Hardware New Nintendo 3DS XL questions

[BlackRekuzza]

Hello, everybody=) I want to get a new console, (I already owe an Aqua Blue 3DS) but I have questions:

1) Will it work with my Supercard DSTWO? It is impossible for me, to have all my games with me atm, so I'm using a flashcard
2) I've heard, DSTWO had problems with fitting into a card slot, have you figured out, how to solve it?
3) Do I have to buy a new charger, or I can use one from my old nintendo 3DS?
4) Does it bothers, that the buttons START/SELECT had moved to a different position? (I 've never owed an XL edition, only a regular one) And what abput POWER button? Where is it?O__o
5) What do you think about the limited editions? Are they just pretty, or really worth buying?
6) What about DS games? How do they look on a bigger screen? ( Pokemon Series, Ace Attorney Series)
7) Any technical problems? (like with charging, screens, etc)
8) Are there any scratches on the screens, after you close your device?

I hope, you'll help me=3 Sorry, if those questions are tooo stupid^____^

 

[NekoMichi]

I've been using a N3DS XL for a while and may be able to answer some of your questions.

1. I haven't used a DSTWO before, but there are reports that people have successfully booted it on a New 3DS XL. They didn't mention the firmware of their console, though.

2. Most users can use the card fine, there was one report of the card not clicking in place correctly, but it seems to be an isolated issue with a faulty unit.

3. The New 3DS and New 3DS XL all use the same chargers as the DSi, 3DS, and 3DS XL.

4. The Start/Select buttons still feel fine and are well within reach for most hands. Their new positions don't really cause any interference with gaming. As for the power button, it's been moved to the front edge of the unit and faces the player when they are holding the device:

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The new position can sometimes cause problems with certain carry cases, I've noticed that a snug-fitting carry case can cause the power button to be pressed due to the physical pressure and the device ends up being turned on by accident.

5. The limited edition models really depend on your taste. If you really want one, then go for it. Remember that the New 3DS XL doesn't support interchangeable cover plates so once you choose the design, you'll have to stick with it. You won't have the option to buy a plain one and then change to a limited edition came later (well, not without disassembling the entire unit anyway).

6. DS games are all upscaled and interpolated on the 3DS screen due the higher screen resolution. Things will look blurrier and you won't get images as sharp as on an original DS, DS lite, DSi, or DSi XL. Here's a to-scale comparison of what it'll be like:

​

You can see that the image on the DS lite will be much clearer albeit smaller. Personally I prefer the clearer image and decided to keep a DSi XL for playing DS games. When starting up a DS game, you can hold down the Start or Select buttons to boot into DS mode in native resolution. This allows you to play the games with clearer graphics, but the image size is about the same as a DSi.

7. I haven't had any issues with screens or charging, however there is a bug where sometimes the 3DS won't properly wake from sleep mode even after I open the screen lid. The power light stays in its pulsing state and the console won't respond to any button presses, except when I force it to power down by holding down the power button. It happens very rarely though.

8. I haven't had any scratches yet, but then again I did put screen protectors on it within a week of getting the 3DS. It was second hand and either the previous owner took good care of it or the screen was just so durable that no scratches were left behind.

If you want more photos of comparing DS games running on original DS hardware and the New 3DS XL, I can post them.

 

[polarurs]

1) I'm fully updated and have no issues using my Supercard DSTwo, nor do I have any issues with it getting in/out of the card slot.

5) There are only 2 limited edition N3DSXL atm. I have the MH4U and honestly, I kind of wish I just got black. If you have access to a regular N3DS I'd get that and have fun with the interchangeable faceplates.

8) When you close the N3DS it doesn't leave marks on the top screen. (I assume you were referring to how the regular O3DS would make lines whenever you closed it).

 

[BlackRekuzza]

Oh, Thank you all for the answers=)

 

[BlackRekuzza]

I've been using a N3DS XL for a while and may be able to answer some of your questions.

1. I haven't used a DSTWO before, but there are reports that people have successfully booted it on a New 3DS XL. They didn't mention the firmware of their console, though.

2. Most users can use the card fine, there was one report of the card not clicking in place correctly, but it seems to be an isolated issue with a faulty unit.

3. The New 3DS and New 3DS XL all use the same chargers as the DSi, 3DS, and 3DS XL.

4. The Start/Select buttons still feel fine and are well within reach for most hands. Their new positions don't really cause any interference with gaming. As for the power button, it's been moved to the front edge of the unit and faces the player when they are holding the device:

View attachment 20870
​

The new position can sometimes cause problems with certain carry cases, I've noticed that a snug-fitting carry case can cause the power button to be pressed due to the physical pressure and the device ends up being turned on by accident.

5. The limited edition models really depend on your taste. If you really want one, then go for it. Remember that the New 3DS XL doesn't support interchangeable cover plates so once you choose the design, you'll have to stick with it. You won't have the option to buy a plain one and then change to a limited edition came later (well, not without disassembling the entire unit anyway).

6. DS games are all upscaled and interpolated on the 3DS screen due the higher screen resolution. Things will look blurrier and you won't get images as sharp as on an original DS, DS lite, DSi, or DSi XL. Here's a to-scale comparison of what it'll be like:

View attachment 20872
​

You can see that the image on the DS lite will be much clearer albeit smaller. Personally I prefer the clearer image and decided to keep a DSi XL for playing DS games. When starting up a DS game, you can hold down the Start or Select buttons to boot into DS mode in native resolution. This allows you to play the games with clearer graphics, but the image size is about the same as a DSi.

7. I haven't had any issues with screens or charging, however there is a bug where sometimes the 3DS won't properly wake from sleep mode even after I open the screen lid. The power light stays in its pulsing state and the console won't respond to any button presses, except when I force it to power down by holding down the power button. It happens very rarely though.

8. I haven't had any scratches yet, but then again I did put screen protectors on it within a week of getting the 3DS. It was second hand and either the previous owner took good care of it or the screen was just so durable that no scratches were left behind.

If you want more photos of comparing DS games running on original DS hardware and the New 3DS XL, I can post them.

A very broad answer=3 Thanks=3 If it's not too hard for you, I would like to see more photos of comparing DS games running on original DS hardware and the New 3DS XL^___^

 

[NekoMichi]

A very broad answer=3 Thanks=3 If it's not too hard for you, I would like to see more photos of comparing DS games running on original DS hardware and the New 3DS XL^___^

Sure thing. I have access to an original DS, DSi, and DSi XL. Which would you like to be compared to the New 3DS XL?

 

[BlackRekuzza]

Sure thing. I have access to an original DS, DSi, and DSi XL. Which would you like to be compared to the New 3DS XL?

I mainly interested in Pokemon series D/P/PT or HG/SS. doesn't really matter, because they have similar sprite structure. B/W. or B2/W2, would be awesome too. And maybe a game of your choice=) Because I haven't played that much DS games sadly. A bit of Solatorobo and Ghost Trick onlyX) And some pets games. Yeah, I have to find more interesting games someday=3 Thank you for all your help=3

 

[NekoMichi]

I mainly interested in Pokemon series D/P/PT or HG/SS. doesn't really matter, because they have similar sprite structure. B/W. or B2/W2, would be awesome too. And maybe a game of your choice=) Because I haven't played that much DS games sadly. A bit of Solatorobo and Ghost Trick onlyX) And some pets games. Yeah, I have to find more interesting games someday=3 Thank you for all your help=3

I used Pokémon Platinum as a test game. Here's an overview of the same screen displayed on the original Nintendo DS, the DSi XL, and the New 3DS XL:

The photo is a bit too far from the screens to see any intricate details. Note that the colour saturation on the original DS is the most washed out, the New 3DS XL is in between, and the DSi XL has the highest colour saturation. The displayed size is about the same between the DSi XL and the New 3DS XL.

​

Comparing the original DS to the New 3DS XL, the larger display size is much more comfortable to play games on than the original smaller screen. Colours seem richer, but the image is blurred slightly due to the upscaling of the resolutions. The blur effect isn't easy to capture with a camera, but it's very noticeable to the human eye.

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The image size seems to be almost identical between the DSi XL and the New 3DS XL. The colours are a little too warm on the DSi XL, and feel just right on the New 3DS XL. The pixel blur effect is much more apparent when comparing between the two models.

​

Here's a close-up view of the character's sprite. On the original DS and DSi XL, it fits perfectly within the defined pixel spaces, but on the New 3DS XL, the upscaling effect causes some pixels to not fit perfectly within the spaces and as a result some details appear blurred. For example, the character's eyes are very clear on the DS and DSi XL, but the square shape isn't so clean on the New 3DS XL screen.

 

[BlackRekuzza]

Just...wow*__*
I just can't describe how grateful am I for your explanations *hugs*
Thank you so much.=3
The colors really look richier on the N3DSXL. Hmmm...Oh, did you played them in N3DSXL mode, or a native DS one? (Or I have understood some thing incorrectly and there are no such a mode?)

 

[NekoMichi]

Just...wow*__*
I just can't describe how grateful am I for your explanations *hugs*
Thank you so much.=3
The colors really look richier on the N3DSXL. Hmmm...Oh, did you played them in N3DSXL mode, or a native DS one? (Or I have understood some thing incorrectly and there are no such a mode?)

You're welcome
When playing DS games, 3DS can start in two different display modes: Full screen mode and native DS resolution mode. In full screen mode, the image is stretched to take up the entire screen area. Since the 3DS screen has a higher resolution, the stretched image becomes blurred. In native DS resolution mode, The image is displayed at the original DS resolution. Since the DS screen has a lower resolution than the 3DS, not all of the pixels on the 3DS screen are used up so the image won't take up the entire screen area. But also because the image isn't stretched, details won't look blurred.

 

[BlackRekuzza]

The image is displayed at the original DS resolution. Since the DS screen has a lower resolution than the 3DS, not all of the pixels on the 3DS screen are used up so the image won't take up the entire screen area. But also because the image isn't stretched, details won't look blurred.

Oh, beautiful=3 So I still have a choice. Thank you again=3 I'll gotta figure out all pros and cons before I decide to buy, or not to buy. Without your help it would be impossible=)