[quote name='blueshinra']I'm buying my first 3DS soon but am torn between the original and the XL. I like the buttons, matte finish, and form factor of the XL, and the screen brightness, clarity, and overall size of the original.
Pixelation is a
huge concern for me since many of the games I liked on the DS use a fair amount of 2D art, and some of these same types of games are coming to 3DS. For instance, one of the first games I'll be getting is Etrian Odyssey IV, which uses a lot of crisply-drawn 2D character art. I probably won't play any original DS games on whatever 3DS I get, so that's not a problem.
Any advice is appreciated
[/QUOTE]
Honestly, the XL is the way to go. In terms of graphics, I was someone who actually didn't like the DSi XL because of the pixelation, but I have zero problems with my move from the regular 3DS to the XL. There is a slightly lesser lack of 'sharpness', as it were, but it's not enough to outweigh all of the other benefits of the XL.
Outside of the lesser speakers (which, really, I haven't had an issue with), there's almost no reason to not go with the XL. I don't even find it to be less portable.
Anyway, just my opinion... but if you're taking the 3DS plunge, the XL is the one to pick up. I really don't feel like it's hyperbole to say that the XL feels like what the 3DS always should have been. Even after only a month of XL use, my old 3DS feels so antiquated that it's not even funny.