Games hardware: Nintendo 3DS

With a press conference expected this month on the 3D version of Nintendo's handheld DS series, it seems we'll soon find out when the company plans to launch its portable console here (end of February in Japan). But regardless of when it arrives, it is likely to be 2011's must-have gadget.

The 3DS has vastly superior graphics to its predecessor, even before you take into consideration the glasses-free 3D effect which can be adjusted at any time via a slider next to the top screen. An analogue nub – similar to that of the PSP, though markedly superior – and the inbuilt accelerometer and gyroscope for tilt-based play offer a range of control options no other handheld can match.

Apart from its qualities as a gaming device, it's the first truly mass-market piece of 3D technology, and so it should be no surprise that film companies are lining up to make their movies available on 3DS. The console will be backwards compatible, meaning that all existing DS titles are supported, while Nintendo's Virtual Console service will offer the best retro games from the Game Boy era.

Plenty of publishers have confirmed their support for the 3DS, and Nintendo has reiterated its desire to appeal to the core gamer as well as more casual players, with franchises like Resident Evil and Metal Gear Solid joining Mario and Nintendogs to offer a wider variety of software. Early pre-ordering would be prudent: even with a rumoured price tag of £250, the 3DS won't stay on the shelves for long.