Nintendo 2DS XL: First impression and release

Nintendo has just unveiled a larger variant of its entry-level 2DS handheld gaming line. The 2DS XL goes on sale in July for around half the price of the new Switch console.

The 2DS XL "expands upon the success of the 2DS", says Pocket-Lint. It's a handheld system designed to play games from the 3DS "without the 3D screen younger kids are dissuaded from using".

Its main screen is a 4.88ins 2D display, while a "slightly smaller" touchscreen is located just below it, the website says. It "packs the exact same power" as Nintendo's most expensive handheld console, the 3DS XL, and can play all existing 3DS titles in regular 2D.

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In the box, gamers can expect a stylus for the 2DS, a 4GB microSD and six augmented reality cards. These allow players to see computer generated images in the real world.

There are also three new titles heading to Nintendo's handheld platforms, adds Pocket-Lint, with Hey! Pikmin, Miitopia and Dr Kawashima's Devilish Brain Training all set to launch in July.

Many believed the arrival of the company's portable Switch system would see the end of Nintendo's handheld consoles, says The Guardian, with the new arrival showing the firm's "commitment to the DS line".

Meanwhile, ArsTechnica says the Switch has sold 2.74million units during its first month on sale, which is "more than the two million it predicted it would ship by March 31."

Nintendo also hopes to sell 13million units by March 2018, adds the site, which would match the Wii U's total sales over its four-year lifespan.

The Nintendo 2DS XL goes on sale on 28 July for $150 (£116), £150 cheaper than the all-in-one Switch, and is available in either turquoise or orange.

First impressions

There is a host of substantial changes to the 2DS XL compared to the original model, says IGN, including the move to a clamshell design and "an integrated C-stick".

Closing the clamshell automatically puts the system to sleep, which the website says is "a step over the sleep switch toggle that you could easily forget to flip" on the original 2DS.

The 2DS XL is also "super thin" and is "capable of displaying the same 400 x 240 pixel resolution as the original 3DS", the site adds. The plastic texture on the back also feels good and the new flat bezel "won't scratch the top screen like the raised frame found on prior 3DS systems".

The 2DS XL does away with the 3D features on the more expensive 3DS XL and according to The Guardian feels lighter. This makes it ideal for children to play with.

Despite its lighter design, the newspaper says the 2DS XL is "still sturdy" thanks to "the addition of a flap over the slots for games and SD cards".

The console's two vibrant colour options makes it appear "less techy and more toy like", which the paper says is "no bad thing".