Nintendo 2DS review - now just £90


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Screen sizes: 3.53in (800x240) and 3in (400x240), Dimensions (WxDxH): 144x127x20mm, Weight: 260g, Analogue sticks: 1, D-pads: 1, Networking: 802.11b/g

After the huge success of the DS Lite, a budget version of Nintendo's popular 3DS handheld console was all but guaranteed. However, few expected it to come in the form of the 2DS. As the name suggests, the glasses-free 3D that made the 3DS so unique has been removed, letting you play 3DS games in plain old 2D. This may seem like a step backwards, but the console's simplified design allows it to be sold for much less than previous models, and its new robust plastic chassis makes it far more suitable for younger audiences - particularly those aged six years and under, as they were originally warned off using the 3D option due to health concerns.

The loss of the clamshell hinge will come as a blow to fans of the original 3DS design, but its new wedge shape is surprisingly comfortable to hold. The bottom corners sit snugly in the centre of your palms and the Circle Pad and ABXY buttons are perfectly positioned to lie directly underneath your thumb. Likewise, the trigger buttons are now much easier to reach than before as they lie more naturally underneath your index fingers compared to the cramp-inducing shape of the original 3DS.

Nintendo 2DS

Admittedly, the matt plastic chassis is a far cry from the sleek contours of Nintendo's previous budget handheld, the gorgeous DS Lite, but it's far more suited to being thrown around in a backpack than other members of the 3DS family. We always thought the 3DS was a little fragile to carry around in our bag without a case, but we have no such qualms about the 2DS's tough exterior.


The top screen is also protected by a tough plastic cover that sits flush to the console. The only vulnerable part of the 2DS then is the lower touchscreen. This has to be left exposed in order to use it, but special cases are available (£10 from Amazon) if you're worried about it getting scratched. Losing the clamshell also means there's no lid to automatically put the console into sleep mode, so Nintendo's included a new slider on the bottom right corner of the console to turn the screens off if you have to stop mid-game. It doesn't quite match the convenience of snapping the lid shut on the 3DS, but it's a decent work-around.

Nintendo 2DS

Otherwise, the 2DS is very similar to its 3D counterparts. It has the same screen dimensions and resolution as the original 3DS (800x240 on the top 3.53in screen and 320x240 on the lower 3in touchscreen), so games play exactly the same on each one, and it's backwards compatible with Nintendo's entire DS catalogue as well.

With no hinge to get in the way, there's now a smaller gap between the two displays; plus the Circle Pad, D-pad and ABXY buttons have all been elevated to the centre of the console. The Start and Select buttons now have their own dedicated buttons as well on the right hand side above the power button, while the Home button remains in the centre along the bottom. Sadly, the 2DS only has one speaker compared to the stereo speakers found on the 3DS and 3DS XL, but you can still get stereo sound by plugging in a pair of headphones.

Nintendo 2DS

The stylus is located to the right, mirroring its position on the 3DS XL. It's a little slimmer and taller than the 3DS XL stylus, making it a little easier and more comfortable to hold, but it doesn't quite match the full height of the extending 3DS stylus.


Oddly, the 2DS still has the 3DS's twin 0.3 megapixel cameras on the outside of the lid. This means you can still take 3D photos, but you'll only be able to view them in 3D if you export them to another 3DS or 3DS XL. The camera on the inside of the 2DS hasn't changed either, so you can still take amusing self-portraits and doodle on them afterwards.

The built-in gyroscopes come into their own on the 2DS, as there's no stereoscopic 3D sweet-spot to worry about on the top screen. We didn't have to move our head along with the console when games like the pre-installed Face Raiders required us to look around our environment, and its viewing angles were excellent. It's still quite reflective to look at in direct sunlight, but it's no worse than an ordinary 3DS.

Nintendo 2DS

With no 3D to drain the battery life you'll also be able to play your games for longer between charges, this is due to the increased screen brightness required for the 3D effect. We managed just over five hours of continuous play in Pokemon Y, but games that involve heavy use of the touchscreen will drain it faster. Sadly, the 2DS doesn't come with a charging cradle like the original 3DS, but at least there's a power adapter included in the box. Bizarrely, 3DS XL owners had to buy this separately for around £7.