Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
flag of UK
UK
flag of US
US
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of Australia
Australia
  • Games
  • TV
  • Movies
  • Hardware
  • Video
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Guides
  • Deals
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • SFX
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Total Film
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
View
Trending
  • Summer Game Fest
  • New games for 2025
  • Upcoming Switch 2 games
  • Switch 2 stock

Recommended reading

Nintendo Switch 2 homescreen showing on the console on a wooden desk
Nintendo Switch 2 Everything we know about Nintendo Switch 2
Back of Nintendo Switch 2 dock with cut out revealing fan highlighted in blue
Games Nintendo says the Switch 2 "isn't simply an improved Nintendo Switch, we redesigned the system from the ground up," and after 8 years, I'd sure hope so
Nintendo Switch 2 controllers by console
Games Nintendo Switch 2 design – the biggest changes and features revealed so far
Nintendo Switch 2 with Mario Kart on screen next to original Nintendo Switch with teal backdrop
Hardware Nintendo Switch 2 vs Nintendo Switch: How does the newest handheld compare in 2025
Switch 2 Spotlight
Games Switch 2 Spotlight: Get caught up with all the latest on Nintendo's new console
Ayaneo Flip 1S DS handheld on left and ROG Xbox Ally X on right with sad text face on screen and navy backdrop.
Handhelds Ayaneo just announced a new handheld homage to the 3DS, and it could outpace the ROG Xbox Ally X
An image of Mario demonstrating the effect of Switch 2's 120fps display
Games Switch 2 doesn't have an OLED screen, but its 1080p 120fps LCD with "approximately double the pixels" of Switch 1 might be worth the trade-off
  1. Platforms
  2. Nintendo

3DS XL news - All the facts on Nintendo's new handheld

Features
By Alex Roth, Hollander Cooper, Henry Gilbert published 22 June 2012

Nintendo's 3D handheld put on some weight, but is that just more to love?

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

We begin with the most obvious one...

Page 1 of 10
Page 1 of 10
Both screens 90% bigger

Both screens 90% bigger

The XL in the system's name isn't for aesthetic reasons - the system is extra large to support the new, extra large screens. They're 90% larger than the ones found on the puny 3DS sitting on your desk. The top screen moves to a full 4.88 inches, up from the 3.53 inch display that shipped with the original system. But despite the increase in screen size, the resolution is the same, meaning your games won't look any different on the big screen than they did on the small screen. Well, besides being larger, that is.

Page 2 of 10
Page 2 of 10
Tweaked design on the outside...

Tweaked design on the outside...

It's not just bigger than the original 3DS, there are a few general layout changes as well. The headphone jack has been moved from front and center to the left, presumably to keep cords out of your way. The Select, Home and Start buttons are now more pronounced, not sunken like on the old model. It also has more rounded edges. There are some other aesthetic adjustments, like the look of the speakers and the shape of the Power button, but the XL is basically a bigger, slicker 3DS.

Page 3 of 10
Page 3 of 10
Same hardward inside

Same hardward inside

As the name suggests, the 3DS XL is bigger than its older brother, but inside, it's just the same. No faster processor, no extra memory. Upgrading the hardware in the middle of the system's life cycle isn't exactly feasible. Two 3DS's with different hardware specs would be a developer nightmare. The beauty of developing for a system like the 3DS is knowing that all your users will have the exact same hardware. So if you're wondering why Nintendo didn't slap a second slide pad on this baby, you have your answer.

Page 4 of 10
Page 4 of 10
Longer battery life

Longer battery life

The least interesting, but most important upgrade to the 3DS XL comes with the inclusion of a lengthier battery life. Many have considered the 3DS's short battery to be the console's Achilles' heel. While the original had you crawling towards an AC adapter after three to five hours, this larger system will allow you to play for a bit longer. The upgraded tech boasts a slightly more impressive 3.5 to 6.5 hours for 3DS games and six to ten hours for original DS games, allowing the system to potentially work for a long-distance flight without dying.

Page 5 of 10
Page 5 of 10
AC adapter included (but not in Europe or Japan)

AC adapter included (but not in Europe or Japan)

When you purchase a new handheld system, you expect an included power supply to charge it, right? We know we do, so we thought it was simply a given to get a new AC adapter with a 3DS XL. In the US it's true the charger will be packed in, but European and Japanese buyers aren't so lucky. Under the assumption that people that buy an XL will own the original 3DS, no AC adapter will be included. You can still buy one separately, but this seems pretty strange to us.

Page 6 of 10
Page 6 of 10
Release date August 19 in US, July 28 in Europe

Release date August 19 in US, July 28 in Europe

Unlike the Wii U, when the XL was announced, Nintendo was very clear on the details all consumers should know, starting with launch date. The XL goes on sale August 19 in the US, which is the same day Nintendo is launching New Super Mario Bros 2. Europe gets it a little earlier, July 28 to be precise, which is the same day it launches in Japan.

Page 7 of 10
Page 7 of 10
Costs $199.99

Costs $199.99

Yep, two hundred bucks in North America, which is a $30 bump from the standard $170 3DS price point. Not too bad for a massive increase in screen size, better battery life and a 4GB memory card right in the box. The news isn't as concrete in Europe. It's rumored that English retailers will be pricing it from 179.99 to 199.99. Japanese gamers will be paying the most, their 3DS XL will go for 18,900, about $234.

Page 8 of 10
Page 8 of 10
It launches in two colors

It launches in two colors

Nintendo fans are used to a rainbow of console colors, but in the US at least, early 3DS XL buyers will have to settle for two colors. Instead of the Aqua Blue and Cosmo Black that launched the original 3DS, it will launch in blue and red in the US. Europe gets a third choice in the form of a silver system, but we'd say there's good odds that that color (or others) will be in the US in time for the holidays.

Page 9 of 10
Page 9 of 10
Will you buy one?

Will you buy one?

Still interested in 3DS? You should read our lists of the best 3DS games and 11 reasons Nintendo had a better E3 2012 showing than it seemed.

Page 10 of 10
Page 10 of 10
Henry Gilbert
Henry Gilbert
Social Links Navigation

Henry Gilbert is a former GamesRadar+ Editor, having spent seven years at the site helping to navigate our readers through the PS3 and Xbox 360 generation. Henry is now following another passion of his besides video games, working as the producer and podcast cohost of the popular Talking Simpsons and What a Cartoon podcasts. 

See more Nintendo Features
Read more
Nintendo Switch 2 homescreen showing on the console on a wooden desk
Everything we know about Nintendo Switch 2
Back of Nintendo Switch 2 dock with cut out revealing fan highlighted in blue
Nintendo says the Switch 2 "isn't simply an improved Nintendo Switch, we redesigned the system from the ground up," and after 8 years, I'd sure hope so
Nintendo Switch 2 controllers by console
Nintendo Switch 2 design – the biggest changes and features revealed so far
Nintendo Switch 2 with Mario Kart on screen next to original Nintendo Switch with teal backdrop
Nintendo Switch 2 vs Nintendo Switch: How does the newest handheld compare in 2025
Switch 2 Spotlight
Switch 2 Spotlight: Get caught up with all the latest on Nintendo's new console
Ayaneo Flip 1S DS handheld on left and ROG Xbox Ally X on right with sad text face on screen and navy backdrop.
Ayaneo just announced a new handheld homage to the 3DS, and it could outpace the ROG Xbox Ally X
Latest in Nintendo
Dave the Diver Godzilla screenshot
Dave the Diver celebrates 2nd birthday by sharing messages from Baldur's Gate 3 actor Neil Newbon and the Subnautica studio CEO, bringing back Godzilla DLC, and dang, delaying its next DLC
Shuhei Yoshida, Present Sony Worldwide Studios
Ex PlayStation boss thinks Nintendo's cheaper Japan-exclusive Switch 2 is an "amazing business decision," but doesn't think "PlayStation would emulate what they did"
A character in Terraria dressed in armour and holding a torch
Terraria update 1.4.5 grows ever larger as devs try "our very best to narrow in on that elusive launch window" but also tease "there will be Palworld content in Terraria"
Donkey Kong shouts in shock in Donkey Kong Bananza
Former Nintendo marketing lead says the "one time" she "saw genuine fear from the executives" at the company was "when we saw the rise of mobile games"
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Link wanted for counterfeit as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's Switch 2 edition adds a new item duplication glitch for infinite rare materials
Chun-Li instructs pupils in Street Fighter 6 trailer.
Street Fighter 6's latest outfit DLC adds the game's biggest batch of horny yet, which might distract people from the fact that this is only the second wave of costumes in 2 years
Latest in Features
One-Punch Man season 3: Saitama punching while in mid-air during the anime One-Punch Man.
Anime Expo 2025: dates, announcements, and why One-Punch Man fans should be excited
The Shrouds
It may feature corpses, missing limbs, and AI, but with The Shrouds, legendary director David Cronenberg has made the ultimate meditation on grief: "To me, there is no afterlife"
A full setup for Fate of the Fellowship with cards, tokens, and pieces all laid out
Legendary board game designer says his upcoming Lord of the Rings project is "definitely the most thematically and mechanically rich game I’ve worked on"
Promotional artwork for the Steam Summer Sale 2025 which runs from June 26th - July 10th at 10am PT
I've spent six hours exploring the Steam Summer Sale with our Games Editor, and these are the 10 best games on discount I'd recommend so far
The Outer Worlds 2 screenshot of Aza, a cultist companion with short pink hair who holds a dagger
The Outer Worlds 2 is "going deeper and more complex" with its companions, and I'm already making grabby hands at this RPG
Ruffy runs across the ocean on wooden crates in Ruffy and the Riverside, with the GamesRadar+ Indie Spotlight logo
Banjo-Kazooie and Paper Mario mix together in this delightful puzzle platformer that has me swapping textures to solve puzzles by changing the world
  1. Sam fires at the ghost mech squid boss in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
    1
    Death Stranding 2: On the Beach review: "This tarpunk delivery epic is more Metal Gear Solid than ever, for better and worse"
  2. 2
    Rematch review: "As with Rocket League, the just-one-more-game pull is magnetic"
  3. 3
    Tron: Catalyst review: "Disc slinging is a thrill in this gorgeous rendition of the series, but I'm let down by a time-loop story that falls flat"
  4. 4
    FBC: Firebreak review: "A disappointingly bland multiplayer FPS that's missing far too much of what made Control special"
  5. 5
    Dune: Awakening review: "Both extremely compelling and extraordinarily boring, sometimes at the same time – yet still a true Dune love letter"
  1. M3GAN doll in M3GAN 2.0
    1
    M3GAN 2.0 review: "A bold sequel with a slightly underwhelming conclusion"
  2. 2
    28 Years Later Review: "Enough terror, splatter and suspense to satisfy”
  3. 3
    Predator: Killer of Killers review: "Great characters, thrilling action, and gorgeous Arcane-esque animation"
  4. 4
    From the World of John Wick: Ballerina review: "Brilliant action, even if the plot gives you a sense of déjà vu"
  5. 5
    Karate Kid: Legends review: "Better than Karate Kid (2010), nothing on Karate Kid (1984)"
  1. Lee Jung-jae as Gi-hun in Squid Game season 3
    1
    Squid Game season 3 review: "A staggeringly excellent final season wraps up one of the greatest Netflix shows ever"
  2. 2
    Ironheart review: "A relic of Marvel's content-at-all-costs era"
  3. 3
    Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 review: "The show's most assured run of episodes to date"
  4. 4
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 8 spoiler review: 'The Reality War' is "a mix of the good, the bad, and the truly baffling"
  5. 5
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 7 spoiler review: 'Wish World' is "an exciting and ambitious" start to the season finale, with hints of WandaVision

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...