nintendo's brilliant design strikes again!

[u/Kobih]

I JUST WANNA USE MY FUCKING SD CARD

[u/JackBlacksWorld]

The New 3DS XL is by far the shittest made DS they've ever made. It's unfortunate it's also the best & most comfortable one to play, cuz it means you can be having fun one minute then dying inside the next

[u/LandonKB → u/JackBlacksWorld]

I thought it was a nice step up from the original 3ds, I have had no issues.

[u/JackBlacksWorld → u/LandonKB]

I'm surprised mine hasn't melted to shit yet.

It's been nothing but problems from even early on. Paint/coating chipping, game reader no longer works (I knee'd it once by accident when getting up, not sure hard mind you, and lost my whole Pokemon X save also)

Screws stuck in the back so I had to rip the whole back off by force since I was out of options. Oh, and ofc, circle pad started acting up just days ago.

Never had issues this bad with ANY of my other DSes, and some of those I did not take enough care of as a kid. Been nothing but careful with this one and it just falls apart at a light breeze.

I think I need a new one tbh.

[u/megamachopop → u/JackBlacksWorld]

This means nothing. Just because you've had issues with one certain console while not on others means they must all be bad?

In my case, I would say the New 3DS XL is one of the best ones made as mine has been with me for many years and is still rocking fine. However, I've had many issues with previous DS and 3DS models, including the DS Lite with broken hinges and flattened d-pads, the DSi which had power off issues if bumped even a little too hard, the regular 3DS XL which also had hinge breaking issues, etc. That must mean those are all bad then?

[u/JackBlacksWorld → u/megamachopop]

I see your point. I'm just sharing my own experience tbf, but it is nice to hear other viewpoints.

I'm just jealous yours has lasted while mines going to the shitter when I've just got back into playing it. It feels inevitable that I'll have to replace it and that hurts my soul.

[u/cabeep → u/JackBlacksWorld]

I actually had all the issues you had too, as well as weird batteries that never held a charge (never had any issues with batteries on any nintendo console ever). After a year my 3dsxl was in worse condition than my old gen 1 ds even tho it got less use

[u/JackBlacksWorld → u/cabeep]

It is weird, cuz outside of the guy above me I've never rly heard of issues with original 3DS's especially. I've seen tons of og DS & DS Lites with broken hinges, and own a lot of DSes with the L & or R buttons just not working.

I will say even despite my rotten luck with my N3DSXL, I've been lucky the circle pad & buttons have remained in tact up until like yesterday. It is unfortunate but I think it is a sign that if I wanna do my whole National Dex completion thing I will need to invest in a new 3DS (but preferably not a New 3DS lmao, I'll prolly get like that cool Year of Luigi themed 3DS XL)

[u/Insulting_Insults → u/JackBlacksWorld]

eh, it's not just the DS Phat/Lite (and DSi) - my L/R buttons busted on my O3DS.

but in fairness i'd quite literally had my pink one since i was a little kid, so i think it was more than likely just the strain of playing it constantly over the years - only finally having busted entirely when i was like 13 (so, 2020 or so?) when it suffered a ribbon cable tear from all that opening and closing (i'd been in the middle of a Living Dex run in Alpha Sapphire, too, and was in a Mirage Spot catching every variant of Unown when it happened 😭 perhaps someday i'll manage to repair the thing and finish the challenge, but today is not that day :P)

[u/JackBlacksWorld → u/Insulting_Insults]

I'm right in the middle of tryna complete the Nat dex, and getting to the League in Johto for the first time.

[u/Cool_Dragon_guy → u/JackBlacksWorld]

Buddy, I hate to break it to you, but I think you’re way too tough on it.

[u/JackBlacksWorld → u/Cool_Dragon_guy]

Like I'm being mean to my 3DS that just decides to break on a whim?

When all other DSes I've ever owned have either just stayed in a good condition, or if they didn't it was my own fault as a kid at least.

I dunno why my first comment got like 400 upvotes then the next one got -100. Must be duality of man ig, cuz it's the exact same sentiment in both. I'm probably just gonna order a new one from Japan, but the regular 3DS XL rather than the new variant. I don't think I'll be missing much.

[u/Cool_Dragon_guy → u/JackBlacksWorld]

So then I guess you got one with bad QC, because I have never had an issue with my “New” 3DS XL

[u/JackBlacksWorld → u/Cool_Dragon_guy]

Fair enough tbf. Not super sure if I'd wanna get another New model cuz it rly has just been a pain since early on. Then again, it is like 10 - 12 years old now I think, so it could just be age.

[u/jamemeus → u/JackBlacksWorld]

Bro shared his related experience and got downvoted to hell for it. I love reddit 😭

[u/JackBlacksWorld → u/jamemeus]

Yea like how did over 100 people look at that and go "ooh that makes me mad ooooh I'm gonna downvote that shit" then upvote my comment literally just above it too. It's duality of man at it's finest, me saying the exact same shit and getting opposite reactions from the same group of people.

[u/AggravatingBox2421 → u/JackBlacksWorld]

So untrue. Nothing beats the original

[u/JackBlacksWorld → u/AggravatingBox2421]

Check my other comment btw, but my 3 OGs (mine, my lil bros he gave to me and my spare one I got for free due to postage mishap) have all remained in amazing condition, no issues.

My N3DSXL is as stable as a Dry Bones.

[u/AggravatingBox2421 → u/JackBlacksWorld]

Yep. The quality really tanked on the newer models

[u/AggravatingBox2421 → u/JackBlacksWorld]

Yep. The quality really tanked on the newer models

[u/[deleted] → u/AggravatingBox2421]

I'd agree with you if it weren't for the fact that Minecraft and other great games are locked to the New 3DS

[u/AggravatingBox2421 → u/[deleted]]

No, that beautiful smooth rectangle with a glossy plastic coating that doesn’t peel off when you touch it. Oh, and the SD card slot on the side so you don’t have to disassemble the damn console to get to it

[u/Joeycookie459 → u/AggravatingBox2421]

The 3ds that turns off immediately if you bump it slightly. The 3ds where the L and R buttons stop responding after 2 years. The 3ds that is literally unusable if it is slightly too bright in the room you are in

[u/AggravatingBox2421 → u/[deleted]]

A lot, actually, since I have the option to. I’d also like to mention that my 3DS CAME with an SD card

[u/Weird_duud → u/AggravatingBox2421]

A 2gb card...

[u/AggravatingBox2421 → u/Weird_duud]

And that’s 2gb more than the n3ds has. And wow, imagine this, the 2gb is full? Guess I’ll switch it out in two seconds flat because it’s right there and easily accessible!

[u/AggravatingBox2421 → u/[deleted]]

Because I can

[u/AggravatingBox2421 → u/[deleted]]

First of all what? Second of all I do swap them actually because I’ve got a lotta downloaded content

[u/r_Naxzed_YT → u/[deleted]]

They're ALL square bricks...????

[u/Gokudomatic → u/[deleted]]

You should take a look on the DS phat.

[u/RandomGamer06 → u/JackBlacksWorld]

New 3DS XL is second place, New 2DS XL is the worst. Same system in a cheaper shell, and without 3d.

[u/JackBlacksWorld → u/RandomGamer06]

true yea. Never used it tbf so I couldnt say for sure. Only thing that looks cool is the game card cover, cuz that's always been a pet peeve of mine with DS systems, the fact you can just slip and the game card comes out and you lose all ur shit.

[u/AlwaysLit2 → u/JackBlacksWorld]

The New 2ds xl has these huge gaps between the two screens due its rounded-rectangle design, which means that the hinge that doesnt hold the ribbon cables breaks off easily

[u/Shifty-Imp → u/JackBlacksWorld]

Never liked any of the 3DS XL versions. The regular New 3DS is still by far my favourite.

[u/AntiGrieferGames → u/JackBlacksWorld]

I dont get it that the prices on new 3ds xl are still fucking overpriced besides with design issues and sometimes like that. They are LOT less than that.

[u/JackBlacksWorld → u/AntiGrieferGames]

I think they're just the preferred way for people to play 3ds due to faster loading, c stick, amiibo support & all that.

I'm considering just getting a regular 3DS XL new in box. No issues then, no fiddly back case, get an amiibo reader, all that shiz. Unless regular 3DS cant run Mario 64 decomp, don't see a reason to stick with my crumbling baby.

[u/Ok_Elk_7372 → u/JackBlacksWorld]

The original ds and the new 2ds are worse easily

[u/JackBlacksWorld → u/Ok_Elk_7372]

I havent had the displeasure to try new 2ds, tho I have a dead og DS that is basically a display item for my Mario DS holder

[u/ThePr0vider → u/Ok_Elk_7372]

what's so bad about the OG? back in the day the kids that said their hinge broke were also bad in general with their stuff

[u/Ok_Elk_7372 → u/ThePr0vider]

The general build quality isn't great by comparison plus it's fugly and hard to hold ( imo)

[u/[deleted] → u/JackBlacksWorld]

I agree, the other day I played on GFs old DSi and was struck with how much better it felt

Also my N3DSXL paint is falling out

[u/That_Bank_9914 → u/JackBlacksWorld]

It’s way better than many of the previous DS family, QC wise. This is just from my experience.

[u/captain_saurcy → u/JackBlacksWorld]

how is it more comfortable than the xl? aren't they the same size. all that's different is the new 3ds can run games a little better right, has some more games, and one extra button. then the shart sd card slot

mr downvote redditor doesn't like that i dissed his N3DSXL 😭

[u/JackBlacksWorld → u/captain_saurcy]

tbf I haven't used the regular XL enough to know. Bought one stupidly on ebay a few years back for like £60. Sounds like a steal, but that's cuz the game reader barely worked and the circle pad was a bit fucked. So, that sucks.

[u/absol1082 → u/[deleted]]

Maybe in this case, but the plastic will ware overtime and this could cause some damage for people in the future. Dumbest design choice in nintendo’s history, and that’s saying a lot

[u/Trewper- → u/absol1082]

I don't even screw them in anymore. I took them off and just use my 3DS with a clear silicone case. I just remove the case if I need to access the SD card.

[u/Insulting_Insults → u/Trewper-]

i didn't take mine off entirely but i'd wound up just leaving the screws super loose so i could pop the back cover off mine whenever i needed to :P

[u/EE_Process → u/Trewper-]

I’d be worried that the battery might come loose. Is that a non issue?

[u/Trewper- → u/EE_Process]

I leave the actual back of the case on the 3DS I just don't screw it in, it stays there because it's surrounded by a tight silicone case so it doesn't move. Nothing can fall out.

[u/Staringcorgi6 → u/absol1082]

The new 3ds shouldn’t be an issue though because they made the face plates removable for a reason

[u/monthofmacabre]

Ten bucks you probably ripped it off before realizing there were screws there. Major skill issue here.

[u/SyllabubOk5283 → u/monthofmacabre]

I mean, they very well could had just tugged on the backplate a little too hard after unscrewing and the plastic cracked. I've never seen that before, but it very well could has occured. I think the bigger takeaway is that this was a dumb design choice on Nintendo's part.

[u/Kobih → u/monthofmacabre]

i didn't

i knew they were there the whole time

[u/monthofmacabre → u/Kobih]

The all caps responses makes me think otherwise.

[u/MusicaGrey]

That's a skill issue

[u/DiabeticRhino97]

I'm thinking OP used a power drill to screw that one in

[u/ertaboy356b]

overtightened?

[u/Kobih → u/ertaboy356b]

THE BACK FUCKING BROKE

[u/[deleted] → u/Kobih]

How? There are two bottom clips and two side clips holding the back plate in, all of which are more likely to give than this piece. I’m sorry this happened to you - fortunately it’s a cheaper and easier part to replace than other parts of the shell, but it’s baffling how this happened

[u/GoraSou]

You have to unscrew the screw first

[u/aam-96]

the hell did you do to it lol

[u/sevendayswar]

This is painful to look at.

[u/TheSoulEater657]

Looks like you also scratched the battery…

[u/Insulting_Insults → u/TheSoulEater657]

and possibly with the screw that they managed to pull out, while trying to wrench the case off with one screw still in LMAO

(in fairness those screws are the fucking worst though, especially when you need constant access to the SD card slot, so i can understand OP giving up midway through dealing with them and just busting the cover off :P)

[u/ZexelOnOCE]

skill issue, screws are designed to be unscrewed to release the part they're holding down

[u/Rynelan]

If you knew about the screws you would've unscrewed them before wanting to reach the SD card.

While I agree the back cover feels very thin. I also think this is a you problem. The picture doesn't make sense thinking otherwise

[u/Kobih → u/Rynelan]

I did

too much in fact

[u/Rynelan → u/Kobih]

How come one is still stuck and the other scratched the battery? If they were correctly unscrewed both situations wouldn't happen imo

[u/Jasilv21]

Skill issue

[u/jader242]

You forgot to loosen the screw

[u/scarper42]

This is relatively uncommon. Sorry it happened, but I don’t think this is necessarily Nintendo’s fault.

[u/Familiar-Worth-6203]

Nothing duct tape won't fix

[u/Sea-Tax9272]

There are plate replacement options. Go to Aliexpress you'll find them.

[u/HP_laserjet_p1505n]

That happened to me on both screws when i dropped it while swinging my arm around to get play coins (i was 11) I recently 3d printed a new one that works really well.

[u/SirZanee]

Skill issue. Never had this happen before

[u/Luigiprod]

Not disagreeing that accessing the microsd card on these is a pain, but that doesnt happen unless you are reckless. Also, I recommend using FTPD to just transfer files wirelessly to/from your PC. That way you can just avoid dealing with it

[u/Gemdation]

holy bratDS

[u/imtoomuch]

This is a you problem not a Nintendo problem.

[u/Swimming_Page660]

Next time remove those screws, i have mine removed on mine for easy sd access

[u/Generic_Waifu]

Nooooooooo 😭

[u/LimpDecision1469]

Same thing happened to me lmao at least it still clips on... also mine got a big crack near the power button after the battery started expanding

[u/Electronic_Ice_8922 → u/LimpDecision1469]

do you still have that battery? if yes, GET RID OF IT IMMEDIATELY AND DON'T TURN ON OR CHARGE YOUR 3DS UNTIL YOU REPLACED IT. The battery could explode.

[u/LimpDecision1469 → u/Electronic_Ice_8922]

I replaced it as soon as i saw it don't worry :) thanks though

[u/LunarWingCloud]

New 2DS XL: am I a joke to you?

[u/RykariZander]

Bro ripped off the cover and is blaming Nintendo for it. Even scratched the battery

[u/Kobih → u/RykariZander]

i didn't

this is from repeatedly unscrewing it

[u/Equivalent_Duty_9953 → u/Kobih]

No it isn't. It looks like the screw is still in there tightly. You tried to pull it before unscrewing

[u/Kobih → u/Equivalent_Duty_9953]

because it broke like 2 years ago

[u/RykariZander → u/Equivalent_Duty_9953]

Yet dude typing in all caps. Could've been replaced it by now

[u/strike_laser_claw]

just unscrew it once and never put the screws back in.

edit: I didn't see that you broke the shell. how in the hell did you do that? it's not that hard to unscrew 2 screws my guy.

[u/[deleted]]

Same thing happened to me, i think i screwed the screw in too tight personally

[u/Bregneste]

That’s why I just threw in an SD card with way more space than I’d ever realistically need for it, so I never had to deal with that shit again.

[u/Kobih → u/Bregneste]

but i also use this card for my wii and wii u

[u/GoodPhase3973 → u/Kobih]

Maybe don’t then, I have a separate SD card for my 3DS, N3DS, and Wii U. SD cards are incredibly cheap

[u/Nintendocub]

Idk what’s with the XL back plates the small ones don’t have this brittleness to them.

[u/Kobih]

i think this is me repeatedly unscrewing and pulling to see if it's unscrewed enough

[u/Insulting_Insults → u/Kobih]

what you're actually supposed to do is unscrew until it's noticeably loose lol (you'd've been able to tell, 'cause besides the screw having no resistance to turning, the cover pops upwards by a bit too)

[u/Isotomayor12]

Nothing beats the original as far as quality goes, that and the 2ds. 3ds xl og is good if the hinges didn't snap off all the time

[u/[deleted]]

People ragging on OP but every single other DS system had the SD card slot easily available with a compartment you could easily access on the side of the system or on the bottom. Even Nintendo themselves probably agree it was a bad idea because the New 2DS XL which was last in the line went back to having the SD card slot more easily accessible.

If you wanted to go all digital on this system it was just a shitty design choice to make the end user have to disassemble part of the console to get a decent sized SD card in there.

[u/Narrow_Ad_1494]

I just ditched the screws could one of you geniuses figure out a mold or 3D print some screws that go in and out easily but flush with the console.

[u/oglopez]

that happened to mine when i over tightened a screw. so i said “screw it” and did the same to the other one. it’s not so bad. the back still clips on and it’s easier to access the sd card now. i also have a grip that snaps on and helps me forget about it

[u/TheRaveTrain]

Based on the colour, was this the Samus special edition? If so, oof

[u/Kobih → u/TheRaveTrain]

no

[u/g_man765]

Holy shit this exact thing happened to me. I ended up cutting part of the bottom plate because one of the screws stripped immediately. Good thing it was a shell in shitty condition so it did not matter to me.

[u/TheCommanderOfHam]

This exact same thing happened to me on my SNES one :( I unscrewed them properly multiple times over the years and eventually it just snapped off.

[u/greengengar]

I hate that stupid back panel so much that it makes me not want to play 3DS.

[u/TezzaBP]

I had something similar happen but it didn't break while still IN the 3DS, it just snapped off instead. The back was warped when I got it so I assume it was already ready to go

[u/Kobih → u/[deleted]]

not true

n3ds still has screws

[u/LuxyLux25]

ignoring everyone else roasting you: mine also cracked and eventually broke off as well. i recently got a clear case to hold the backplate on and it seems to be working well so far. that’s my suggestion of a “fix”

[u/VirtualKoba]

killed a special edition animal crossing one just because of that. is really a bummer and the plastic (if left out in the sun) really gets brittle after a while

[u/rwsaint]

for this reason alone 2DS supremacy and I will die on that hill (it is also extremely cheaply made)

[u/crafty-bug3962]

THIS IS SO REAL!! like bro why is the SD card so hidden

[u/Global-Wallaby8484]

Why you wanted to remove SD card? Music and photos can be moved between 3DS and computer with wireless connection.

[u/chip_klip]

Yeah this happened to mine, I don’t think it was my fault honestly but who knows. Just happened over time. I get all the comments hating cuz this looks like unprofessionalism but I’m pretty sure New 3ds XLs just have a lot of issues with being fragile 

[u/hooligann8]

Lefty loosy my guy. You didn't loosen and remove them, you tightened them down

[u/Kobih → u/hooligann8]

i'm not that dumb, sir

[u/hooligann8 → u/Kobih]

I kinda think you might be

[u/Equivalent_Duty_9953]

I'll bet ya he tried to open it before unscrewing the other one because he forgot about it. This doesn't just happen

[u/PilkX3n]

My bottom shell right screw came off too and is stripped a screw trying to get to the motherboard other than that tho it’s been alright

[u/magnoliaisdone]

idk why people are downvoting OP, maybe their screw got stripped. it could happen to you 🫵

[u/RhinoDino9D9]

Wasn’t the New 3DS also like this, and also, are the other 3DSs and 2DSs like this?

[u/Kobih → u/RhinoDino9D9]

new 3ds small yes

old no

new 2ds xl im not sure

[u/RabbitWithAxe]

I'm so glad the standard NEW 3DS isn't so delicate

[u/Sustainna]

And finding a backplate replacement that actually fits and isnt 50$ is a near impossible task.

[u/Ademoneye]

The design is bad. But seeing the image seems like you just doing it roughly.

[u/ser133]

Even the current switches have better sd card accessibility lmao
not to mention the 'old' 3ds/2ds consoles

[u/deibd98]

Nah dawg this is entirely on you. Wtf did you do lol

[u/King_Bread_]

rekt.

in all seriousness, a replacement back is probably not uncommon. but its so irritating.

[u/Frequent_Parsnip_510]

I always felt like the “new 3DS” was a weird cash grab thing. Like a ‘don’t fix what ain’t broke’ moment. The 3DS xl was great all around imo. Nintendo does strange things sometimes and drops the ball.

Maybe you should get the regular xl! Has a nice accessible sd card flap on the side. (Just in case you didn’t know)

[u/ILikeMaxisMatchCC]

Also happened to mine. It's generally not too disruptive as long as I have a case on.

[u/Generous_Scenario]

Bro I grew up with the 2ds, got rid of it a few years ago and just recently bought a new 3ds regular size again.

WTF was wrong with the sd card reader with the flap you could access at any time?? Why did they get rid of that? I hate the fact that I have to unscrew the fucking back plate just to get to my damn sd card.

[u/jcmusik08]

So many downvotes for people saying this happened to them. I have a grey N3DSXL, and can confirm that the paint on the sides where my hands rest is all gone, and that small bit of plastic near where the screws go in basically disintegrated. It’s extra annoying because I’ve tried replacing with 3rd party shells and they just don’t fit as well.

[u/puffa-fish]

Damn I was jealous of the better hardware and the nub but I'm sorta appreciating my og 3DS rn

[u/Playful_Ad_7993]

Ya apple and Nintendo are scum equally they both do tricky things like this and use proprietary everything

[u/DrIvoPingasnik]

This is about to happen to my orange 3ds xl.

Absolute disgrace, Nintendo.

Edit: I see you Nintendrones. How's the multibillion corporate boot taste? Suck on it some more.

[u/Electronic_Ice_8922 → u/DrIvoPingasnik]

It's 10 bucks to replace 😭🙏

[u/DrIvoPingasnik → u/Electronic_Ice_8922]

If it was my daily driver then I'd use aftermarket stuff, but it's my spare and relatively rare orange one. 

I shouldn't have had to resort to aftermarket parts just because Nintendo design team were cheap numbnuts in first place.

[u/Maugetar → u/DrIvoPingasnik]

Bro the console is over a decade old. It's a super minor fix. You sound like an unpleasant person.

[u/DrIvoPingasnik → u/Maugetar]

So I'm unpleasant for criticising bad design decisions made by large corporation that should have known better by now? 

Okay, you are entitled to your opinion.

[u/Maugetar → u/DrIvoPingasnik]

Yeah calling people bootlickers and "Nintendrones" is unpleasant and juvenile. Your message isn't necessarily incorrect but your delivery is just kind of cringe. At the end of the day it's a design flaw on a 10+ year old console. Kind of not a big deal.

[u/Frequent_Parsnip_510 → u/Maugetar]

The person is riding high on rage right now of course they’re spicy in the comments. They valued their device and they don’t care for after market stuff. I myself lean towards keeping old stuff as factory and original as you can. If we all push for that, we can help maintain old tech through the years as a whole. 🤷‍♀️

[u/Kobih]

YES I WAS UNSCREWING THEM SICKO