Tech head-to-head
Nintendo DS LitevsNew Nintendo 3DS XL
Nintendo DS Lite and New Nintendo 3DS XL are both Nintendo, and they average 7.8 and 8.3. New Nintendo 3DS XL takes Durability, 7.8 to 6.6.
Nintendo DS Lite
Nintendo
7.8
Two libraries in one slim body, with a Game Boy Advance slot. Inspect its hinge before anything else.
Price and availability change constantly, so we don't quote them here — the link opens current listings on eBay. eBay listings come from individual sellers: condition, battery health, and what's in the box differ from one to the next, so read the listing and the return terms before you buy.
New Nintendo 3DS XL
Nintendo
8.3
DS, 3DS, and New 3DS cartridges on one device, with the steadiest 3D Nintendo ever shipped.
Price and availability change constantly, so we don't quote them here — the link opens current listings on eBay. eBay listings come from individual sellers: condition, battery health, and what's in the box differ from one to the next, so read the listing and the return terms before you buy.
Where they diverge
The widest gap is Durability, New Nintendo 3DS XL ahead 7.8 to 6.6. They come closest on Design, 8.4 to 8.0. Left of center is Nintendo DS Lite, right is New Nintendo 3DS XL.
Which one to pick
Take the Nintendo DS Lite
Leads on Value.
- You want the DS library and GBA cartridges on one device with a headphone jack
- Battery life matters more than screen size
- You want the lowest cost of entry on this page for a large library
Take the New Nintendo 3DS XL
Leads on Performance, Durability, Ease of use and Design.
- You want the deepest library for one device, including the DS back catalog
- You want stable 3D, since face tracking keeps it from breaking when you shift
- You care about a few titles that run only on the New models, such as Xenoblade Chronicles 3D
What each one gets wrong
Nintendo DS Lite
- The hinge photos are missing or show any white stress lines at the corners
- You only play Game Boy and Game Boy Color, which the DS Lite cannot run
New Nintendo 3DS XL
- You planned to buy games digitally, because the 3DS eShop closed in March 2023
- You want to play Game Boy Advance cartridges, which it has no slot for
Specs, side by side
| Spec | Nintendo DS Lite | New Nintendo 3DS XL |
|---|---|---|
| Screens | Two 3 in LCDs, 256×192, bottom resistive touch | — |
| Plays | DS cartridges, Game Boy Advance cartridges (Slot-2) | DS, 3DS, and New 3DS cartridges |
| Brightness | Four levels | — |
| Battery life | 15 to 19 hours at lowest brightness (Nintendo) | 3.5 to 7 hours on 3DS games (Nintendo) |
| Audio | Stereo speakers, 3.5mm headphone jack | — |
| Top screen | — | 4.88 in, stereoscopic 3D with face tracking |
| Bottom screen | — | 4.18 in, resistive touch |
| Controls | — | C-Stick, ZL/ZR, built-in amiibo reader |
| Storage | — | microSD, behind a screwed back plate |
Rankings they both appear in
Questions
- Both are Nintendo. Which one do I want?
- New Nintendo 3DS XL leads on Performance, Durability, Ease of use and Design. If Value matters more to you, take the Nintendo DS Lite instead. Nintendo DS Lite averages 7.8 and New Nintendo 3DS XL averages 8.3, over the 5 axes Tech is scored on.
- Where do the two Nintendo models actually differ?
- Durability is the widest gap, New Nintendo 3DS XL ahead 7.8 to 6.6. Every axis lands somewhere different, so the profile shapes differ as much as the totals.
- Which one ranks higher in "Retro handhelds: the five worth buying used"?
- New Nintendo 3DS XL sits at #1 in "Retro handhelds: the five worth buying used", Nintendo DS Lite at #3.