New 3DS XL

A 4.88, 4.18 inch Proprietary handheld that plays everything up to 3DS well.

New 3DS XL

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The New 3DS XL is a 4.88, 4.18 inch Proprietary handheld that plays everything up to 3DS well, made by Nintendo. It came out in February 2015 at $200. Inside is the CPU LGR A with 256 MB of RAM.

New 3DS XL videos

I Built the ULTIMATE New 3DS XL from JunkBy The Retro Future on YouTube, 10:39
Top 17 Best Games for Nintendo 3DS - the new 3DS XL gameplayBy MGT - Max Games Tech on YouTube, 20:24
New 3DS XL ReviewBy Luis Alamilla on YouTube, 6:38
New 3DS XL Review - GameTechBy GameSpot on YouTube, 4:49

What it plays

Plays up to: 3DS. Chip: CPU LGR A.

  1. Game Boy100
  2. NES100
  3. Genesis100
  4. GBA100
  5. SNES100
  6. PS150
  7. DS100
  8. N6450
  9. Dreamcast0
  10. PSP0
  11. Saturn0
  12. GameCube0
  13. 3DS100
  14. Wii0
  15. PS20
  16. Switch0
  17. Wii U0
  18. PS30

Scores out of 100. 100 means the system runs at full speed with no known issues on this device. 80 or more plays well (green), 50 to 79 plays partly (yellow).

What owners say

“I dug out my New 3DS XL recently, and the dpad placement is not great.”
u/Patrick_946, 2025
“My jailbroken New 3DS XL with R4 DS is still a great way for me to play anything up to 3DS except N64 and beyond TV consoles, that doesn't work.”
u/HeidenShadows, 2025
“My New 3DSXL just took a hard fall to hardwood floors and ended up with a blob of dead pixels on the top screen.”
u/UnlikelyPhrase6030, 2025

What the specs mean

Same chip as 2 other handhelds

The CPU LGR A also powers the New 2DS XL, New 3DS. The same chip means similar speed, though memory and cooling can differ.

Based on: Our handheld database (chip field)

Rating

Original consoles get no RETROPULSE score: it rates handhelds made for emulation.

Good

  • Plays everything up to 3DS well

Not so good

  • PS1 games do not run reliably
  • No video out
  • Small 1,750 mAh battery

Specs

Performance
ChipCPU LGR A
CPUARM11
CoresQuad
Clock speed804 MHz
GPUDigital Media Professionals PICA200
RAM256 MB
CoolingNo
Screen
Size4.88, 4.18"
TypeIPS
Resolution800 x 240, 320 x 240
Pixel density171 ppi
Aspect ratioTop: 5:3, Bottom: 4:3
Touch screenYes
Dual screenYes
Controls
D-padCross, Lower placement
Analog sticksYes
Stick layoutDouble, symetrical
Shoulder buttonsSide By Side
RumbleNo
GyroscopeYes
Connectivity
Storage1 GB
SD cardYes
Wi-FiYes (?)
BluetoothNo
USB-CNo
Video outNo
Headphone jackYes
Build
Form factorClamshell
Dimensions160 x 93.5 x 21.5 mm
Weight329 g
Battery1750 mAh
ShellPlastic
SpeakersFront
Software
Operating systemProprietary

Questions

Can the New 3DS XL play PS2 games?

Not well. PS2 scores 0 out of 100. It plays everything up to 3DS well.

Does it have a headphone jack?

Yes.

How big is the battery?

1,750 mAh. The middle Linux and other handheld in our database has 3,000 mAh.

Can it connect to a TV?

No, it has no video out.

How much does the New 3DS XL cost?

It launched at about $200 in Feb 2015. Prices on the used market change, so check current listings.

Price and newer models

$200 at launch

Similar handhelds

Specs and emulation scores from the retrocatalog.com handheld database. The score out of 10 is our own.