Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsThe perfect way to upgrade from a DSi
Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2018
I got the New 2DS XL (in white and orange) in April 2018. Before that, I had a DSi that I got in March 2009. It lasted me 9 years (and still works, too), and I mainly played Pokémon games on it.
My primary reason for why I got my 2DS XL is because of friends. I know, it sounds corny, but I’ve been an active part of the Pokémon community on Twitch for the past year and some. With all the friends I made through it, I really felt left out, since everyone else had a 3DS system and I only had a DSi, so I could never join my friends in the fun they were having in the newer Pokémon games.
So, let’s start with a few smaller things about the console that I love.
- On the New 2DS XL, Nintendo added a flap over the cartridge and SD card slots. It makes swapping game cards and SD cards more of a convoluted process, I admit, but its being there pretty much eliminated the problem of a cartridge being ejected during gameplay, and significantly reduced the risk of dust buildup in the system.
- The New 2DS XL has amazing stereo speakers, especially considering they’re on a mid-range handheld console from Nintendo.
- The system is snappy and has the same CPU, GPU and RAM as the New 3DS XL. I’ve only noticed slowdowns in Pokémon Ultra Moon, when there were 4 Pokémon on the field at once during a battle.
- The New 2DS XL allows you to connect to the system from a computer and manage the files on the SD card using a wireless network connection. The whole process is quite seamless and honestly really cool.
- The New 2DS XL that I purchased (white+orange) has a unique 3D design on its lid that feels like corrugated cardboard. It’s purely for aesthetic, but I love it.
- The notification LED and microphone are exactly the same size and shape, and with the front-facing camera in between, this makes the hinge perfectly symmetrical. It’s a nice attention to detail.
There are a few reasons why I say the New 2DS XL is a perfect upgrade from the DSi. For one, its MSRP is the same as a DSi’s was back in 2009 ($150). For two, it can play pretty close to every game from the original DS line, and in the eShop, you can continue to purchase and download most DSiWare titles that were originally on the DSi Shop. For three, with the 3DS Transfer Tool on both the DSi Shop and in the New 2DS XL’s settings, you can transfer all your old DSiWare titles and photos from your DSi. Just be aware that you can’t transfer DSiWare save data, and once transferred, you won’t be able to play them on your DSi anymore.
I believe there’s a reason the New 2DS XL has the same MSRP that the DSi used to have, and that’s because the New 2DS XL is essentially a perfect blend of the original DSi and the New 3DS XL. Heck, they even put the Home button on the New 2DS XL in the same place as the Power button on the DSi (which, on the DSi, was used to both return to the home screen and shut down the system), just for the sake of making the two consoles feel similar on a usability standpoint! And it really shows, because I was able to get the hang of using the Home button to suspend software right out of the box, thanks to my muscle memories from the DSi. Another neat little similarity between the two is that if you still have a charger for your DSi, you can continue to use that charger because the two consoles share the same connector. And as an added bonus, after receiving backlash for not including chargers with the New 3DS XL, Nintendo decided to change that by including a wall charger for the system with every 2DS XL. As a result, when I got my 2DS XL, this gave me two chargers to use (since I still had my original DSi charger): one that I keep at home and another that I use when I’m on the go.
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows though, and I do have a small list of complaints. Regarding the console itself, I wish Nintendo positioned the stylus holder differently, because its being positioned on the front of the system rather than on the right-hand side means the stylus is only about 2” in length. I also wish they added a battery door like they did on the DSi, because the internal nature of the New 2DS XL’s battery means that if you ever need to replace it, you’ll need to open up the entire system to access the battery bay. If you have the tools you need and have confidence in your skills with disassembling electronics, it’s a quick and easy job, and iFixit has a guide for this process, but a battery door could have made replacing the battery a lot less intimidating for those who have never opened a device before (although it’s still way easier than replacing a smartphone battery).
On a software level, my only complaint has to do with adjusting screen brightness. To adjust the brightness on a 3DS, you have to visit the Home Menu’s Settings panel. This works rather nicely with many 3DS titles, since they can be suspended and resumed after adjusting the brightness. But since original DS games such as Pokémon Black Version can’t be suspended like 3DS titles can, this creates a problem. In cases like this, logically, you would have to save and quit the game to access this menu. But not all is lost, as it is possible to adjust brightness without quitting the game (all you have to do is hold Start and use up and down on the D-pad to adjust this). The process on the New 2DS XL is quite different from the DSi, where you could hold Select and use the volume buttons to adjust the brightness at any point, and the “Start + D-Pad” method only works in original DS titles, which immediately makes it feel very different from the DSi’s operation, which worked across the system, no matter what you were doing. Nintendo doesn’t exactly make it easy for the user to figure out how to adjust the brightness from within older games (I had no idea that this was even possible until I read through the system’s on-board digital manual myself), and due to how used to the DSi’s adjustment process I was, this made breaking the habit a bit hard for me. But you can’t have everything perfect after all, so kudos to them for making it possible in the first place, even if it did take me a little while to get the hang of.
I’ve had my New 2DS XL for just under 3 months now as of the time this review was first published, and because of how much I’m able to do with it and how much fun its games are, I haven’t regretted my purchase of the system for a second. If you’ve been thinking about upgrading from your original DSi, or if you’re looking to buy your first DS system, you really can’t go wrong with the New 2DS XL. Sure, it loses a few features from the New 3DS XL, but it’s far more capable than the DSi (although that’s a given, considering the DSi was replaced by the 3DS line). The system is designed very well, making it easy on your hands when holding it for long periods of time. The folding design makes the system extremely portable (I can easily fit it into one of my pockets). The New 2DS XL is essentially what the DSi would be if it was released in 2018, and I can definitely see myself using the New 2DS XL for another 9 years, just like I did with my DSi.
And for those who made it to the end of this long-winded review, I have a few lifehacks and bits of advice for current and future New 2DS XL owners:
- There is a free YouTube app available on the Nintendo eShop, but I’ve noticed that using the system’s Internet Browser to watch YouTube videos actually gets you a better experience.
- When playing videos using the system’s internet browser, you can use the C-Stick to adjust playback speed in weird and fun ways.
- If you had a wrist strap or accessory charm on your DSi, there is no way to attach it to the New 2DS XL, since the console lacks the accessory loop that the DSi had. I learned this the hard way.
- I recommend switching out the 4GB microSD card that comes with the system for a larger one. I use a 32GB microSDHC card in mine, and it does the job just fine.
- All versions of the New 2DS XL come with a black stylus. If you want a stylus that matches your system color more, or if you want a stylus that stands out more on a dark surface, you can purchase those separately. Just make sure they’re compatible with the New 2DS XL.
- The New 2DS XL has several regional codes (also known as region-locks). Systems purchased in and formatted for each region will only work with eShop games and cartridges that match the system’s regional code. A New 2DS XL from the United States will be unable to play a 3DS game cartridge that came from Japan.
I hope you found my review helpful and that it allows you to make a more informed purchase. And to those who choose to buy a New 2DS XL, I hope you get countless hours of enjoyment out of it!
*Be advised: in my second photo, my New 2DS XL has “Project Mirai: DX” in its game card slot. This game is not included with any New 2DS XL system available in the United States, and was purchased separately after I got the console.
