Nintendo 2DSClassic Handheld
Classic HandheldDiscontinued
Nintendo 2DS
Nintendo · Released Oct 2013 · 2DS (FTR-001)
The budget, slate-shaped 3DS that drops the 3D effect — a cheap, durable, kid-friendly way to play the entire 3DS and DS library.
8.0
out of 10
$129
Launch price $129
Pros
- +Cheap, durable entry to the 3DS library
- +Plays all 3DS and DS games
- +Kid-friendly non-folding slate design
- +Lighter on the eyes (no 3D)
Cons
- −No stereoscopic 3D
- −Bulky, non-folding slate
- −Mono speaker and low-res screens
What can it play?
Emulation performance by platform, based on real-world testing.
Full speedPlayableLimitedNot supported
Nintendo 3DSFull speed
Nintendo DSFull speed
Game Boy / ColorFull speed
Full specifications
Hardware
- Chipset (SoC)
- Nintendo (ARM11 + DMP GPU)
- CPU
- Dual-core ARM11 @ 268 MHz
- GPU
- DMP PICA200
- RAM
- 128 MB
- Storage
- Internal + SD 3DS Game Card + SD card
- Weight
- 260 g
- Dimensions
- 144 x 127 x 21 mm (slate)
- Cooling
- Passive
Display
- Size
- 3.53″
- Resolution
- 400x240 (top) + 320x240 (touch)
- Panel
- LCD (no 3D), lower is touch
- Refresh rate
- 60 Hz
- Touchscreen
- Yes
Battery & Connectivity
- Battery
- 1300 mAh
- Real-world life
- ~4 hours
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n)
- Bluetooth
- None
- Ports
- 3DS card slot, SD card, Stylus, 3.5mm headphone
- Expandable storage
- Yes (microSD)
Controls
- Analog sticks
- 1
- 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
Value8.6
Build8.2
Screen6.5
Performance7.0
The 2DS reimagined the 3DS as a cheaper, sturdier non-folding slate that omitted the stereoscopic 3D effect, targeting younger players and budget buyers. It plays every 3DS and DS game, and its solid wedge shape is hard to break. The slate form is bulky and the single speaker is mono, but as an affordable gateway to the 3DS library it did its job well.