While no one but industry folk have managed to get their hands on Nintendo's recently announced handheld, the company has provided a bit of basic information about the 2DS, and how it differs between the current 3DS and 3DS XL.
Obviously, the new handheld boasts about every feature as the regular and XL 3DS, but without the 3D view: the same amount of controls, screens (1 touch, 1 standard widescreen), plays all the DS and 3DS games, has motion and gyro sensors, cameras, etc., but what about the differences? Let's get right into it.
Looking at the design, players might have to adjust to the analog stick and buttons being significantly closer to the game's top screen, but it should to keep players' thumbs from sliding onto the bottom touch screen during bouts of intense play. So there's that, but the most glaringly obvious feature is the handheld's SIZE...
For owners, the above image provides an accurate understanding of what the 2D is offering size wise, but for non-owners, let's check out the official spec sheet, shall we?
Both the 2DS's screens are the same size as the traditional 3DS at roughly 3.5 inches for the wide screen, and 3 inches for the touch screen. However, the 2DS screens are outsized by the XL, but that's to be expected, it IS XL after all. In terms of actual dimensions, the 2DS as is is smaller than both the 3DS and 3DS XL when unfolded, measuring 5 inches high, and 5.7 inches wide. At .8 inches thick, it's the thinnest of the DS's, barely edging out 3DS by a smidge.
Portability? Well, there's the handheld's downfall. In terms of size, the biggest difference is that the 3DS and 3DS's height can be lopped in half because they fold (but that will obviously increase their thickness). The 2D doesn't, so even though it's thinner than the other two handhelds, there's not a chance in hell this thing will ever fit in your pocket. Maybe fanny packs will make a comeback...
With this design, the 2DS loses the simple "snap to sleep" mode, so to counteract this, Nintendo added a sleep switch. The remaining differences between the handhelds are minute. For example:
- the 2DS heavier than the 3DS, but lighter than the XL.
- in terms of battery life, the 2DS is said to play games a bit longer than the 3DS, but not quite as long as the XL
- like the 3DS, a power adapter is included with purchase of the 2DS, unlike the XL
- it has speakers chirping monaural sound, and stereo with headphones. The 3DS and XL both have stereo sound regardless
But it's the price that's easily the BEST difference. At launch, the 2DS will sell for $129.99. When the 3DS XL dropped last August, it went for $199.99 where it remains, while the original 3DS originally sold for $249.99. Depending on the color, it now costs between $149 and $169 at most retailers.
Nintendo of America's COO, Reggie Fils-Aime, says the gadget is meant for "the entry-level consumer looking for lower-priced access to a fantastic library."
The 2DS is set to release October 12.
