Nintendo New 2DS XL vs Nintendo New 3DS

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New 2DS XL compared with New 3DS

	NintendoNew 2DS XL	NintendoNew 3DS
Overview
Released
Released	June 2017	October 2014
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	A removable microSDHC card is included; the Japanese standard bundle includes 4 GB, while the UK manual says to check the box for its capacity. Nintendo's public specification does not state the internal capacity
Storage expansion
Storage expansion	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)	microSD card slot beneath the rear cover plate
Display and video
Built-in screen
Built-in screen	4.88″ LCD, 400 × 240	3.88″ LCD, 800 × 240
Built-in screen
Built-in screen	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)	Upper 3.88-inch glasses-free 3D LCD, 800 × 240 (400 pixels per eye in 3D), with face-tracking Super-Stable 3D; lower 3.33-inch touch LCD, 320 × 240. Both display approximately 16.7 million colours; automatic brightness adjustment
Audio
Audio	Stereo speakers with pseudo-surround support beneath the lower screen, built-in microphone and stereo headphone output	Stereo speakers with pseudo-surround support, built-in microphone and stereo headphone output
Design and power
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	Up to 9 hours	Up to 10.5 hours
Weight
Weight	260 g	253 g (better)
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	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	Replaceable KTR-003 lithium-ion battery, 5.2 Wh. Nintendo rates approximately 3.5–6 hours with 3DS software and 6.5–10.5 hours with DS software; runtime depends on brightness, wireless activity, software and temperature. Full charge approximately 3.5 hours
Power use
Power use	Approximately 4.1 W maximum while charging (Nintendo UK manual)	Approximately 4.1 W maximum while charging (Nintendo UK manual)
Size
Size	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	142 × 80.6 × 21.6 mm when folded (width × depth × thickness); approximately 253 g includes battery, stylus and microSD card
Colours
Colours	Black + Turquoise and White + Orange at the European launch; later regional colours and bundles differ	Black and white at the Japanese and European launches; interchangeable cover plates sold separately
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	New 3DS, stylus, microSDHC card, six AR cards, front and back cover plates, quick start guide and operations manual (UK); Nintendo 3DS AC adapter sold separately
Connections
Ports
Ports	Game card slot, microSD card slot, AC adapter connector and headphone connector; infrared transceiver with recommended distance within 20 cm	Game card slot, microSD card slot, charging-cradle connectors, 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; NFC at 13.56 MHz; recommended wireless communication distance within 30 m	Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11b/g, 2.4 GHz; NFC at 13.56 MHz; recommended wireless communication distance within 30 m (Nintendo UK manual)
Controller
Controller	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	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; KTR-004 stylus approximately 76.5 mm long
Backward compatibility
Backward compatibility	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)	Nintendo 3DS, DS and DSi game cards, including New Nintendo 3DS-exclusive games; built-in NFC supports amiibo. 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)