During a recent edition of the popular Iwata Asks 3DS system designer Ryuji Umezu explained why the Nintendo 3DS has a battery life of between three to five hours.
“What eats more electricity than anything in a handheld gaming device is the LCD backlight. 3DS has two backlights, one for each screen, the upper one being used for 3D. “The 3D one has to deliver separate images to the left and right eyes,” he continues. “Which means that in 3D the amount of light delivered to each eye is halved. In order to make it look just as bright as usual, you have to increase the brightness of the backlight, which increases the power used by even more.”
After experimenting with different technology the team introduced a power save mode, which dynamically alters the strength of the backlight according to what is being displayed. “When the screen as a whole is dark, the backlight itself gets darker, which saves power.”
“When I measured [battery life] by playing several Nintendo games, with the backlight set to the brightest level and the power save mode turned off, battery duration was about three hours,” he adds. “But if you use the power save mode under the same conditions, it gets about 10-20% longer. And if you set the backlight to the darkest setting, the battery lasts five hours, but the power save mode makes less of a difference then.”
Umezu also explains that battery life can be increased by turning down the 3D “volume” slider, with battery life extended by up to 25 per cent by playing in 2D.
– Iwata Asks
Pingback: Tweets that mention Nintendo 3DS: Nintendo Explain Nintendo 3DS Battery Life « My Nintendo News -- Topsy.com
I’m quite disappointed about the battery life. But I think it won’t be a big problem.
doesn’t bother me. I got to charge my iPhone every night so will just do the same with the 3DS.
Hmm damn the battery life…but I’m sure it won’t be a big problem when I play the games and it charges quickly.
Pingback: Nintendo 3DS: Nintendo Explain Nintendo 3DS Battery Life « My … | Nintendo 3DS Release Date
no big deal,everyone?!?
and what about the street pass function?!?i want energy for if i just walk too!
Battery technology has lagged behind for far too long!
That’s fine with me.
As long as the battery doesn’t die over time when it’s off.
My DSi used to do that before I got it sent to repair. I would charge it but for not using it after it being charged (yes the charging light was on), the battery would already be on red on the first time I use it.
I do not want to call Nintendo to say, “I got yet ANOTHER defective system.” for the 100th time.
oh here’s a good idea.
Make a better battey pack to store more power -_-
hi there i am invinting a anti-battery 990 trillion light years and big bang battery last enternatys