Nintendo 3DS XL announced: has bigger screens, better battery life

Nintendo has announced a redesign of the 3DS. Primarily, the Nintendo 3DS LL is larger than the original.

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Update: Nintendo of America has announced official release details for the US. The system is named the Nintendo 3DS XL in the US; 3DS LL is for Japan. Nintendo has announced a redesign of the 3DS. Primarily, the Nintendo 3DS XL is larger than the original. The top screen now measures 4.88 inches, while the bottom screen measures 4.18 inches. Both screens are approximately 90 percent larger than in the original 3DS. Because of the larger design of the system, it will feature better battery life than the original. However, do note that there is no second analog stick, meaning a new Circle Pad Pro must be designed for this revised system. The larger system will be available in two colors: red and blue. The XL will be available at retail on August 19th for $199, the same day as New Super Mario Bros 2. The system will also include a 4GB SD card to encourage purchases from the Nintendo eShop.

The screens are 90 percent larger than the original's

Andrew Yoon was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

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  • reply
    June 21, 2012 8:49 PM

    Andrew Yoon posted a new article, Nintendo 3DS LL announced: has bigger screens, better battery life.

    Nintendo has announced a redesign of the 3DS. Primarily, the Nintendo 3DS LL is larger than the original.

    • reply
      June 21, 2012 8:52 PM

      this was their chance to put another stick on it and they didnt.

      morons

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        June 21, 2012 8:54 PM

        Yeah, not sure I get that decision

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          June 21, 2012 9:33 PM

          Too soon I think. They don't want to scare people into thinking a system they buy will be obsolete in year due to hardware a hardware revision.

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        June 21, 2012 8:56 PM

        And I assume it won't work with the current second analog addon.

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        June 21, 2012 9:33 PM

        that is for the next version

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        June 21, 2012 9:33 PM

        Meh, only a few games used that peripheral. And that ones that did played fine without it.

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          June 21, 2012 9:34 PM

          Which is why I've already bought one. I'm not trying to play call of duty on my 3DS.

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            June 22, 2012 12:37 PM

            This. I don't really want handheld games where I'm controlling the camera.

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          June 22, 2012 5:23 AM

          Because if you design a game to use a peripheral that has a limited install base you are really limiting your available audience. But if it was included as part of the base level of the system then many more people are available to you.

          They fucked up here by not including it.

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            June 22, 2012 5:29 AM

            they didn't fuck anything up. they kept the base level of system consistent. as of the end of March, there were more than 17 million 3DSs sold. no reason to change hardware for a rarely used peripheral

      • Zek legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
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        June 22, 2012 7:56 AM

        I think they're leaving that peripheral to die. They know it sucks and they don't want to put out games that require it for original 3DS users.

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      June 21, 2012 8:58 PM

      Crap. Search failed me.

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      June 21, 2012 9:00 PM

      Switching to actual physical buttons for select/start/home is smart. The membrane buttons on the current one are annoying.

      And the styling matches the Wii U pretty closely.

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      June 21, 2012 9:17 PM

      I wouldve bought this instead of the 3ds, damnit DAMN YOU NINTENDO

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        June 21, 2012 9:23 PM

        Eh, never can tell. I actually preferred the DS Light to the XL, and it could be the same with this one.

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        June 21, 2012 9:30 PM

        Yeah, if you play your portables mostly at home, it's probably a good idea to go with the XL. I play mine quite a bit at work, though, so it's good to have a small one you can tuck in your pocket when you have to make a sandwich.

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      June 21, 2012 9:23 PM

      Wonder if they will make the screen better in high contrast areas. Bright objects against dark backgrounds ghost like crazy on the current 3DS.

      I also noticed they didn't choose to make the front of the top half black like with the 3DS. Guess they tested it further and it doesn't intefere with 3D too much?

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        June 21, 2012 10:27 PM

        Two things I haven't heard anyone else mention yet, and the ghosting is REALLY obvious. Hopefully either this version fixes that or developers start to design around it. It really freaks my eyes out when it happens. And as far as the white instead of black top edge, that never made sense to me. Now I'm tempted to cover up the black frame with a white sheet of paper to see if the 3d still works. Why wouldn't it?

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        June 22, 2012 9:30 AM

        [deleted]

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      June 21, 2012 9:48 PM

      Yay they moved the headphone plug-in! The old one being in the center of the front of the unit was really annoying.

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        June 21, 2012 10:36 PM

        I'm not sure where the headphone jack is now. Is it still on the bottom edge, but over to the left? Like, underneath the d-pad? If so, that seems even worse. I was hoping it would be on the top by the cartridge slot.

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        June 22, 2012 12:26 AM

        That's where I want it, it might even be a deal breaker for me, I'd find it extremely annoying having the cord swiping my hand when playing, very annoying.

    • reply
      June 21, 2012 10:20 PM

      [deleted]

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      June 21, 2012 10:22 PM

      [deleted]

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      June 21, 2012 10:40 PM

      And I just bought a midnight purple 3DS for my 9-year-old nephew today. Ugh! Happy birthday, kid.

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        June 21, 2012 11:54 PM

        [deleted]

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          June 21, 2012 11:56 PM

          It's new, so you're right. I probably could return it. If I see pre-orders go up for this by tomorrow, I'll do just that. Thanks!

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      June 21, 2012 11:57 PM

      I don't know why people are all going "Now I can buy a 3DS because I was waiting for the revision." It's not really a revision. There is no real difference besides the fact that it is bigger which goes against the portability of it and it's going to cost $200 which is $30 more than the regular 3DS. I'm aware that they said the battery life will be better, but I'm waiting for some comparisons to judge that. Also, when this (http://www.nyko.com/products/product-detail/?name=Power+Grip+Pro) comes out, that won't really matter anyway, to me at least (for those to lazy to click the link, it's Nyko's revision of the Circle Pad Pro but slimmer and it acts like a batter pack as well.)They aren't replacing it but are going to be selling it alongside the original 3DS. So, yea, I'll stick with my original 3DS. I can actually fit that one in my pocket. If you like it bigger with more battery power, which is always a plus, get the 3DS XL.

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      June 22, 2012 12:05 AM

      When the 3DS originally came out I was mildly interested but I knew Nintendo would release a second version that was somehow "better" than the first one. Even after the price drop I held off.

      Vita came out and looked quite impressive. Now this is Nintendo's big revision?

      I'd rather have a Vita if this is all their revision offers.

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        June 22, 2012 1:23 AM

        I've been wanting to pick up a vita, but the library isn't exciting me yet. A price drop would help, and sony knows it. But their being bastards about it.

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      June 22, 2012 1:20 AM

      I'm not getting this there's really no point.

      I'm just gonna get the Nyko power grip pro when it comes out.

      It already extends the battery life
      the headphone jack will still be towards the center
      image won't be stretched
      you get the 2nd analog stick
      it acts as a clamshell case
      it has grips on the bottom so it won't cramp your hands, something the XL will still do since it's so flat.
      and the XL in general is ugly as hell.

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      June 22, 2012 5:26 AM

      Sold!

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      June 22, 2012 5:28 AM

      As a uk resident I will not be buying this. If the lack of a second circle pad wasnt enough the fact that it doesnt come with a power adaptor is plain insulting.

      Dont care if one is £2 or £50 its just not on to sell something with a 4 hr battery life and no power lead!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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      June 22, 2012 7:52 AM

      Now it will be interesting to see if it sells - on the one hand a number of people know (knew) to wait for the inevitable revision. On the other hand, a number of people may not be interested because of their smart phones.

      I'll be getting one at some point because I'm a Nintendo whore but I'm not in a rush or anything. I guess that says something.

    • Zek legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
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      June 22, 2012 7:58 AM

      :/ Why didn't they announce this at E3? I just bought one like two weeks ago because of that.

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        June 22, 2012 8:03 AM

        did they not just recently say that they had no plans for a revision too? i seem to recall reading that not long ago. maybe i am hallucinating again

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          June 22, 2012 8:10 AM

          They all do that, of course they're going to say they're not currently planning on a revision, they always do.
          Then they deny the rumors which pretty much unofficially confirms that it's happening. Remember the 360 slim?

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          June 22, 2012 8:31 AM

          it's not exactly a revision though. they will sell the 2 side by side and one will be more expensive than the other, just like the DSi and DSi XL. the XL didn't exactly become their flagship, it's a little too big for a portable device (but man, it's the best of the regular DS units by a mile)

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        June 22, 2012 8:23 AM

        Zek I feel like you answered your own question....

        • Zek legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
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          June 22, 2012 8:32 AM

          Well I'm certainly not ever buying the revision now. I only bought the original DS too.

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        June 22, 2012 8:32 AM

        gamestop usually does pretty good trade in deals leading up to the launch. sucks but at least that's an option.

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        June 23, 2012 12:18 AM

        Just bought one 26 hours ago after seeing news for Fire Emblem on the DS. :|

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      June 22, 2012 8:35 AM

      [deleted]

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      June 22, 2012 8:36 AM

      Where was this at E3?

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      June 22, 2012 10:04 AM

      Another one? Yay...

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      June 22, 2012 3:25 PM

      But still not ergonomic.

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      June 24, 2012 1:56 AM

      I really hope you will discuss that in the next Weekend Confirmed.

      I don't understand the outcry for a second analog stick.

      Nintendo learned the hard way with the Wii motion plus that such drastic hardware revision is spliting the installed base. That means less revenue opportunity for devs.

      The 3DS sold already 18 millions copies. Who will take the rish to develop a game for 2 analog sticks when they are already 18 millions 3DS owners... With a sngle analog stick.

      That new 3DS looks sexy and can't wait to buy it.

      The Vita will wait...

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      June 24, 2012 3:50 PM

      [deleted]

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      June 25, 2012 5:30 AM

      Take my money...again.

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      June 25, 2012 7:43 AM

      i know im late, but wtf..why the heck aren't they including the second stick? That is ludicrous.

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        June 25, 2012 7:44 AM

        i mean, look at it, there is plenty of room even. wtf

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