[Xavien]

It's a design fault. The spacers are at the far edge of the system, but when it's in your pocket it is pressed together right at the center. When the raised edges of the bottom screen press against the top screen, if there is any grease/fingerprint, it gets smudged and leaves a mark. If there is a foreign object there - like some dust I guess - it can cause scratching.

I take my 3ds everywhere in my pocket, no marks at all, if it was a design issue i would have scratches/marks. Seems more like the spacers on the top flap are not sufficently thick (or maybe not sufficently dense enough) on some 3ds systems.

Or you guys have some really tight pockets :P

[ToD_]

I noticed the smudges since launch on my unit, but thankfully they have not turned into scratches yet! I'm happy to find out now before they did, though. Thanks Gaf! I'll make sure to put a cloth in between the screens when closing.

[radioheadrule83]

The top screen looks like its made up of several parts (at least 3) -- the clear outer layer, an inner shell layer, and a sheet of plastic covering that covers the inside of the lid, across the speakers and screen. My guess is that in manufacturing the inner layer can inadvertently be set a little wrong, causing more contact.

I don't think it's likely to be a design flaw either, but it probably is something they could mitigate with a quick and subtle design modification. See those little tabs on the top left and right of the inside of the clamshell lid? Put another one of those just above the camera and it will be less likely to be compressed in the center when in someones pocket.

[Brazil]

The top screen looks like its made up of several parts (at least 3) -- the clear outer layer, an inner shell layer, and a sheet of plastic covering that covers the inside of the lid, across the speakers and screen. My guess is that in manufacturing the inner layer can inadvertently be set a little wrong, causing more contact. I don't think it's likely to be a design flaw either, but it probably is something they could mitigate with a quick and subtle design modification. See those little tabs on the top left and right of the inside of the clamshell lid? Put another one of those just above the camera and it will be less likely to be compressed in the center when in someones pocket.

There's no reason for the touch screen border to be that... "Sharp". It's a design flaw.

[1-D_FTW]

I remember people pointing this out in the first couple days of the official thread. This issue is what killed any remaining temptation I may have had to impulse buy it. Really is totally inexcusable. Hopefully by the time the library doesn't suck, they'll come out with a revision that's fixed this and put in a larger battery.

[POWERSPHERE]

class action?

but really, this is why you never get Rev A of shit.

[bryehn]

Thanks for the heads-up. I was able to wipe mine off and stuck a screen cleaner in there to close it.

However, this does suck for those that didn't catch it in time.

[Futureman]

I wonder how much more per unit it would have cost Nintendo to put Gorilla Glass in? Though the issue really seems to be the screens touching when they shouldn't be, Gorilla Glass probably would have solved this.

And I've read next to no one in here describing how noticeable the scratches are while playing games. Any effect at all on 3D?

[radioheadrule83]

There's no reason for the touch screen border to be that... "Sharp". It's a design flaw.

Run a finger over the bevel around your touch screen... did you cut yourself?

It's not sharpness that's causing this for people, it's the top screen for some reason touching the bevel when pressure is applied to the centre of the outer casing -- as it would when in a tight pocket or whatever.

A lot of people aren't experiencing the problem which suggests that there is manufacturing variation. It could be mitigated by an extra spacer / bumper just above the camera imo.

[swerve]

And I've read next to no one in here describing how noticeable the scratches are while playing games. Any effect at all on 3D?

It's far too thin a line to have an effect on the 3D beyond the sort of rainbow-color ruining the general immersion.

Basically, it looks like when you sneeze or spit on your monitor, but in a very fine vertical line.

So, you can't see that the 3D is broken, because all the pixels on that vertical line are messed up. It doesn't affect the 3D on the neighboring columns or the rest of the screen.

[ShellyDeKiller]

Have something like this everytime I open my 3DS, I just grab a soft tissue (microfiber) and wipe it off, thought it was a scratch the first time, but turns ou it's not.

Same. I always wipe it off with something. I've had my 3DS since launch, and so far it's not permanent. Don't know why it's not the same for others.

[Brazil]

Run a finger over the bevel around your touch screen... did you cut yourself? It's not sharpness that's causing this for people, it's the top screen for some reason touching the bevel when pressure is applied to the centre of the outer casing -- as it would when in a tight pocket or whatever. A lot of people aren't experiencing the problem which suggests that there is manufacturing variation. It could be mitigated by an extra spacer / bumper just above the camera imo.

The upper screen touches the bevel because it is too "sharp". I'm not saying it's cutting through the screen, just that it's unnecessarily "higher" than the touch screen level. There's no reason for the border to be like that.

[JoshuaJSlone]

Ah, so Iwata is lying? Gotcha. Iwata is lying.

In as much as exaggerating to simplify the explanation of a design decision is lying, yes.

[Graphics Horse]

The upper screen touches the bevel because it is too "sharp". I'm not saying it's cutting through the screen, just that it's unnecessarily "higher" than the touch screen level. There's no reason for the border to be like that.

All of their systems have a border around the bottom screen, probably something to do with the resistive nature of the touch screen. Edit: I probably misunderstood which part you were meaning here, never mind.
Certainly no reason for the features of the bottom half to be pressing against the top half though, that's nasty.

[Taco_Human]

Reading about this for the first time. I'm glad I decided to wait for a redesign or price drop before I dropped the cash on a launch 3ds.

[Coin Return]

Not seeing any scratches or smudges on mine, must be one of the lucky ones.

[Seraphinianus]

Thank you for participating in the Nintendo 3DS beta. Please look for the real version of the system sometime in 2012.

[Htown]

so who makes the best screen protector for the 3DS at this point?

[Woffls]

Oh =\ well this sucks. Mine doesn't have scratches, but then I barely use it.

It'll be from walking around with it in your pocket and the top half sliding back and forth a little. If I'm going to walk around with mine in my pocket - a rarity at best - then I guess I'll put the screen protector in there.

[Kafel]

A design flaw, just what the 3DS needed ...

[dc89]

I just use the little foam thing that came with the 3ds.

Same here. Have done since the day I bougt the thing.

[BGBW]

Had a look at mine and not a single mark was found on the screen, which is odd since I got a few when I first got it. There was a crescent moon mark below the speak from the nub though. I guess carrying it loosely in my bag doesn't apply enough pressure. Gave it a nice clean with a cloth all the same.

[BigDug13]

Yeah that makes sense with my portable system. Make me carry around a piece of foam to fix a design flaw. All for the super low price of $250 plus tax.

[TheExorzist]

Funny thing is that most of the people in this thread wouldn't have noticed if OP wouldn't have said it...

[Jocchan]

Funny thing is that most of the people in this thread wouldn't have noticed if OP wouldn't have said it...

I saw some marks a couple of times, but they came off quickly. I had no idea the hinge was loose enough to get the upper screen scratched.

Remember, kids, always use screen protection.

[Brazil]

Funny thing is that most of the people in this thread wouldn't have noticed if OP wouldn't have said it...

Yeah, wouldn't have noticed before it was too late.

A funny thing, that is.

[Outtrigger888]

I havnt put my 3ds in my pocket yet and dont have any scratches. Pretty shitty design flaw for all you who take yours with you on a daily basis, hope nintendo does somthing about this or at least sends out replacements.

[Nerfgun]

This is what they get for making the 2 screens different sizes.

That is a pretty bad flaw, if it is a flaw, though. It sure looks like one to me. You should NOT need to use a screen protector; I hate those things, they look like trash most of the time.

Didn't the original DS lite have bad hinges or something as well?

[InterInside]

Speaking of yellow screens on old DSes, my 3DS's top screen has a slightly warmer color temp than the bottom screen. It's more noticeable in some OS menus than others, but it's less pronounced when I turn on 3D. Is anyone else experiencing this? is this how it's supposed to be or have I picked up one with a slightly faulty screen?

It's been bugging me for a while now; warm color temp on top, cool color temp on the bottom, why would anyone OK this?

[JoshuaJSlone]

Funny thing is that most of the people in this thread wouldn't have noticed if OP wouldn't have said it...

The smudges came up often in the launch threads, and the rarer occurrence of them becoming more permanent was noted too. This is not some 1% issue bouncing among gaming hypochondriacs.

[confused]

I don't get scratches, but a strange residue builds up on the edges of the top screen where it touches the lower screen. Comes right off, though.

[radioheadrule83]

As I've said earlier in the thread, surely screen protectors simply make both screens closer? You're adding an extra layer of film. I'm pretty sure this user wouldn't be experiencing this effect from his circle stick if he hadn't added a screen protector:

The bottom screen doesn't mark the top screen on my 3DS but the slider pad does leave a noticeable mark, which can be easily rubbed off. I do have a screen protector on my 3DS.

Not to mention I don't like the way the hole for the speakers looks. Screen protectors for the touch screen I can understand, you're poking and prodding that a lot... the ones made for the top screen just seem like a third party money grab to me.

[Santerestil]

My launch Aqua Blue has only grease marks, fortunately. I almost never put in my pockets, hovewer.

my 3DS's top screen has a slightly warmer color temp than the bottom screen.

You have the energy saving mode activated. Go on the luminosity options and shut off it.

[InterInside]

You have the energy saving mode activated. Go on the luminosity options and shut off it.

I have brightness set to max and energy saving set to off, and it's still noticeable. If I get a confirmation that it's not the case for everyone, I'm going to freak out.

[onipex]

No scratches on mine. Had it since launch and use it daily. It is always in my pocket when not in use while I am out. I always close it gently though and that stops any marks from the bottom screen.

[plagiarize]

keep mine in my jean pocket all the time. no marks or scratches from the bottom screen. i do have a feint 'nub circle' but even if that turns into scratches somehow it's not on the screen.

[Sammy Samusu]

I think those vertical nubs on the top screen aren't big enough, maybe Nintendo can fix this with a small revision in the production lines.

[storafötter]

I rechecked my ds, and it is a bad scratch now. Almost a whole line, not that sharp so I won't complain that much. It is almost like they knew about this thing considering that the screens had something in between when I first opened the 3ds. The DS didn't have anything protecting its screens as far as I remember.

[Imbarkus]

I rechecked my ds, and it is a bad scratch now. Almost a whole line, not that sharp so I won't complain that much. It is almost like they knew about this thing considering that the screens had something in between when I first opened the 3ds. The DS didn't have anything protecting its screens as far as I remember.

You remember correctly.

[CrazyArcadia]

Mine is unharmed as of now (wasn't used that much, though), and I guess I overcome my lazyness now and apply the top screen screenprotector as well. I did only apply the touchscreen one since thanks to my ultimate skills in applying protectors, it gets naughty and there are airbubbles left all the time. So I thought "well I'm careful enough with these devices, should be okay with only a screenprotector on the touchscreen".

Is there ANY product coming out which doesn't screw over early adaptors? I'm also looking forward to the "touchpad on the back" for the NGP - raw egg all over again... but yeah, 3DS as of now is pretty flawed in some regards and something like this shouldn't happen with a product that expensive. Regarding scratches, I also don't like how the back of the 3DS is made in almost the same shiny material as the front. Guess what, Nintendo, there's not always a antistatic cloth or a clear repository provided for placing a portable when you aren't at home -_- Scratches ahoy!

Now remember that war-withstanding old Game Boy they put out in the 90s...

[storafötter]

You remember correctly.

Thats good to get clarified. What was in their minds when they wanted the lower screen to have "frame" that pops out. I am sure the scratch wouldn't be as much if it was just the screens rubbing. I think my old brick gameboy has no scratch, the irony!

[Seven Force]

I've had a few of the vertical lines & circle pad imprints on the top screen. Both were easily wiped off, though.

Still, I'm probably going to put the thin foam sheet that came in the box in between the screens when I close them. (Probably going to stop carrying it in my pocket, though.)

[Slayer-33]

What a fucking design flaw, thankfully I returned my 2 sealed 3DS's to Amazon..

[Father_Brain]

I bought a pair of screen protectors, but couldn't manage to get the top one on without bubbles forming. Think I'll start leaving a cleaning cloth in between the screens.

[Door2Dawn]

Glad I didn't buy one at launch.

[linko9]

I wonder how widespread the problem really is... Mine is completely scratch-free, there aren't even any "grease marks". Just to be safe, I'm putting that sheet of foam between the screens. I remember in threads about the RRoD, it seemed like approx. 95% of owners had the problem, when in fact the number is quite a bit lower... I totally feel for the guys who have this problem, but I really do wonder if it's as universal a problem as some are suggesting. We need some scientific polling to determine how likely a system is to experience this issue.

EDIT: To the guys saying to put a cloth between the screens; I'm worried that this would stress the hinge, doing more harm than good. The foam sheet that comes with the system is extremely thin, so I don't think it will do any harm, but I noticed when I put a cleaning cloth between the screens, the system wouldn't close all the way, which is certainly not good for the hinge. Just be careful.

[Boney]

Yep, it's pretty fucking shoddy design, I have them too, I don't really notice them, but it's pretty fucking awful. This is just as bad as cracked hinges to me.

Manufacturerer plants for this are a joke really.

[boyshine]

Slight marks here too. Buying screen protectors tomorrow!

[Snakeyes]

Could've been avoided if they had made both screens the same size. Cheap out and it might come back to bite you in the ass later.

[ferr]

This is why you wait for the revision. I bought one of each color, how cool am i