Nintendo unveils 3DS handhelds with new processor and extra buttons

Nintendo has announced new versions of its 3DS and 3DS XL. The handhelds are almost identical in appearance to the existing models, but Nintendo has added new buttons and changed a lot under the hood. There is a removable battery and a card reader.

The new handhelds that Nintendo unveiled during the Japanese Direct broadcast have been dubbed ‘New 3DS’ and ‘New 3DS XL’. The portable consoles now have a second directional button and new trigger buttons have been placed on the back. Also the a, b, x, y buttons are colored. Buyers can personalize their devices with plastic covers. The other changes are less noticeable.

For example, the 3DS models have new screens, where the 3D effect can be experienced from multiple angles. An ambient light sensor ensures that the screen brightness adjusts to the ambient light. Partly because of this, the battery life should improve. Due to these and other optimizations, the battery life of the 3DS XL would be 7 hours and that of the 3DS 6 hours. The battery is also removable in the new versions.

The “New 3DS” and “New 3DS XL” support NFC so they can detect if an amiibo figure is nearby. Nintendo introduced these dolls of well-known Nintendo characters during E3. The new models also have a microSD memory card reader and can connect to a PC via WiFi for backups. Finally, there is a new processor, which should offer speed improvements. Nintendo will release the custom 3DS models in Japan October 11; Europe will follow in early 2015.