New Nintendo 2DS XL: The Best Gets A Little Better

This week, we answer your questions about New Nintendo 2DS XL.

By Jose Otero

The recently New Nintendo 2DS XL might not seem all that special on the surface, but that latest revision to Nintendo’s flagship handheld has some good improvements under the hood. For a relatively low $149.99 USD, you’re getting a solid hardware revision with an unbelievably thin top screen, a fast processor to cut load times on heftier games (like Smash Bros. or the Monster Hunter games) and a big library of great software. If you need a primer on what games buy for it, just check out IGN’s Top 25 3DS games for a few suggestions.

Granted, if you’ve already upgraded to a New Nintendo 3DS XL or a Nintendo Switch, you’re understandably less excited by the sleek looks of this revamped handheld. The 3DS line started out in 2011 after all, and the system has seen five revisions in six years since it launched in North America. If you’re anything like me, you probably owned at least three or four of them. Historically, Nintendo always iterates on its handhelds and will sell them until the company stops supporting them.

Last week, IGN flew out to New York City to go hands on with the latest revision and we wanted to answer some questions you might have about it.

What is it?

We got to play Miitopia, Hey! Pikmin, and Ever Oasis and the New 2DS XL feels up to snuff.

The New Nintendo 2DS XL is the latest revision in Nintendo’s 3DS family of products. More specifically, this is the middle tier in a three-pronged approach. The 2DS dropped down to $79.99 last May. The 3DS XL sells for $199, but the New 2DS XL will sell for $149.99. Think of it as a New 3DS minus the glasses-free 3D feature that Nintendo introduced in 2011 (and a feature it made much, much better thanks to a super-stable 3D feature added in the New 3DS line).

What’s Different About It?

Well, the answer to this questions depends. Compared to the wedge-shaped 2DS, a lot has changed in this model (but fewer things have changed if you compare it to the New 3DS XL). The New 2DS has a clamshell design, an integrated C-stick, and built in amiibo support. If you’re buying this for a 2DS owner, the system has a proper sleep mode when you close the clamshell shut. It may not sound like a big deal, but this is a step over the sleep switch toggle that you could easily forget to flip on a 2DS.

Nintendo's 3DS/2DS line of products.

The New 2DS XL pretty much has all the improvements of the New 3DS XL line in a new body. The device looks sleeker thanks to some good engineering decisions. The top screen is super thin, and it is capable of displaying the same 400x240 pixel resolution as the original 3DS. The thinner screen size is likely because Nintendo moved the front-facing camera to the inside of the hinge and the dual cameras to the bottom of the device. The texture on the outside of the top screen looks (and feels) nice. The bezel around the touchsceen is now flat and it won’t scratch the top screen like the raised frame found on prior 3DS systems.

What’s Most Interesting Change?

The Game Card and MicroSDHC have moved on this model, and the system is better for it.

Nintendo moved the Game Card and the MicroSDHC slots to a much better location. You can find both neatly accessible under a flap at the base of the unit. The recess for the Game Card is a little deeper than we expected, but at least this means no more ejecting cartridges accidentally while you’re traveling with a 2DS/3DS. If this has happened to you, you understand the annoying, frustrating pain that comes with losing progress because the cartridge popped before you saved the game.

What’s the Least Interesting Change?

The stylus is a lot smaller on the New 2DS XL.

The stylus is now smaller than it used to be (compared to the one in the New 3DS XL) and that’s a bummer. If you’re interested in playing a lot of games with touchscreen support, you might want to look into something heftier. Nintendo moved the slot for it next to the headphone jack. I miss the days of the Nintendo DS XL stylus pen. Remember that thing? It was possibly the best stylus ever packed in with a Nintendo handheld device.

Is There Anything I Should Be Worried About?

Everything about the New 2DS XL seems good so far but we didn’t get a good demo of the speakers during our hands-on since it was pretty loud at the venue where we saw the system. You can find the new stereo speakers (fun fact: the OG 2DS was only capable of mono sound) on the base of the New 2DS XL, with one speaker located at the left and right corners. Due to the venue, it was difficult to tell how loud the system is. We’re also concerned whether how you hold the system will impact the sound quality. Stay tuned for answers on this closer to the release date on July 28.

What We Think of It So Far?

So far at least, the New Nintendo 2DS XL is a neat upgrade for anyone who still has a regular 3DS or a 2DS. The device feels a little light at 9.2 ounces but, otherwise, the handheld and buttons all feel just right. You could consider this a late-to-the-party edition of the 3DS/2DS but Nintendo made sure it plays everything, from New 3DS exclusive games to the Super Nintendo Virtual Console releases the company announced last year. Nintendo told us that any piece of software that works on a 3DS, 3DS XL, 2DS, New 3DS, and New 3DS XL will work on this machine. You can transfer data from any of those devices to this one. The 3DS line is still region locked (some things never change regardless of the revision) but this device can still play some great software.

Jose Otero is an Editor at IGN and host of Nintendo Voice Chat. You can follow him on Twitter.

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