Nintendo 3DS vs Nintendo 3DS XL

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

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3DS compared with 3DS XL

	Nintendo3DS	Nintendo3DS XL
Overview
Released
Released	February 2011	July 2012
Performance
Type
Type	Handheld	Handheld
CPU
CPU	ARM11 MPCore, 2 cores, 268 MHz	–
GPU
GPU	DMP PICA200, 268 MHz	–
Memory
Memory	134 MB	–
Disc drive
Disc drive	No	No
CPU
CPU	Dual-core ARM11 MPCore at 268 MHz plus an ARM946 processor (original 3DS security research)	–
GPU
GPU	DMP PICA200 at 268 MHz (DMP and Copetti)	–
Memory detail
Memory detail	128 MB FCRAM plus 6 MB VRAM (original 3DS security research)	–
Storage detail
Storage detail	Games on Nintendo 3DS game cards; 2 GB SD card included	–
Storage expansion
Storage expansion	SD and SDHC cards	SD cards up to 2 GB and SDHC cards from 4 to 32 GB; SDHC card included (UK manual; capacity stated on the box)
Display and video
Built-in screen
Built-in screen	3.53″ LCD, 800 × 240	4.88″ LCD, 800 × 240
Built-in screen
Built-in screen	Upper 3.53-inch 3D LCD, 800 × 240 (400 pixels per eye in 3D), 16.7 million colours; lower 3.02-inch LCD touch screen, 320 × 240	Upper 4.88-inch 3D LCD, 800 × 240 with 400 pixels per eye in 3D; lower 4.18-inch touch LCD, 320 × 240; both display 16.7 million colours. Five brightness levels and power-saving mode (UK manual)
Audio
Audio	Stereo speakers (pseudo-surround); headphone jack	Stereo speakers with pseudo-surround and headphone output
Design and power
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	Up to 5 hours	Up to 6.5 hours
Weight
Weight	235 g (better)	336 g
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	5 Wh lithium-ion battery (CTR-003); about 3–5 hours with 3DS software and 5–8 hours with DS software; charges in about 3 hours 30 minutes	SPR-003 replaceable 6.5 Wh lithium-ion pack; approximately 3.5–6.5 hours with 3DS software or 6–10 hours with DS software. Runtime depends on brightness, software, wireless use and temperature; cameras may shorten it further. Charge approximately 3.5 hours when off
Size
Size	–	156 × 93 × 22 mm when closed (width × height × thickness); 336 g includes battery, stylus and SD card
Power use
Power use	About 4.1 W maximum while charging (Nintendo UK manual)	–
In the box
In the box	Console, charging cradle, AC adapter, stylus, 2 GB SD card, 6 AR Games cards	–
Connections
Ports
Ports	Game card slot, SD card slot, AC adapter connector, audio jack (stereo out); charging cradle contacts	Game card and SD card slots, charging cradle contacts, AC adapter connector and stereo audio jack
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth	Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11b/g (2.4 GHz); infrared (Nintendo UK manual)	Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11b/g, 2.4 GHz; infrared. Amiibo requires the separate NFC Reader/Writer (Nintendo UK); the retained Japanese page's NFC line conflicts with this accessory requirement
Controller
Controller	Built-in Circle Pad, D-pad, A/B/X/Y, L/R buttons; motion sensor and gyro sensor; stylus	One Circle Pad, D-pad, A/B/X/Y, L/R, Start, Select and Home; motion and gyro sensors. One inner and two outer fixed-focus 0.3-megapixel CMOS cameras (Nintendo Japan)
Backward compatibility
Backward compatibility	Nintendo DS and DSi games	Nintendo 3DS, DS, DSi and DSi-enhanced game cards; 3DS and DSi software must match the system's region (UK manual)