Nintendo love to tinker with their handheld console hardware, releasing several iterations of each during a console's lifespan. However, they've taken that predilection to new heights during the 3DS era, not just revising the console, but exploring different ways to get it to reach more people.

The best 3DS clamshell design yet; "New" 3DS model power and features; Huge library of great games; Comes with a charger

Loses 3D effect; Wobbly hinge; Still merely OK battery life; Poor for gaming in sunny conditions

Really good product it looks and feels fantastic totally recommend getting it

The New Nintendo 2DS XL is the finest 3DS iteration yet, and sends the much-loved handheld off in style

The Nintendo New 2DS XL sacrifices the mostly superfluous 3D for a handsome re-design that stands head and shoulders above the rest of the 3DS/2DS family. And like its counterpart, it includes an improved processor and the ability to play SNES games.

It feels fitting to be writing this while I'm listening to Radiohead, really. "You do it to yourself, just you, you and noone else" isn't the song ringing in my ears, but it's the most apt. I'm not mo

Great looks; Nice quality of life improvements; Good price

No major changes

Announced nearly four years ago, the Nintendo 2DS has been Nintendo's entry level solution for consumers who desire to enter its handheld ecosystem at the lowest price possible.

Visually appealing design; A slim profile that doesn't compromise screen size; Better ergonomics than other 2DS/3DS devices; AC adapter included

Tags

It’s hard to see who the New 2DS XL will appeal to. For those really wanting the absolute best, the New 3DS XL offers a significantly better display and feels much more of a premium device. The cash-conscious gamer, meanwhile, already has the standard 2DS. So the New 2DS XL sits between them in no man’s land. The hammer blow, though, is the Switch. It was only a few months ago that Nintendo released its hybrid console and it’s crystal clear that almost all of the company's focus is going towards producing games for that new platform, leaving the 2DS and 3DS out in the cold. Don’t get me wrong, the New 2DS XL is still a well-made device that would have been a portable champion three years ago. But in 2017? It just feels redundant.

Clamshell design a massive improvement on door-wedge 2DS; New processor offers more grunt; Handy little C-Stick;

Rough-around-the-edges display; Plasticky build; Limited games on the horizon ;

Clamshell design a massive improvement on door-wedge 2DS; New processor offers more grunt; Handy little C-Stick;

Rough-around-the-edges display; Plasticky build; Limited games on the horizon ;