Nintendo just unveiled a new portable console - here's what it is and why you should want one

Kiyoshi OtaNintendo's blockbuster Switch is a new kind of video-game console that can be plugged into a TV for big-screen gaming, or pocketed for portable action.

But the Switch isn't Nintendo's only portable console.

The Nintendo 3DS has been on the market since 2011, meaning it has a deeper bench of top-tier games. Plus, as a portable-only gadget, it gets way better battery life than the Switch.

And late Thursday night, Nintendo made the surprise announcement of the New Nintendo 2DS XL, a new $149 console in the 3DS console lineup, on sale in July. It's like the regular Nintendo 3DS consoles, minus the 3D aspect.

Picking between the Nintendo 3DS and 2DS can seem a little tricky. Luckily, we're here to help.