New Nintendo 3DS XLClassic Handheld
Photo: Philip Terry Graham · CC0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Classic HandheldDiscontinued
New Nintendo 3DS XL
Nintendo · Released Feb 2015 · New 3DS XL (RED-001)
The definitive 3DS: bigger brighter screens, a faster quad-core CPU, rock-steady 3D, extra controls, and amiibo support.
9.0
out of 10
$199
Launch price $199
Pros
- +Bigger, brighter screens
- +Faster CPU with New-3DS-exclusive games
- +Super-stable 3D with face tracking
- +C-stick, ZL/ZR, and amiibo NFC
Cons
- −Still low-resolution panels
- −Charger not included in some regions
- −Heaviest of the 3DS family
What can it play?
Emulation performance by platform, based on real-world testing.
Full speedPlayableLimitedNot supported
Nintendo 3DSFull speed
Nintendo DSFull speed
SNESFull speed
Game Boy / ColorFull speed
Full specifications
Hardware
- Chipset (SoC)
- Nintendo (quad-core ARM11)
- CPU
- Quad-core ARM11 @ 268 MHz
- GPU
- DMP PICA200
- RAM
- 256 MB
- Storage
- Internal + microSD 3DS Game Card + microSD
- Weight
- 329 g
- Dimensions
- 160 x 93 x 22 mm (closed)
- Cooling
- Passive
Display
- Size
- 4.88″
- Resolution
- 800x240 (autostereoscopic 3D top)
- Panel
- Autostereoscopic LCD with face tracking + touch LCD
- Refresh rate
- 60 Hz
- Touchscreen
- Yes
Battery & Connectivity
- Battery
- 1750 mAh
- Real-world life
- ~6 hours
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n)
- Bluetooth
- None
- Ports
- 3DS card slot, microSD, Stylus, 3.5mm headphone, NFC (amiibo)
- Expandable storage
- Yes (microSD)
Controls
- Analog sticks
- 2
- D-pad
- Yes
- Face buttons
- Yes
- Analog triggers
- No
- Gyroscope
- Yes
- Hall effect sticks
- No
Software & custom firmware
Ships with: Nintendo 3DS Home Menu
Also plays natively: Nintendo 3DS cards, Nintendo DS cards, eShop / Virtual Console
Custom firmware
Our verdict
Value8.6
Build8.6
Screen7.5
Performance7.5
The New 3DS XL is the best version of Nintendo's 3D handheld. A faster quad-core CPU enables exclusive titles and snappier menus, the larger screens are brighter, the 3D is dramatically more stable thanks to face-tracking, and the added C-stick, ZL/ZR buttons, and amiibo NFC round it out. It is the 3DS collectors seek out today.