Key Takeaways
1. Prices for the Nintendo 3DS, especially the 3DS XL, have significantly increased on platforms like eBay, with current values ranging from $200 to $350.
2. The original Nintendo 3DS launched at $249.99 but was later reduced to $169.99, while the 3DS XL was priced at around $199.99.
3. By late 2025, the price for used 3DS models has surged to 3.5 times their previous value, making them 76% pricier than their original launch prices.
4. Limited-edition versions of the 3DS, like the Hyrule edition, can sell for $400 or nearly $1,000 for unopened models in perfect condition.
5. The Nintendo 3DS sold 75.94 million units by the end of 2024 and had a successful game library, outlasting competitors like the PSP and PS Vita.
With the expectation that prices for the Nintendo 3DS console would jump after Nintendo stopped making it in 2020, we’re finally witnessing a noticeable increase on third-party platforms such as eBay. The console, now ten years old, has seen its value rise, competing with the retail cost of a brand-new Nintendo Switch 2.
Current Pricing Trends
As of now, a quick look on eBay reveals that the Nintendo 3DS XL is selling for between $200 and $350, which is higher than its original price. For some context, when the original Nintendo 3DS was launched in 2011, it was priced at $249.99. However, after sales dipped, Nintendo reduced the handheld’s price to a more budget-friendly $169.99. The next year, they released the larger 3DS XL, known as the 3DS LL in Japan, which had a retail price of about $199.99 or ¥18,800. To illustrate, you could find a used Nintendo 3DS XL for as low as $100 on eBay. Fast-forward to late 2025, and the prices for used models have skyrocketed to 3.5 times what they were just a year earlier. This indicates that some 3DS models are now 76% pricier than when they first came out.
The Price Surges
Adding to the surprising pricing situation, a used New Nintendo 3DS XL Black will cost you $277.50, without the box. Meanwhile, complete-in-box versions of the console can go for over $400. But the story doesn’t stop there; limited-edition versions like the New Nintendo 3DS LL Hyrule edition are listed at $400 for the console alone and nearly $1,000 for unopened models in perfect condition with all packaging.
The reasons behind the price hike for 3DS consoles can be attributed to a combination of renewed interest from collectors and Nintendo halting production rather than any increase in prices for computer parts. Nintendo wrapped up production of the 3DS almost five years ago, choosing to focus on the Nintendo Switch instead.
The Console’s Legacy
The Nintendo 3DS had a rocky start but ultimately became a major success for the company, selling 75.94 million units by the close of 2024. It also boasted an extensive library of video games. It managed to outlast Sony’s competing handheld, the PSP, as well as its successor, the PS Vita, despite the latter having better hardware and an OLED display.
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