During Friday’s Nintendo Direct, Nintendo revealed the next iteration of their 3DS portable, which they’re affectionately naming the “New 3DS” and “New 3DS LL”. (In the US, the LL is known as the XL). These latest products follow the debuts of the 2DS last year and the 3DS XL in 2012. The device is more evolutionary than a complete redesign, though the changes are plenty.
First and foremost the company is enhancing the portables’ displays. The screens on the 3DS are bigger, upgraded from 3.53 to 3.88 inches (the XL’s screen size will remain the same at 4.88″). Brightness levels and controls have been increased, and thanks to a new light sensor the device will auto-dim and brighten according to environmental light. A new “Super-Stable 3D” screen enhancement will utilize the user-facing camera to track faces and adjust the 3D output, allowing for a greater viewing angle for the feature. However if a game relies on usage of the camera, or in low-light situations, it may not work. The resolution of the displays remains the same as today.
The portable includes more controls as well, with the most prominent being a new analog c-stick “nub” that will allow for camera controls in games that allow for it. The monster-sized (but useful) Circle Pad Pro attachment has provided the feature until now. It’s worth noting that with the placement of the nub above the face buttons, a circular scallop has been added into the surface of the hinge to make clearance for thumbs. Also added are new trigger buttons on top of the device and just inside of the L & R shoulder buttons, named ZL and ZR. The Select and Start buttons have been moved off of the bezel under the lower screen and onto the right half of the device under the ABXY buttons, similar to the Wii U’s Gamepad layout.
Noticeable physical changes have taken place to the devices. With the addition of the new buttons, the card slot, stylus and power button have all been moved to the bottom, and the volume slider now mimics the 3D slider and is placed to the left of the screen. Gone are the physical WiFi switch and external SD card slot, replaced by software settings and an internal microSD (up to 32GB) slot behind a removable backplate. The New 3DS (not the XL) makes way for customizable faceplates on both sides of the device’s back, with Nintendo revealing several during the presentation, and the overall shape looks like like the current 3DS XL’s form factor mated with the iPhone 5’s graphic breakup. It’s also slightly heavier and larger than the current 3DS on all sides. The New 3DS XL is thinner than the current model, but wider and longer. It makes up for the size by being lighter by a few grams.
New charging cradles come in a variety of colors and now hold the devices vertically, a la the Wii’s cradle.
Behind the scenes are significant boosts to the hardware’s RAM, though an exact number was not given. This will speed up several processes within the device, and will allow the new Super-Stable 3D to function accordingly. Coupled with a faster WiFi receiver, the New 3DS and XL will let data be downloaded quicker, and wireless data/backup transfer to and from PCs will now be available. Windows 7 & 8 were mentioned, though nothing for Mac (yet). The physical and software improvements allow the 3DSes to stay powered longer thanks to an updated battery. The New 3DS now has 3.5-6 hours of power time, while the New 3DS XL can stay afloat for up to 7 hours.
Though the amiibo figures and NFC functionality will come to current 3DS systems via an infrared “puck”, the new portables will have NFC built into them. NFC will be engaged by simply tapping the lower screens with a figure or card.
On the software side, the home menus now have purchasable themes. That is, folders, backgrounds and audio can be changed to match Mario, Zelda, or any other products and designs that Nintendo and its partners come up with. This is something already found on Sony’s Playstation line of products. No word on customizable themes was announced. The browser is now HTML compatible and will play videos from all compatible sources, and in Japan will have an automatic child safety filter that can only be unlocked via a 30 cent one-time fee. These will come in an update in October to current 3DS devices as well (though no word on the child safety filter). The portables will be able to play all 3DS games and the majority of DS games, as well as games specific to the New 3DS and New 3DS XL.
Finally, the device will be launching in Japan on October 11, alongside special Smash Bros and Monster Hunter versions throughout the year. The portable will not arrive until sometime in 2015 in the US, and the name & technical specifications are subject to change.
Source: Nintendo
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