Games

Nintendo Switch vs. 3DS XL

Nintendo Switch vs. 3DS XL
New Atlas compares the features and specs of the Nintendo Switch (left) and 2015 ("New") 3DS XL
New Atlas compares the features and specs of the Nintendo Switch (left) and 2015 ("New") 3DS XL
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3D display
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3D display
Backwards compatibility
2/25
Backwards compatibility
Battery
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Battery
Build
4/25
Build
Camera
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Camera
Dimensions
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Dimensions
Display resolution
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Display resolution
Display size
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Display size
Game franchises
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Game franchises
Game formats
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Game formats
New Atlas compares the features and specs of the Nintendo Switch (left) and 2015 ("New") 3DS XL
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New Atlas compares the features and specs of the Nintendo Switch (left) and 2015 ("New") 3DS XL
Expandable storage
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Expandable storage
Motion control
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Motion control
Parental controls
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Parental controls
Portable charging
15/25
Portable charging
Starting price
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Starting price
Release
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Release
Removable controllers
18/25
Removable controllers
Standalone portable
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Standalone portable
Storage
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Storage
Stylus
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Stylus
Touchscreen
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Touchscreen
TV output
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TV output
Virtual Console
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Virtual Console
Weight
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Weight
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While the Nintendo Switch is a home-console successor to the Wii U, its portable nature also makes it a logical follow-up to the 3DS. We know the Switch is much more powerful, but let's see how its features and specs compare to the latest 3DS XL (branded "New 3DS XL" from 2015) in other ways.

Standalone portable

Standalone portable
Standalone portable

Both are mobile consoles, letting you game on the go.

TV mode

TV output
TV output

The Nintendo Switch, however, can be docked for TV mode. This will usually give you a better visual presentation (not just in resolution, but also extra graphical detail) compared to playing on the device's screen.

Size

Dimensions
Dimensions

The Switch is 9-percent taller, 50-percent wider and 35-percent thinner than this 2015 3DS XL.

For thickness, though, keep in mind that it measures the 3DS while closed: It will be thinner than that, in your hand, while playing.

Weight

Weight
Weight

The Switch, despite having much more powerful internals, is 13-percent lighter.

Build

Build
Build

Nintendo has gotten better at making plastic look somewhat premium (as evidenced in both of these sharp-looking gadgets), but don't expect to see any aluminum or other metals.

Display size

Display size
Display size

The Switch has a 56-percent bigger screen, compared to the 3DS XL's main (top) display.

Display resolution

Display resolution
Display resolution

Pixel density isn't even close, as the 3DS XL wasn't pushing any barriers on this front even when the first version launched nearly five years ago. The Switch's screen is 147-percent sharper.

Stereoscopic ("3D") display

3D display
3D display

Nintendo was trying to capitalize on the (largely ill-fated) 3D fad when it launched the first 3DS. The company stuck with the glasses-free tech during the duration of its latest portable's life cycle (apart from the cheaper 2DS), but Nintendo is dropping that focus with the Switch.

This "New" 3DS XL has face tracking that gives you a more stable 3D experience compared to the original models of the 3DS and 3DS XL. (On the older versions, you had to face the screen straight-on, but with this 2015 refresh you can angle the screen and maintain the illusion.)

Touchscreen

Touchscreen
Touchscreen

Both devices have a touchscreen, though in the 3DS it's only the bottom display.

Stylus

Stylus
Stylus

The 3DS also has a stylus that slides into the unit.

Game format

Game formats
Game formats

Both systems support small cartridges, as well as digital purchases.

Game franchises

Game franchises
Game franchises

The Switch will have greater potential moving forward (by supporting much more advanced and graphically-intensive games), but the 3DS platform currently has an enormous lead in content. At launch, the Switch only has one notable flagship game in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Just a few of the many first-party 3DS games include: Super Mario 3D Land, New Super Mario Bros. 2, four major Zelda games (Majora's Mask 3D, Ocarina of Time 3D, A Link Between Worlds and Tri Force Heroes), Mario Kart 7 and two Yoshi games (Poochy and Yoshi's Wooly World and Yoshi's New Island).

For this reason alone, you may want to second-guess that instinct to snatch up a Switch as soon as possible.

Backwards compatibility

Backwards compatibility
Backwards compatibility

The 2015 3DS XL, in addition to playing all 3DS-platform games, also supports old Nintendo DS (and DSi) titles.

Unfortunately you can't physically play 3DS (or any other older) games on the Switch.

Virtual console

Virtual Console
Virtual Console

The Switch will, however, eventually support Virtual Console, which lets you buy digital versions of Nintendo games from older consoles. But it isn't available at launch.

Motion control

Parental controls
Parental controls

You can tilt and move either system for control in games that support this.

Removable controllers

Removable controllers
Removable controllers

You can also pull the Switch's Joy-Con controllers off the sides of the device, and they have motion control of their own (similar to Wiimotes). This is also how you play the Switch in table mode or when docked to a TV, as the two controllers can either be used separately or slid onto a more traditional gamepad setup.

Battery

Battery
Battery

Estimates are similar, but if you're playing a graphically-intensive game like Breath of the Wild on Switch, expect to get less than six hours of battery life.

On-the-go charging

Portable charging
Portable charging

Fortunately you can charge either system on the go, with the proper cable and a portable battery pack.

Storage

Storage
Storage

The 3DS only has a measly 1 GB of internal storage, compared to 32 GB for the Switch.

Expandable storage

Expandable storage
Expandable storage

You can, however, pop a microSD into either system to expand that. (The 3DS includes a 4 GB one preinstalled in the system.)

Note that you'll need to format a microSD to FAT32 to use cards greater than 32 GB in the 3DS XL.

Camera

Camera
Camera

The 3DS also has both a front-facing camera and a pair of stereoscopic rear-facing cameras.

The Switch has an infrared camera on the right Joy-Con controller (used to enhance hand recognition), but none on the main unit.

Parental controls

Parental controls
Parental controls

If a family kiddo is going to be playing either system, you'll be able to tweak what they can and can't do on the machine.

Release

Release
Release

This "New"-branded model of the 3DS XL launched in the US over two years ago, but the 3DS line has been around since 2011.

Starting price

Starting price
Starting price

At only US$100 extra, the much more powerful Switch is going to make a compelling alternative to the 3DS XL. Just keep in mind that a new gaming platform's first year or so can often make for a painful early-adopter experience (as evidenced by the single notable title you can play on it right now). Despite its old-fashioned hardware, the 3DS can provide many more hours of fun today.

So when do you want to buy the Switch? Of course there's no universal answer, but by this holiday season, it will have a flagship Mario game in Super Mario Odyssey, along with the current Zelda title, a port of Skyrim, Splatoon 2, Mario Kart 8 and NBA 2K18, among others. That sounds like a much more enticing offer than today's lineup.

For more, you can read New Atlas' look at the Switch from a family perspective and our full reviews of the Switch and 3DS XL.

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2 comments
2 comments
RobertWahlström
Well the Switch can also be used as a home console and packs a lot more power. It might also bury the 3ds. And for games I personally got these games with these experiences: Zelda: Best game I ever played, there is no words for how good this game is. Excellent graphics to top it off. Snipperclips: Asome multiplayer game. 1-2 Switch: Surprisingly much better than I anticipated, also shows some really cool ways to use the controllers. I am setsuna: Good old school RPG game. Super Bomberman R: Great multiplayer game. Fast RMX: Fast racing game with really good graphics, uses motion controls in a cool way to. For example if you drive through a really windy area the controls will start to vibrate really sharply from side to side (imagine a jet engine or something like that). Think the Switch is off to a really strong start.
TimothyCollins
I see one major problem with the Switch : The touchscreen. It is plastic and not glass. And I have watched people slide the Switch into and out of the dock... That dock has edges that are almost sure to scratch the screen at some point and being plastic, it will take very little to scratch.