Nintendo 3DS XL

SPR-001 · 2012–2015 · handheld console

Specifications

Cpu: ARM11 MPCore dual-core at 268 MHz + ARM9 at 133 MHz (coprocessor for Nintendo DS backward compatibility)
Ram: max: 128 MB FCRAM (fixed) · base: 128 MB FCRAM + 6 MB VRAM
Media: Nintendo 3DS Game Card; backward compatible with Nintendo DS Game Cards
Battery: Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion, 1750 mAh (SPR-003), approx. 3.5-6.5 hours of 3DS play
Display: Top: 4.88-inch autostereoscopic (glasses-free 3D) LCD, 800x240 (400x240 per eye); bottom: 4.18-inch resistive touchscreen, 320x240; 90% larger screen area than the original 3DS
Storage: base: 4 GB SD card included · options: SD/SDHC card slot (full-size), up to 32 GB officially
Release Price: $199.99

Variants

Colors

Blue/BlackNorth America launch color, August 2012

Red/BlackNorth America launch color, August 2012

Silver/BlackJapan/Europe launch color, July 2012

WhiteJapan launch color, July 2012

Fire Emblem: Awakening editionFire Emblem Awakening edition, blue with character artwork, 2013, Europe

Animal Crossing: New Leaf editionAnimal Crossing New Leaf edition, white with leaf and fruit icons, bundled with the game, June 2013, Europe and North America

Year of Luigi editionYear of Luigi 30th anniversary edition, white shell with green Luigi silhouettes, bundled with Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, July to November 2013, Japan and Europe

Mario & Luigi: Dream Team editionMario & Luigi Dream Team edition, silver and black with gold character outlines, 2013, North America

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds editionZelda A Link Between Worlds edition, gold shell with black Triforce artwork, 2013, Europe and North America

Pikachu editionPokemon Pikachu edition, yellow with black Pikachu artwork, 2013, Europe

Pokemon X and Y edition (Blue)Pokemon X and Y edition, blue, bundled with the game, 2013, Europe and North America

Pokemon X and Y edition (Red)Pokemon X and Y edition, red, bundled with the game, 2013, Europe and North America

Pokemon Center Charizard editionPokemon Center Charizard (Lizardon) edition, orange and black, Pokemon Center lottery release, 2013, Japan

Pokemon Center Eevee editionPokemon Center 15th anniversary Eevee edition, brown, June 2013, Japan

Yoshi's New Island editionYoshi's New Island edition, green with Yoshi artwork, 2014, Europe and North America

New Super Mario Bros. 2: Gold EditionNew Super Mario Bros. 2 Gold Edition, red shell with gold trim, pre-installed with the game and all DLC course packs, holiday 2014, United States and Canada

Super Smash Bros. edition (Red)Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS edition, red with fighter artwork, September to October 2014, North America and Europe

Super Smash Bros. edition (Blue)Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS edition, blue with fighter artwork, September 2014, North America

Retro NES editionRetro NES edition, grey shell styled after the NES console and controller, GameStop exclusive, October 2014, United States

Disney Magical World editionDisney Magical World edition, white and gold with Mickey Mouse artwork, Walmart exclusive, 2014, North America

Disney Magic Castle: My Happy Life editionDisney Magic Castle: My Happy Life edition, white with Mickey Mouse head icons, 2014, Japan

Monster Hunter 4 edition (Gore Magala Black)Monster Hunter 4 Special Pack, Gore Magala black, bundled with the game, September 2013, Japan

Dragon Quest Monsters 2 editionDragon Quest Monsters 2: Iru and Luca's Marvelous Mysterious Key edition, white and silver, bundled with the game, February 2014, Japan

One Piece: Unlimited World R editionOne Piece Unlimited World Red edition, red and black with Straw Hat crew artwork, bundled with the game, 2014, Japan

Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth editionPersona Q Shadow of the Labyrinth Velvet Model, blue with Velvet Room and cast artwork, June 2014, Japan

Yo-kai Watch editionYo-kai Watch Jibanyan edition, white with Jibanyan artwork, July 2014, Japan

Shin Megami Tensei IV editionShin Megami Tensei IV edition, white and black law-versus-chaos demon artwork, 2013, Japan

Super Robot Wars UX editionSuper Robot Wars (Super Robot Taisen) UX edition, black with mecha artwork, March 2014, Japan

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call editionTheatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call edition, black with gold Final Fantasy character artwork, April 2014, Japan

Tomodachi Collection: New Life editionTomodachi Collection New Life edition, white, bundled with the game, 2013, Japan

iQue Mario Red and Gold editioniQue Mario Red and Gold edition, red and gold with Mario and Luigi crest artwork, bundled with Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7, December 2012, China. Sold alongside iQue Mario White and Mario Silver editions of the same hardware.

Upgrade paths

storage

SDHC cards up to 32 GB officially (larger SDXC cards work when formatted FAT32) · Full-size SD slot on the left edge; no disassembly needed.

~$10

EASY

battery

Replacement SPR-003 cell · Two screws on the back panel expose the removable battery.

~$15

EASY

other

Custom firmware (Luma3DS via boot9strap) on any firmware version · The 3DS family has one of the most mature console homebrew scenes; softmod is fully documented at 3ds.hacks.guide.

free

MODERATE

On 8 shelves

@turbo-vole-5166e @neeve @magrussy @soldered-otter-44b88 @lea @rugged-raven-a311c @rugged-otter-ca805 @polar

Page contributors

Thanks to @neeve for notes, guides and corrections on this page.