Although not yet available to buy - information about the new Nintendo 3DS is slowly starting to emerge. Expected to be available to buy later in the year and most certainly available in time to buy for this Christmas - just what can you expect from the Nintendo 3Ds and how well will it compare to the other earlier models of this popular portable games console?

3D on the Nintendo 3DS

Beyond doubt the biggest difference between the Nintendo 3DS and its previous versions - the DS, DSi, DS Lite and XL/LL is the 3D capability of it. We say the 3D capability as the Nintendo 3DS doesn't just have a 3D screen - but can also take pictures in 3D. The 3D screen is the top screen the main games playing screen and is inside the flip-up lid, the same as in previous models. However, to accommodate its 3D capability it is bigger than say the DS Lite screen at 90mm compared to 79mm for the Lite model, but it is still smaller than the XL model. However, much more importantly is the resolution of the new main games playing screen. On the DS and DS Lite the screen resolution is only 256x192 pixels, whereas for the 3DS it is a relatively massive 800x240 pixels. This allows 400 pixels per eye to create a very clear 3D effect. The bottom screen in the Nintendo 3DS for games setup and control is the same as previous versions being 256x192 pixels. Whilst previous versions of this popular games machine have a 0.3 megapixel camera facing the console player and one on the outside of the lid facing away from the player; the new 3DS games system now has 3D photo taking capability. Whilst the single camera facing the games player is retained, two outwardly facing cameras on the lid now mean that 3D photos can be taken.

Does size matter?

You might well think that with a bigger screen the whole Nintendo 3DS games console must be bigger than its predecessors. However, if you're on of those people that thinks ‘might is right' or that size really does matter - then you'll be in for a shock to learn that the new Nintendo model is actually smaller than the DS, DS Lite and DSi models, with only the more recently released DSi XL models being bigger. With its much larger screen the XL models have metric dimensions of 161x91x22mm; whilst the new 3DS is only 130x74x20mm. Which makes the 3DS much closer to the DS Lite and DSi models in size, which as you'll know are all smaller than the original DS portable games console. In terms of weight the 3DS is again nearer to the DSi and DS Lite models at 230g, compared to the XL/LL at 314g and the DS at 300g.

Will you feel comfortable on the 3DS?

Anyone who is already familiar with the previous incarnations of this highly popular Nintendo portable games consoles range will feel entirely comfortable with the new Nintendo 3DS. However, there are one or two new layouts and controls to get used to, including a new telescopic stylus that will extend out to a full 100mm. Whereas previous versions had L, R, A, B, X and touch-screen with D-Pad controls; the new 3DS adds to those a motion sensor (accelerometer), gyroscope and a slide pad, which is a round nub analog input. Another slight difference in design is that the on/off button is now moved to beneath the bottom screen, having previously been below the A, B, X, Y controls. There's also a separate slider control to set the 3D intensity, which can be set to 0 for ordinary 2D play should you wish to.

Also new in the 3DS...

Nintendo 3DS builds on the previous DS models and retains all of the features that have made it so popular such as free WiFi connectivity to the Nintendo games service, enabling WiFi games play and downloads. However, the 3DS will now search for WiFi hotspots and for other 3DS users without a user request and even whilst in sleep mode. Stereo sound is also, of course, retained and, along with the 3D cameras will come the ability to record movies and play back 3D video content, with agreements already in place with several major movie distributors for downloads of all the latest 3D releases.