How long does a 2DS battery last?

This replacement rechargeable Li-ion battery fits the Original Nintendo 3DS and 2DS portable game system. The battery comes with a miniature screw driver for easy installation. Specifications- 3.7 V 2000 mAh

My family has followed each and every iteration ofNintendo'sdual screen handheld revolution. From the original larger DS, through to the DS Lite, DSi, 3DS, 3DS XL and finally the robust hinge-less beauty of the 2DS. There's still one aspect of the system that hasn't been improved as much as we'd like though: the battery.

Because of this we'll often purchase chargers and battery extensions. There is a massive choice but the Mugen batteries have become a firm favorite. The kids like them because they are build into the shell of the handheld itself so they look good. I like them because we never lose them and they automatically charge by simply plugging the device into the mains.

We've put the Mugen batteries through their paces for the original 3DS and 3DS XL with side-by-side comparisons. Up until now though the 2DS didn't have a strong battery extender option. Today I've had a close look at the Mugen offering for the 2DS.

The original 3DS comes with a 1300 mAh battery, the 3DS XL 1750 mAh battery and the 2DS with a 1300 mAh battery. Play duration depends on a combination of battery and screen size (and is also effected by other features being turned on or off). In my continuous test on the same game these systems gave the following performance:

• 3DS: 3 hours 56 minutes
• 2DS: 4 hours 25 minutes
• 3DS XL: 4hours 58 minutes

The Mugen battery replacement for 3DS and 3DS XL upped the capacity to 5800 mAh. However, the new 2DS Mugen battery offers just 2500 mAh. While this isn't as big an extension as the other offer it should double the life of the system at around 8 hours. For $89.99 this isn't the cheapest way to upgrade your 2DS battery life but it is arguably one of the better looking.

Of course the performance needs to be balanced with the size and weight of the adapted system. As you can see in this 2DS Mugen Battery video, the new adjustment continues the series emphasis on offering a finished product that is as ergonomic as the original. With the 2DS's wedge design there is less room for maneuver resulting in the slightly lower capacity.

Perhaps the biggest test here is that my kids really liked the design of the 2DS Mugen battery extender even preferring it to the original 2DS. "I like the chunky look and feel of it" was my son's response. "It's kind of neat having a 2DS that looks like its custom made" my daughter enthusing on the unique look of the system compared to her friend's unconverted version.

If you are looking for a built in battery replacement or a way to extend the battery life of the 2DS then the Mugen option is worth looking into.

When most of us think about Nintendo hardware, we think about the gimmick. The motion controls of the Wii, the second screen of the Nintendo DS, the stereoscopic visuals of the 3DS and the duality of the Nintendo Switch. These innovations define Nintendo's brand -- but it's not the only hallmark of Nintendo hardware.

The company is as much of a house of iteration as it is innovation, particularly when it comes to portable gaming. Almost every one of its handheld consoles -- from the original GameBoy to the Nintendo DS -- has been revised, retooled and released in a new form. Nintendo has made five versions of its original 3DS hardware, and it's about to release one more: The New Nintendo 2DS XL.

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This isn't the first time Nintendo dropped the stereoscopic handheld's namesake feature. The original 2DS traded in both the 3D gimmick and the traditional clamshell design for a sturdier body and lower price-point. Likewise, the new model forgoes the 3DS' digital depth perception and passes the savings on to the consumer -- and this time, it retains the iconic hinged design.

Nintendo didn't just copy the New Nintendo 3DS' design and turn off the stereoscopic screen, however -- this is a completely new chassis. In fact, the New Nintendo 2DS XL is the smallest large-screen portable Nintendo has ever made. It still has the same 4.88-inch primary display as other XL models, but its footprint is a quarter inch shorter than the 3DS XL.

Despite the smaller size, the 2DS XL feels roomier. Smaller bezels around the screen and a repositioned hinge allowed Nintendo to move the controls down a few millimeters. It's a seemingly small change, but it adds just enough space above the right-hand analog stick to keep my thumb from brushing up against the hinge.

It's little refinements like this that make the New 2DS XL special. Minor tweaks to the shape of the shoulder buttons that make them just a little bit more comfortable. The matte, fingerprint resistant texture on the back of the handheld's lid. The small, flexible door that protects the cartridge slot. Nintendo even moved the microSD card reader to an easily accessible slot next to the cartridge port -- making it possible to transfer screenshots and photos without removing the handheld's battery cover. The streamlined 2DS design answers almost all of my minor complaints with the New 3DS XL... but that doesn't mean it's better than Nintendo's fully fledged portable.

There's a lot to love about the 2DS XL, but it definitely has its flaws. The console's stylus, for instance, measures just two and a half inches -- making it just barely long enough to be useable, but short enough to be frustrating for any game that requires drawing or heavy touchscreen use. The console's speakers are a disappointment, too.

The New Nintendo 2DS XL is not only quieter than its 3D counterpart, but the speakers have been moved from the top screen, where they faced the player, to the console's bottom edge. This doesn't just muffle the handheld's sound output, but at higher volumes you can actually feel the audio vibrate through the controls. It's a little weird.

Mediocre audio and a short stylus are mildly disappointing, but they both qualify as manageable shortcomings. If the 2DS XL has a real fault, it's battery life. In my standard battery test (an endless CPU battle in Super Smash Bros with console brightness set to minimum, battery saver activated and WiFi disabled) the 2DS XL lasted just six and a half hours. That's not terrible for a modern handheld, but it's an hour and a half less playtime than the New Nintendo 3DS XL managed in the same test.

Hardware foibles aside, playing the 2DS XL isn't inherently different from other Nintendo handhelds. It uses the same operating system as other 3DS consoles, has the same controls and plays all the same games. It even still has two cameras for taking 3D photos -- you just can't see the results on the 2DS' own screen. At worst, this makes a few optical illusion-based puzzles in games like Super Mario 3D Land a tiny bit harder to decipher, but it doesn't render any game unplayable.

If you don't already own a handheld in the Nintendo 3DS family and you don't care about the console's namesake gimmick, the 2DS XL is a good option. It's $50 less than the fully fledged New Nintendo 3DS XL, plays all the same games, and has the bonus of being lighter and smaller. If you've been waiting for a revision that adds up to being a "3DS lite," this is as close as you're going to get.

Unfortunately, "lite" isn't always best. The 3DS family of consoles is entering its twilight years, and this very may well be the last hardware revision the handheld receives. If you're buying your first 3DS handheld and want the absolute best experience, invest the extra $50 in the fully fledged New Nintendo 3DS XL.

Not just because it can still pull off Nintendo's stereoscopic gaming gimmick (though that is nice), but because it has notably longer battery life and offers a significantly better audio experience. If you just want access to Nintendo's portable game library for a good price, however, go ahead and look at the New Nintendo 2DS XL. It's not perfect, but it's exactly what it promises to be. That's enough.

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