After eight long years, Nintendo brings out the new Switch, the Nintendo Switch 2. It builds on the handheld hybrid model and aims to better the old in many ways more power, bigger screen, and clear upgrades. Yet, it's the small changes and new features that make this feel like a fresh, next-level machine from Nintendo.
But with a starting price of $449.99 / £395.99 / €469.99, one big question pops is it a good buy, even if you already have a Switch and many games left to play.
What's in the Box Specs and Gear Talk
For the price, you get the main handheld hybrid console, with a 7.9-inch 1080p LCD touchscreen that has HDR and can change how smooth the frame rate is, up to 120 FPS in handheld games. When you use the dock, it can pump up visuals to 4K, trying to make the picture clearer and smoother on your TV.
The basic parts of the hardware are much upgraded from before. Though Nintendo doesn't say much about the specific specs, tests show about double the CPU power, three times the RAM, and up to ten times the graphics prowess. This means much better game playback for early Switch games and allows for newer, tougher titles.
The built-in storage now holds up to 256GB and can be made bigger with a microSD Express slot. Moving data over is pretty smooth, but large game libraries might take a bit.
Also in the box are the new Joy-Con 2 controllers that stick on with magnets, a super-fast HDMI cable, two Joy-Con 2 straps, a Joy-Con 2 grip, a brand new dock with a built-in fan, and the AC adapter with a separate USB-C cable.
Design and Hardware First Looks
Turning on the Switch 2, the weight and sound grab your attention. Nintendo has better speakers this time, and you notice the clear sound even in the setup menu.
The system feels faster than the old one. Menu screens, especially the eShop, load much quicker, although the basic layout is familiar, just a bit more stylish. After using the Switch 2, the old Switch feels slow.
The new console gets hotter than the original, especially when running bulky tasks or downloading in the background. A vent on the top lets out some fan noise, which is easy to ignore. While there's a techy smell at first, it dies down.
The Screen LCD vs. OLED
The new 7.9-inch 1080p LCD screen is an upgrade from the old Switch's 720p one. For those coming from the Switch 1, the clarity and size bump is great. But, for Switch OLED owners, swapping to an LCD feels like a sideways move, not a direct step up.
While the colors on the new screen are nearly as vivid as the OLED in some tests, OLED screens do deeper blacks and better contrast, as each pixel lights up by itself. This difference shows more when the auto-brightness is off or in dark scenes. HDR is added, but some folks used to high-end HDR felt it was less striking on the new LCD.
Despite not matching OLED's contrast, the higher resolution and smoother frame rate help make the viewing solid. It's a strong LCD, showing almost no blur, and seems better in real use than when you just look at the brightness stats (around 380 nits SDR).
The Joy-Con 2 Better, Yet Worries Stay
The first Joy-Con had famous drift issues. While time will show if Joy-Con 2 has the same problems, they seem well-made at first. Their design is less flashy, with rounder buttons and a touch of shine.
The controllers are bigger, which is nice for longer gaming times. The metal buttons are bigger too, and the 'C button' is just a new one with its own role in certain games.
The magnetic stick is strong, and attaching or removing them is simple. They might go on backward, an interesting quirk. The HD Rumble is finer, giving neat feedback in games like Welcome Tour.
Mouse mode is another cool addition turn a Joy-Con sideways, and it acts like a mouse. This is handy for certain game controls, yet its help varies by game and if you have a smooth place to use it. Some games show it off well, others point out its limits, like missing a scroll thing.
Even with these gains, using the same type joystick tech hints at possible future drift problems. We'll see if Nintendo really fixed it.
The Dock
The new dock is bigger and looks bolder than before but keeps a friendly style with smooth sides. It includes a fan, which worked well in tests. The back clips shut tight, like the Switch OLED dock, and the cable spots are secure. It's easy for Switch users to get used to, although a longer USB-C power cable would be helpful.
Gaming Go and Scores
The new tech in the Switch 2 lifts game play a lot. Old "miracle ports" that were slow on the first Switch now play smooth, some even faster, and look sharper as they don't need hard hit dynamic scaling. Games made better for Switch 2 look and feel good, making playing them better.
Tears of the Kingdom The first Switch gave fuzzy looks, but the Switch 2 upgrade shows amazing detail and runs smoother.
Cyberpunk 2077 This tough game shines on big screens. It lets you pick how it plays against how it looks, not as good as the top consoles or PCs. Yet, as a small device, showing its full big city is very cool. It now has neat, but Wii-like, motion and gyro aims. More detail can be found here
Witcher 3 / Alan Wake Sadly, the Switch 2 can't fix all bad old ports from the first Switch. Some may still look bad but could run better with more work needed for each.
Street Fighter 6 Played quick and clear in tests.
No Man's Sky Got a free boost, looks great, but sticks to 30 FPS.
Mario Kart World Stands out at launch, great for groups and net plays (Knockout Tour mode got love), yet the big map felt more fun than deep for solo.
Zelda Remasters (TotK/BotW) Better frame rates and load times make these top games even more fun, drawing in more players.
Nintendo Classics (GameCube ones too) Old games from the big old list play as thought, with smooth rides.
Putting Switch 2 next to PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X feels wrong as it's made to move. Still, the gap in how they look is smaller than you'd think, thanks to smart art, work by game makers, and upscaling tech (kind of like DLSS tech). To some, it's like moving from a PS3 to a PS4 in looks.
Deep Look at Key Bits
Upscale Tech
It can go to 4K when docked, likely using tech like NVIDIA's DLSS, this adds a lot in making games clearer on new big screens than the first Switch when docked.
Built-in Game Chat
Nintendo put in game chat, free for all until March 2026, then it's a perk for subscriber. A new C button lets you start or join talks quick. It links up fast, and its mic is good even from far, keeping out other sounds. Even though screen shares are low in frame rate and there’s no texting, it gives smooth, easy voice chats right in the device, no need for other apps or hard setups. Felt easy and smooth for online multi playing.
Mouse Mode
The new Joy-Con 2's mouse mode, used by flipping them, works as thought most of the time. Good for tough menus, but how useful it is in games varies a lot based on how games are made and needing a flat spot. A cool touch, but not likely to change how we mostly play games.
Back and Old Nintendo Hits
A big plus for Switch 2 is it plays most Switch 1 games. This means it starts with a lot of games ready to play. Many old games now load and play faster, cleaning up past slow parts. The Nintendo Switch Online's old games are now called Nintendo Classics, with online member getting Switch 2-only GameCube games, adding more worth through old hits.
Docked vs. Handheld Play
Some say as a home setup, the Switch 2 is hard to say yes to over a PlayStation 5 Slim, pointing to lower looks (effects, clearness, frame rates even on a good TV), less sharp tools (no change feelings, less good sticks for aiming), and a less strong net setup against big home setups.
But views change big when you look at handheld mode. Here, the Switch 2 shines. It brings small letdowns (power vs. battery, screen size vs. going places, tools vs. shape), and it’s seen as making the least of these. Games have a bit less clearness than docked but keep most looks. Being able to play big titles like Cyberpunk 2077 smooth on a thin device is a big win. Its easy grab-and-go style, being easy to carry and quick to get into games make it tops for travel or short play times.
Battery Life
With the release of the device, some worries about its battery life came about due to a glitch in showing how much battery was left. Nintendo said this was a mistake and fixed it. Now, how long the battery lasts can change a lot based on what game you play. For tough games like Cyberpunk, expect about 3 hours of play, which is on the low side compared to some other devices like the Switch OLED or certain handheld PCs. While 2-3 hours may seem okay for heavy games, you'll need to stay close to a charger more often.
Costs and Issues
The price of the console is just the start since the Next-gen Switch brings other costs and some updates that not everyone likes:
- $80 Games Upping the price of top games to $80 has not sat well with everyone. Some see it as needed to avoid small in-game payments and keep offering new, fun games. But many think it's too much given how well Nintendo does financially, making key games less easy to buy.
- Game Boxes New game boxes come with just a code or a license key instead of a physical game, which hurts the chance to resell the game and keep it long-term.
- Online Play Playing online and saving games to the cloud has always needed an NSO subscription. Now, it seems more important than before, adding more ongoing costs, mainly for things like cloud saves beyond 2026 and access to the GameCube game library.
- Missing Docked VRR Not having Variable Refresh Rate when docked was unexpected and might be due to technical limits with HD. This is a downside for those with TVs that could use this feature for smoother play.
- The Mig Switch Ban A big issue came up with Nintendo quickly banning users of gear like the Mig Switch, which mimics game cartridges. Even if used with games you own, this can get your console banned from online services. This also risks losing saved games unless backed up and really shows the risks of using non-approved hardware.
The value of the new Switch is up for debate. With its better hardware and new features, it seems great but is also a big buy-in with higher game costs and more needs.
Good and Bad Points
Good
- Better overall power and speed in hardware
- Older games work better (faster and smoother)
- Stays compatible with past games
- Better display (bigger 7.9", 1080p, VRR when handheld)
- Looks and feels more premium
- Better Joy-Con design (size, buttons, magnetic attaching)
- Handy Mouse Mode
- Built-in game chatting
- Better speakers
- Dock is well-designed and has a fan
- Upscales well to 4K HDR TVs
- Better scaling tech
- New controller is a good option
- Strong launch lineup thanks to being able to play older games
- Handheld mode runs demanding games well
- Ready for more demanding games from third parties
- Lots of units available at start
- Makes old favorites feel new
- Fixed the initial battery meter issue
Bad
- High price for the console
- Small gains in power from the last version
- Not as strong as PS5/XSX in graphics when docked
- Joy-Con issues might still happen
- No VRR when docked
- LCD vs OLED screen issues (especially in darkness)
- Random HDR quality
- Short battery life for intense games, needs lots of charging
- Less portable
- Game chat is missing some features
- Mouse mode might feel like just a gimmick
- Buying games and using the eShop feels slow
- eShop needs better adult content filters
- High prices for games
- Issues with how games are sold
- Needed NSO for playing online/saving to cloud after 2026 brings extra costs
- Risk of getting console banned if using non-approved gear
- Old games don’t always look better on the new device
- Few brand-new games at launch
- Value might not be clear to all right now
- Doesn’t feel next-gen when docked, unlike PS5/XSX
Overall Score 8 / 10
Final Words Should You Buy the Switch 2
The new Nintendo Switch 2 is a big tech step up. It fixes many slow-down issues of the old one, making past games look and play better. It also makes new, big games work well in your hands and on your TV (with better picture quality). The screen looks nicer, the Joy-Cons are more comfy to hold (they stick on with magnets now, though they might still drift), and extras like built-in Game Chat and Mouse Mode bring in new ways to play, even if they're not for everyone.
But, it's pricey, and some choices, like $80 games, game keys, and the danger of your console being blocked if you use unofficial gear (which could mean losing your data), make it hard to say it's worth it. It's not as strong as other big gaming boxes when hooked to your TV, but it's top of its class as a portable game player, letting you play tough games anywhere.
If Nintendo games are your main love and you prefer gaming on the go, the Switch 2 is your best bet. It makes old games feel new and gives you a spot to play great new games. The gear itself looks good and works better.
Still, waiting might be smart. Wait for more Switch 2-only games, see how Nintendo's choices change, and look for possible tech improvements for better TV play or longer battery life. The starting set of new games you can only get on Switch 2 is small, and lots of us already have too many games to play on other systems.
In the end, the Switch 2 is a solid, strong gaming device offering a better mix of TV and go-anywhere play. If Nintendo's your thing and you don't mind the price, you'll likely love it, despite its price and some ongoing issues. It's a good step up from a game-changing old model, though it might not shake up gaming like the first Switch did.
