Nintendo 3DS

Template:Infobox Console The Nintendo 3DS is Nintendo's current portable console. The 3DS' most noticeable feature is the ability to project autostereoscopic 3D effects without the use of 3D glasses or other accessories. The Nintendo 3DS succeeds the original Nintendo DS series of handheld consoles. It also features backwards compatibility with the Nintendo DS systems. Its top screen is also slightly larger than the DS' top screens for deeper gameplay.

The Nintendo 3DS was officially announced on March 23^rd, 2010. It was released in Japan, North America, Europe and Australia in early 2011, specifically in North America on March 27^th, 2011, just a year after its official announcement. Its launch price was $249.99 USD, but on August 12^th, 2011 the price dropped to $169.99. Worldwide, the 3DS has been released in seven different known colors: Aqua Blue, Cosmos Black, Flame Red, Pearl Pink, and Midnight Purple, in North America; in Japan, there are two other colors: Cobalt Blue and Ice White.

The input on the Nintendo 3DS is the same, with a few new things added. To the right of the bottom touchscreen players have the button array. To the left is a newly added , and underneath it is the traditional . Underneath the touchscreen are the and buttons. To the right of the button is the Power button. On the back are the and bumpers and the compartment. The can be extended to a player's comfort.

On June 21^st, 2012, Nintendo announced they would be releasing a redesigned version of the Nintendo 3DS, titled Nintendo 3DS XL. Its screens are 90% larger than the original 3DS' screens, and it was released in North America on August 19^th, 2012. Later, the Nintendo 2DS was released in late 2013, which is cheaper than the Nintendo 3DS, but does not feature autostereoscopic 3D and has a slate design, unlike the 3DS's clamshell design. Finally, the New Nintendo 3DS and its XL counterpart were released throughout 2014 and 2015. They feature enhanced processing power, built-in NFC, "Super Stable 3D" that improves the systems' autostereoscopic effect, additional ZR and ZL shoulder triggers and a new C-Stick.

Accessories

Stylus

The original 3DS stylus differs significantly from the previous models. It is notably able to extend to a user's comfort, up to 3.94 inches maximum. It is metallic and is contained in the back of the 3DS. The stylus for the 3DS XL, however, is plastic, non-extendable and is stored on the right side.

Circle Pad Pro

The Circle Pad Pro is an accessory that adds extra buttons to the 3DS for more complex gameplay. Implied by its name, it has an extra Stick on the right side, as well as ZL and ZR shoulder buttons on the back. It is all put into a cradle that the 3DS can fit into. Currently, it is only available in Cosmos Black. The current design is incompatible for the 3DS XL, however it has been confirmed that a redesigned one will be released for it at a later time.