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
| DS | 3DS | |
|---|---|---|
| Cumulative units (estimated) | 154,020,000 | 75,940,000 |
| After 9y 7m on sale | ≈ 154M | ≈ 75.9M |
| Released | November 21, 2004 | February 26, 2011 |
| Time on the market | 11y 4m | 9y 7m |
| Average per day | ≈ 37K | ≈ 22K |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Which sold more, the Nintendo DS or the Nintendo 3DS?
As of October 30, 2026, the Nintendo DS leads our tracked comparison: about 154 million units against 75.9 million for the Nintendo 3DS, a gap of 78.1 million. Figures may mix reported shipments, customer sales and estimates.
How many Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS consoles have been sold?
Nintendo DS: 154 million units as of March 31, 2016 (Nintendo IR Historical Data - Consolidated Sales Transition by Region, as of March 31, 2016, pdf; measurement not specified). 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).
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