At that time, rumours swirled that either Hitachi or Sharp would be providing the 3D top screen for the then unreleased 3DS. Since then, details have been scant about who exactly provided the 3D screen.
Today in Japan, Hitachi revealed a new 4.5-inch glasses-free screen, leading to speculation online that Nintendo is readying a 3DS XL. In the past Nintendo stated that customers should not wait for a new 3DS hardware iteration.
Granted, a 4.5-inch, 1,280×720 dot glasses-free 3D screen has an array of uses, from larget tablet smartphones to digital camera screens.
But with the 3DS seeming to struggle, a new hardware iteration with a bigger screen and (hopefully) a better battery life could be exactly what the 3DS needs. 3DS Extra Lite, please! Especially with Sony readying the PS Vita.
Kotaku is following up with Nintendo and will update this post should the company comment.
日立、4.5型1,280×720ドットの裸眼3D IPS液晶 〜2D時より3D時の方が高輝度な液晶レンズ方式 [PC Watch]
holy crap
Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at 11:41 PMHitachi showed off a 3.1 inch screen that could reproduce 3D graphics without graphics,
uh i think you messed up that sentance
Bison
Thursday, July 21, 2011 at 6:19 PM“graphics without graphics”… Yup, its a nintendo console alright!
BrontoThunder
Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at 11:46 PM“…a 3.1 inch screen that could reproduce 3D graphics without graphics…”
What?
Lord Bob
Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at 11:48 PMI think it would probably make good business sense to release a 3DS Lite/XL off of this. I know a lot of people who have been holding off because they think that the ‘proper’ version of the console will be released in a year or so.
Frenchy
Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at 11:51 PMYes, I’m sure flooding the market with more hardware would help the 3DS.
I mean if Nintendo wants the 3DS to take off release some decent software for it already.
Lord Bob
Thursday, July 21, 2011 at 11:21 AMThats not what I’m saying. Look at the original DS, big clunky version comes out, we all buy it and then after awhile they bring out the DS Lite. Smaller with better battery. I think there are probably a lot of people avoiding the #DS because they don’t want to waste their money on the ‘clunky’ version if there is a 3DS Lite around the corner.
Alinos
Thursday, July 21, 2011 at 1:03 AMMight help sales.
but i would think it’s gonna piss off the early adopters.
especially since nintendo probably should have waited until the Oct-Dec period to launch. At least then it might have had a decent library instead of hemorrhaging it like it currently is
Steve0410
Thursday, July 21, 2011 at 1:31 AMDoubt it.
4.3-4.5 inch smartphone screens are bordering on industry standard now.
And people aren’t playing the 3DS because the 3DS XL isn’t coming out. They’re not playing or buying them because there are hardly any games. Big difference.
If anything, a hardware revision would make the device slimmer and/or jack up the battery, not make it even bulkier and power hungry.
Brimm
Thursday, July 21, 2011 at 1:58 AMbig or small, I wouldn’t buy one either way until some good games came out for it…
Darren
Thursday, July 21, 2011 at 5:22 AMI just bought a 3DS too, if this is true then Nintendo can go f*ck itself.
If there’s one thing that annoys me, its’ Nintendo’s constantly releasing so many SKU’s of their handhelds.
It’s like every one that has been released has been released unfinished. If it is true, I probably won’t buy another piece of Nintendo hardware again.
Rod
Thursday, July 21, 2011 at 8:56 AMThink of its dust capacity!!!
Scott
Thursday, July 21, 2011 at 10:31 AMI’m both waiting for the next iteration and decent games to come out. There’s currently 2 decent games on the system, and only 1 of them I want, which, just so happens to be a remake.
TSH
Thursday, July 21, 2011 at 10:54 AMAgreed with above: moar games > hardware revision. I still have a backlog of games to get through on my DSLite, so by the time I’m done both games and hardware revision will probably be out :–]
DENAz
Thursday, July 21, 2011 at 11:29 AMHow about some games to play on it first?
Billy
Friday, July 22, 2011 at 7:10 PMI wasted my money on a DSI XL then the 3DS was confirmed for release so I’m like most people waiting for a 3DS XL. What is the point of downgrading to a smaller console just for 3D and better graphics when you spent like £100+ upgrading in the first place. I would have to spend another £100+ to upgrade again. You are one big money pit Nintendo.
Billy
Friday, July 22, 2011 at 7:11 PMupgrade again console wise but downgrading size ways. I know people says size doesn’t matter but it does with me.
matt
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 at 9:04 PMmakes sense 4 a 3DS lite with better battery,second circle pad,4.5 inch HD screen,about same size as 3DS but slimmer nintendo said there working on non 3D games.
matt
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 at 9:06 PMIphone upgrades all the time and there £500 a pop
matt
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 12:56 AMill just trade my 3ds in 4 a lite i mean it will cost about £80 and your 3DS fat well worth it if you ask me defo getting it,it will be the same size as 3ds but slimmer with better battery and dual anologue not to mention a 3D 1280×720 screen wow its an instant buy 4 me.