Right now, they are saying it's not a 3DS replacement. However, they said the same thing about the DS, and how it was a "third pillar" to the GBA and GCN.
I think it is the next-gen high-end handheld. You couldn't improve the 3DS much without ending out at something close to the switch. But it is larger and significantly higher priced. Especially when you compare it to the 2DS which is less than $100. So for quite a while the 2/3DS are going to occupy the lower price point and ultraportable sector. Only as the Switch prices get lower and possibly a "Switch Mini" gets released, the 2/3DS would be phased out completely.
