Nintendo recently announced that the New Nintendo 3DS has a U.S. release date of February 13. The new hardware revision for the handheld offers numerous new features. But is it worth buying (or upgrading if you already have a 3DS)? We certainly think so. Find our top five reasons as to why it is worth purchasing below.
5. Faster Download Speed
If you were previously frustrated with the slow download time of the regular 3DS, then you should consider buying the New Nintendo 3DS. This is because the new hardware revision is designed with a more powerful CPU, which helps speed up downloading from the eShop. So, instead of waiting, you will be able to jump into a digital game much quicker with the new 3DS iteration.
4. Improved 3D Tracking
While one of the original main selling points for the 3DS was the glasses-free stereoscopic 3D, a lot of gamers decided to leave that feature tuned off due to the ineffectiveness of the viewing angle. Before, you practically have to keep the screen right in front of your face in order to properly view the stereoscopic 3D effect.
With the New 3DS, however, the handheld has the ability to track your face and adjust accordingly. Therefore, you will have a wider range of viewing angles.
3. Amiibo Support
Nintendo has found another big gaming brand with the recent introduction of Amiibo, figures that can be scanned into videogame to unlock bonuses. These miniature statues were previously only functional on the Wii U.
With that said, Nintendo is adding support for Amiibos built right into the New Nintendo 3DS. By placing the figurines on top of the bottom screen, you will be able to use them in compatible games. The already announced games include Code Name S.T.E.A.M. (where you can play as Fire Emblem characters) and Super Smash Bros. for 3DS (where you can train figure players).
While Nintendo is planning to release an Amiibo adapter for regular 3DS models, it is not nearly as convenient as the native support provided by the New 3DS. You can check out the big list of Amiibos with this page on Amazon. 
2. Better Graphics and Faster Loading
The addition of the above-mentioned CPU also has several other benefits aside from faster downloading. One of which is that it enables developers the ability to improve the graphics of their videogames. In fact, the upcoming Xenoblade Chronicles 3D is only being released on the New Nintendo 3DS due to the added horsepower.
Another great benefit of the improved CPU is faster loading. The system menu now loads a lot quicker when compared to the regular systems. Not to mention that this feature is also beneficial to videogames with somewhat lengthy loading times such as Super Smash Bros. for 3DS.
1. No Need for Circle Pad Pro
The Nintendo 3DS has plenty of games that require precise camera control. Unfortunately, you have to buy the Circle Pad Pro in order to get a second analog stick to get the most optimized control setup. With the New Nintendo 3DS XL, however, the stick is built right into the system, so you do not need to spend any more cash on an attachment, which also adds more bulk to the previous iterations of the 3DS. The new hardware revision also comes with the ZL and ZR shoulder buttons, which is useful for games like Resident Evil: Revelations and Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D.
The addition of the extra buttons built right into the New Nintendo 3DS is, in our opinion, the best reason to consider buying (or upgrading to) the Nintendo 3DS.
If any of the above reasons sound good to you, then you should consider purchasing a New Nintendo 3DS at some point in the future.