Nintendo 2DS XL vs 3DS XL: Which one should you buy?

A brand new version of Nintendo's DS handheld console launches next month, with its new 2DS XL that offers players a cheaper alternative to the company's range-topping 3DS XL.

The new handheld comes with the same clamshell design and large dual-screen layout as the Japanese games giant's 3DS XL handheld, although it will not come with the visual features that allow gamers to play in 3D without glasses.

This means the product can be sold more cheaply than its 3DS XL sibling, but will gamers miss the 3D effects that only appear on the more expensive model?

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Here's how the two handhelds compare and which one is best for you:

Prices

The 2DS XL launches on 28 July, with prices starting at £129.99. Gamers can order the console in either black and turquoise or white and orange, as well as a charging cable and 4GB SD card.

At the top of Nintendo's handheld range is the 3DS XL, which can be ordered now from Game for £179.99.

Hardware

The major difference between the 2DS XL and the 3DS XL is that the latter has an option to see 3D graphics without the need for special glasses, while the former has a conventional 2D screen.

3DS XL models are powered by an 804MHz quad-core processor that's paired with a 134MHz chip, says Pocket-Lint.

As the 2DS XL doesn't need to power the stereoscopic 3D display of the 3DS XL, the website says it only gets a 268MHz dual-core processor paired to the same 134MHz chip.

Both share the same 0.3 megapixel cameras at the front and rear. The rear shooters are "dual-lens 3D cameras", which the site says also appear on the 2DS XL, even though users won't be able to see any 3D effects.

But the 2DS XL is "markedly lighter" than its 3D sibling, says Cnet, as the cheaper model is 3.2oz (91g) lighter than the 11.6oz (328g) 3DS XL. The sides of the 2DS XL also "close together cleanly into one gradual curved edge", while the rounded top section of the 3DS XL "left a sizeable crevasse."

Performance

Only a handful of games are still being produced that use the 3DS XL's 3D effects, says TechRadar, making it a feature "that most owners will rarely use".

With the exception of games such as Super Mario 3D Land, the site says 3DS XL owners are only getting "a slight separation of foreground and background elements."

Still, the site argues there have been several improvements on newer 3DS models, such as head tracking for a more accurate 3D experience, which makes the feature's omission on the 2DS XL "a bit of a shame".

Meanwhile, those who played the original 3DS and 2DS may notice that the screen on both the XL versions has a "much warmer, yellower tinge" to it, says Trusted Reviews. It's "difficult to notice" during gameplay, but some will notice it on menus with predominantly white backgrounds.

Verdict

The 2DS XL packs all the best features of the 3DS XL and bundles it in to a cheaper – and therefore more accessible – package, says Cnet.

As the 2DS XL will play all the same games as the 3DS XL, as well as titles from the original DS, the website says it's an enticing way into Nintendo's handheld lineup.

Pocket-Lint agrees, adding that the 2DS XL will be a compelling option for those looking to play portable Nintendo games on a budget.

While the 3DS XL offers stereoscopic 3D effects, ArsTechnica argues that the 2DS XL "is the best version of the 3DS hardware". This is thanks to its more compact proportions compared to its 3DS XL sibling and the belief that "few will miss" the 3D features of the range-topping handheld.