Nintendo 3DS XL vs Nintendo New 2DS XL

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3DS XL compared with New 2DS XL

	Nintendo3DS XL	NintendoNew 2DS XL
Overview
Released
Released	July 2012	June 2017
Performance
Type
Type	Handheld	Handheld
Memory
Memory	–	256 MB
Disc drive
Disc drive	No	No
Memory detail
Memory detail	–	256 MB RAM (Nintendo Life's exact New 2DS XL review); Nintendo's public specification does not identify the memory capacity
Storage detail
Storage detail	–	UK standard bundle includes a removable 4 GB microSDHC card; Nintendo's public specifications do not state the internal capacity
Storage expansion
Storage expansion	SD cards up to 2 GB and SDHC cards from 4 to 32 GB; SDHC card included (UK manual; capacity stated on the box)	microSD cards up to 2 GB and microSDHC cards from 4–32 GB; card slot under a flap beside the game card slot, without removing the rear cover (Nintendo UK manual)
Display and video
Built-in screen
Built-in screen	4.88″ LCD, 800 × 240	4.88″ LCD, 400 × 240
Built-in screen
Built-in screen	Upper 4.88-inch 3D LCD, 800 × 240 with 400 pixels per eye in 3D; lower 4.18-inch touch LCD, 320 × 240; both display 16.7 million colours. Five brightness levels and power-saving mode (UK manual)	Upper 4.88-inch LCD, 400 × 240; lower 4.18-inch touch LCD, 320 × 240; approximately 16.7 million colours each. All visuals display in 2D; no automatic brightness adjustment (Nintendo Japan support)
Audio
Audio	Stereo speakers with pseudo-surround and headphone output	Stereo speakers with pseudo-surround support beneath the lower screen, built-in microphone and stereo headphone output
Design and power
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	Up to 6.5 hours	Up to 9 hours
Weight
Weight	336 g	260 g (better)
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	SPR-003 replaceable 6.5 Wh lithium-ion pack; approximately 3.5–6.5 hours with 3DS software or 6–10 hours with DS software. Runtime depends on brightness, software, wireless use and temperature; cameras may shorten it further. Charge approximately 3.5 hours when off	Built-in lithium-ion battery, 5 Wh; Nintendo says replacement must be performed by a qualified professional. Approximately 3.5–6.5 hours with 3DS games or 5–9 hours with DS games, depending on brightness, software, wireless activity and temperature; full charge approximately 3.5 hours
Power use
Power use	–	Approximately 4.1 W maximum while charging (Nintendo UK manual)
Size
Size	156 × 93 × 22 mm when closed (width × height × thickness); 336 g includes battery, stylus and SD card	UK manual gives 159 × 86.4 × 20.8 mm folded (width × depth × thickness); Japanese page gives 159.36 × 86.36 × 20.8 mm. Approximately 260 g including battery, stylus and microSD card
Colours
Colours	–	Black + Turquoise and White + Orange at the European launch; later regional colours and bundles differ
In the box
In the box	–	New 2DS XL, stylus, 4 GB microSDHC card, six AR cards, operations manual and AC adapter (UK); Japanese standard bundle has no AC adapter
Connections
Ports
Ports	Game card and SD card slots, charging cradle contacts, AC adapter connector and stereo audio jack	Game card slot, microSD card slot, AC adapter connector and headphone connector; infrared transceiver with recommended distance within 20 cm
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth	Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11b/g, 2.4 GHz; infrared. Amiibo requires the separate NFC Reader/Writer (Nintendo UK); the retained Japanese page's NFC line conflicts with this accessory requirement	Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11b/g, 2.4 GHz; NFC at 13.56 MHz; recommended wireless communication distance within 30 m
Controller
Controller	One Circle Pad, D-pad, A/B/X/Y, L/R, Start, Select and Home; motion and gyro sensors. One inner and two outer fixed-focus 0.3-megapixel CMOS cameras (Nintendo Japan)	Circle Pad, C Stick, D-pad, A/B/X/Y, L/R, ZL/ZR, Start/Select, HOME and touch screen; motion and gyro sensors. One inner and two outer fixed-focus CMOS cameras, 640 × 480 (0.3 megapixels) each; JAN-004 stylus approximately 69 mm long
Backward compatibility
Backward compatibility	Nintendo 3DS, DS, DSi and DSi-enhanced game cards; 3DS and DSi software must match the system's region (UK manual)	Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS games in 2D, plus DS/DSi game cards; games from other regions and DS accessories requiring the GBA slot are not supported. eShop purchases and new free downloads ended on 27 March 2023; most internet services ended on 8 April 2024, while redownloads and updates remain available (Nintendo)