Hardware IPS or TN Hyrule n3DS XL?

[Yunta513]

Hi,

looking to get a 3DS when I stumbled down the rabbit hole of the whole IPS vs TN thing. Been trying various online second-hand sellers and stumbled upon a Hyrule 3DS. Tried to get the seller to send some pictures under the right conditions. Any idea what this is?

I’m in Australia so it makes the serial number filter a bit harder

 

[Zense]

Hi,

looking to get a 3DS when I stumbled down the rabbit hole of the whole IPS vs TN thing. Been trying various online second-hand sellers and stumbled upon a Hyrule 3DS. Tried to get the seller to send some pictures under the right conditions. Any idea what this is?

I’m in Australia so it makes the serial number filter a bit harderView attachment 217758View attachment 217759View attachment 217760View attachment 217761View attachment 217762View attachment 217763View attachment 217764

That's the smaller n3ds, which I have myself. From the pictures it looks like TN, which I also have and I honestly wouldn't worry about it, especially since the whites look okay on both screens. Of course if you've already sunken deep enough to need to have an IPS then you might need to look elsewhere. Also I think you'd see it better on screens with more colors and at an angle than the black and white screens he's mostly showing you.

Personally I'd be more worried about what's going on with that right hinge that seems to have a crack all the way to the led. Replacing that is probably as much of a hassle as replacing the screen for an IPS screen if you've got TN.

 

[Yunta513]

That's the smaller n3ds, which I have myself. From the pictures it looks like TN, which I also have and I honestly wouldn't worry about it, especially since the whites look okay on both screens. Of course if you've already sunken deep enough to need to have an IPS then you might need to look elsewhere. Also I think you'd see it better on screens with more colors and at an angle than the black and white screens he's mostly showing you.

Personally I'd be more worried about what's going on with that right hinge that seems to have a crack all the way to the led. Replacing that is probably as much of a hassle as replacing the screen for an IPS screen if you've got TN.

Thanks. Oh damn, didn’t realise it was the smaller size! It came up when I was using XL. Thanks for pointing out. It’d probably drop it on that alone.

Yeah, I noticed the hinged. I was told it was a small scuff. I tried to explain about the different screens, but they didn’t really get it. That’s the best I could get out of them.

To me, I think it’s IPS or bust. I’ve seen all the comparison stuff and wouldn’t be able to live with a TN screen especially knowing the IPS versions are out there.

My only really experience first hand was looking at this one in person:

Which to me looked TN. Was hard to diagnose in person because I was in sunlight, but it seemed to wash out when tilted. Also, I noticed in the shot they sent above the second screen has the telltale light bleed points on the bottom screen (left) which normally indicates TN. At least I think?

 

[IC_]

That's the smaller n3ds, which I have myself. From the pictures it looks like TN, which I also have and I honestly wouldn't worry about it, especially since the whites look okay on both screens. Of course if you've already sunken deep enough to need to have an IPS then you might need to look elsewhere. Also I think you'd see it better on screens with more colors and at an angle than the black and white screens he's mostly showing you.

Personally I'd be more worried about what's going on with that right hinge that seems to have a crack all the way to the led. Replacing that is probably as much of a hassle as replacing the screen for an IPS screen if you've got TN.

It's not the smaller n3DS, I have one and it looks different and smaller than the 3DS in these pictures

 

[Lenks]

TN for sure...

 

[Zense]

It's not the smaller n3DS, I have one and it looks different and smaller than the 3DS in these pictures

I was pretty sure only the small n3ds has the groove for the thumb in the hinge part above the right cstick.

Edit: Seems I was wrong about that assumption. It's the n2ds xl which lacks it.

@Yunta513 the first one is the XL actually but seems others believe it's a TN display.

 

[havocdrake]

Images should be shot at an angle, camera facing the right-side of the console. Then I can comment.

 

[Yunta513]

Sorry guys, I try to be as explicit with picture requests as I can, but some just don’t get it. I understand why trying to locate a IPS/dual IPS can be such a chore.

I found this one too. Hyrule edition again:

Hard to tell because of the exposure, but the colours seem to stay kind of consistent off-angle.

EDIT: here it is front on for comparison:

BTW, if there’s a dedicated thread people would prefer I post in just let me know.

 

[havocdrake]

The text in your image is a little bit unreadable and smudge. This is mine, both top and bottom are IPS.

 

[Yunta513]

Thanks. Yours looks really good.

From my research it seems it’s just as hard to get the seller to take an appropriate photo as it is to get an actual IPS! They’re always in direct sunlight, only slight off centre, or blown-out like about. Luckily the guy has Homebrew some I’m getting his to check with 3dsident. Fingers crossed

3dit: should I keep the Homebrew installed if so?

 

[havocdrake]

1.) 3dsident
2.) should I keep the Homebrew installed if so?

Yes and Yes!

 

[Yunta513]

Hah, well 3dsindent identified as double TN. Weird. Can it ever be wrong? He actually knew what I was inquiring about and was sure the top screen was IPS and bottom TN.



Anyway, I found a Fates edition:



Dunno what to think. Bottom kind of looks like IPS. Top I don’t know. Side shot looks washed out, but the front on shot looks bright, and that same menu (now on bottom) looks paled. Maybe it’s just the image?

 

[havocdrake]

1.) I found a Fates edition
2.) Side shot looks washed out

#1, Bottom is literally IPS, top im not sure.
My literal basis is if the text is smudge with white contrast. this bottom doesn't look like it.

#2, top really looks washed out, at least the text should be visible.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

my camera does not do justice. ffffffhuck

 

[Yunta513]

#1, Bottom is literally IPS, top im not sure.
My literal basis is if the text is smudge with white contrast. this bottom doesn't look like it.

#2, top really looks washed out, at least the text should be visible.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

my camera does not do justice. ffffffhuck

Yeah it's hard tell. My only thought is the background from #1 at the top, that's on the bottom in #2, shows the same washed out look on both screens. Makes me think that design/picture is natively whitish given the fidelity of colour of the bottom screen in the first shot. Top screen still has colour and blacks to an extent, in the second shot. I'll have to see. I'm going to check it out tomorrow.

I have two additional shots. The first just seems brighter overall in both screens, which I think is a camera white balance thing. The second shows the top screen with more clear blacks and colours:

 

[havocdrake]

For additional reference:

 

[peteruk]

Fates edition looks dual IPS

We have a Dual IPS Fates edition here too

 

[Yunta513]

Fates edition looks dual IPS

We have a Dual IPS Fates edition here too

That's encouraging to hear. You own one personally? Hmmmm. Is there anything particular to that model that I should look out for when I inspect? Additionally, is there anything in particular about the photos I provided that made you think dual IPS (being the owner of this model yourself, that is).

If it a dual I think I'm going to go the whole hog and upgrade the SD, install CFW (bearing the firmware is low enough?). Pretty excited to check it out in person!

 

[peteruk]

That's encouraging to hear. You own one personally? Hmmmm. Is there anything particular to that model that I should look out for when I inspect? Additionally, is there anything in particular about the photos I provided that made you think dual IPS (being the owner of this model yourself, that is).

If it a dual I think I'm going to go the whole hog and upgrade the SD, install CFW (bearing the firmware is low enough?). Pretty excited to check it out in person!

This top pic shows my Fates Dual IPS next to my Galaxy Dual TN

This one is proof that 3dsIdent works

I've tested the software on tens of new 3ds xl's and only ever found 2 DUAL IPS models, plenty with upper IPS

 

[Yunta513]

Just an update:

Went and looked at the Fates 3DS. I had hardly any time and was a bit frazzled from the hectic day, so I didn’t get to do the best diagnosis. To me though it didn’t look overly vibrant from my brief time, and still seemed to wash-out to me. I wasn’t in the best environment to check though. Not like the displays posted here, that’s for sure. I was also under the false impression that I could CFW after 11.4 (it was 11.6). I was reticent you commit so they offered to still make it available another day if they still had it, seeing as I had to go.

Anyway, I contacted them earlier online and asked if they’d do this Black Level test:

https://gbatemp.net/threads/tutoria...u-have-screen-s-with-ips-panel-or-not.421507/

It seems that’s a pretty good method, about the most accurate outside of modding it. He graciously agreed and reported back he saw 4 and up on both screens, which means dual TN. Womp womp! I guess it goes to show not all screens are born equal.

 

[havocdrake]

Mine:
Top: 8 and up (but on the top screen, 8 is barely visible than the bottom)
Bottom: 8 and up

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

This is a good proof. Thanks!