For those who want to have an idea of the possible 3DS manufacturing costs.

Here are some estimated manufacturing costs for possible parts. I always try to round everything up to the highest possible number. All the information taken from iSuppli.com (besides the LCDs since Sharp has just announced a new model one day ago).

Two parallax barrier Sharp 3D LCD touchscreens: roughly $50 ($25 x 2)

One processor (Tegra, Snapdragon, etc...): roughly $30. Since a higher-end Tegra 2 is more powerful than a GC on paper, a scaled down GC chip should cost even less than that.

PCB: $10 at most

Battery and charger: $10 at most

Casing (plastic, stylus): $ 10 at most

Two cameras: $15, assuming that they use a 3 MP camera like the iPhone 3GS (which they won't) ($7.50 x 2)

8GB flash memory: $15

Wi-Fi components: $10

128 MB RAM: 10$

GPS: $2.50

Accelerometer: $2.50

Speakers and mic: $5 at most (based on the price of replacement DS speakers, which are sold online for $2.00)

Assembly cost: $7

Total: approximately $180

Again, here I am assuming that Nintendo will go for higher-end components. The handheld described here is a dual-screen 3D iPhone with roughly the power of a Wii. Note that Nintendo could strike a deal with Sharp (screens) and whatever company that will make the 3DS' processors to get those two components for cheaper than above.

The DS Lite launched at $130 and its estimated manufacturing cost was about $90 at the time. From this we can conclude that Nintendo could sell a very powerful 3DS for $220 and make a healthy $40 profit at launch if they follow the DSL's pricing. If they decide to cheap out on the hardware (low-res cameras, cheaper plastic and speakers, no GPS, etc...) the production cost drops to about $150 and the system can be sold at $190 - 200.

I think I'd be happy with 200-225 for it, as long as it has a good backing with release titles and still looks good after E3 and all that.

Nintendo's intended audience will be extremely reluctant to purchase a portable console for $250 and above, even at $249.99, it'll be a hard sell

my point? nintendo won't price themselves out of the market, so we can expect the 3DS to be relatively affordable

start saving your pennies...

I'd be interested in a similar cost breakdown for 3D televisions, because as we know, the first 3D TVs are two to three times the price of a 2D one. I just don't think it's realistic to expect a 3D game system with motion sensing and vibrating feature to sell for the same thing as a DS.

I have always gotten my handhelds on release day. BUT for the 3DS I think I will wait a little bit. Now it isn't because I am not super hyped for it and ready for the awesomeness they are proposing. But I haven't played through a tenth of the DS titles (though most of them will be a pass), so I think instead of saving the money and buying the 3DS that could have all the problems of a new system, I could catch up on so many DS games that will be marked down. AND I won't have to sit through the first couple of months worth of drought of games for the new system.

But 200 dollars sounds superb for something that will have this packed in. I'd be willing to go to 250 but 300 is really pushing it. That is getting into PS3 territory and I wouldn't mind having one of those new slims. But I would buy it anyways. lol

$220:shock:

I know its a good deal, but that still is a lot of money to spend. Relatively speaking ofcourse.:?

Most I'd spend would be $250 for it. Maybe $300 if they suckered me in with a dreamy launch lineup. :P

Here are some estimated manufacturing costs for possible parts. I always try to round everything up to the highest possible number. All the information taken from iSuppli.com (besides the LCDs since Sharp has just announced a new model one day ago).

Two parallax barrier Sharp 3D LCD touchscreens: roughly $50 ($25 x 2)

One processor (Tegra, Snapdragon, etc...): roughly $30. Since a higher-end Tegra 2 is more powerful than a GC on paper, a scaled down GC chip should cost even less than that.

PCB: $10 at most

Battery and charger: $10 at most

Casing (plastic, stylus): $ 10 at most

Two cameras: $15, assuming that they use a 3 MP camera like the iPhone 3GS (which they won't) ($7.50 x 2)

8GB flash memory: $15

Wi-Fi components: $10

128 MB RAM: 10$

GPS: $2.50

Accelerometer: $2.50

Speakers and mic: $5 at most (based on the price of replacement DS speakers, which are sold online for $2.00)

Assembly cost: $7

Total: approximately $180

Again, here I am assuming that Nintendo will go for higher-end components. The handheld described here is a dual-screen 3D iPhone with roughly the power of a Wii. Note that Nintendo could strike a deal with Sharp (screens) and whatever company that will make the 3DS' processors to get those two components for cheaper than above.

The DS Lite launched at $130 and its estimated manufacturing cost was about $90 at the time. From this we can conclude that Nintendo could sell a very powerful 3DS for $220 and make a healthy $40 profit at launch if they follow the DSL's pricing. If they decide to cheap out on the hardware (low-res cameras, cheaper plastic and speakers, no GPS, etc...) the production cost drops to about $150 and the system can be sold at $190 - 200.

IronstaunchB

Thanks man :D

I'm checking out your blog atm, the mock up you have on there looks really nice.

Here are some estimated manufacturing costs for possible parts. I always try to round everything up to the highest possible number. All the information taken from iSuppli.com (besides the LCDs since Sharp has just announced a new model one day ago).

Two parallax barrier Sharp 3D LCD touchscreens: roughly $50 ($25 x 2)

One processor (Tegra, Snapdragon, etc...): roughly $30. Since a higher-end Tegra 2 is more powerful than a GC on paper, a scaled down GC chip should cost even less than that.

PCB: $10 at most

Battery and charger: $10 at most

Casing (plastic, stylus): $ 10 at most

Two cameras: $15, assuming that they use a 3 MP camera like the iPhone 3GS (which they won't) ($7.50 x 2)

8GB flash memory: $15

Wi-Fi components: $10

128 MB RAM: 10$

GPS: $2.50

Accelerometer: $2.50

Speakers and mic: $5 at most (based on the price of replacement DS speakers, which are sold online for $2.00)

Assembly cost: $7

Total: approximately $180

Again, here I am assuming that Nintendo will go for higher-end components. The handheld described here is a dual-screen 3D iPhone with roughly the power of a Wii. Note that Nintendo could strike a deal with Sharp (screens) and whatever company that will make the 3DS' processors to get those two components for cheaper than above.

The DS Lite launched at $130 and its estimated manufacturing cost was about $90 at the time. From this we can conclude that Nintendo could sell a very powerful 3DS for $220 and make a healthy $40 profit at launch if they follow the DSL's pricing. If they decide to cheap out on the hardware (low-res cameras, cheaper plastic and speakers, no GPS, etc...) the production cost drops to about $150 and the system can be sold at $190 - 200.

IronstaunchB

Yea we'll be lucky if it has 1GB of flash memory, i'd prefer 2GBs to 4GBs if it can keep costs down

128MB RAM? Lol no Nintendo won't do that.

They said roughly as powerful as GameCube. If it was more powerful they'd go ahead and say so, but remember the DS is roughly as powerful as the N64 (CPU is 27Mhz slower, but has more VRAM)

So i'd expect honestly, 400Mhz CPU + a 100Mhz Touch Screen CPU (they'll have two CPUs probably since rumors say no Tegra), 32MB RAM or 64MB RAM, 1GB flash, two VGA cameras, Wireless B/G

What would it cost for those? And where are you getting this info i'd love to know (don't wanna sound sarcastic i'd really love to know!)

One other thing you need to price in there: There's no way they're going to release something as drastically different as 3D without including one or two 3D titles with the system...which might up the cost.

One other thing you need to price in there: There's no way they're going to release something as drastically different as 3D without including one or two 3D titles with the system...which might up the cost.

RichardWrite

not if they're on the internal memory, then theres no manufacturing costs for it, kinda like FlipNote Studio

Yea we'll be lucky if it has 1GB of flash memory, i'd prefer 2GBs to 4GBs if it can keep costs down

128MB RAM? Lol no Nintendo won't do that.

They said roughly as powerful as GameCube. If it was more powerful they'd go ahead and say so, but remember the DS is roughly as powerful as the N64 (CPU is 27Mhz slower, but has more VRAM)

So i'd expect honestly, 400Mhz CPU + a 100Mhz Touch Screen CPU (they'll have two CPUs probably since rumors say no Tegra), 32MB RAM or 64MB RAM, 1GB flash, two VGA cameras, Wireless B/G

What would it cost for those? And where are you getting this info i'd love to know (don't wanna sound sarcastic i'd really love to know!)

darth-pyschosis

It's not like Nintendo will always sell us crappy, dirt-cheap hardware from now on just because they struck gold once with the Wii. They will more often than not go for the better technology option if it's affordable. That's why the GC's processor could give the Xbox a run for its money at a fraction of the cost. Remember that the 3DS is supposed to compete with increasingly powerful smartphones and the PSP2 for at least 5 years. The difference in price between 64 and 128 MB is negligible so they might as well stick the latter in so the devs have more options in the long run. Same thing for the internal storage.

As for processing power, I'm expecting the 3DS to be slightly better than the GC at most things. If Nintendo ends up using the 3D Sharp screens, it will output at a higher resolution than the Wii, in 3D, and that would require more power.

http://www.isuppli.com/News/Pages/Google-Nexus-One-Carries-$17415-Materials-Cost-iSuppli-Teardown-Reveals.aspx

http://www.isuppli.com/News/Pages/iPhone-3G-S-Carries-178-96-BOM-and-Manufacturing-Cost-iSuppli-Teardown-Reveals.aspx

Here are the cost breakdowns I used. Have fun!

By the cost breakdown of the original post, the DSi cost only about $100 in parts (That's the $90 for the DS Lite plus 2 cameras). It retails for $170, or a 70% markup. Mark up the proposed parts of the 3DS by 70%, and you have a handheld that could cost $306. Bring that down to slightly less than 70% markup, so that they can stay under that psychological boundary of the $300 zone, and you still get a price of about $299 for the 3Ds.

Believe me, releasing a handheld at anything over $250 is an extremely risky move. Nintendo will not roll with such huge profit margins at launch. If the 3DS does end being profitable by over 50%, it will be much later in its life cycle.

$199 is a magic number. Do you really want the 3DS to go the way of the PSP?

By the cost breakdown of the original post, the DSi cost only about $100 in parts (That's the $90 for the DS Lite plus 2 cameras). It retails for $170, or a 70% markup. Mark up the proposed parts of the 3DS by 70%, and you have a handheld that could cost $306. Bring that down to slightly less than 70% markup, so that they can stay under that psychological boundary of the $300 zone, and you still get a price of about $299 for the 3Ds.

RichardWrite

Uh, you're forgettting the DSi has 16MB RAM and a 133Mhz CPU not a 67Mhz CPU like DS Lite, added to that licensing fee's for stuff like AAC use (i imagine) bigger screens, better speakers, and OS/UI development, and well i'm sure it adds a bit more or did back in late 2008. just coz it marks up to that price now doesn't mean squat, it could've been $130 in November 2008, so selling it for a $40 profit would be only a 30% profit, of course you don't drop the price as the parts get cheaper unless you have to

they don't have to