Hey friend! Let‘s dive deep into the 3DS LL and 3DS XL
As a fellow tech lover, I‘m sure you‘ve wondered about the difference between the 3DS LL and XL. At first glance they seem nearly identical, other than being for different regions!
But there‘s a lot more to uncover about these fun Nintendo handhelds. Come explore the LL and XL with me – I‘ll share the insider details from my years of gaming experience!
Size Matters! LL/XL Screen and Dimensions
The main draw of the 3DS LL/XL models is their supersized screens over the original 3DS:
- 3DS LL/XL Upper Screen: 4.88 inches (90% larger than original 3DS)
- 3DS LL/XL Lower Screen: 4.18 inches (also 90% larger)
And the LL and XL are bigger overall devices:
| Model | Width | Height | Depth | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3DS LL/XL | 93.5 mm | 160 mm | 21.5 mm | 336 g |
| Original 3DS | 74 mm | 134 mm | 21 mm | 235 g |
So you get nearly double the screen real estate, in a shell about 25% wider, taller and heavier!
Nintendo wanted to draw in buyers who thought the original 3DS screens were too small for comfortable gameplay. And it worked – the 3DS XL accounted for nearly 50% of total 3DS sales!
Hardware Under the Hood
Beyond the size bumps, the LL and XL variants have other improved internal hardware:
- Faster CPUs (dual core ARM11 MPCore @ 300MHz vs original‘s single core ARM11 MPCore @ 268MHz)
- Double the RAM (256 MB vs 128 MB)
- Extra VRAM for the GPUs (96MB vs 64MB)
These upgrades delivered smoother performance, quicker load times, and snappier system menus. Important when rendering those larger screens!
The XL models also had slightly better battery life, lasting around 3.5-6.5 hours compared to the original‘s 3-5 hours.
Regional Locking – Playing in Harmony?
As with past Nintendo handhelds, the 3DS line enforces regional locking to encourage buying games locally. This means:
- 3DS LL (Japan) only plays Japanese 3DS games
- 3DS XL (America) only plays North American 3DS games
While the LL and XL hardware is essentially identical, the regional locking segregates the software libraries.
Some felt this practice was anti-consumer. But Nintendo claimed it helped localize content and made debugging easier. Fans worked around the locks with custom firmware.
In the Switch era, Nintendo has finally ditched region locking, allowing games to be played worldwide!
Backwards Compatibility – Old Meets New
The 3DS family retains backwards compatibility with the vast Nintendo DS library – over 2000 games!
Popular DS titles playable on the 3DS LL/XL include:
- New Super Mario Bros
- Brain Age series
- Nintendogs
- Animal Crossing: Wild World
- Mario Kart DS
- Chrono Trigger
- Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
This backwards compatibility let 3DS owners revisit classics or play acclaimed DS games they missed out on. It provided a huge range of software amidst the slower 3DS launch period.
Resetting your LL/XL – A Fresh Start
Should you need to factory reset your 3DS LL/XL, here are the steps:
- Go to System Settings on the Home Menu
- Select "Other Settings"
- For Original 3DS: Navigate to page 4
For New 3DS: Go to page 5 - Choose "Format System Memory"
- Double check your data is backed up!
- Confirm the format when prompted
This will wipe the system memory clean. Be sure to unlink your Nintendo Network ID first if you want to preserve your digital purchases.
The Curtain Falls on the 3DS Era
After over 9 years and more than 75 million systems sold, Nintendo has ceased production on the 3DS line including the LL/XL. The Switch has succeeded it as Nintendo‘s flagship system.
Why the changeover? Several factors:
- Declining 3DS sales – only 4 million units in 2019 vs 17 million at peak in 2013
- The Switch‘s hybrid portable/home console concept
- Nintendo wanting to focus development resources on one hardware platform
- Advances in mobile chipsets enabling greater performance
It‘s the end of an era, but the 3DS delivered countless hours of entertainment through excellent games, portability, and 3D visuals!
The "L" and "R" of Language Barriers
The "L" and "R" sounds don‘t exist distinctly in Japanese. This leads to the classic Engrish interchanging of the two letters when translated or pronounced.
Some tips for English learners mastering these tricky sounds:
- For "L", ensure your tongue tips up behind your top front teeth
- For "R", curl your tongue back without touching the roof of your mouth
- Contrast words like "light" and "right" to hear the difference
- Pay attention to tongue and mouth positions
- Practice daily with minimal pairs like "lock" and "rock"
With dedication, the "L" and "R" dilemma can be overcome!
Parting Words my Friend
Well, I hope this guide shed light on the relationship between the 3DS LL and XL models! Let me know if you have any other questions – I could talk Nintendo specs all day! Until next time, happy gaming my friend!