Modded Nintendo 3DS XL handheld with custom firmware – compared against the New 2DS XL

Modded 3DS XL vs New 2DS XL: Which Should You Buy in 2026?

These are two of our three best-selling Nintendo handhelds, they cost the same at ModXGaming (both from £282.99), and once modded they play the same enormous library. So which should you actually buy? Here's the honest breakdown we give customers who ask.

What they share

Both consoles arrive with custom firmware installed and fully configured — plug and play, no PC, no tutorials. Both offer 64GB, 128GB or 256GB storage at checkout, optional game tiers, and access to the complete 3DS and DS catalogue plus retro emulation. Whichever you pick, the games situation is identical.

The case for the 3DS XL

  • Stereoscopic 3D. This is the headline difference — the glasses-free 3D effect that defined the console. If you never experienced it, it still genuinely impresses.
  • The classic look. Rounded shell, iconic hinge — this is the 3DS as most people remember it.
  • Big, comfortable screens for long sessions.

Modded Nintendo 3DS XL — from £282.99

The case for the New 2DS XL

  • Newer internals. It sits on Nintendo's later hardware revision, so menus and demanding titles feel snappier.
  • Lighter and flatter. Noticeably easier to hold for long stretches and easier to slip into a bag.
  • No 3D. If you always left the 3D slider off anyway, you are paying nothing to lose it.

Modded New Nintendo 2DS XL — from £282.99

Our recommendation

If the 3D effect matters to you — for nostalgia or curiosity — get the 3DS XL. If you want the most comfortable, most modern-feeling way to play this library and could not care less about 3D, get the New 2DS XL. There is no wrong answer here, which is exactly why they sit side by side at the top of our sales chart.

FAQs

Do they play the same games?

Yes — once modded, both run the full 3DS and DS library plus retro emulators. Nothing is exclusive to one or the other.

Which storage size should I pick?

128GB is the sweet spot for most people and it is what we recommend at checkout. Go 256GB if you want everything installed at once.

Still torn? The smaller original Modded 3DS from £229.99 is the budget-friendly third option.

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