Video: Digital Foundry Gives Its Assessment of the New Nintendo 2DS XL

The end of the article says January, when it should be July.

Is he reading from a teleprompter? I can't tell.

I like the design of the New 2DS XL but if I was to buy a model I'd rather spend that little bit extra and get a 3DS XL.

I might pick one up if there's a really good LE. Will be pissed if 2020 reveals a "New Retro 3DS XLI"--play all of your old carts on one system!

What about the stylus? The stylus on the New Nintendo 3DS and 3DS XL are so underwhelming short that I immediately tossed them for telescopic ones.

Is that charger the same as the regular 3DS? Seems different or is that just how the European variant looks?

@Boidoh That's just the Europlug

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europlug

I really like the color scheme of the new 2ds. I'd choose this over a new 3ds if I didn't own one already

@SLIGEACH_EIRE well if you can't tell he's doing a good job if he does!

Why make an xl size? Shouldn't they also make a normal sized one? Personally I prefer the smaller size 3ds it's just more comfortable and doesn't stretch the images (images usually look better on smaller screens).

@GameOtaku Well, there is the normal sized 2DS.

@maceng
But not a normal new 2ds and its next to impossible to find a normal new 3ds.

Didn't watch the video. Does it have TN or IPS panels?

Great catalogue of games. Good for those that need newer ones or have broken old ones.
I still love the old 2DS. Feels more comfortable in my hands compared to the new 3ds.

@GameOtaku Ah yes. Nintendo blew it wide open with the New Nintendo 3DS on the States and Europe: only special editions that disappear as soon as they hit the market, only to reappear at 50-70% increase in price.

Also, here in NA, is almost impossible to buy a New Nintendo 3DS XL online. Sometimes Target has some, sometimes Toys 'r us.

@maceng
I can find xl models at the local chains all day now, but I'm not paying an extra 100 just for it being a large size that I don't like.

@GameOtaku I know. I had a really hard time getting a New Nintendo 3DS for my girlfriend's daughter. Had to buy the Animal Crossing one, used, at 200 bucks.

Nintendo is blowing it hard by not having 2DS, 3DS, 3DS XLs enough to meet demand.As you can see from my pic, I have a ton of them (42 to be precise) and still it is very hard to find the plain red one at a decent price anywhere.

@zip He says it has TN panels, but as we know, even the New 3DS XL, as well as the regular New 3DS, can come at random with IPS or TN panels, or even sometimes a mixture of each, like the bottom screen being TN and the top one IPS or vice versa. there's even a reddit that tracks editions and serial numbers of the units to try to figure out a sure way to tell before purchasing if your unit will have a TN or IPS screen(s). It's possible that they'll do the same thing with the New 2DS XL. The one Digital Foundry got was definitely a TN, but because of the precedent with the New 3DS XL and New 3DS (and as I read now, even the OG 3DS XL), it's quite possible that some New 2DS XLs out there will have IPS panels. Maybe Digital Foundry aren't aware of that, since even Nintendo won't acknowledge it with the previous iterations of the system.

I'll probably pick up a New 2DS XL when it comes out given the fact I'm still playing on my original black 3DS from 2011. It's about time for an upgrade, and the 3DS boasts one of the greatest game libraries.

New 2ds all the way for me. This will by our first 3ds err 2ds.

We loved our DS phats years ago.

My current handheld is the switch. I am quite happy with it.

@maceng why so many DS's?

@GameOtaku I'm with you.

The smaller New 3DS is BY FAR my favorite model. The pixel density, portability, ability to swap coverplates and the weight are all optimal.

I had to resort to scalpers when Amazon had their deal and paid roughly 20% more than the original $99 price for a couple units. The price will continue to skyrocket though. Particularly for that black model.

If you're in the market for one, I'd highly recommend getting it sooner rather than later because I think we're looking at a Game Boy Micro situation (in terms of price inflation) - maybe even a GameCube component cable situation.

I don't know if NOA is responsible for its relative absence here or whether the decision was higher up, but I think it was an enormous misstep to launch the "New XL" models in the west exclusively. Not that Nintendo cares, so long as the profit margins for the XL in this region go above whatever metric they consider satisfactory.

All of the ones that have been checked are TN panels, unfortunately, so I doubt there will ever be a compatible IPS top-screen

@Filth_Element Don't know... Just kidding!

I like to collect stuff. Still, I'm selling part of my collection. Just gonna keep the Mario-related 3DSes and the Pokemon related ones.

Got a couple of "rare" ones like the Toad and Princess Peach released in Japan and EU.

@maceng ah ok. Just asked as I realised I had a few now.... 4 of them nothing in the realms that you have though.... I'm hoping I manage to keep them down around there but now the new 2DS is here......😳

It actually appears to be fairly well designed physically. Keeping the microSD card and game card slots next to each other and beneath a cover should have been standard on all New 3DS models. The decreased weight and improved balance provide some real stability to grip, unlike the fake stability from firmware updates. Including a charger is a huge plus, considering the N3DS/XL packages didn't include them. The design of the charger is changed, though- would be interested to see if the electrical specs changed too!

Unfortunately, though, it still is barely playable under direct sunlight. So the Game Boy Color remains the most efficient Nintendo portable under direct sunlight. No face tracking due to no parallax tech behind the 3D is a disappointing loss, I would have expected the camera to handle that feature. Having a calibrated TN display was to be expected, and should provide a good display. Yet it confirms that IPS screens are restricted to N3DS/XL models- this lowers the N2DS XL's value as a midrange product in the 2/3DS line. Maybe there will be some outliers with the whole random IPS or TN debacle that Nintendo refuses to acknowledge... But I wouldn't get my hopes up too much on this cheaper model. Finally, the stretched resolution compared to regular size models create just as much pixellation as other XL models.

That said, it seems pretty nice otherwise. But no reason to change over for those who already have some variety of N3DS. This is just for those who couldn't find a good deal previously. I'm just fine with my $100 Black Thanksgiving N3DS, myself...

@WaveBoy Alternatively, modding the 3DS allows the top brightness option to be accessible at all times... Works great for a long time on a launch 3DS with 5000 mAh battery.

@PlywoodStick - Was thinking the same thing about the memory card slot.

I heard a lot of horror stories about the New 3DS card access being a pain, so having easy access to the slot was a complaint they addressed.

Also it looks like they threw in a charger (unlike New 3DS) so they addressed the two errors of that model IMO.

I love Digital Foundry Nintendo videos. The Youtube comments....oh boy!!!

@Action51 Yes, including a charger was one of the better decisions for the N2DS XL package! It sounds strange, considering most tech products include a charger... but yeah, after Nintendo made the dumb decision to leave out chargers from N3DS packages, one realizes how important the fundamentals are...

The N3DS microSD slot placement wasn't an issue for me, since I carry around screwdrivers to work on laptops anyways... Yet still, annoying for those who don't lug around screwdrivers on a regular basis.

January?

@Action51 Now that I take a closer look, there's another significant design upgrade with the N2DS XL. The edges of the top screen shell have been embossed, instead of the lining around the bottom screen. Every 3DS model up to this point would inevitably cause damage to the top screen cover due to the edges around the bottom screen being compressed onto the top screen. (Except the 2DS, obviously.) This was most pronounced with the O3DS- the top screen cover on mine was permanently scratched over time with 4 lined gashes, through normal use.

I am in Australia and have already purchased the orange/white new 2DS XL and can say it is by far my favourite of the 3DS consoles. The build quality is better, it is comfortable to hold and play (being much lighter) and the styling is very striking. The only thing I don't like is the position of the stylus, because (like the new 3DS models) it is towards the centre bottom of the console. I find it much easier to get at when they had it on the right hand side on the older 3DS models. I guess it has something to do with battery placement etc..

Overall, I can highly recommend the new 2DS XL.

@WaveBoy Can't link, NL staff would send ninjas to kill me

But yeah, it's possible after using the current custom firmware softmod process. I mention the O3DS in particular because it's still the only one with a high capacity yet cheap ($20) 3rd party battery choice. Max brightness eats my N3DS battery alive. My O3DS factory battery decided to inflate to twice it's original size, so... Figured a nice upgrade was in order. Can go a whole day on max brightness no problem. It's a bit bulky, sure, but the added weight on the bottom feels nice when you're used to it.

And the New 2DS XL biggest flaw is.... There are still no 2DS games out there lol... Dammit Nintendo why you make it hard for the parents?

@KIREEK I'm totally with you on the new 3ds. I managed to get the animal crossing one when it came out back in 2015. Since then NoA has only put the new 3ds on sale a grand total of 3 more times, all of which were in 2016. If people want that model, you can get it on ebay for around $160-$170. I remember paying a somewhat high price for my gameboy micro but it was worth it because I got that fancy limited edition famicon color complete in box

@H1B1Esquire I chuckled at the irony of the name "New Retro" 3DS XLI

Heck, the New Nintendo 3DS XL is now the Old New Nintendo 3DS XL. If the new New Retro 3DS XLI comes out, then this new New Nintendo 2DS XL, will eventually be the old New Nintendo 2DS XL. And you'll eventually see people on ebay selling unopened old New Nintendo 2DS XL still in its old original box. Or if Nintendo re-releases it, then you'll see scalpers selling new New Nintendo 2DS XL.

...which will eventually become old New Nintendo 2DS XL.

...OK I've definitely consumed too much coffee. XD

I bought this yesterday. It is a really great handheld. I am not into the technical side of things, but to how digital foundry put it, seems pretty great. The only thing I dislike, is the stylus and power button. Stylus is horribly small. Although I don't use a stylus anyway. And it's hard to easily press the power button.

I'm tempted to get one just for Metroid: Samus Return (althou, my son has a new 3DS, so I guess I could borrow his and play the game there...)

I'm getting one almost solely for the fact of the Dragon Quest-theme. I was thinking of upgrading my regularJapanese 3DS to a Japanese New 3DS XL... and then the metal slime one was announced! I couldn't resist!

I'm broke! Har har har

This video pretty much made my decision to get the New 3DS XL instead. I think the placement of the speakers is a really bad design flaw and I think the system being too light is actually more of any issue than a good thing, I think if a hand-held is too light you're more likely to drop it and possibly break it.