The Nintendo 3DS XL is an eighth-generation handheld game console released in 2012. It was a larger version of the original Nintendo 3DS, featuring bigger screens and improved battery life, and was sold alongside the original model. The console retained all the core features of the 3DS, including its glasses-free stereoscopic 3D technology, which could be adjusted or turned off with a slider.
Features
- Larger screens: The most notable upgrade was the screen size, with the top screen 90% larger than the one on the original 3DS. The top screen was 4.88 inches, and the bottom screen was 4.18 inches.
- Extended battery life: The 3DS XL had a larger battery (1,750 mAh), which allowed for longer playtime compared to the original model.
- Backwards compatibility: It could play the vast library of Nintendo 3DS games as well as most games from the previous generation, the Nintendo DS.
- Controller redesign: While the button layout was largely the same, the 3DS XL had a more ergonomic and comfortable design for many users, especially those with larger hands. It also featured a standard stylus rather than the telescoping one of the original 3DS.
- No bundled charger: In some regions, like Japan and Europe, the 3DS XL was sold without an AC adapter to reduce costs, assuming many users already had one from a previous DSi or 3DS.