You can compare it with any handheld (see chart in OP) it's just waaaaay behind the GBA, GBC, and DS, so not much point in comparing to those. It's about to fall behind the PSP, so that's more relevant. 

I guess the system will do 70 million LT which is good

I think that will be seen as a fairly bitter dissapointment inside Nintendo's HQ. 

The weird thing is they haven't made a profit really for all of 3DS' lifespan thus far basically, I know the Wii U isn't helping but since they can't be making too many of them it's a shame they still can't pull a company profit through the 3DS. 

At least it does well in Japan. 

But I think Nintendo is going to have to do some soul searching about their philosophy to the West now ... even with the 3DS, I think it's hurt by not having any Western IP like a Minecraft I think. 

Woof.

And dat VITA line...

I wouldn't say the software side is good, particularly from the western perspective. How many western devs are even producing for handhelds? Majority seem to have entirely written off handhelds this generation in their pursuit of spectacle and more moneyhatting deals on consoles. Right now, the software environment for both the 3DS and Vita is almost entirely eastern in origin, and even then the Vita is seeing many releases from developers chasing niche titles. There's very little western aligned for audiences, is definitely a problem. (Oddly, 3DS and WiiU are becoming highly profitable platforms for indie what with other devs not producing anything.)

On the other hand, the 3DS is just bogged down with a lot of other issues. For one, Nintendo is/was focused on moving the WiiU to profitability and churning out some games for it (as they are the sole supporters at this point). The overall specs of the system are not exactly phenomenal and the 3D tech, while impressive, has been holding it back in many other aspects. Its possible, though unlikely, that the more refined n3DS will see better everything but that's to be seen.

The Smash/MH releases will likely jump start the system, this year, to vault over the PSP during the holidays. The N3DS launch in Japan may help out long term and the eventual state side release should also keep the slip from slipping further for a year or two more. Nintendo really does need to move towards unification, though, because while they can produce and produce well, they just can't keep two systems up at once seperately.

The 3DS will/should still finish above the PSP and still have done, overall and given its disastrous start, well.

At this point, Nintendo may have lucked out on getting their identity crisis right after the phenomenal success of the Wii because they have (and have been spending) that capitol to rebuild and restructure for the times ahead. I am not nearly as confidant about the other two...

well considering smash is about to come, I wouldn't be worrying about sales numbers

Western devs have never really supported Nintendo handhelds and Nintendo has never really done much to alter that. 

I think their philosophy is Mario + Pokemon + various other Nintendo IP = big sales, but with the 3DS even that formula seems to be fizzling out. 

Smartphones/tablets have changed things too much and Nintendo was short sighted in not investing in more Western studios during the Wii/DS boom phase. Now they're kinda stuck with what they have. 

^3DS won't top PSP global sales (lifetime). It just doesn't have the legs

People said the same thing about Pokemon X/Y last year that it would boost 3DS and everything would be OK ... but it still had a dissapointing holiday season. 

I think we need to realize this isn't a "one game will fix everything" problem. 

it was expected,prepare yourself for even lower sales or the same in 2015(usa and Europe)until the arrival of the new 3dsxl/3ds!fortunately for this year,it has smas bros ,monster hunter 4 and an upcoming huge system seller ,the pokemon omega ruby and alpha sapphire,plus the new 3ds/3dxl release in japan.Imagine the sales in japan with the new handheld combined with these titles releases!p.s nintendo should do a brave price cut!