The cheapest and best places to buy Nintendo 3DS in the UK (Nintendo 3DS)

It's almost here. Gamers across the land are within touching distance of the 3DS, which launches on Friday. But don't expect to just be able to turn up and buy one - the first stock allocations will go to pre-order customers. Annoyingly, there's still loads of confusion over the price and where the best place is to pre-order the machine, so we've scouted around and come back with the definitive list of UK retailers to let you decide�where you�want to buy it. If you do want to buy it, that is,�otherwise this isn't the article for you. Sorry.

First we'll give you the base price being offered around the high street and internet, then we'll take a look at some of the specialist retailers' offers and bundles. Oh, and by the way - don't be tempted to buy on import. 3DS units are region locked so UK software will only run on UK machines. Annoying but true.

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Online pre-order prices:

Amazon.co.uk: �187

Morrisons: �187

ASDA: �187

Zavvi.com: �196.85

GAME.co.uk: �196.99

Gamestation.co.uk: �196.99

HMV.com: �196.99

Play.com: �196.99

WH Smith: �196.93

Sainsbury's: �199.99 (Plus get 1000 bonus Nectar Points)

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High Street (specialist outlets)

HMV: �219.99 (but you get a �20 store gift voucher on receipt of console)

GAME: �219.99 (Plus double reward points worth �11)

GameStation: �219.99

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Bundles and trade-in offers

GameStation told me over the phone that they're going to wait and see what their competitors are offering before announcing any bundle deals, which at least means they should be competitive. However, they are offering trade-in deals on your old DS console. A DS Lite will get you �45 off the price, a DSi will save you �75 while a DS XL will knock a cool �105 off the price of your new 3DS. Not bad at all.

GameStation's sister outlet GAME, have plenty of special deals, not just limited to their generous �11 worth of reward points when you pre-order and purchase.�However, their trade-in deals are inferior to GameStation's.�A DS Lite will only save you �35 on the price of the new machine, while a DSi�is worth �55 towards it. At least a DS XL will recoup the same amount - �105. However, I was told by the GAME rep that games will be in relatively short supply, so they're currently offering a �3 reserve on your chosen titles. So make sure you decide what you want soon!

Interestingly, HMV appears to be honouring ancient pre-orders (like mine - heh heh) from the middle of last year at a very wallet-friendly �199.99. But if you were to pre-order today for �10, the price is �219.99. You get �20 back in store credit to bring it more in-line with�other outlets�(including its own online store) and there are also some interesting bundle deals. If you buy a game with the console, you can choose to pick one from SSFIV3D, Nintendogs + Cats, Pilotwings Resort and Pro Evolution Soccer for a mere �30. If you prefer either Rayman 3D, Ghost Recon, Splinter Cell, Super Monkey Ball 3D, Ridge Racer 3D or the Sims 3, you can pick one for just �19.99. There's also a deal where you can buy two from the latter list plus an accessory pack or hard case for �45.

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Our advice

Online is clearly cheapest. It just is. There's even the possibility that pre-ordered units will arrive a day early as stock is often posted�as soon as�it arrives. But there's also a lot to be said for physically attending a midnight launch (I still have fond memories of the Dreamcast party in Taunton - that was awesome), so there are still some reasons to go for the high street retailers. Especially as some will be giving away free consoles and games to those at the front of the queues at midnight.

In particular, HMV in Oxford Street will host an amazing launch event where the first 500 to purchase the console will each be able to claim a free Nintendo 3DS game of their choice. Fans attending the official launch will receive a special commemorative launch-night pack containing numerous Nintendo rewards, including a space blanket to keep them warm whilst queuing, a limited edition launch t-shirt and an exclusive Nintendo 3DS launch edition of Official Nintendo Magazine.

There's still stock pretty much everywhere right now, but once everyone realises how awesome this thing is, everyone's going to want one. And then there are bound to be shortages. So don't worry too much about where you decide to pre-order as the offers are all decent enough - just make sure you do.

These prices were correct at the time of publishing. Individual stores may have their own bundle deals, so don't take our word as concrete. Check around. Just don't pay �230 for a standalone machine, OK? We'll know.

21 Mar 2011�

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