Probably one of the first test made by a different source than NIntendo Anyway NGAMER tested a 3DS.

"3DS ran out of batteries after four hours. Full brightness, full 3D, no wireless communications enabled."

http://www.gonintendo.com/viewstory.php?id=149294#comment-section

Of course the Wireless communication isn't implemented yet.

I'm much more interested to see it on a brightness comparable to the original DS's only setting (what we can call normal).

So worst case is closer to 4hrs than 3. Good. What does that mean for best case with lower brightness and 3D off? 8hrs?

What about normal brightness no 3D?

it should be closer to 6 or 7 max

you just don't get double battery life for lowering brightness and other stuff

the CPU and GPU's will still be running full time

it doesnt say if hes was playing a game if he wasnt it could drain the battery even further

Ugh. 4 hours seems far too short, even if it was at maximum brightness. That means that a non-Wi-fi, normal brightness, non-3D gaming session might last 7 hours. Add 3D into that, and I'd estimate about 5.5 hours. Not bad, but it's only comparable to my 6-year old DS Phat, which has a 6 hour battery life.

not bad -- any word on if you can exchange battery packs?

It's a new console. Like the DS, they were prepared to sacrifice battery life for performance down to the 6 hour level. Sony were prepared to go to the 4 hour level with the PSP1. I'm betting on a repeat, followed by a 3DS Lite which is coming no matter what Iwata says now, with more battery life.

I've been told you cannot.

It's vacuum sealed...or whatever the term is...