Tech head-to-head
Game Boy Advance SP (AGS-101)vsNew Nintendo 3DS XL
Game Boy Advance SP (AGS-101) and New Nintendo 3DS XL are both Nintendo, and they average 8.2 and 8.3. New Nintendo 3DS XL takes Performance, 8.8 to 7.6.
Game Boy Advance SP (AGS-101)
Nintendo
8.2
The backlit last revision of the SP, and the best stock way to play three generations of Game Boy carts.
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 Performance, New Nintendo 3DS XL ahead 8.8 to 7.6. They come closest on Value, 7.6 to 7.4. Left of center is Game Boy Advance SP (AGS-101), right is New Nintendo 3DS XL.
Which one to pick
Take the Game Boy Advance SP (AGS-101)
Leads on Durability and Design.
- Your library is Game Boy, Color, and Advance cartridges, and you want them on original hardware
- A clamshell that protects its own screen in a bag appeals to you
- You want a console where every wear part costs little and swaps out with one screwdriver
Take the New Nintendo 3DS XL
Leads on Performance, Value and Ease of use.
- 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
Game Boy Advance SP (AGS-101)
- You want headphones without a dongle, since there is no 3.5mm jack
- The listing cannot prove AGS-101 from the label on the back, because the original front-lit AGS-001 sells for less
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 | Game Boy Advance SP (AGS-101) | New Nintendo 3DS XL |
|---|---|---|
| Screen | 2.9 in TFT, 240×160, backlit | — |
| Plays | Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance | DS, 3DS, and New 3DS cartridges |
| Battery | Rechargeable lithium-ion, user-replaceable | — |
| Form | Clamshell | — |
| Audio | Mono speaker; headphones need an adapter | — |
| 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 |
| Battery life | — | 3.5 to 7 hours on 3DS games (Nintendo) |
Rankings they both appear in
Questions
- Both are Nintendo. Which one do I want?
- New Nintendo 3DS XL leads on Performance, Value and Ease of use. If Durability and Design matter more to you, take the Game Boy Advance SP (AGS-101) instead. Game Boy Advance SP (AGS-101) averages 8.2 and New Nintendo 3DS XL averages 8.3, over the 5 axes Tech is scored on.
- Where do the two Nintendo models actually differ?
- Performance is the widest gap, New Nintendo 3DS XL ahead 8.8 to 7.6. 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", Game Boy Advance SP (AGS-101) at #2.