Nintendo 3DSClassic Handheld
Photo: Evan-Amos · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons
Classic HandheldDiscontinued
Nintendo 3DS
Nintendo · Released Feb 2011 · Original 3DS (CTR-001)
Nintendo's glasses-free 3D handheld, backward compatible with the DS and home to a superb library and a rich eShop of classics.
8.8
out of 10
$249
Launch price $249
Pros
- +Glasses-free stereoscopic 3D
- +Backward compatible with the DS library
- +Circle Pad, gyro, and StreetPass features
- +Deep eShop with Virtual Console classics
Cons
- −Short battery life
- −Low-resolution screens
- −3D effect causes eye strain for some
What can it play?
Emulation performance by platform, based on real-world testing.
Full speedPlayableLimitedNot supported
Nintendo 3DSFull speed
Nintendo DSFull speed
Game Boy / ColorFull speed
Full specifications
Hardware
- Chipset (SoC)
- Nintendo (ARM11 + DMP GPU)
- CPU
- Dual-core ARM11 @ 268 MHz
- GPU
- DMP PICA200
- RAM
- 128 MB
- Storage
- Internal + SD 3DS Game Card + SD card
- Weight
- 235 g
- Dimensions
- 134 x 74 x 21 mm (closed)
- Cooling
- Passive
Display
- Size
- 3.53″
- Resolution
- 800x240 (autostereoscopic 3D top)
- Panel
- Autostereoscopic LCD (top) + touch LCD
- Refresh rate
- 60 Hz
- Touchscreen
- Yes
Battery & Connectivity
- Battery
- 1300 mAh
- Real-world life
- ~4 hours
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n)
- Bluetooth
- None
- Ports
- 3DS card slot, SD card, Stylus, 3.5mm headphone
- Expandable storage
- Yes (microSD)
Controls
- Analog sticks
- 1
- 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
Value8.4
Build8.4
Screen7.0
Performance7.0
The 3DS launched to a rocky start and a quick price cut, but blossomed into one of Nintendo's great handhelds, with glasses-free 3D, a huge first-party library, and DS backward compatibility. Its eShop offered an excellent Virtual Console selection, and the homebrew scene (Luma3DS) keeps it thriving with collectors today.