Honestly, the Sun and Moon 3DS XL is a weird piece of hardware history. It dropped right at the tail end of the 3DS life cycle, just months before the Nintendo Switch arrived and changed everything. You’d think it would be a footnote. It isn’t. Even now, in 2026, collectors are still hunting for this specific Solgaleo and Lunala Black Edition. It’s got this vibe.
Most people remember 2016 for Pokémon GO, but the "real" fans were waiting for Alola. When Nintendo announced the Sun and Moon 3DS XL, expectations were high. We’d seen the gorgeous Pikachu Yellow editions and the Hyrule gold plates. Then, Nintendo gave us... a black box with white outlines. Some people hated it. They called it "sketchy" or "unfinished." But if you hold one today, you get it. The matte finish doesn't show fingerprints like the glossy Majora's Mask unit does. It’s practical. It’s understated. It’s basically the "adult" version of a Pokémon console.
The Design Choice That Divided the Pokémon Fandom
If you look closely at the Sun and Moon 3DS XL, the artwork isn't printed on top of the plastic in a thick layer. It’s etched in these thin, silvery-white lines. On the front, you have Solgaleo, the sun lion. On the back, Lunala, the moon bat.
Some critics, like those over at Polygon and Nintendo Life back in the day, pointed out that the interior is just... plain black. No special buttons. No colored A/B/X/Y pads like the New 3DS non-XL models. It felt lazy to some. But for others, the "Black Edition" was a relief. It didn't look like a toy. You could take it on a plane or a bus without feeling like you were holding a literal Happy Meal toy.
The "New" 3DS XL hardware inside is the real kicker, though. It has the C-Stick—that weird little rubber nub that acts as a second analog stick. It has the improved head-tracking 3D. If you’ve ever used an original 3DS, you know the 3D was a nightmare. Move your head an inch and the screen blurred into a headache-inducing mess. The Sun and Moon 3DS XL uses the inner camera to track your eyes. It actually works. It makes playing Pokémon Sun or Moon in 3D actually viable, even if the frame rate in those specific games chugs a bit during double battles.
Why the Solgaleo and Lunala Edition is Blowing Up in 2026
Collectors are weird. We like things that represent a "moment." This console represents the peak of the 3DS era. By the time Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon came out, the Switch was already the golden child. This specific Sun and Moon 3DS XL was the last "big" themed launch before Nintendo started shifting focus.
Prices on eBay and PriceCharting tell a wild story. A few years ago, you could snag a mint condition unit for 200 bucks. Now? If it’s "New in Box" (NIB), you’re looking at double or triple that. Even a loose unit with some scratches on the bottom plate pulls a premium. Why? Because the 3DS eShop is dead.
Since the eShop closed, the value of physical hardware—especially limited editions—has skyrocketed. People want the "definitive" way to play the DS and 3DS library. The Sun and Moon 3DS XL is arguably the most "modern" feeling of the special editions.
The Screen Lottery: IPS vs. TN
Here is something most casual buyers totally miss. It’s the "Screen Lottery." Nintendo used two different types of panels for the New 3DS XL.
- IPS panels: Better colors, wider viewing angles, deeper blacks.
- TN panels: Cheaper, colors wash out if you tilt the device, but slightly better response times.
The Sun and Moon 3DS XL is notorious for this. You might buy one and get a dual-IPS setup, which is the "Holy Grail" for handheld nerds. Or you might get dual-TN. Or a "top-IPS, bottom-TN" hybrid. There is no way to tell from the box. You have to turn it on and tilt it. If the colors stay vibrant, you’ve hit the jackpot. This uncertainty actually drives the price up for "confirmed IPS" units in the secondhand market.
How it Actually Plays Pokémon Sun and Moon
It’s kind of ironic. The Sun and Moon 3DS XL was built for its namesake games, but those games pushed the hardware to its absolute limit. If you play Pokémon Sun on an original 3DS, the load times are brutal. On this "New" hardware, the extra RAM and better processor make a massive difference.
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The game boots faster. The menus don't lag as much. However, even with the "New" processor, the 3D effect is actually disabled in most of Pokémon Sun and Moon because the game is too taxing. The console has the power, but the game engine just couldn't handle it. You only really see the 3D in the Poke Finder mini-game. It’s a bit of a letdown, honestly.
But then you pop in Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate or The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D. That’s where this hardware shines. The C-Stick allows for full camera control. The Sun and Moon 3DS XL becomes the ultimate gaming machine for a library that spans from 2004 (DS) to 2017 (3DS).
Is it Worth Buying Right Now?
If you’re looking for a Sun and Moon 3DS XL today, you have to be careful. The market is flooded with "reshelled" units. These are broken 3DS consoles put into cheap, third-party plastic shells that look like the Solgaleo and Lunala edition.
How can you tell the difference? Look at the battery cover. On an original Sun and Moon 3DS XL, the text is crisp. The Nintendo logo is perfectly centered. The "etched" lines feel smooth, not like they were printed on with an inkjet printer. Also, check the serial number. A quick Google search of the serial prefix can often tell you if that board actually belongs in a Limited Edition shell.
Then there's the region locking. Nintendo was stubborn. A US Sun and Moon 3DS XL can only play North American games. A Japanese "LL" version is usually cheaper, but it’ll be in Japanese. You can't just swap the language in the settings. You have to resort to homebrew and "CFW" (Custom Firmware) to region-unlock it. Most enthusiasts do this anyway because, let's be real, the eShop is gone and we need a way to preserve our games.
Technical Maintenance and Longevity
These things aren't getting any younger. The lithium-ion batteries are starting to swell. If you buy a Sun and Moon 3DS XL, the first thing you should do is check the back plate. If it’s bulging even a little bit, get that battery out of there. It’s a fire hazard and it’ll ruin the rare shell.
- Replacement Parts: The good news is that the "New" 3DS XL parts are everywhere.
- The Screens: If you crack a screen, it's a nightmare to fix. The top screen ribbon cable runs through the hinge. It’s one of the most difficult repairs in handheld gaming.
- The Shell: You can't easily buy OEM replacement shells for the Sun and Moon 3DS XL. If you scratch it, it’s scratched for life. Get a clear TPU case immediately.
I've seen so many of these units with "peeling" on the inner corners. It's a common defect where the paint starts to flake off near the hinges. If you find one that hasn't started peeling yet, you're lucky.
The Cultural Legacy
We won't see another console like this. The Switch is great, but it’s a tablet. The Sun and Moon 3DS XL represents the end of the "clamshell" era. It fits in a (large) pocket. It protects its own screens. It has that satisfying click when you open it.
When you hold the Sun and Moon 3DS XL, you're holding the peak of 15 years of dual-screen evolution. It’s the final form of the DS. It’s got the Solgaleo and Lunala art to prove it. Whether you're a Pokémon master or just a hardware nerd, this thing is a masterpiece of industrial design, even if it is "just a black box" to the uninitiated.
What to do next if you want one
Don't just jump on the first eBay listing you see. These are high-ticket items now.
- Verify the screen type: Ask the seller for a side-profile photo of the screens while the system is on. If the colors don't wash out, it's an IPS.
- Check for "The Pink Hue": Some of these older screens develop a slight pinkish tint over time. It's subtle but annoying.
- Inspect the hinge: It should be firm. A "floppy" hinge on a Sun and Moon 3DS XL is a sign of heavy use or a failing internal plastic clip.
- Battery check: Ask if the battery is original. If it is, consider buying a high-quality third-party replacement (like those from iFixit) just to be safe.
- Look at the "LL" option: If you don't mind a bit of tech tinkering, buying the Japanese "New Nintendo 3DS LL" version of this console can save you $100 or more. You'll just need to follow a guide on 3DS.hacks.guide to change the region and menu language.
The 3DS era isn't coming back. Nintendo has moved on to the "Switch 2" and beyond. But for a lot of us, the Sun and Moon 3DS XL is the best way to remember a time when gaming was a bit more portable, a bit more experimental, and a lot more dual-screened.