One of the main complaints consumers have had about the 3DS is its disappointing battery life – luckily, Nyko was waiting in the background with an oft-unnoticed solution, the PowerPak+. The PowerPak+ is a battery pack for the 3DS that charges using the 3DS’s charging cable, and claims to double the handheld’s life.
This accessory was released in stores in April, but was not widely received; much of the modicum of attention it did garner was negativity toward the fact that one must unscrew and remove the 3DS’s backplate in order to install it. Consumers balked at the idea of opening up their console; the general consensus was that they feared this would void the warranty or brick the console.
Ever the engineer, I took up this mantle with tentative excitement. I eagerly unscrewed the colorful back of my 3DS, pausing for just a moment to ponder the possible ramifications – though any fleeting worries quickly escaped as my curiosity took hold. After all, it wouldn’t be the first warranty I’ve voided, and it certainly won’t be the last.
Attaching the PowerPak+ was quite simple, and the kit included a small screwdriver and detailed instructions. The accessory also added only a negligible amount of weight to the handheld – I did a side-by-side comparison with an un-modded 3DS and could detect little difference. The added size was non-obstructive during gameplay, and in fact almost enhanced the comfort – it has a matte surface and convenient finger grooves that provided better grip. The only complaint I have about the additional bulk is that the 3DS could no longer fit into the charging dock that came with the console – a possibly purposeful ploy due to the fact that Nyko sells their own version of the charging dock manufactured for owners of the PowerPak+.
Turning on the 3DS for the first time after adding the PowerPak+, I noticed that removing the battery had restored the time and date settings to factory default, and reset the pedometer to zero – not a big deal, my play coins were still intact, as were all the Miis I had collected in StreetPass Mode.
But there was one final test before I’d give the PowerPak+ my seal of approval: would it live up to its main promise of increased battery life? After fully charging the battery, I commenced using my 3DS as usual; over the span of four full days, I played a bit here and there, and left it in sleep mode when I wasn’t using it. I found that the console ended up holding its charge for the duration of my trial, at least twice as long as it used to.
Upon further research, I found that removing the battery and installing the PowerPak+ does not in fact void the warranty of the 3DS. With very few cons and a few overwhelming positives, Nyko’s overlooked battery solution is well worth the $19.99 for which it retails.