Hardware Which to buy 2DS or Nintendo DS Lite?

[Naxster]

Hello fellow friends, if I'm in the wrong section please forgive me, I couldn't find a specific section for my questions but the closest thing was the word "Console".

Now enough about that
I'm going to purchase my very first Nintendo DS console, and I have no idea which one to choose and which one is worth most for the price.
This DS is going to be a Christmas gift to my little brother, so please help me out

So far I have found 3 handheld console to choose between. But since I don't live in the US, the price may be different. I live in Europe if you want to know.

The first console is a Nintendo DS lite and that costs $47 and with a R4i it will be $70.

The second is a Nintendo DSi which costs $70

The third is a Nintendo 2DS and that costs $118..
I have been wondering about this, I know that it is a "cheap" variant of the 3DS, but is it good? Also can I buy this R4i with this console?? Also since this console is in the newer generation, can we play games from previous handhelds? Games from the DS lite, game boy advance etc?

You may criticize me right that I only think about the prices, but I have been buying gift for the whole family, I can't spend much more
Which is the most cost-effective for the price?

 

[Deleted-236924]

2DS is a "cheap" variant of the 3DS, yeah. Only difference is you don't have 3D on it and it can't be folded in half.

I'd definitely recommend the 2DS over a DS Lite. 2DS can play all the games the DS Lite could, while also being able to play all the 3DS games (except N3DS-exclusives but there's only really like two of those at the moment.)

Also there isn't much games the DSi can play over the DS Lite, so if you can't afford the 2DS, should rule out the DSi and get the Lite. There's like 5 DSi-exclusive games and some DSi-ware that probably aren't really worth playing.

You can also use DS flashcards like the R4i on the 2DS, even up until the latest firmware. Not every R4i, though. There are many different clones and stuff so you'd need one that can work on 10.3
Nintendo pretty much stopped bothering with blocking flashcards since like 7.0 or so, so if it's supposed to work on that firmware version it should work on latest.

I heard R4i Gold 3DS from r4ids.cn was a good choice because it's cheap, supports Wood R4, and works on latest firmwares.


(Also no idea how old he is, but 2DS is built a lot stronger than the DS Lite or DSi. It can be easy to break the hinge on the Lite or Dsi, 2DS can take a beating though just the screens are always exposed so it's easier to scratch them, but heh. Could get screen protectors possible but it shouldn't be that much of a problem.)

 

[Naxster]

2DS is a "cheap" variant of the 3DS, yeah. Only difference is you don't have 3D on it and it can't be folded in half.

I'd definitely recommend the 2DS over a DS Lite. 2DS can play all the games the DS Lite could, while also being able to play all the 3DS games (except N3DS-exclusives but there's only really like two of those at the moment.)

Also there isn't much games the DSi can play over the DS Lite, so if you can't afford the 2DS, should rule out the DSi and get the Lite. There's like 5 DSi-exclusive games and some DSi-ware that probably aren't really worth playing.

You can also use DS flashcards like the R4i on the 2DS, even up until the latest firmware. Not every R4i, though. There are many different clones and stuff so you'd need one that can work on 10.3
Nintendo pretty much stopped bothering with blocking flashcards since like 7.0 or so, so if it's supposed to work on that firmware version it should work on latest.

I heard R4i Gold 3DS from r4ids.cn was a good choice because it's cheap, supports Wood R4, and works on latest firmwares.


(Also no idea how old he is, but 2DS is built a lot stronger than the DS Lite or DSi. It can be easy to break the hinge on the Lite or Dsi, 2DS can take a beating though just the screens are always exposed so it's easier to scratch them, but heh. Could get screen protectors possible but it shouldn't be that much of a problem.)

Thank you for the answer!
He is 12 years old so I don't think that he will beat the crap out if the console
Well that depends if he is not raging and throw the console which I don't think he will do
About the R4i card. I've found a card nearby where I live where they sell a R4i Revolution. Do you think that will work? It costs about $30, if that's any good...
Also when I buy the R4 card, will I be able to play online?

 

[Blue]

Its seems legit and yes you can play online and if your lucky the 2ds will be on a low enough firmware to even play 3DS games via CustomFirmware because the r4 can only play ds games.

 

[Deleted-236924]

Honestly I have no idea about all those R4 clones. I suggest buying online from reputable stores, then you know what you're buying. That and honestly $30 is kind of overpriced considering you could get it for about half the price from nds-card. It takes a while to ship and arrive though, but I believe shipping is free.
I guess $30 could be worth it to have it instantly instead of having to wait weeks. But no idea if that specific R4i Revolution they have would work on latest 3DS firmware (no idea if it would even work on DSi 1.4.5 either.)

 

[Naxster]

Its seems legit and yes you can play online and if your lucky the 2ds will be on a low enough firmware to even play 3DS games via CustomFirmware because the r4 can only play ds games.

Well since I'm going to buy it from the store, I assume it will be the latest version (whatever that version is)...
So I can't play 3ds games with r4i? What if I buy the gold edition, will that make any difference?

Honestly I have no idea about all those R4 clones. I suggest buying online from reputable stores, then you know what you're buying. That and honestly $30 is kind of overpriced considering you could get it for about half the price from nds-card. It takes a while to ship and arrive though, but I believe shipping is free.
I guess $30 could be worth it to have it instantly instead of having to wait weeks. But no idea if that specific R4i Revolution they have would work on latest 3DS firmware (no idea if it would even work on DSi 1.4.5 either.)

Hmm I will look around and see if I find a store that doesn't take too long for the product to arrive.
Well in that case, just to be sure I think I will pick the R4i gold instead. Will that be better?
Also is it true that we can't play 3ds games using the R4i gold card?

 

[Deleted-236924]

DS flashcards can only play DS games (and GB/GBC/NES and to some extent SNES through homebrew emulators.
The only way to play 3DS games would be to have a 3DS (well, 2DS) on firmware 9.2 or lower, then you can install a custom firmware and install games as .cia to play them, or using a Gateway.

If the goal would be to play 3DS games like that, if you buy a 2DS from the store, I -think- pretty much every 2DS brand new in Europe would be under 9.2, but there's been a case or three of someone buying one and having it be on 9.9
Just to be sure, pick one that isn't in a bundle, it'll be cheaper anyway, heh.

If you buy it in-store brand new it wouldn't be updated to the latest firmware unless it was actually used and returned. If you get an used product advertised as brand new you should be able to return it without any problem, still.

That should allow you to setup cfw to play 3DS games. Otherwise, if you don't want to bother with that, if it seems too complicated for you, there is the Sky3DS+ that can play every 3DS rom (and only original untouched roms) and it works up to latest firmware. That costs a pretty penny though, upwards of $80-90

 

[Naxster]

DS flashcards can only play DS games (and GB/GBC/NES and to some extent SNES through homebrew emulators.
The only way to play 3DS games would be to have a 3DS (well, 2DS) on firmware 9.2 or lower, then you can install a custom firmware and install games as .cia to play them, or using a Gateway.

If the goal would be to play 3DS games like that, if you buy a 2DS from the store, I -think- pretty much every 2DS brand new in Europe would be under 9.2, but there's been a case or three of someone buying one and having it be on 9.9
Just to be sure, pick one that isn't in a bundle, it'll be cheaper anyway, heh.

If you buy it in-store brand new it wouldn't be updated to the latest firmware unless it was actually used and returned. If you get an used product advertised as brand new you should be able to return it without any problem, still.

That should allow you to setup cfw to play 3DS games. Otherwise, if you don't want to bother with that, if it seems too complicated for you, there is the Sky3DS+ that can play every 3DS rom (and only original untouched roms) and it works up to latest firmware. That costs a pretty penny though, upwards of $80-90

Thank you for the explanation!!
Hmm well the store I am going to buy It from is a store that sells toys (Yea I know).. It's like Toys "R" Us, but this is store is famous in the Nordic... So i don't think that they sell an used 2DS
And the console comes with a bundle as you mentioned. I will get a code to download New super Mario bros 2, and all the other stuff.. However they doesn't write which version it comes with out of the box...

But is there a way to downgrade to that specific version if my 2DS is above 9.2?
The only reason I want to buy this is to play 3DS games, well technically it's for my brother, but I will also use it
Well Sky3ds sounds good, but it's too expensive..

 

[Deleted-236924]

It normally -shouldn't- be above 9.2, I'd recommend buying one not in a bundle just to be safe (you can get NSMB2 later as .cia anyway.)
It would also be cheaper than bundles unless your store only has bundles in stock, hmm...

Anyway, once you are above 9.2, there isn't a way to downgrade, at least not yet. The only way would be to have a nand backup from that particular 3DS and restore it via a hardware mod.

 

[Naxster]

It normally -shouldn't- be above 9.2, I'd recommend buying one not in a bundle just to be safe (you can get NSMB2 later as .cia anyway.)
It would also be cheaper than bundles unless your store only has bundles in stock, hmm...

Anyway, once you are above 9.2, there isn't a way to downgrade, at least not yet. The only way would be to have a nand backup from that particular 3DS and restore it via a hardware mod.

Yea I know, but there isn't any other than the bundle version
So I'm pretty much stuck with the bundle version if I'm going to buy one. Well since its a new 2ds I don't think it's possible to get that band backup.. Mainly because there isn't any
However I can do this (if it's possible), I will purchase the 2ds and ask them if it's possible to return it since its going to be a Christmas gift. Just to see if it's above 9.2 or not
Now let says that it's, under 9.2. Won't that affect some games if I want to play online? Such as Mario kart.
Also won't the newer games require us to update to the latest version to play them? It's like that in Nintendo Wii U. Is it the same as for the 3ds consoles?

 

[Deleted-236924]

If you are on 9.2 or under, custom firmware lets you set up an emunand on your SD card which is a copy of your actual system firmware.
That one can be fully updated to the latest version as of right now, except you would also be able to install games as .cia and you can still access everything that would require you to update to latest firmware.

 

[wormdood]

Yea I know, but there isn't any other than the bundle version
So I'm pretty much stuck with the bundle version if I'm going to buy one. Well since its a new 2ds I don't think it's possible to get that band backup.. Mainly because there isn't any
However I can do this (if it's possible), I will purchase the 2ds and ask them if it's possible to return it since its going to be a Christmas gift. Just to see if it's above 9.2 or not
Now let says that it's, under 9.2. Won't that affect some games if I want to play online? Such as Mario kart.
Also won't the newer games require us to update to the latest version to play them? It's like that in Nintendo Wii U. Is it the same as for the 3ds consoles?

lol try all the tricks you can and if you get a good one (very likely) then it will not affect online play and the 3ds/2ds has emunand (a clone of itself you can safely update)
edit: too slow

 

[Naxster]

If you are on 9.2 or under, custom firmware lets you set up an emunand on your SD card which is a copy of your actual system firmware.
That one can be fully updated to the latest version as of right now, except you would also be able to install games as .cia and you can still access everything that would require you to update to latest firmware.

Wait just to make sure I understand, when I buy the 2ds and it is below 9.2, I can use a custom firmware which makes it possible to me to update to the latest version (technically it's latest version from using the custom firmware but still), and I will be able to play online?
This sounds too good to be true (depends if the version is below 9.2)...

 

[wormdood]

Wait just to make sure I understand, when I buy the 2ds and it is below 9.2, I can use a custom firmware which makes it possible to me to update to the latest version (technically it's latest version from using the custom firmware but still), and I will be able to play online?
This sounds too good to be true (depends if the version is below 9.2)...

exactly
and yes its true

 

[Blue]

Wait just to make sure I understand, when I buy the 2ds and it is below 9.2, I can use a custom firmware which makes it possible to me to update to the latest version (technically it's latest version from using the custom firmware but still), and I will be able to play online?
This sounds too good to be true (depends if the version is below 9.2)...

Yes that's right.
EDIT:NINJA'D

 

[Games&Stuff]

I live in Europe

 

[Deleted User]

The first console is a Nintendo DS lite and that costs $47 and with a R4i it will be $70.

$47? You can find a DS Lite for MUCH cheaper on sites like eBay. I got mine for around $20 CAD. (So, like, around $15 USD)

Anyways, I'd suggest getting a 2DS since most 2DSes are on a firmware lower than 9.2, which is exploitable, and the 2DS can run also DS games.
EDIT: Just stay away from the Yokai Watch bundle.

 

[Games&Stuff]

$47? You can find a DS Lite for MUCH cheaper on sites like eBay. I got mine for around $20 CAD. (So, like, around $15 USD)

Anyways, I'd suggest getting a 2DS since most 2DSes are on a firmware lower than 9.2, which is exploitable, and the 2DS can run also DS games.

I agree

 

[Blue]

I live in Europe

I live in a bin

 

[Deleted User]

I live in a bin

THE TRASH BIN
(badum tss)