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What is the absolute best DS model?
- Thread starter It’s Time To Go
- Start date
Fair enough. I could just never get used to the block form factor.
The triggers on a standard DS just make my hands hurt after a bit. The form factor never really bothered me.
Whichever one of those had IPS panels. I do like my New 3DS XL since at least the top panel was IPS. Also have the small, new 3DS and both it's screens are TN :(
The original DS had better Start and Select buttons :p
Tried Advance Wars: Days of Ruin on my Lite, DSi XL and New 3DS XL.
Lite: small but sharp, colors pop nicely though the bottom screen had a distinctive sepia hue which looked a bit off in the startup menu. Could just be old age, I dunno.
DSi XL: not as sharp as the Lite, but still very crispy. Colors are a bit duller, but nothing egregious. Arguably more comfortable on the eyes simply because the larger screens make everything easier to see.
New 3DS XL: hey who smeared wax all over the screens?
Lite: small but sharp, colors pop nicely though the bottom screen had a distinctive sepia hue which looked a bit off in the startup menu. Could just be old age, I dunno.
DSi XL: not as sharp as the Lite, but still very crispy. Colors are a bit duller, but nothing egregious. Arguably more comfortable on the eyes simply because the larger screens make everything easier to see.
New 3DS XL: hey who smeared wax all over the screens?
The ol' gray brick, the original DS is the best.
It was big and very comfortable to hold, and the screens had no ghosting at all from what I remember (which was a very annoying problem when I got my DSi).
Second best is the DSi XL. Big, beautiful screens.
The 3DS, on the other hand, it's a closer race... I think the New 3DS XL is my pick because it has the most features, but the New 2DS XL is a little better looking/designed and better feeling.
It was big and very comfortable to hold, and the screens had no ghosting at all from what I remember (which was a very annoying problem when I got my DSi).
Second best is the DSi XL. Big, beautiful screens.
The 3DS, on the other hand, it's a closer race... I think the New 3DS XL is my pick because it has the most features, but the New 2DS XL is a little better looking/designed and better feeling.
Although the OG 3DS is in last place like it probably deserves, I must say that I do like its telescoping stylus
For me, the DS Lite with GBA slots early on and the new 3DS (no XL) during the last few years before the Switch came out. Absolutely pumped so much time into every model of this console but those two are the best in my opinion, hinge issues aside.
2DS excluding the XL. Just the regular-ass 2DS. Strictly because of form factor.
Does it have the "New" features? Nope. Is it pretty? Hell naw. But that slab is damn comfy in the hands. The ideal way to play Kid Icarus, for sure.
Does it have the "New" features? Nope. Is it pretty? Hell naw. But that slab is damn comfy in the hands. The ideal way to play Kid Icarus, for sure.
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DS Lite for the FF/DQ remakes and Chrono Trigger, everything else is played on the N3DS XL. The Lite is ergonomically better for longer sessions but I tend to gravitate towards the bigger screen and better hardware for the rest of my library.
I still use my DS lite today, even though I have a new 3DS (second favorite) GBA slot is very nice to have and it holds up extremely well
I think in this case it makes no sense to put the XL and regular models together. The New 3DS XL was fine, but the sharper, colorful buttons, swappable faceplate regular New 3DS shat all over it. Probably helps that it coincidentally has the best screens on a DS model I've ever owned.
I've owned all of the them, some multiple times.
I only got a DSi XL, however, way after the fact—just a couple years ago—and it spawned a whole new wave of playing DS games for me. Just looking at it made me want to play.
If you want it exclusively for playing DS games, I'd definitely go with the DSi XL.
I only got a DSi XL, however, way after the fact—just a couple years ago—and it spawned a whole new wave of playing DS games for me. Just looking at it made me want to play.
If you want it exclusively for playing DS games, I'd definitely go with the DSi XL.
As a DS Lite user that used the console a LOT back then... I don't get how you vote that with that shitty d-pad, it's a diagonal input hell :/
New 3DS. I always liked the look of that 2DS remodel too but have no idea what it's like to use.
If we were talking plain old DS then I'd go with the DS Lite. Really beautiful design.
If we were talking plain old DS then I'd go with the DS Lite. Really beautiful design.
I'd say the Lite. I know a lot of people really like the tactile buttons and the screens on the DSi but the Lite just feels better to me. Maybe it's a weight distribution thing, I'm not sure. It could just be a nostalgia thing as my main DS growing up was the Lite.
3DS-wise, though, I'm 100% in the New 3DS XL camp. I think at this point I've owned every single 3DS model since they came out and after nine years of switching around and debating I've finally settled on the New XL and I'm extremely happy with it. Those screens are incredible.
3DS-wise, though, I'm 100% in the New 3DS XL camp. I think at this point I've owned every single 3DS model since they came out and after nine years of switching around and debating I've finally settled on the New XL and I'm extremely happy with it. Those screens are incredible.
Yup, my brother and I both got DS Lites early on, and diagonals always really sucked.
Here's a weird anecdote, though. Years later, though, our younger sibling got a late-era metallic pink one and the D-pad felt much better. I still keep it packed away because it's very nice to use.
I already voted regular New 3DS, but I would like to defend the OG fat model. Never had any complaints. It's actually the only DS model I ever bought. Sure, it isn't the prettiest thing, but it's very functional. All the buttons still feel good (it's right next to me even today), the pixels are crisp, it's comfortable to hold, and unlike the one I picked, the stylus slot isn't stupidly placed at the bottom nor has it totally worn out so you worry about losing the stylus if you put it in a bag. And it still has GBA BC. It's a workhorse. As in, I literally used it for work 8 hours a day as a tester and never had any issues and still don't. It also wears better than some of the 3DS models. Some of the exteriors on the 3DS are pure garbage. I don't have enough experience with the DS models to compare.
DSi XL for DS games. Larger screens are nice and format is more comfortable to hold.
New3DS XL for 3DS. Same reasons as DSi XL. Plus it's snappier in menus, some games and there is a handful of exclusive titles.
New3DS XL for 3DS. Same reasons as DSi XL. Plus it's snappier in menus, some games and there is a handful of exclusive titles.
For DS games, I'd say I like the DS lite the most.
I still wanna try and get a New 3DS (non-XL) sometime for 3DS games. I think I'd like that size more and I already have some faceplates for it lol (the kanji ones, the black Triforce ones, and... something else I can't remember right now).
As for the DSi models? I can only think of one DS game that uses the GBA port, and I don't really care about Guitar Hero, but I still don't like that there is a DS game (at least one) that you simply cannot play on the DSi (Oh yeah, and the Dawn of Sorrow/Aria of Sorrow unlock or whatever, too).
I still wanna try and get a New 3DS (non-XL) sometime for 3DS games. I think I'd like that size more and I already have some faceplates for it lol (the kanji ones, the black Triforce ones, and... something else I can't remember right now).
As for the DSi models? I can only think of one DS game that uses the GBA port, and I don't really care about Guitar Hero, but I still don't like that there is a DS game (at least one) that you simply cannot play on the DSi (Oh yeah, and the Dawn of Sorrow/Aria of Sorrow unlock or whatever, too).
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