One is a £100 indestructible slab that plays thousands of games. The other is a £305 collector’s item with a complete feature set. Here’s how to choose.
Nintendo’s dual-screen handheld line ended with the Switch taking over, but in 2026 the DS family occupies a fascinating position in the retro gaming market. The original Nintendo 2DS is the cheapest entry point into one of gaming’s largest software libraries. The New Nintendo 2DS XL has become a collector’s item commanding premium prices despite being discontinued years ago.
The £200+ gap between them is substantial. Here’s what you’re actually paying for.
Processing Power: The Most Important Difference
The single most significant difference between these devices is processing capability, and it gates access to an entire category of games.
The New 2DS XL features a faster processor and double the RAM of the original 2DS. The original 2DS cannot play “New” series exclusives. Titles like Xenoblade Chronicles 3D, Fire Emblem Warriors, and Minecraft: New Nintendo 3DS Edition are hardware-locked to the newer processor. The cartridge slot physically accepts them but the system displays an error message rather than booting them.
The New 2DS XL also unlocks the SNES Virtual Console. Super Metroid, Earthbound, Super Mario World: all require “New” hardware. The original 2DS is restricted to NES, Game Boy, and Game Boy Color Virtual Console titles.
For most users the exclusive library represents perhaps a dozen truly essential titles. But if Xenoblade Chronicles 3D or portable SNES emulation is on your list, the original 2DS is categorically eliminated from consideration before you look at anything else.
Controls: C-Stick and Extra Triggers
The New 2DS XL includes a C-Stick nub and ZL/ZR shoulder buttons that the original 2DS lacks entirely.
The C-Stick is a small TrackPoint-style analog nub above the face buttons. It provides essential camera control in Monster Hunter, Kid Icarus: Uprising, and Majora’s Mask 3D. These games remain playable on the original 2DS using alternative control schemes, but the experience is noticeably worse without it.
The ZL and ZR triggers expand the input set for compatible games. Most DS and early 3DS titles don’t require them, but newer releases designed around “New” hardware expect their presence.
Amiibo Support
The New 2DS XL has an integrated NFC reader beneath the bottom screen for Amiibo functionality. Tap and go.
The original 2DS has no NFC capability. Using Amiibo requires a separate infrared accessory that connects via an external port. In 2026 this accessory is increasingly difficult to find and commands inflated secondhand prices when available. For anyone invested in the Amiibo ecosystem, the built-in reader on the New 2DS XL is a meaningful practical advantage.
Form Factor: Slab vs Clamshell
This is where the original 2DS makes its strongest case.
The original 2DS is a non-folding slate design with screens permanently exposed. It’s bulky and won’t fit in a pocket, but it’s legitimately indestructible by Nintendo handheld standards. No hinge to snap, no ribbon cables connecting halves, no mechanical failure points. Drop it from waist height onto hard flooring and it survives. For young children, rough environments, or users who historically destroy their electronics, this design is genuinely valuable.
The New 2DS XL uses a traditional clamshell that folds in half to protect the screens. Far more portable, fits in larger pockets, takes minimal bag space. The hinge is a mechanical failure point, and community reports note it’s intentionally looser than previous 3DS XL models to reduce plastic stress, which can make the screen feel slightly wobbly during play. Inspect any secondhand unit carefully for hinge cracks or ribbon cable issues causing screen flicker.
Display Size
The New 2DS XL has a 4.88-inch top screen and 4.18-inch bottom screen. The original 2DS has a 3.53-inch top and 3.02-inch bottom. That’s approximately 40% more viewing area.
Both systems run at the same resolution (800×240 top, 320×240 bottom), so the New 2DS XL’s larger screens spread pixels over more surface area. Individual pixels are slightly more visible on close inspection. At normal viewing distances this is a non-issue for most users.
Weight
Despite larger screens and more powerful internals, the New 2DS XL weighs approximately 260 grams: identical to the original 2DS. Nintendo achieved this through aggressive material optimisation and a more compact battery. The original 2DS packs that same weight into a smaller non-folding form factor, giving it a denser, more solid feel.
Build Quality Note
The New 2DS XL relocates stereo speakers to the bottom edge of the device. At high volumes the thin plastic shell can vibrate audibly, creating a slight rattling sensation in the hands. It doesn’t affect audio quality significantly but it’s a tactile inconsistency that some users find surprising on what is the premium option.
The original 2DS uses a single mono speaker on the front face. Adequate for gameplay, headphones eliminate the mono limitation.
Modding
Both systems are straightforward to modify using current software exploits. The MSET9 method works on every firmware version of both the original 2DS and New 2DS XL. Custom Firmware via Luma3DS gives both systems region unlocking, homebrew support, game preservation through cartridge dumping, native DS and GBA emulation, and UI customisation.
The New 2DS XL’s faster processor handles demanding homebrew and certain SNES Virtual Console titles with fewer frame drops. For most homebrew uses the difference is negligible. From a modding perspective both systems are equally capable, the choice comes down to physical preferences and exclusive game access.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | Nintendo 2DS | New Nintendo 2DS XL |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~£99.99 | ~£305.00 |
| Processor | Standard | Enhanced (“New”) |
| RAM | 128MB | 256MB |
| “New” exclusive games | No | Yes |
| SNES Virtual Console | No | Yes |
| C-Stick | No | Yes |
| ZL/ZR triggers | No | Yes |
| Amiibo (NFC) | External accessory | Built-in |
| Top screen | 3.53 inch | 4.88 inch |
| Bottom screen | 3.02 inch | 4.18 inch |
| Form factor | Slate (non-folding) | Clamshell |
| Weight | ~260g | ~260g |
| Hinge failure risk | None | Present |
Verdict
Buy the original Nintendo 2DS if: You’re on a budget, buying for a young child, want the most durable option, or primarily plan to play Pokémon, Mario, Zelda, and the standard DS and 3DS library. It delivers 95% of the experience for one third of the cost.
Buy the New Nintendo 2DS XL if: You want the complete library including “New” exclusives, need the C-Stick for Monster Hunter or similar titles, want SNES Virtual Console, prefer the larger screens and clamshell portability, or are collecting the most refined version of Nintendo’s dual-screen hardware.
Both systems are no longer manufactured. Supply is fixed and shrinking, and prices will likely continue rising as working units become scarcer. Whichever you choose, modding it is strongly recommended to ensure it remains functional and accessible for years to come.
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