Buying guide · NexWave Games
Buying a used 3DS: how do you check the hinge, screens and buttons?
A closed 3DS can easily look tidy in a listing photo. The important issues only become visible once it is open and running a game. Take a few minutes to test the parts that receive the most use.
Start with the hinge and shell
Open and close the 3DS gently. The upper screen should hold its position; excessive play, creaking or a crack near the hinge deserve further questions. A little movement is not necessarily a fault. Check the corners, the hinge pin area and the upper screen housing joints too. Do not force the system to 'test' a lock.
For photos, ask for a side view with the 3DS open. It often reveals more than a picture of the outer lid alone. Check whether the stylus is included too. Replacements are available, but its presence still matters when comparing the price of two bundles.
Try both screens and the controls
Switch on the system and view both a light and a dark image. Scratches, marks, odd colours and dead pixels are easier to spot that way. Check that the upper display stays stable as you gently move the lid. Test several areas of the touchscreen with the stylus; a home-menu photo cannot show whether touch input works.
Press A, B, X, Y, the shoulder buttons and the directional pad. Move the Circle Pad in a game or menu and listen to the audio. Depending on the model, check the extra New 3DS controls too. Starting a cartridge also tests whether the game slot reads it.
Look beyond a full battery
Connect the correct charger and check the charging indicator. Ask whether the battery still behaves normally after some playtime. Compare the model label with the listing: 3DS, 3DS XL and New 3DS are different versions. Ask about the included charger and any SD or microSD card, and do not pay for accessories missing from the photos.
A brief demonstration of a running game, working buttons and a stable hinge says more than 'works perfectly'. Agree on the bundle contents beforehand. You will then be judging the handheld's real condition, not just its shiny exterior.