Why are 3DS's so expensive?

[TheOogieBoogieman]

Last week, I bought a Japanese DSI XL off Ebay for $70. The only "issues" with it were that the bottom was scratched and it was missing the stylus (which costs $3 off Ebay). Outside of these two things, it works fine with zero issues, all the buttons work, screens are in great condition, touchscreen works and has no scratches, etc.)

Out of curiosity, I decided to see how much a N3DS XL costs because I'll get one if I end up loving the games the DS has and was shocked to see just how expensive these things are. All of the models for the 3DS line cost around 220+ dollars at minimum and the ones below that are in bad condition. I saw one going for $100 dollars that the seller said wouldn't turn on.

I get scalpers exist, but this all just seems bizarre as hell to me. The DS line's been discontinued for longer and yet you can still find DS models, even the big one with guaranteed IPS panels, in good condition for decent prices but to get a 3DS you need to pay more than the console's original price. I don't get it.

But whatever, the DS's library is great anyways.

 

[RyanTheArchivist]

Last week, I bought a Japanese DSI XL off Ebay for $70. The only "issues" with it were that the bottom was scratched and it was missing the stylus (which costs $3 off Ebay). Outside of these two things, it works fine with zero issues, all the buttons work, screens are in great condition, touchscreen works and has no scratches, etc.)

Out of curiosity, I decided to see how much a N3DS XL costs because I'll get one if I end up loving the games the DS has and was shocked to see just how expensive these things are. All of the models for the 3DS line cost around 220+ dollars at minimum and the ones below that are in bad condition. I saw one going for $100 dollars that the seller said wouldn't turn on.

I get scalpers exist, but this all just seems bizarre as hell to me. The DS line's been discontinued for longer and yet you can still find DS models, even the big one with guaranteed IPS panels, in good condition for decent prices but to get a 3DS you need to pay more than the console's original price. I don't get it.

But whatever, the DS's library is great anyways.

The New 3DS XL is considered the definitive model of the 3DS so it's not shocking that it is by far the most expensive. Though the DSI is also the least valued DS Model since it is basically a DS Lite with the GBA slot removed and a camera added.

 

[TheOogieBoogieman]

The New 3DS XL is considered the definitive model of the 3DS so it's not shocking that it is by far the most expensive. Though the DSI is also the least valued DS Model since it is basically a DS Lite with the GBA slot removed and a camera added.

It's not just the N3DSXL, all the 3DS models are pretty pricey from what I've observed.
Also, the DSI is the least valued? I thought it would be more sought after since the models use IPS panels instead of the TN panels the other DS's use.

 

[realtimesave]

if you check offerup, nearly all 3ds consoles are softmodded and loaded with games because they "can" lol Paying $300+ for a dead console isn't very smart imho

 

[worm28]

They are expensive i bought a japan region N3DSXL and region changed it it was two hundred dollars and the usa region N3DSXL consoles are three to four hundred a piece i did get a usa region N3DSXL on shopgoodwill.com for $180 https://shopgoodwill.com/categories/nintendo 3ds?p=1

 

[realtimesave]

I forgot what I paid for my japanese ones but the US ones I paid MSRP for at the store when they were available and my red one I got on offerup for $25 which is the lowest I've ever seen.

 

[Hanafuda]

N3DS XL costs

Yes it do.

Is the N3DS XL the only 3DS model you're interested in?

 

[realtimesave]

my white new 3ds LL Order total:US $157.69
my white new 3ds Order total:US $125.06
both Japan models. Love em both too.

 

[Flame]

Supply and demand. that simple.

 

[realtimesave]

Supply and demand. that simple.

also depends on if they included a plethora of pirated games, which is downright illegal probably unethical in a way too

 

[worm28]

my white new 3ds LL Order total:US $157.69
my white new 3ds Order total:US $125.06
both Japan models. Love em both too.

I have a pearl white N3DSXL too and i love the hell out of it.

 

[realtimesave]

I have a pearl white N3DSXL too and i love the hell out of it.

mine came with glass screen protector and mickey & minnie mouse <3 shell protector

 

[TheOogieBoogieman]

Yes it do.

Is the N3DS XL the only 3DS model you're interested in?

It seems to be the best one so yeah.

So the best bet is to import one from Japan?

 

[realtimesave]

It seems to be the best one so yeah.

So the best bet is to import one from Japan?

looks like it. My first search on ebay found one in S condition for $181 which means it's in immaculate condition. whoops that's a regular 3ds ll. Looks like new 3ds LL is around $235

 

[Takafumi]

For me, at least, the GBA replaced the GB, the DS replaced the GBA, and the 3DS replaced the DS.
The Switch didn't replace the 3DS. As a result, it's still the "current" Nintendo handheld—my immediate go-to device—but it's out of production, and thus, expensive.

The library for it is so large that current owners will likely never run out of games to play on it, and as there's no replacement device on the market yet, people are left to buy secondhand if they or their kids want a Nintendo handheld.

 

[realtimesave]

For me, at least, the GBA replaced the GB, the DS replaced the GBA, and the 3DS replaced the DS.
The Switch didn't replace the 3DS. As a result, it's still the "current" Nintendo handheld—my immediate go-to device—but it's out of production, and thus, expensive.

The library for it is so large that current owners will likely never run out of games to play on it, and as there's no replacement device on the market yet, people are left to buy secondhand if they or their kids want a Nintendo handheld.

Well 8 years ago Switch came out, now we're looking at 8+ years for Switch 2 more than likely without a dedicated handheld in production for the duration.

 

[Viri]

I remember buying a N3DSXL in 2020 for 120 dollars off Gamestop, was Hyrule Gold, looked perfect, and has dual ips.

Fedex "lost" the package, I told Gamestop about it, and they sent me out another one, and then they "lost" package got "found", so I ended up with 2 of them. I gave my friend the other one.

Sadly my air cond leaked on it, and ruined it. The case was supposed to be "waterproof" too. I didn't even know it was under my air cond. It still works, but the shell looks fugly.

 

[Hanafuda]

Well 8 years ago Switch came out, now we're looking at 8+ years for Switch 2 more than likely without a dedicated handheld in production for the duration.

It's not like the handhelds hold up to longterm use very well, either. Especially the shoulder buttons. I haven't had a problem with a 3DS R/L yet, but GBASP and DSlite have been nightmares. I had my GBASP apart many times to blast contact cleaner in the shoulder button microswitches - it actually did the trick, for a while. Eventually I soldered in replacements, which suck.

And hinges. All of Nintendo's handhelds with hinges. Nuff said.

A fully functioning & clean N3DS, XL or regular size, is going to be a rarity in the nearish future.

 

[Taiyotenko]

Last week, I bought a Japanese DSI XL off Ebay for $70. The only "issues" with it were that the bottom was scratched and it was missing the stylus (which costs $3 off Ebay). Outside of these two things, it works fine with zero issues, all the buttons work, screens are in great condition, touchscreen works and has no scratches, etc.)

Out of curiosity, I decided to see how much a N3DS XL costs because I'll get one if I end up loving the games the DS has and was shocked to see just how expensive these things are. All of the models for the 3DS line cost around 220+ dollars at minimum and the ones below that are in bad condition. I saw one going for $100 dollars that the seller said wouldn't turn on.

I get scalpers exist, but this all just seems bizarre as hell to me. The DS line's been discontinued for longer and yet you can still find DS models, even the big one with guaranteed IPS panels, in good condition for decent prices but to get a 3DS you need to pay more than the console's original price. I don't get it.

But whatever, the DS's library is great anyways.

Some people think the only true way to play 3DS games is on original hardware, because of the stereoscopic 3D effects, so they don't care about paying premium. I think that's an interesting way of thinking, since even Nintendo acknowledged that the feature wasn't that much used and released the 2DS/2DS XL.

Nintendo shutting down 3DS emulators really slowed down the development of 3DS emulation. I think that's a more reasonable reason to why some people think original hardware is more reliable than emulation to play 3DS games.

It was the last Nintendo dedicated handheld. Sure, there's the Switch Lite, but it isn't as portable. Besides, some people like more the clamshell design of 3DS, because it's more compact.

The 3DS line is easy to softmod and, after modded, you can install any game of 3DS library.

It has backward compatibility to DS and with softmod even GBA. Besides, it was the last Nintendo handheld with true Virtual Console games. The 3DS had lots of great retro games, so it's a good option for retrogaming.

Finally, the 3DS line is prone to hardware failures, specially, because of the hinges. So, finding a unit in good condition is not an easy task.

 

[lone_wolf323]

Some people think the only true way to play 3DS games is on original hardware, because of the stereoscopic 3D effects, so they don't care about paying premium. I think that's an interesting way of thinking, since even Nintendo acknowledged that the feature wasn't that much used and released the 2DS/2DS XL.

Nintendo shutting down 3DS emulators really slowed down the development of 3DS emulation. I think that's a more reasonable reason to why some people think original hardware is more reliable than emulation to play 3DS games.

It was the last Nintendo dedicated handheld. Sure, there's the Switch Lite, but it isn't as portable. Besides, some people like more the clamshell design of 3DS, because it's more compact.

The 3DS line is easy to softmod and, after modded, you can install any game of 3DS library.

It has backward compatibility to DS and with softmod even GBA. Besides, it was the last Nintendo handheld with true Virtual Console games. The 3DS had lots of great retro games, so it's a good option for retrogaming.

Finally, the 3DS line is prone to hardware failures, specially, because of the hinges. So, finding a unit in good condition is not an easy task.

it basically is? emulators do have issues depending on the fork.