Nintendo 3DS Aqua Blue Handheld Console, Renewed

The Nintendo 3DS earned its place by selling something no rival handheld offered at launch: three-dimensional depth without a single pair of glasses. This Aqua Blue model delivers that same trick, and the physical Depth Slider is the detail worth understanding. Rather than locking you into a fixed 3D effect, it lets you determine exactly how much depth appears on screen, all the way down to a flat 2D image. That flexibility matters because glasses-free 3D is a personal experience, and having a hardware control rather than a menu setting makes adjustment effortless mid-game.

Handling the console reveals a device built around play and capture. The adjustable stylus tucks into the body for touchscreen input, while the camera array, one inner lens and two outer lenses at 640 x 480 apiece, does double duty for 3D photography and augmented-reality games driven by the six bundled AR cards. Built-in software including Face Raiders, Nintendo 3DS Sound and Mii Maker means there is something to do before you buy a single cartridge. As a Renewed purchase complete with charger and SD card, it suits buyers chasing the authentic 3DS library and its wireless SpotPass and StreetPass features without paying original retail prices, provided they accept the natural variability of a refurbished unit.