The race from launch day
Cumulative units by months since each console's own launch. Sources can measure shipments, customer sales or estimates; figures between reports are modelled.
Side by side
| 3DS | Wii U | |
|---|---|---|
| Cumulative units (estimated) | 75,940,000 | 13,560,000 |
| After 4y 1m on sale | ≈ 51.9M | ≈ 13.5M |
| Released | February 26, 2011 | November 18, 2012 |
| Time on the market | 9y 7m | 4y 1m |
| Average per day | ≈ 22K | ≈ 9K |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Which sold more, the Nintendo 3DS or the Nintendo Wii U?
As of October 30, 2026, the Nintendo 3DS leads our tracked comparison: about 75.9 million units against 13.6 million for the Nintendo Wii U, a gap of 62.4 million. Figures may mix reported shipments, customer sales and estimates.
How many Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Wii U consoles have been sold?
Nintendo 3DS: 75.94 million units as of September 30, 2020 (Nintendo IR Dedicated Video Game Sales Units page, as of September 30, 2020, Wayback Machine copy; measurement not specified). Nintendo Wii U: 13.56 million units as of December 31, 2016 (Nintendo earnings, quarter to December 2016; measurement not specified).
Figures can measure shipments, customer sales or estimates; these are not directly interchangeable. Between reports our model projects an estimate, not observed transactions. The changing digits show the model's output, not its accuracy. Its inputs and assumptions are corrected when new figures are available. Sources and method