Nintendo released their New 3DS XL in America on Feb. 13. This “new” piece of Nintendo portable hardware is mostly the same as the original 3DS, but has a few additions and changes.
The New 3DS XL is the same size and shape as its predecessor, but has a few changes. The most notable changes to the system is the addition of a camera stick on the right of the handheld, two additional shoulder buttons, the game cartridge slot moving from the center of the back of the system to the bottom left, and the volume slider moving from the bottom half to the top part of the system. For the more subtle changes, the RAM inside the 3DS has been updated for faster loading times, the bottom screen has been updated to be able to use Nintendo’s amiibo figures, the 3D now has a face tracking feature for better 3D viewing, and the SD card slot is now inside the bottom face plate instead of having a slot on the outside.
Some of these additions have been much needed for better gameplay, such as the new camera stick (which is actually more like a camera nub) and the face tracking 3D. Other changes, like moving the cartridge slot to the bottom of the system and putting the SD card slot under the bottom face plate, is really just Nintendo’s way of mixing up the same old handheld.
The New 3DS XL is the exact same price as the original 3DS Xl at $199.99, so if you plan on buying a new Nintendo handheld, getting the New 3DS XL is worth it.