New Nintendo 3DS

Overview

Announced in August 2014, the "New Nintendo 3DS" bumps up the internal specs of the original Nintendo 3DS hardware, adds support for near-field communications (for use with Amiibo and other NFC-enabled items), IR-head tracking for better 3D viewing angles, and also has a C-Stick above the face buttons. Two more shoulder buttons are also added to the top of the device, making for four in all.

The New Nintendo 3DS models launched in Japan on October 11, 2014. The New 3DS retails for 16,000 Yen and the New 3DS LL retails for 18,800 Yen. In the first ever Nintendo Direct from Australia, NoAU announced on September 24, 2014 that New Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL would launch in Australia and New Zealand on November 21, 2014 for AU$219.95 and AU$249.95 respectively. In Europe, the New Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL both launched on February 13, 2015 for £179/€199 and £155.99/€169.99 respectively.

Nintendo of America decided to initially skip the regular New Nintendo 3DS and its cover plates in favor of focusing on the New Nintendo 3DS XL exclusively which hit retail on February 13, 2015 for a MSRP of $199.99. The regular New Nintendo 3DS was made available in North America through a limited edition bundle with Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer with special cover plates. Additional cover plates were sold through Nintendo of America's web store.

After their investor briefing on April 28 2017, Nintendo announced another new edition of the Nintendo 3DS hardware. The New Nintendo 2DS XL (LL in Japan) brings the New Nintendo 3DS hardware and form factor together with the Nintendo 2DS specifications (absence of stereoscopic 3D support), color scheme, and lower price point.

A notable design change from the New Nintendo 3DS (XL) is that the microSD slot is no longer situated behind the backplate which had to be unscrewed in order to gain access to it. It is not easily accessible next to the game card slot at the bottom side of the lower half, safely hidden behind a cover flap (similar to the design of the card slot on the Nintendo Switch).

New Nintendo 2DS XL will release first in Australia and New Zealand when it launches on June 15, 2017 for AU$199.95. Japan follows on July 13, 2017 for 14,980 yen (+tax), and finally makes it to Europe (€169,99) and North America (US$149.99) on July 28, 2017.

Ambassador Pack

In a surprise invitation sent to randomly selected Club Nintendo members, Nintendo of Europe revealed a special opportunity to buy an "Ambassador Pack" between January 6, 2015 and midnight of January 12, 2015. This pack contained a white New Nintendo 3DS with cover plates exclusive to this bundle that display the modern Nintendo logo on the back and the very first, original Nintendo logo written in kanji on the top plate. Additionally, a set of white Super Smash Bros. cover plates and a white charging cradle are included, along with a unique outer box which says "Ambassador Edition" and is kept in simple black and white. The Ambassador Pack cost £179/€199 with the console itself being valued at £155.99/€169.99 and the accessories making up the rest. The system came with a pre-installed copy of Tomodachi Life: Welcome Version.

Software

New Nintendo 3DS will receive exclusive software taking advantage of the new CPU and new control options, notably a New 3DS version of the Wii RPG Xenoblade Chronicles. There will also be future games compatible with the previous Nintendo 3DS models that will be enhanced when played on a New Nintendo 3DS/XL. Existing games will not benefit from these enhancements.

Backwards Compatibility

It will be fully backwards compatible with all software that currently plays on any Nintendo 3DS model including Nintendo DS and DSiWare, but games built specifically for the New Nintendo 3DS won't work on older devices. System transfers can be performed from any device starting with the Nintendo DSi to the New Nintendo 3DS but users can not transfer back from a New Nintendo 3DS to any of the older models.

Circle Pad Pro (XL) compatible Nintendo 3DS software is compatible with the C-Stick built into the New Nintendo 3DS. However, software titles designed to be New Nintendo 3DS-enhanced such as Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS which supports the C-Stick when played on a New Nintendo 3DS system are not automatically compatible with the Circle Pad Pro (XL) when played on a Nintendo 3DS (XL) unless specified.

New Nintendo 3DS/ New Nintendo 3DS XL

This fourth model of the Nintendo 3DS was announced by Nintendo president Satoru Iwata in a Nintendo Direct on August 29, 2014.

New Nintendo 3DS comes in both the classic pocket-size of the original Nintendo 3DS and an XL variant. The New Nintendo 3DS adds a variety of buttons, features, refinements.

General Changes

• C-Stick inspired by the GameCube Controller
• ZL and ZR shoulder buttons
• Colored ABXY face buttons inspired by the Super Nintendo/Super Famicom colors

  

• Built-in NFC reader for Amiibo compatibility
• Improved 3D viewing angles
• Swappable face plates (not supported by the XL model)
• microSD card slot, replacing the regular SD card slot (4GB microSD card included)
• HTML5 support
• Faster CPU and more RAM for increased system performance
• Support for various Home Screen themes (matching themes can be activated via NFC from N3DS faceplates)
• Physical wireless switch removed, wireless communication now has to be turned on/off in the Home Menu
• Option for auto-brightness adjust depending on lighting conditions
• Supports wireless LAN communication with Windows PCs for microSD data transfers

New Nintendo 3DS

Model Specs:

• Width: 14.2cm, Height: 8.06cm, Depth: 2.16cm, Weight: 253g
• Screen size: Top screen: 3.88", bottom screen: 3.33"
• Battery life: approx. 3.5~6h (running 3DS software); approx. 6.5~10.5h (running DS software)

New Nintendo 3DS XL

Model Specs:

• Width: 16.0cm, Height: 9.35cm, Depth: 2.15cm, Weight: 329g
• Screen size: Top: 4.88" (106.2mm × 63.72mm), bottom: 4.18" (84.96mm × 63.72mm)
• Battery life: approx. 3.5~7h (running 3DS software); approx. 7~12h (running DS software)

New Nintendo 2DS XL

Model Specs:

• Width: 15.93cm Height: 8.63cm; Depth: 2.08cm (folded); Weight: 260g (including stylus and microSD card)
• Screen size: Top (2D): 4.88" (106.2mm × 63.72mm ); bottom: 4.18" (84.96mm × 63.72mm)
• Battery life: approx. 3.5~6.5h running 3DS software; approx. 5~9h running DS software
• Note: includes an AC adapter in North America, Europe/Australia (sold separately in Japan)

Differences from N3DS models:

• microSD card slot now located next to game card slot on the bottom right of the unit
• left and right stereo speakers now located on the bottom side of the unit
• camera, microphone and notification light now located on the central hinge between the two screens
• Home Button now located on the left side next to the bottom screen and below the +Control Pad
• Outer cameras are now located on the back of the bottom half of the unit

New Nintendo 3DS Colors

New Nintendo 3DS XL/LL Colors

New Nintendo 2DS XL/LL Colors