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Nintendo 2DS Price Drops to $99.99

 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

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Looking for a new handheld gaming device on the cheap? Nintendo has you covered.

The gaming giant on Thursday announced that its 2DS system is getting a price drop. Beginning Aug. 30, the Nintendo 2DS will be available for $99.99, down from the current suggested retail price of $129.99. Even at the new price, the system will come with a digital version of Mario Kart 7.

"At a suggested retail price of $99.99, Nintendo 2DS is an even more attractive introductory option for first-time gamers," Nintendo of America's Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Scott Moffitt, said in a statement. "The new lower-priced hardware combined with the strong lineup of new games launching this year and arguably the best library of games in this generation makes it a great time to be a Nintendo fan."

First launched in October 2013, the 2DS can do everything the 3DS does, except display 3D images. It plays the entire library of 3DS games in 2D, as well as most Nintendo DS games.

The 2DS received an "excellent" rating of 4-out-of-5 stars in PCMag's review, earing points for its affordable price tag and hinge-free design, which is friendly for small hands.

It "might not be your ideal do-it-all gaming handheld, but if you have a young kid or a tight budget, it's your best choice," PCMag's Will Greenwald said in the review.

Meanwhile, those looking for something new to play on the handheld can also pick up a copy of Little Battlers eXperience, which launches Aug. 21 for all Nintendo 3DS devices and the 2DS. The game "lets players build, customize, and battle robots made from more than 4,000 in-game parts that allows for more than 30,000 different LBX robots," Nintendo said.

Other games launching for Nintendo 3DS before the end of the year include Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer, Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash, Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes, and YO-KAI WATCH.

For more, check out Why the Nintendo 2DS Makes Sense: It's Not For Gamers.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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