Customer Ratings & Reviews

The 3D is significantly better than the original 3DS. It really does seem to at least try its best to track your movement and shift the 3D to follow your eyes. I rarely see the sudden blind spot and blurry areas I used to see on the original 3DS. Speaking of original, this screen size is just beautiful and massive compared to the smaller 3DS screen. Now I can actually see a lot more detail even though I know the image just got superimposed a bit. I have not got any games to take advantage of the new C-stick thing except for the Monster Hunter demo; it works well, as everyone has said so far: it feels like an old Thinkpad mouse nub. It moved the camera in-game fine and was decently responsive to light to harder force. The more, at least to a point, force the faster the camera moved. The auto dimming backlight for power saving was annoying but it gives you an option to turn off auto. It adjusted too often indoors for my taste, I put mine off and turned power savings on with a brightness of 4/5 and I get decent battery; much better than my aging 3DS. Overall this is a great upgrade if you have the smaller 3DS and wanted to get an 3DS XL; however, the 3D alone is probably worth the upgrade in my opinion. I used to almost always turn 3D off but now I leave it on mostly unless I have been playing for a while.

So I have had my New Red 3DS XL for a few months now and am loving it. At first I was disappointed they were not selling the non XL version, but lets be honest the bigger screen is better. The quality is pretty good, and it seems pretty sturdy to me. Getting the back plate off to replace the mircoSD was a little tricky but thanks to nintendo's useful guide it made upgrading and migrating the data a breeze. The super stable 3D seems pretty good, though since I wear glasses it does cause problems when looking at it from the angle since its harder to watch your eyes, you pretty much have to look straight forward, however without them it does a pretty amazing job. The graphics are pretty decent for a hand held but it doesn't match say my iPhone or iPad, lol. Either way its still good.

After not being able to pick one of these up when they first released I was a little bummed. But after checking out at my local Best Buy one day about two weeks ago I noticed one sitting in the cage near the front. I couldn't pass up the chance. All and all, I love what Nintendo has done with this system in the latest revision. The stable 3D is the biggest and most notable change and has made me go from someone who always kept the 3D slider in the off position on the regular 3DS XL to someone who has it on almost all the time. It's worth the upgrade from the old systems just on that fact. The amiibo support is great for Smash and Project Steam, and the c-stick makes playing games that use the Circle Pad Pro so much nicer. If you already have a 3DS XL, you may want to wait for another special edition system to come out before jumping to an upgrade. But if you love the 3DS and/or don't have one yet. I would recommend the New 3DS XL as your starting point. It's a fantastic system.

I was practically raised on Nintendo. Started with a Gameboy Color way back in 2000, graduated to a Gameboy Advance, then to a DS. As the years wore on and I moved into PC gaming, and seeing what I thought to be a fad gimmick in the 3DS, I figured my trusty silver lump of plastic would be the last handheld I'd ever own. I was never happier to be wrong. Having no experience with a normal 3DS, the 3D effect was almost eyesore inducing to start with. For newcomers like me I'd recommend starting with the 3D slider off and slowly crank it up as you become comfortable with the effect. Now that I'm accustomed to it it's actually pretty great! From what I've read about the original 3DS, the 3D was very particular in the way you had to hold the handheld to get the desired effect. With the addition of a second camera to compensate, the visual effect is good at virtually any angle. I've not yet gotten a game to utilize the new circle pad, so I can't comment on that. The biggest gripe I have with the handheld is that no charger is provided with the system, so you'll have to buy one separately. Another fantastic feature for both the New and Old 3DS is the Eshop. I'll just say it right now: this probably is the best part of the handheld. Navigating the Eshop itself can be a chore, but the fact that First Party games like Mario, Pokemon, Zelda, etc., good Third Party titles like Castlevania: Mirror of Fate, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, etc., and Indie gems like Shovel Knight, Shantae, and Mighty Switch Force can all co-exist on one machine is truly wonderful. I bought a Wii U and New 3DS simultaneously, but of the two machines right now I'm having more fun on my new handheld. The ease of just starting it up and playing right away as well as portability have always been major advantages for any handheld, and whether you consider yourself a casual or hardcore, I could recommend this handheld to anyone.

I would say its worth an upgrade for those who have a standard 3DS. What's new about this 3DS XL? It has a face tracking system when you activate the 3D effect. No longer you need to hold it in a certain distance in a certain spot to get its desired effect. It has a new CPU processor which is faster than the previous one in the old 3DS XL. It also has a little nub called a C-Stick, but it is not exactly a true analog stick as you would expect. I suggest you try one at Best Buy if they have it. Other Important notes to make: --You need a size 0 Philips screwdriver for unscrewing the backplate if you want to switch out the 4GB Micro SD card with another one that has bigger capacity. --As mentioned on the box, no AC adapter is included. --The manual switch for turning on/off the 3DS's Wi-Fi has been removed. To turn it on/or off, you have to go directly to the home screen. Tap on the icon which looks like a house with a wrench in front of it. This icon is located on the top left corner in the touchscreen. Once you're there, you can turn the Wi-Fi on/or off. You'll also have other options such as turning auto brightness on/or off.

I had an original 3ds before upgrading to the new 3ds xl. So my review is based on comparing the two: Pros: 1) the screen is the first thing you'll notice as the hugest improvement. It's like night and day different.. it's bigger, seemingly better light management, and the 3d effect is so much better 2) the 3d effect needs its own entry here. It's that much better. Beforehand, I would turn off the 3d effect once in a while because the 'sweet spot' would be hard to find. Now, it tracks your face to angle the sweet spot wherever your head moves. And it works really well. 3) the speed. It's a bit quicker than the original. Even just navigating the OS is improved. Load times in games is lower as well. 4) the audio is improved as well. The speakers are actually loud now. Before, I had to put on earbuds if I wanted to hear the game over the TV. But it's not even necessary now. 5) easier to hold. It's a bigger unit, so my sweaty dorito fingers don't slide off as much, and it's easier to hold in general. Less hand cramps during extended sessions. Cons: 1) it is a bigger system, so it's harder to put into your pocket. 2) it doesn't come with a charger. This is a non-issue for people who are upgrading (like myself) but new 3ds owners need to buy a charger separately (like $5-10 extra online) Summary: If you're upgrading from an original 3ds, it's definitely a nice upgrade and likely worth every penny. You'll probably want to replay some older games to view the glorious 3d experience... this time, as it always should have been If you're upgrading from a 3ds xl, it's less of an upgrade and you may not need to spend $200 on this system. The main upgrade to you would be the 3d enhancement and speed offerings If you're new, buy it. This is the best handheld gaming system out there.

The Nintendo DS had always been my favorite handheld system having owned the DS Lite and the DSi. When my siblings got 3DS's, I chose to wait and just borrow theirs when there was a 3DS game I wanted to play as I didn't think I needed it yet. We recently took a trip to Niagara Falls, and I decided to get my own for the 10 hour road trip especially since the new model had come out. I'm glad that I waited. While I was disappointed that only the New 3DS XL was coming out in America, I am actually pleasantly surprised with the larger screen. Persona Q and Xenoblade Chronicles look fantastic and the new face-tracking 3D is a vast improvement over the old 3D which constantly hurt my eyes. The system still has both a joystick and a D-pad in the same places while two more triggers had been added (ZL and ZR) and the game cartridge input has been moved the underside of the system along with the stylus which isn't retractable and thicker. My favorite addition has to be the c-stick which acts as a second joystick without being as big as the other one. I love this thing. It makes playing Xenoblade Chronicles a breeze as you can manually move the camera unlike previously where the back triggers often controlled the camera. It is surprisingly responsive for something that looks like a button. The system also runs faster than a normal 3DS and has more powerful hardware with a better battery life. Also, New 3DS games cannot be played on a normal 3DS, so this is technically next gen in terms of DS's. Overall a great buy and I would recommend it to anyone even if they already own a 3DS. There's nothing to complain about; this thing is awesome.

I had the original small 3DS, so upgrading from that to the larger screen, plus all the new features has been great. The head tracking works pretty well for the most part, though if I'm wearing a headset, or have bright lights behind me it can break the effect, which is a bit more unpredictable and unpleasant than on the older models (though certainly much rarer as well). The C-stick works pretty well. I grew rather proficient with track sticks as an input device on my old Dell laptop, but I saw many people struggle with the mechanism when I had other people work with my machine. The new 3DS' track stick is not like that, as it is far less sensitive, which makes it much more accessible for people not familiar with track sticks. The transfer process was a bit more difficult than I expected, but that was mainly because of my choice of an unsupported 64gb micro SDXC card. (They officially only support SD/SDHC which goes up to 32gb). I had to download EaseUS partition manager to format the card to FAT so that the device would recognize it. After that everything went much smoother. I was an early adopter of the original 3DS, and while it was slow to pick up with good games, it has had an onslaught of quality titles, and is easily one of my favorite consoles on the market. With the increased processing power, and added buttons, I have little doubt that the new 3DS will continue this trend.

This is how the 3D should have worked the first time. It's great that you don't have to hold it super still in order to enjoy the 3D. The 3D alone made it worth it for me to upgrade from my old 3DS XL. The DS boots faster and smoother. I've spent hours on it, but I don't have a game that utilizes the c-stick so I can't tell you how that works. The sound coming out of the speakers is amazingly loud. I like the new placement of the game card slot as in the old 3DS XL, the game might pop out during travel. If the system was in sleep mode, I would lose any progress. I haven't had that problem this time. Battery life is far better too. The one downside is that it doesn't come with a charging cord. If this is your first system, you'll have to buy one, but if you have others, it uses the same charger. Sorry Best Buy, but Walmart sells a 3rd party charger for $8. I read that Nintendo had included so much more upgraded hardware in the system, they had to choose whether to keep the price point at $200 or not supply the charger. I like their choice myself.

While the smaller version of the New 3DS will not be coming to North America anytime soon (if at all) the New 3DS XL is the best model that's come over yet in my opinion. I know some complain that it doesn't fit into pockets well, but I enjoy the bigger screens. The improved 3D effect is great. I hardly ever used the 3D on my older 3DS XL, but on this one I use it most of the time I play. The device tracks your face so you can move it around more without disrupting the "sweet spot" where the 3D effect works best. The new buttons also feel good and the "nub" is nicely responsive. Note: there is only one game so far (and it hasn't even been released yet) that absolutely needs to have this system to work. All other 3DS games will work on the older models, so don't feel like you HAVE to upgrade to this model to play future 3DS games. There are a few games that will take advantage of the extra buttons on this newer model though, like Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D. So, you know, if you can upgrade I think it's worth it. IMPORTANT: the cord to charge this device does not come in the box! It's unfortunate, but I guess Nintendo figured most people who would buy this model already had a power cord from an older model (they use the same kind). Anyway, if you don't have one, you can buy one at electronic stores or online.

The only bad part about the *New* Nintendo 3DS is the name. (What's the name of the new 3DS system? The New 3DS. I know it's new, but what is it called?.....you know what I mean) But anyway, this is an absolute must for Nintendo DS/3DS fans. The biggest improvment here over the original 3DS (XL) is the obvious improvement to the 3D. It's no longer an annoying endeavor to keep that *sweet spot* steady for 3D. You can easily move your head around a bit and still get spot-on 3D. The next best thing here is the added C-stick for enhanced camera and other controls. It is making my trek through Monster Hunter 4 absolutely wonderful - couldn't imagine even playing this on the "non-new" 3DS. And, of course, we have a faster processor in this one and will handle games in the future that are specific to the *new* 3DS. Xenoblade Chronicles will be one of these and I can't wait (look for this game's release on April 10 - already pre-ordered my copy from Best Buy). Oh, and I'm over 35 years old and this is one of my favorite toys. I'm a Nintendo nerd at heart. I couldn't let my son be the only one that had one of these slick systems. ;-) HAPPY 3DS gaming. Once again, Nintendo delivers another handheld beauty.

Improved 3DS model with faster processor, better 3D, improved controls, and a built-in NFC panel for Amiibo support. The processor upgrade isn't terribly useful yet but it'll eventually allow for New 3DS-specific games that require more power than the old unit. The stereospcopic front-facing camera can now track your eyes, providing for a 3D picture that doesn't fade out if the unit is tilted or you move your head - not perfect though as if you close an eye for a second or scratch your face it can cause the 3D to flicker as it loses track of your eye. The controls are now laid out in the same fashion as a Wii U gamepad, which will allow for greater cross-compataibility between games like Smash Bros. The new L2 and R2 buttons are a welcome addition but the right hand C stick seems stiff and doesn't repond as easily as either left hand control. It may be relegated to secondary purposes like rotating the camera angle, as in Majora's Mask 3D. Overall well worth the $25 price over the previous model.

Let's begin with the fact that the 3DSXL is amazing. I'm not much for portable systems, preferring to play games on my phone when on the go. But, this system, which was a present for my son for a car trip to keep him busy, has captured my attention when I have the chance. Nice, big screen. Simply cool 3D without the need for glasses. Solid, sturdy construction. Great catalog backed by Nintendo exclusives. The only reason I'd say to go with the 2DSXL over 3DSXL is if, like my wife, you suffer from a vision issue that prevents seeing the 3D itself. (Keep in mind, the 3DSXL has a slider that allows you to reduce the 3D effect all the way to a flat 2D, so no need to worry if it's a shared device between family that have different "vision requirements". So, if you're torn based solely on budget, save your money and do without until you can invest in the 3D- it really is THAT cool. So... WHY, with all my positivity, is there a 4 star rating? This is important, so if you choose to purchase a 3DSXL, be prepared. There is NO charging cable included. That's right, should you not purchase one with your newly acquired 3DSXL, and you unpack it to a low or zero charge, you've effectively bought a paperweight until you can head back to the store and purchase one. I'm of the "big love for tech," sort, and cables I can salvage from almost anything outdated over the years generally remain in one of several storage boxes, and amongst the hundred old cables in them, not a single one was compatible. So, after opening the 3DSXL at night, having next to no charge, no compatible cable, it required returning the next day and another $15 in order to actually play it. This is ridiculous, but made more unforgivable by the fact that there's no notice on the box that the charging cable is not included. Due to no highlighting of this fact, it took some time for it to dawn on me that it wasn't that my system was somehow missing the cable (despite being sealed). It took a second reading of the setup to realize that in the charging section, where it showed the connection, that it had (cable sold separately) listed. There may be plenty of reasons Nintendo chose not to include it, which, in and of itself isn't necessarily a bad thing... Although I simply cannot recall purchasing any portable electronics over the years that didn't include a way to actually charge it so it could... you know... WORK. No, it's the fact that this isn't highlighted BOLDLY upon the box so people can make their entire purchase in one visit.

I never used the 3d on the old 3ds. It was difficult to keep in the sweet spot. Now I use it most of the time. C stick although small is very responsive. Only downside is NO CHARGER so make sure to pick one up if you don't already have one!

I love my 3DS. I decided to upgrade to the new 3DS XL for the larger screen and adaptive 3D. The adaptive 3D is a noticeable improvement when I'm using the game in the expected way - sitting with it in my lap, in reasonable lighting, even in a jostling environment as a passenger in a car. Haven't tried it out yet on a subway, but on the whole I'm very happy with it. I'd be giving it five starts, except... The $199.99 package does not include an AC adapter or power cord OF ANY KIND. This seems ridiculous - a USB cable at the least would have easily fit in the box and not significantly impacted the price. It does use the same adapter as all the modern DSes - so your DSi, 3DS, and older 3DS XL adapters will work, for example. But if you don't already own a compatible DS, or you want to avoid having to time-share one adapter among DSes, you will need to buy some way to power the thing in additional to the unit itself. Very, very annoying - and it could have been stated in MUCH larger type on the box that no sort of powering option AT ALL is included. There is only a statement in small type in the middle of all the text on the back of the box that no AC adapter is included. There is no indication that the unit is unusable UNLESS you purchase or already own some sort of additional cable or adapter. So yeah, I'd recommend it to someone who was contemplating DSes, but I would also warn them about the missing critical piece.

This is by far way better than the original 3ds. It's much better to play with the larger screen. The c stick makes turning to look super easy. The only downside is that you have to buy a charger but I knew that so not an issue.

Ok so nintendo finally stepped up their game. This is by far the best handheld ever. I have this and the vita, and this finally has the controllers alot of us gamers have asked for. Two L and R buttons and a second stick. The c stick is a lot stiffer then I thought it would be and it's not quite as good as the vitas l, but it's not needed to be. The game selection on this is so much better then any other system. I had the original 3ds and didn't think the original xl was worth the upgrade but this definitely is. The 3d is AMAZING. 3d without the glasses is an awesome concept and it's perfect on this device. So much better then before. And the processing speed is noticeably faster. This is a huge upgrade that everyone should get. This is my number one game system.

I was a little hesitant to get a new 3DS. I had a hard time choosing between 3DS and PS vita. But it turned out I made the right choice. The new 3DS is awesome. As someone who grew up with Nintendo, it's a nice feeling to be able to play the newest versions of Nintendo's updated classics with beautiful graphics. Also, it's nice to carry this around and play it whenever you want. The overall 3D aspect of it is rather funky, but it doesn't really take away from anything, because you can turn the 3D on and off very easily. Also, it's about as stupid as anything can get that the charger doesn't come with it, and you actually have to either order it separately or get this bundle. But I guess it just wouldn't be Nintendo if there wasn't some kind of terrible product marketing!

Overall, I am impressed with the updated 3DS XL. I found that the new placement of volume control and the stylus to be the things I kept fumbling for with the new 3DS XL. The cartridges now go in at the front (nice--you can readily see that you have one on board at a glance.) It is really silly not to include a charger with this system. If you have a 3 DS already, that charger works. But at the price, it should be included. Mine came with a cover (a special at the time), so I felt better. I like the red color-- it is a metallic--nicer than in photos. Start, Select, and Home buttons are also better appointed I believe. My system has good sound, and the 3-D is phenomenal. It is well-done.

Today we see a lot of mobile devices in the market, most of them with casual video games and a few 'hard core' games. I also have an iPhone so... why another portable device?. Well, I don't always carry the New Nintendo 3DS XL with me but when I do it's because of the controls, the physical controls. A touch screen works great for many things, specially a high quality touch screen like the one used in the iPhone but for many games you'll get the best experience by using a game controller. Maybe it's because I grew up playing video games using controllers pads, joystick, mouse and keyboards, all of them physical controllers but could be that a touch screen is just not the best experience for all cases. I like my iPhone as a mobile computer with a phone app but I like my New Nintendo 3DS XL as a mobile/portable video game console. New Nintendo 3DS XL is great, I didn't have a previous portable Nintendo console so I cannot compare with previous versions. This version works great, 3D looks great in games like Majora's Mask, Super Mario 3D Land and Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate. The controls are great and the touch screen is very responsive. It's well built, doesn't feel cheap and the black one looks nice. Buttons are well located and sound without headphones is good enough. Overall the hardware is very good and games look great. The only thing I don't like is the weight. After several years using the iPhone as a mobile device, the New Nintendo 3DS XL feels heavy. After an hour or less of playing I feel I have to rest my hands on a table while playing, otherwise I start to feel tired. Once I have my hands resting on table while playing I can play for several hours. There are many good games that can keep you entertained for hours, so far I've only played Majora's Mask, Monster Hunter and Super Mario 3D Land, all of them outstanding video games. You can't go wrong buying any or all of them. My conclusion is that even when the console offers things like a browser, it won't replace a mobile computer like an iPhone but it does a great job as a portable video game console; it doesn't feel like it pretends to be something else or something more, that's why I like it so much. This device is to play video games and you will have a lot of fun playing them on this console.