3DS XL announced: changes, colours, price revealed

by Nathan Misa Featured 39 Comments 32 Votes 2156 Views 22/06/2012 Back to News

Despite Miyamoto recently insisting a focus on a future 3DS successor rather than a model revision, Nintendo has announced and unveiled the 3DS XL in its Nintendo Direct broadcast.

At 4.88 inches (12.4 cm) the 3DS XL screen is 90 per cent larger than the current 3DS model, but there will be no resolution improvement. The super-sized version will be called the Nintendo 3DS LL in Japan and the Nintendo 3DS XL in the West.

The new 3DS's battery will last 3.5 to 6.5 hours while playing 3DS games, a slight boost over the standard 3DS's battery capabilities. The battery will last 6 to 10 hours for DS games, also slightly longer than the standard version. The 3DS battery will take approximately three hours and 30 minutes to charge.

The 3DS XL will work with current 3DS adapter plugs. The North American release will feature an adapter bundled while Japan, Europe and Australia oddly won't get one bundled. The XL will, however, come with a 4GB SD card.

The 3DS XL will come in a variety of colors: for the Australian release, we will get Blue x Black, Red x Black and Silver x Black. The 3DS XL will be out in Australia on August 23rd, with a suggested retail price of $249.95. Have a look at the Nintendo Direct presentation to see the reveal in full.

Source: Nintendo

By Nathan Misa- Writer Bio

Link to us http://ds.mmgn.com/News/3DS-XL-announced-changes-colours-price-r

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3DS XL announced: changes, colours, price revealed Comments

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Kudos: 19,884

Kayel

Nice, getting this when Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance comes out. =D

22/06/2012

Formerly known as PS3K

Kudos: 4,568

1wiierdguy

I like that it's a matte finish(no more fingerprints). I also like that the buttons across the bottom screen look improved. I'd like to see what games look like on the larger screen. Still I don't think there is enough improvement to warrant an upgrade for existing 3ds owners.

22/06/2012

The basement in Luigi's mansion.

Kudos: 8,416

SilentOne

Fml.. -.-
This sucks for 3ds owners like me -.-
cant trade in our original 3ds consoles because it has all our data/downloads/photos etc.. on it -.-
and the SD card dosent save much.

22/06/2012

NSW, Sydney, Wakeley.

Kudos: 7,171

ND88ct

Wonder what the 2nd control stick adapter will look like :S

22/06/2012

In a that general direction

Kudos: 33,869

Blob

DerekRyan said: Fml.. -.-
This sucks for 3ds owners like me -.-
cant trade in our original 3ds consoles because it has all our data/downloads/photos etc.. on it -.-
and the SD card dosent save much.

Do a system transfer.

22/06/2012

Your mums bed

Kudos: 4,568

1wiierdguy

DerekRyan said: Fml.. -.-
This sucks for 3ds owners like me -.-
cant trade in our original 3ds consoles because it has all our data/downloads/photos etc.. on it -.-
and the SD card dosent save much.

Well no you can't trade first. But you could buy an XL, do a system transfer so all your saves and purchases swap over to your new system, then sell the original system(or trade it towards games).

22/06/2012

The basement in Luigi's mansion.

Kudos: 73,593

Tsunamo

PS3K said: Nice, getting this when Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance comes out.

Hate to burst your bubble, but it's not coming out until New Super Mario Bros. 2 releases.

22/06/2012

[Perth, W.A | MMGN]

Kudos: 51,772

CheeryDog

I was waiting for this, now I might decide to get one, still not entirely sure if I want 3D effects though (I don't think I do, but I want to play some of the games on the system)

22/06/2012

South Australia

Kudos: 73,682

winga26

Title says price but article says no priced confirmed [Rage]

22/06/2012

GET YOUR BLOOD PUMPING - GO SWANS!

Kudos: 206,897

M@ndyz

i knew this would happen.. [Facepalm] i buy *_*

22/06/2012

Add me on steam........... bootie [mmgn] Or raptr.......... bootie101 Or wiiu. actually don't add me on wiiu im never on it :p

Kudos: 4,568

1wiierdguy

winga26 said: Title says price but article says no priced confirmed

Well the American price was comfirmed at $199. The current model is $169 there and $250 here. So I guess the new model will go for around $300 here.

22/06/2012

The basement in Luigi's mansion.

Kudos: 73,593

Tsunamo

CheeryDog said: I was waiting for this, now I might decide to get one, still not entirely sure if I want 3D effects though (I don't think I do, but I want to play some of the games on the system)

Well there's the option of just leaving the 3D off if the 3D effects don't take your fancy.

22/06/2012

[Perth, W.A | MMGN]

Kudos: 28,579

MicDaMan

Why leave the second thumb stick off ......WHY [Rage]

Surely it could have gone below the ABXY buttons [Facepalm]

22/06/2012

If I agreed with you we'd both be wrong.

Kudos: 33,869

Blob

We're getting it Aug 23 for $249.95 in silver, blue and red.
gamesites.nintendo.com.au/...

22/06/2012

Your mums bed

Kudos: 26,503

OllyEbbz

MicDaMan said: Why leave the second thumb stick off ......WHY
Surely it could have gone below the ABXY buttons

Or above them if they were pushed down a bit, i quite agree. Definitely getting one though the originals seem so tiny after playing the Vita.
Will this mean a new circle pad pro attachment? what about people who bought the original?

22/06/2012

Lives in the United Kingdom.

Kudos: 152,990

Matteh

FFS..I knew they'd release a better looking version. The normal 3DS is all weirdly squared and annoyingly ugly. This looks smooth all over. >.>

22/06/2012

Kudos: 35,515

Tyrus

Blob said: We're getting it Aug 23 for $249.95 in silver, blue and red.
gamesites.nintendo.com.au/...

Thanks for that Blob. The article has been updated with the pricing and Australian-specific release colours.

22/06/2012

Senior Games Writer and Reviewer for MMGN and GamesFix. Twitter: @nathmisa.

Kudos: 7,431

greenbob

Another year, another Nintendo portable system. I already have a 3DS. I'll give this a miss and wait 6 months for the 3ds xl ultra slim version with 10% more battery power

23/06/2012

Diff room to my wii. I can't wii and chat at same time.

Kudos: 21,075

gargoyles

pretty good they are releasing this, might even get one. Any news if it will be region free or not? if it is, i will definitely get this, so i can get some Japanese games.

23/06/2012

It's none of your business: ლ(╹◡╹ლ)

Kudos: 24,407

Marge

Nice price and nice look. Might get the red one :). Still not the most exciting new iteration they could do but in itself it's pretty good.

23/06/2012

Your Mother's Closet

Kudos: 197,364

sjt333

oh man start/select/home are actually buttons now

23/06/2012

To get shot and not do much else, turn to page 58 "I've always liked cowabunga."

Kudos: 22,016

winhhh

Ugly as fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
Nty.

23/06/2012

Brisbane, Queensland

Kudos: 14,833

whaling

It looks a bit like the brim of a baseball cap when closed.

23/06/2012

On a vessel.

Kudos: 339,758

Kenni

sjt333 said: oh man start/select/home are actually buttons now

I wish they did that for the original. Such a bitch to pause whenever you're playing MK7 so I have to close the system instead.

24/06/2012

ᶘ ᵒᴥᵒᶅ - The golden tsundere ratio is 8:2

Kudos: 14,239

abujaffer

Why do people want a second circle pad? Unless it has the additional L/R buttons, it won't play any already-released CCP games (in other words, it's a new system launch); if it has those buttons, it'll be thick as f***. Both are horrible ideas, and Nintendo's smart enough not to do them. There's a reason they're "experienced" professionals and we're consumers. =D

24/06/2012

3D world... where everything, even flat stuff, are in 3D.

Kudos: 4,568

1wiierdguy

abujaffer said: Why do people want a second circle pad? Unless it has the additional L/R buttons, it won't play any already-released CCP games (in other words, it's a new system launch); if it has those buttons, it'll be thick as f***. Both are horrible ideas, and Nintendo's smart enough not to do them. There's a reason they're "experienced" professionals and we're consumers.

They could put the shoulder buttons side by side at the top( like on a classic controller) without adding any thickness. Personally I don't care either way. However I dont think it's wrong that some consumers would have liked it. Even "experienced professionals" make mistakes. ;)

24/06/2012

The basement in Luigi's mansion.

Kudos: 10,518

LMA0

Months later they release 3DS mini.

24/06/2012

Outer West Sydney aka The Ghetto

Kudos: 197,364

sjt333

abujaffer said: Why do people want a second circle pad? Unless it has the additional L/R buttons, it won't play any already-released CCP games (in other words, it's a new system launch); if it has those buttons, it'll be thick as f***. Both are horrible ideas, and Nintendo's smart enough not to do them. There's a reason they're "experienced" professionals and we're consumers.

cause people are idiots

24/06/2012

To get shot and not do much else, turn to page 58 "I've always liked cowabunga."

Kudos: 10,518

LMA0

sjt333 said:
abujaffer said: Why do people want a second circle pad? Unless it has the additional L/R buttons, it won't play any already-released CCP games (in other words, it's a new system launch); if it has those buttons, it'll be thick as f***. Both are horrible ideas, and Nintendo's smart enough not to do them. There's a reason they're "experienced" professionals and we're consumers.

cause people are idiots

Except for me =D

24/06/2012

Outer West Sydney aka The Ghetto

Kudos: 14,239

abujaffer

1wiierdguy said:
abujaffer said: Why do people want a second circle pad? Unless it has the additional L/R buttons, it won't play any already-released CCP games (in other words, it's a new system launch); if it has those buttons, it'll be thick as f***. Both are horrible ideas, and Nintendo's smart enough not to do them. There's a reason they're "experienced" professionals and we're consumers.

They could put the shoulder buttons side by side at the top( like on a classic controller) without adding any thickness. Personally I don't care either way. However I dont think it's wrong that some consumers would have liked it. Even "experienced professionals" make mistakes.

That would still add to the thickness, unless they make each button half their size... which is another horrible idea. [monkey]

The Vita sidesteps this problem because it positions all the buttons close to the touch screen, so that actions usually performed by L2/R2 (like throwing gernades or switching teammates) is now performed by sliding your thumb and tapping the screen. That won't work on the 3DS because Nintendo positioned the buttons as comfortably as they could, which also has the effect of being far away from the touch screen.

24/06/2012

3D world... where everything, even flat stuff, are in 3D.

Kudos: 181

SadAngelman

I see they have now moved the headphone jack to a better position as the original 3DS is horrible to put in your pocket when headphones are attached. Not that the position of the headphone jack matters much anymore since the 3DS XL will be to big to fit in your pocket anyway.

25/06/2012

Christchurch, NZ after 7.1 & 6.3 earthquakes & over 10,000 aftershocks

Kudos: 297,937

Tano

*Lacks second analog stick

[Facepalm]

25/06/2012

"Niko! Cousin!"

Kudos: 4,568

1wiierdguy

I want to see it in person. In the pictures I've seen it gives off a bit of a "cheap" vibe.

25/06/2012

The basement in Luigi's mansion.

Kudos: 33,869

Blob

I've decided I will buy one and sell my old 3DS (after doing a system transfer of course ;) ) when there is a smexy special edition.

25/06/2012

Your mums bed

Kudos: 4,568

1wiierdguy

Blob said: I've decided I will buy one and sell my old 3DS (after doing a system transfer of course ) when there is a smexy special edition.

What exactly does a sytem transfer include? I know it's purchased items. What about game saves? Streetpass quest and puzzle swap? Letterbox? Friends list? I don't want to lose all that stuff.

25/06/2012

The basement in Luigi's mansion.

Kudos: 33,869

Blob

1wiierdguy said:
Blob said: I've decided I will buy one and sell my old 3DS (after doing a system transfer of course ) when there is a smexy special edition.

What exactly does a sytem transfer include? I know it's purchased items. What about game saves? Streetpass quest and puzzle swap? Letterbox? Friends list? I don't want to lose all that stuff.

As far as I know, everything is transferred.
The new 3DS just becomes the old one.

25/06/2012

Your mums bed

Kudos: 4,568

1wiierdguy

First hands on reports are hitting the web. It all seems very positive. Better viewing angle, better 3d and the games still look great blown up in size( possibly due to a new filter). I'm really tempted now!
m.kotaku.com/...

28/06/2012

The basement in Luigi's mansion.

Kudos: 8,416

SilentOne

Blob said:
DerekRyan said: Fml.. -.-
This sucks for 3ds owners like me -.-
cant trade in our original 3ds consoles because it has all our data/downloads/photos etc.. on it -.-
and the SD card dosent save much.

Do a system transfer.

But how can you do a system transfer if you trade in your 3ds for the 3ds xl? :L

28/06/2012

NSW, Sydney, Wakeley.

Kudos: 4,568

1wiierdguy

Get the Adobe Flash Player to see this video.
For those interested. :P

13/07/2012

The basement in Luigi's mansion.