3DS raw materials cost $101 - Report

Nintendo's 3DS will carry a $250 sticker price when it goes on sale in the US this Sunday, a figure that represents a $100 premium over the Nintendo DS when it launched in 2004 and a $70 markup from 2009's DSi. As could be expected, the price is indicative of a higher cost of raw materials born by Nintendo to build the unit.

Speaking to Eurogamer, UBM TechInsights VP of technical intelligence David Carey offered a "preliminary estimate" of Nintendo's cost for the physical components of the 3DS at about $101 per unit. According to Carey, that figure is about $15 more than what it cost the publisher to build each DSi unit at launch.

Smaller than the DSi, the 3DS features a 3.53-inch 3D-enabled top screen and a 3.02-inch touch-panel bottom screen. Its PICA200 GPU offers a 200MHz standard clock speed, while its battery supports three to five hours per charge for 3DS games, depending on screen-brightness settings. The system also includes a 2.4GHz 802.11 Wi-Fi connector.

The 3DS also supports a bevy of other features, including three cameras, a built-in accelerometer and gyroscope, a new circular analog control nub, and a 2GB SD memory card. As seen in GameSpot's unboxing of the device (below), gamers will also find a docking station, a stylus, and six AR cards used for augmented-reality games.

For a full rundown on what to expect from Nintendo's new system, check out GameSpot's 3DS Launch Center.