Help with New 3DS

[elle7]

So I'm going to buy one of the New 3DS consoles today, or tomorrow, and I'm really struggling on deciding between the New 3DS and the New 3DS XL.

The choices I have are the New 3DS in white or black, or the New 3DS XL in black or Navy blue.

Currently I have a 3DS XL, so I don't know if that means I should get the New XL, because maybe changing to a smaller screen would be weird? But does having a smaller screen mean that the image is more clear? Has anyone gone from an XL to a New 3DS?

Also, both my copies of AC are physical copies, not downloaded, so will they be ok on the new 3DS? Will my towns still be there when I load up the game?

 

[kasane]

I've heard that the New 3DS/XL has better graphics (applies to both normal and XL).
Although if you want one of those face places for the New 3DS, then they're only available for the standard New 3DS.

For safety measures, I guess make sure to set your New Leaf date corresponding to the actual date? Same thing goes for the new console which you're planning to buy. Keep in mind that the new consoles don't have the Wi-Fi switch though.

 

[elle7]

I've never really had much cause to use my wifi switch before, so that's one of the things that I don't really have to think about

I do like those new cover plate things, so that would be a plus to the smaller New 3DS. I feel like I am leaning more towards the smaller one. The only reason I would want the XL is because I have the old XL and that's the size I'm used to. But I also really would like a white console, and the New XL doesn't come in white at the moment.

 

[Tap Dancer]

I have a 3DS XL (but not the brand new one). I love it because of the large screens. I've heard people say that the regular 3DS is easier to hold if your hands are smaller, but my hands are small and the XL is easy for me to hold. Personally, if I got a new console, I'd buy the larger one again.

 

[elle7]

I do like the bigger screen, but that's the only screen I've had since I had my old DS Lite years ago. I feel like I really want the white New 3DS, but it's just the screen size that's holding me back.

 

[katysu]

Can't answer your main question as I went from a 3dsXL to a new 3dsXL - and on the whole very pleased indeed.
The resolution is the same but the screens look better with greater colour saturation - but its purely subjective observation on my part.
The top screen is till yellow or warm in colouring, as it was on the 3dsXL.
The new XL is slightly heavier, its noticable but then I have put on the hori duraflexi clear screen case.
It still fits inside an amazon basics black preformed case.

The N3ds - will have a less pixallated look (as was the case between the 3ds & the 3dsXL) but I doubt its that much different for you given you are using an XL currently.

To be sure & you have the time - go into a store selling them and ask to see both new consoles to compare. I was going to do this but I would have had to travel so just went for the XL version.
The XL version is a bit of whopper to carry around so if you want something neater then the N3ds might work better for you.
The screen size of the N3ds is bigger than the old 3ds.
To be sure you need to go and check them out.

There are some hinge issues with the new 3dsXL - some sideways movement & slightly floppy back and forth - supposedly affects the black more than the red (if in US).

I'm in the UK with a metallic blue - & it does have a slightly floppy top screen and a little sideways movement - but it isn't a problem playing a game such as ACNL. It also makes a cracking sound on opening.
Some do some don't - luck of the draw.
I got from Amazon UK (& they are selling again at a good price ?175)


Yes you can move a cart copy straight onto the new console - BUT make sure you change the date of the console to match your game time before you load the game (the game picks up the time from the console).

 

[Jarrad]

I had this exact same problem when deciding which 3DS to get. I eventually went for the black XL, since I have a standard 3DS atm and I started using it after I broke my 3DS XL and it felt like playing a gameboy micro. There are some technical differences from the new 3ds to the new 3ds XL, something about the GUI's display being more colourful on the XL and less so on the standard new 3ds. I also think the battery life is longer on the XL.

The cons of getting a standard new 3ds is that they're a lot more customisable, and they're a little bigger than the ordinary 3DS.
Also, the XL scratches really easily.

I haven't come across any hinge issues with the XL. If your new XL "flops" back and forth then I'd probably enquire about getting a replacement, as that shouldn't be happening.

 

[katysu]

I've been tring to find more info - apparently there are different type of screens (some TN & some are IPS) - got too technical for me.

Came across this youtube video comparing a N3ds against a N3dsXL which I'm checking out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wlUnR8DfDU

As to the floppy top screen - apparently a lot of consoles suffer this (going by the posts I've seen across the boards) it is highly likely to be considered within reason. My screens look bright and no dead pixels. Its over a month old so too late to return unless it was faulty - & I don't consider it to be.
My N3dsXL is a real finger mark magnet so went for the Hori flexible clear case. No problems with the screens scratching, but have got Hori screen protectors on.


This video shows what my hinges are like - cracking with a wobble - I can just imagine what amazon would say if I told them I wasn't happy - & I guess even if they replaced with a new one it could well be the same. I think Nintendo would say it was within tolerance levels. I'll live with it.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9Zd1CEvnVQ

 

[SweetT]

I have the old aqua 3ds and the new n3ds xl. Of course the bigger screen was a plus for me considering I had never had an xl so it was an upgrade for me. I do however like the crisp clearness of my regular 3ds as acnl was made for that one and it is not as pixilated..well not pixilated at all. It is somewhat pixelated on the xl 3ds but not terrible. The colors do seem a bit warmer to me on the xl as well. And that 3d effect imo is not any better on the new one..it actually seems to jack up more to me, but I wear glasses so I think it messes with it. Well thats my two cents...and I did get a skin for my xl one at decal girl..have no screen protector and no finger print problems or hinge problems either.

 

[FancyThat]

I'm going to get the regular new 3DS, I just can't decide if I want it in black or white. I haven't gone to look at them yet but I've been told the screens are bigger than the old regular 3DS ones so that's a plus.

 

[elle7]

Thanks for all the information! I'm still so undecided, it's terrible!

I see all the pros for the New XL, but I just keep going back to the white New 3DS! It's maddening!

 

[badcrumbs]

Do you know anyone with a regular 3DS? Or a place where you could play around with one? At least then you'd know how much the screen difference would bother you (if at all). Before I knew that the US wasn't getting the smaller one (I wanted face plates, dammit!), I played around with a friends and decided it was too different for my taste. The New XLs aren't super attractive, but easy to customize with a case/vinyl/stickers/etc.

 

[elle7]

Do you know anyone with a regular 3DS? Or a place where you could play around with one? At least then you'd know how much the screen difference would bother you (if at all). Before I knew that the US wasn't getting the smaller one (I wanted face plates, dammit!), I played around with a friends and decided it was too different for my taste. The New XLs aren't super attractive, but easy to customize with a case/vinyl/stickers/etc.

I don't know anyone who has any 3DS, and I can't get to a store any time soon to see a sample one

I'm hoping that if I do go for the regular sized one I wont really notice the difference after a while, only if I were to have them both open next to each other.

- - - Post Merge - - -

Also, I'm just really liking the white one. I wish the XL came in white! My current old XL is the black one with the blue outer, and I really would like the change of having the part I'm looking at be white instead of black. My old DS Lite was the white one, and I'm kind of missing the brightness it brought.

 

[elle7]

Well, I've ended up buying the white N3DS. I think for me everything was pro N3DS except for the screen size, but I think I'll be ok with the smaller screen. I'll find out tomorrow when it arrives I guess

So for my AC game I just have to make sure that the system clock and my in game clock match up before loading up?

 

[Classygirl]

I got another 3ds lately but I didn't get the new after talking to associate about differences bt the two versus price, plus I was given a special edition with the old game boy style face, my boyfriend got one in navy his may be new, I think he talked to a friend as well so it may be a non new considering what special differences and compatibles is would make it worth being better.

But just as far as size, I find in either case from experimenting that I prefer XL all around even with small hands, am not a huge fan of the new ds though but that's just me the original XL is to be compat with new games and still plays old ds if need it to plus price so I went with that just got a bigger ds card in case. So just for question I say XL either way but if you want something special, my new older version was a show piece special edition game boy front color so I was gifted that but I would go black if yours isn't and stay XL unless really want a face piece but I don't know much on that.

 

[Boccages]

New 3DS XL has no faceplates but it has an IPS screen with better overall color saturation and rendering. Better screen all in all.

 

[katysu]

elle7 - congrats! I'm sure you will be happy with the n3ds - it does have a larger screen than the original 3ds.

Time
Make a note of the time and date when you last play your ac game.
The time in animal crossing is an off set of the time on the 3ds - it takes the time from the console when you load up, but any difference between them remains the same (unless you manually make them the same - you need a third clock with seconds to do this - a wrist watch/alarm clock).

When you get your new 3ds it will have a base time - something like 1 Jan 2014 - and you have to change it when you set the console up - either to the real time & date or you could change it to the time & date of your ac game.
To get it exact you would need to use a 3rd outside real time clock with seconds.

You can change time in acnl in two ways 1. By changing the time on the 3ds console and then loading the game.
2. Changing the time with Isabelle at the front screen - BEFORE you load the game.

I have always changed time on the console itself - I only play acnl so don't need the console to show the correct time.
And historically I prefer to have the console & the game showing the same time - although it isn't necessary in acnl.
I find it easier and less confusing.

How you do it depends on how you play currently - I can't play every day in RL so I freeze time on the game, changing the time on the console to a time after I last played. I could do this by changing the time with Isabelle at the front screen - but it is easy to forget and I have a routine of changing on the console, have never forgotten.

I probably have totally confused you - another player might be able to explain it better- changing the time is easy to do.

Cart copies of the game save to the cart, so no problem with placing game in a new console.
I'm assuming you are not doing a system transfer but possibly keeping your old 3dsxl - if you do then you can DS to DS between the two games which is very useful (katie, items, turnips, perfect fruit etc).

 

[Jesusfreakette]

I got the New XL, but I *really* wanted that regular New 3DS! Mostly just the aesthetics - the face plates and multi-colored buttons! The XL has a bigger screen, which is nice, but the New 3DS still has a larger screen that it's predecessor. Plus its a bit more portable.

Anyways, those are the reasons I wanted a regular New 3DS over a New XL. I had to get the XL, since that's all NA got. I'm still quite happy with it, but man, those rainbow buttons sounded nice!

Congrats on your purchase :3 I think you'll like it! Transferring is pretty simple if you have a micro-SD card reader on your computer, teeny tiny screw drivers, a stable Internet connection, a totally free evening... nm, transferring is not simple, but it's nice once my New 3DS still had all my contacts and games! With ACNL, I just wrote down the last date I played and made sure to load it up on that date before playing. Everything went smoothly!

 

[Jarrad]

Hope you enjoy your new purchase! I sort of regret buying the XL as I've grown to want the customisable faceplates on the standard n3ds

I really want a white one w/ the K.K. slider faceplates, to match the homescreen theme!

 

[tolisamarie]

I love my pink and white 3DS XL!