Hardware N3DS Region

[zer01717]

I have a few questions in regards to 3DS and regions. If I bought a Japanese N3DS (non-XL) would it support English play/ does it have a English keyboard? Or would I be better going with a European/AUS version?

Thanks in advance!

edit: I haven't had any luck finding one locally, and NA region units are expensive. Also does anyone know if the 20th anniversary pokemon N3DS was just a 1 time limited release or are there going to be restocks?

 

[Townsperson]

I have a few questions in regards to 3DS and regions. If I bought a Japanese N3DS (non-XL) would it support English play/ does it have a English keyboard? Or would I be better going with a European/AUS version?

Thanks in advance!

English play? If a game is in English, it's in English. The region of your console doesn't determine that. However, a 3DS is not region-free, so you'll need Homebrew/CFW to play out of region games.

Now, does it have an English keyboard? Technically yes. The Japanese keyboard includes the English alphabet.

Also, you're locked into the JPN eShop of you go this route.

 

[zer01717]

Thanks for the response. That makes sense. I currently have a O3DS with CFW, but want to upgrade and from what I'm seeing its cheaper to import a JP console. Is this what other people have done?

 

[jefffisher]

you might be better off with a canadian n3ds xl just for eshop access and not having to deal with everything in japanese or doing a region change.
as far as i can tell in canada the american xl would be slightly cheaper than a japanese.
but since you don't want an xl your best bet is probably amazon france that way you can still have full english and then just use european cia's and download updates from the eshop.

 

[Townsperson]

I currently have a O3DS with CFW, but want to upgrade and from what I'm seeing its cheaper to import a JP console. Is this what other people have done?

Some, but it comes with a number of restrictions. You will not have access to the US eShop, so you'll have to get games elsewhere. You can't update games through the eShop, so you'll have to download updates and install them manually. Games with multiple regions may try and use JPN by default (Not many; Pokemon gives you an option when you start it).

If you want to buy one, go nuts. Just know it's a bit more to manage than buying the correct console for your region.

 

[CeeDee]

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Nintendo-...-Crossing-Happy-Home-Designer-Bundle/46716414

 

[Townsperson]

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Nintendo-...-Crossing-Happy-Home-Designer-Bundle/46716414

I think OPs point is you can get a JPN console for around $180 or so (Last I checked). It's definitely cheaper, but probably not a smart move if it's your main 3DS.

 

[zer01717]

Thank you all for the info, I appreciate it! I wish I could go the Walmart route (Canadian here). As I said I've had no luck finding any of the non-XL's locally for the past few months. I just want the cheapest option. I'll mull it over.

 

[bakageta]

If you're feeling particularly adventurous, it should be possible to swap the system's region from JP to US. You need a donor SecureInfo_A from the target region, and it doesn't really seem like a trivial process, but it's something I've been considering. I want a normal n3DS instead of the n3DS XL I have, and would rather just get a JP system than one of the few LE's we have. Here's what I've been looking into:

https://gbatemp.net/threads/creating-a-north-american-non-xl-new-3ds.381775/page-14#post-5430511

 

[jefffisher]

Thank you all for the info, I appreciate it! I wish I could go the Walmart route (Canadian here). As I said I've had no luck finding any of the non-XL's locally for the past few months. I just want the cheapest option. I'll mull it over.

you might be able to find the animal crossing one or even the pokemon one used if you look around, or possibly buy a pokemon one and sell the faceplates and dlc to save some money.
amazon.fr comes to $167usd total shipped. no need to region switch just play european games instead.

 

[Townsperson]

If you're feeling particularly adventurous, it should be possible to swap the system's region from JP to US. You need a donor SecureInfo_A from the target region, and it doesn't really seem like a trivial process, but it's something I've been considering. I want a normal n3DS instead of the n3DS XL I have, and would rather just get a JP system than one of the few LE's we have. Here's what I've been looking into:

https://gbatemp.net/threads/creating-a-north-american-non-xl-new-3ds.381775/page-14#post-5430511

Even with a region-swap, you lose out on eShop. Aside from having menus in English, a region-swap doesn't get you much.

 

[gualala]

if you don't mind losing eshop access, just make an autoboot region-change emunand. You get to keep sysnand in the original region.

 

[zer01717]

I saw a couple PAL N3DS's on eBay that were around $200 + $30-50 shipping. Then I checked out Amazon France like you guys suggested, and it was considerably cheaper. For the PAL white version it came to $153.72 (euro's) total. Atleast I hope that was the finite amount. Anyone had experience with Amazon.fr and shipping? Should I expect duties and extra charges?

 

[leerz]

you can region change this thru hax, sysnand region changed,

 

[zer01717]

So I just purchased:
http://www.amazon.fr/Console-New-Ni...e=UTF8&qid=1458256223&sr=1-2&keywords=new+3ds

Think it came to about $225 Canadian.

I had one last question, the past few 3DS's I have modded they were on 10.3 and downgrading with safesysupdater was iffy at best. If the console comes above 10.3 is the new sysupdater with the new method better? Rather what is the general consensus?

Thanks again for all the help and info.

 

[Ronhero]

I buy 3ds's all the time from JPN and region change them to USA

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nintendo-Ne...SA-9-2-10-7-OTP-CFW-ready-RARE-/322043816919?

I can give you the GBA temp discount if you want it pre-done for you :-)