Hey everyone, it's Colin. How's it goin'?
With the Nintendo Switch being a portable console,
one would assume it's the end of the road for the 3DS series.
But there's a new member of the family,
and it seems to fill a rather particular niche.
Let's take a look at the New 2DS XL.
[♪ Music - Intro ♪]
On the outside, the New 2DS seems really familiar in a few ways.
It's a similar size to the 3DS XL, with
about the same thickness and length, though it's a little narrower.
It has all the same exterior buttons and controls you'd expect:
four shoulder buttons, a volume slider on the left side,
and a power button on the front.
The headphone jack is right in the middle, and the stylus stows next to it,
though I think it's the shortest of any in the DS series.
Both the game cartridge and MicroSD card slots are on the front,
but this time, they're covered with a flap.
It's great for keeping out stuff that doesn't belong,
especially in the hands of a child.
But it's also annoying and tedious to deal with.
Another design change is that the New 2DS still carries stereo cameras like the other models,
but they're on the bottom instead of back of the screen.
Thankfully, the screen can open flat, so you don't have to crane your neck while taking pictures.
And as for that screen, as the console's name suggests, it only does 2D.
It's glossy with a glossy black surround.
It looks really clean, but sometimes reflections can be an issue.
The console keeps its front-facing camera and mic,
though they're built into the screen hinge and don't rotate with the display.
The buttons are pretty much the same as on the New 3DS,
and the little C Stick is carried over too.
The touch screen seems like it's bigger,
but that's just an illusion because the bezels are thinner,
with the home button kicked over to the left side.
Finally, there's built-in NFC support for Amiibo, right in the middle of the touch screen.
Overall, the console is plenty comfortable to hold and use.
The bottom panel is all one unit, with no rough seams or panel gaps,
and with its rounded corners, it's very smooth.
The controls feel solid and the shoulder buttons got a little bigger to make 'em easier to use.
But there are a couple of drawbacks.
First, while the main display is pretty nice,
at its size, it really shows the console's low resolution,
especially when it's limited to 2D.
The image ends up soft and the backlight can seem a bit underpowered in bright light,
though the color is decent and the viewing angles quite good.
Second, the stereo speakers ended up on the front,
which helps give a clean appearance.
But it does mean they fire into your palms when you're playing,
so the sound gets a bit muffled.
The biggest concern for me with the 2DS XL is its value and where it sits in the product lineup.
The flagship New 3DS XL retails for $200 US, but can often be found for $175.
Meanwhile, the orignal 2DS is a killer deal at $80, and even includes a game.
So with the street price of $150, I'm left trying to figure just who the New 2DS is for.
It doesn't seem to be meant for kids,
since it's almost double the price of its slab-shaped sibling,
and yet not nearly as durable.
But it's also not that much less expensive than the New 3DS XL.
Though I should note that it does include an AC adapter in the box,
which would otherwise cost you a few bucks.
Don't get me wrong, I really like the New 2DS.
It's a solid console, and aside from my few complaints, I think it has a great design.
I especially dig the ridged motif on the lid,
the black and teal color scheme, and the angled Nintendo logo,
which all give a subtle nod to '80s nostalgia.
I just think it may have a limited audience for the price.
Perhaps someone who's looking to get into the platform and wants a good experience,
yet doesn't necessarily care about 3D.
But the fact that the New 2DS XL even exists,
just goes to show that Nintendo isn't ready to hit the brakes on the 3DS family just yet.
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