Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

The best version of the system that I've found so far, but you have to be careful with the model that you end up with. More on that later. In comparison, I have owned a 3DS, 3DS XL, two New 3DS XL's, and a New 3DS. Everything works seamlessly, little to no lag loading games as is typical for a cartridge-based system. The C-Stick is generally useless except for the few games that actually require it, not really a reason to upgrade for most people. I consider the change from SD to Micro-SD a big improvement in terms of availability of cheap upgrades, but you might be disappointed with the extra work going into unscrewing the back cover instead off just popping it in and out. Now, on to the pros and cons of the New 3DS XL versus the following: Original DS + DSXL: Night and day, no matter which model you end up with for the N3DSXL, it's a massive improvement unless you're worried about keeping the system small for travel. More on that in the next section, but in general better viewing angles, improved 3D, better button placement. One thing to note is that the stylus on the NXL is smaller than the XL's, which makes it slightly less comfortable to use. VS New 3DS - I recently purchased the Animal Crossing bundle to try out the New 3DS (non-XL). The XL has a more premium feel to it, and fits much better in my hands personally (5'11 male). The glossy finish is a fingerprint magnet and not quite as grippy as the standard N3DS, but less prone to hand cramps if you're an adult. The standard N3DS also feels more like a toy than a $200 console, just generally feels like a lot of corner cutting on the system itself. The smaller N3DS still feels better in the hand than the original, so props to Nintendo for just slightly increasing the size to fix that comfort level. Really, it's up to the way you hold the system in which you'd prefer, I highly suggest going to a GameStop and asking to hold one of each in your hand before making a purchase. Finally, N3DSXL vs N3DSXL. Yeah, a comparison between two models of the exact same offering. The first one I purchased from Target brand new in November of 2015 had a TN panel, or something similar. I ordered a second one from Amazon, same color, but it came with an IPS-like panel. For those of you not familiar with the difference, TN stands for twisted nematic, a cheaper technology used on lower-end LCD screens. It is also used on the original 3ds, xl, and the n3ds small version. The downside to this technology is that you have drastically reduced viewing angles, meaning it washes out when not viewed head-on and can distort the 3D effect more than the IPS model. The IPS screen is viewable from nearly any angle, and generally has a 'cooler' tone to it than the TN panel; an IPS tends to be more blue when the whites are visible, while the TN tends to be more yellow. Unfortunately there is no way to tell which type of panel you will receive before you open the box. There is a simple test to tell which type of screen you received for your top panel however; the bottom panel of the N3DS XL is ALWAYS a TN, there is no IPS version. View your 3DS from either the far left angle or the far right, and if both screens wash out equally, you have a TN model. If the bottom screen washes out while the text is still visible on the top panel, you have an IPS model. Your best bet is to play the lottery a few times via Amazon by returning for a replacement until you get the best screen, unless you don't mind settling for the TN (which renders the 3D tracking useless). Attached is a comparison photo that I hope will help in showing the difference between the screens of the 3DS XL, N3DS, N3DS XL TN, and N3DS XL IPS.