New Nintendo 2DS XLClassic Handheld
Classic HandheldDiscontinued
New Nintendo 2DS XL
Nintendo · Released Jul 2017 · New 2DS XL (JAN-001)
A light, folding New-3DS-class handheld minus the 3D effect — arguably the best-value way to play the 3DS library, with C-stick and amiibo.
8.8
out of 10
$149
Launch price $149
Pros
- +New-3DS performance and exclusive games
- +Light, slim folding design
- +C-stick, ZL/ZR and amiibo NFC
- +Cheaper than the New 3DS XL
Cons
- −No stereoscopic 3D
- −Low-resolution panels
- −No charger included in some regions
What can it play?
Emulation performance by platform, based on real-world testing.
Full speedPlayableLimitedNot supported
Nintendo 3DSFull speed
Nintendo DSFull speed
SNESFull speed
Game Boy / ColorFull speed
Full specifications
Hardware
- Chipset (SoC)
- Nintendo (quad-core ARM11)
- CPU
- Quad-core ARM11 @ 268 MHz
- GPU
- DMP PICA200
- RAM
- 256 MB
- Storage
- Internal + microSD 3DS Game Card + microSD
- Weight
- 260 g
- Dimensions
- 159 x 86 x 21 mm (closed)
- Cooling
- Passive
Display
- Size
- 4.88″
- Resolution
- 800x240 (top, no 3D)
- Panel
- LCD (no 3D) + touch LCD
- Refresh rate
- 60 Hz
- Touchscreen
- Yes
Battery & Connectivity
- Battery
- 1710 mAh
- Real-world life
- ~6 hours
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n)
- Bluetooth
- None
- Ports
- 3DS card slot, microSD, Stylus, 3.5mm headphone, NFC (amiibo)
- Expandable storage
- Yes (microSD)
Controls
- Analog sticks
- 2
- D-pad
- Yes
- Face buttons
- Yes
- Analog triggers
- No
- Gyroscope
- Yes
- Hall effect sticks
- No
Software & custom firmware
Ships with: Nintendo 3DS Home Menu
Also plays natively: Nintendo 3DS cards, Nintendo DS cards, eShop / Virtual Console
Custom firmware
Our verdict
Value9.0
Build8.4
Screen7.0
Performance7.5
The New 2DS XL is a favourite among collectors: it has the faster quad-core New-3DS internals (and its exclusive games), the C-stick, ZL/ZR buttons and amiibo NFC, and a slim, light folding body — all while dropping the stereoscopic 3D to hit a lower price. The panels are low-res and there is no 3D, but as a do-it-all 3DS it is hard to fault and remains highly sought after.