When Nintendo announced a new member of the 3DS family, there was a lot of head-scratching. With the Nintendo Switch taking off and bringing the company’s best first-person titles to the handheld, there didn’t seem like a need for another iteration of the console.
However, the New Nintendo 2DS XL may be the most complete handheld ever. Not only does it give prospective owners everything great about the 3DS line, it provides some much-needed (and long overdue quality of life changes for a great price.
Let’s break down what makes the New Nintendo 2DS XL a must-own for those looking for a traditional handheld experience.
SPECS AND FEEL
The New Nintendo 2DS XL is the sixth model in the 3DS family, but what makes this iteration different is its size. While the original 2DS was an unsightly piece of plastic, the 2DS XL is smaller and lighter than the 3DS XL while still maintaining the look of an actual 3DS (unlike the 2DS).
While the 3DS XL was great, the body was too large and top-heavy for easy travel in, say, your pocket. The 2DS XL stands out by maintaining the look and screen size of the 3DS without making it too heavy. Its slim screen design allows it to fit anywhere, especially your pocket.
Impressively, the 2DS XL processor seems to be better than the 3DS XL. With games like Monster Hunter Generations , the loading times can feel too long. I didn’t feel that with the new console. This is especially noticeable when you first turn on the 2DS XL; you get to the home screen very fast.
The 2DS XL does eliminate the 3D function, which, honestly, isn’t a big deal. But the screen does have a positive and negative. The top screen of the 2DS XL is brighter than the 3DS, but after a while I began to notice the colors were a bit washed out, if not muted. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it’s noticeable, especially after so many years playing on the 3DS XL.
As for battery life, I consistently got around four hours of playtime without sound. For perspective, I recently took a trip to California from New York (a flight that takes between five and six hours) with a fully charged 2DS XL, and it didn’t make it.
QUALITY OF LIFE
While the specs are similar to what’s already out there, what I absolutely loved about the New 2DS XL are the “quality of life” changes. One of the most notable changes is how the volume slider isn’t so easy to move so it won’t move in your pocket or bag.
The home button has moved from the right to the left side of the bottom screen, which prevents players from accidentally pressing the home button.
The game cartridge and SD card slots are in the same area on the bottom of the 2DS XL, hidden behind some plastic. This not only protects both from being popped out in your bag/pocket, but also it makes it so much easier to transfer memory or SD cards from one console to another (although it’s still a pain to do so).
The stylus is still in the same position as previous versions, but this time it snaps into place, so it’ll take a lot more to remove the stylus. No longer will the stylus dislodge and be lost in at the bottom of your bag. The 2DS XL stylus is smaller than the 3DS’s and didn’t feel great in my hands. I’d prefer a longer or extendable stylus, but this is just a nitpick.
VERDICT
Overall, the New Nintendo 2DS XL is a great console for the price. At $149.99, the price comes in between the 3DS XL and the 2DS, while giving the 3DS experience of an entire library of games, screen size and control interface (minus the 3D part, of course) which is what handheld players will want.
Little improvements -- how the volume slider and stylus snap in, the protected yet accessible SD card and game cartridges -- give longtime handheld players exactly what they’ve wanted for a long time.
If you don’t own a Nintendo handheld, this is the console to get. If you already own a 3DS XL but are looking for a change, the 2DS XL is the way to go.
The Nintendo 2DS XL is available July 28.
