Good news for all you Nintendo fans out there. The eagerly awaited Nintendo 3DS XL has hit store shelves and is now available for purchase.
The handheld is now available in the U.S. from Toys R Us, GameStop, and Target. The device's screen capabilities, attractive design, and longer battery life justify the new handheld's $30 price increase.
The device arrived in both Japan and North America the same day as the arrival of "New Super Mario Bros. 2." The color combinations include red and black for worldwide versions; blue and black for Europe, Australia and North America; silver and black for Europe, Australia, and Japan; and a white variant which is available only in Japan.
In a bid to reduce costs, Nintendo will not be including an AC Adapter with the Japanese and European versions. However, an AC Adapter will be included with the North American and Australian releases. A Nintendo DSi, DSi XL, or 3DS AC Adapter (Model Code: WAP-002) is compatible with the 3DS XL and will be available for purchase separately (or in a bundle with a 3DS XL Charging Cradle).
The 3DS XL features larger screens and longer battery life than the original 3DS. The screens are 90 percent larger and the battery life sees an 86 percent increase, which in turn has contributed to the console's 46 percent weight increase. A 4GB SD card will also be included with the console instead of a 2GB one, which was included in the original 3DS. The 3DS XL was not compatible with the original Circle Pad Pro but an XL-sized version of that accessory will become available later in 2012.
The company asserts that the 3DS XL does not aim at replacing the original Nintendo 3DS and both the models will be manufactured simultaneously.
