjoy a great game. Comparing a DS and 3DS is like comparing a cheap car and a sports car. Lots of additions and enhancements and well worth it. Sure technology improves and Nintendo will come out with something better down the line but for now, the 3DS XL is worth it.

Portable with hours of entertainment. Lots of games and apps available. Works online and offline.

I bought this as an upgrade from my DS Lite, and I love it! Most of the features are pretty cool such as the larger screen, 3D, the store, wi-fi, and not to mention the games. The screen size is a welcome addition. I definitely recommend this for any gamer on the go.