A newNintendo consoleis always exciting. From the Nintendo Entertainment System to the original Switch, each new console has brought innovative features, many of which have made Nintendo’s consoles stand out from the crowd. Nintendo’s latest console is something of a change from the norm, however.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is the first time that Nintendo has straight up just stuck a “2” on one of its consoles. A good sequel is hard to do, as anyone who has sat throughSpeed 2: Cruise Controlwill confirm, so is this another case of the sequel being worse than the original?
The good news, if you’re a Nintendo fan, is that the company’s new console is that rare case, like Terminator 2, where the sequel is even better than the original. That’s not to say it’s perfect, and it’s certainlynot Nintendo’s cheapest console. I’ve only had my hands on it for a short time, as Nintendo didn’t release any review units before launch day, but so far I’ve found a lot to love about the Switch 2.
Nintendo Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch 2 features a larger 7.9-inch, 1080p LCD screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, a more powerful processor, and upgraded Joy-Cons.
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Price, availability, and specs
The price is high, but there’s much more under the hood
For a long time, Nintendo has been the most affordable of the big three console manufacturers. By focusing on innovative control techniques and console formats rather than sheer power, Nintendo’s consoles have usually been significantly cheaper than the standard Xbox and PlayStation models. That’s all changed with the Nintendo Switch 2, which is available right now for a price of $449.99, or $499.99 for the Mario Kart World bundle, making it comparable in price to a PS5.
You get a lot more for your money, however. The most immediate difference is the size, with the Switch 2 featuring a 7.9-inch 1080p LCD screen, which is a significant upgrade from the 6.2-inch, 720p screen of the original Switch. The Switch 2 also has a 120Hz refresh rate, which is double the 60Hz of the first Switch. You don’t just get better visuals in handheld mode, either; when docked, the Switch 2 supports 4K up to 60fps.
There’s a lot more under the hood, too. While the original Switch is (mostly) great for first-party titles and games that aren’t hugely graphically intensive, it really struggles with some games. Cyberpunk 2077, for example, was too much for the original Switch to handle, but the so-called impossible port is already available for the Switch 2. This is thanks to a custom Nvidia chip rumored to be based on the Tegra T239 processor, which would place the console on a par with the power of a PlayStation 4.
What I liked about the Nintendo Switch 2
Sometimes bigger is better
The first thing that you notice about the Nintendo Switch 2 is the size. It’s a lot bigger than its predecessor, with significantly more screen real estate. Playing it handheld, it feels more substantial than the original Switch, which can feel a little fragile. The Switch 2 is inevitably a little heavier, but when playing long handheld sessions, I didn’t notice it feeling heavy at any point.
Bigger isn’t always better, but in the case of the Switch 2, it really is. For me, this is where the Switch 2 shines. With the new dark Joy-Cons that match the console, and the more substantial size and weight, the Switch 2 feels like a premium handheld, leaving the original Switch looking and feeling more like a glorified toy.
I’ve never found myself wishing that Nintendo had gone for an OLED instead.
The larger screen looks great despite being LCD rather than OLED, and it’s a significant upgrade over the original Switch. While an LCD screen with HDR support is never going to completely match an OLED display, when I’ve been playing handheld, I’ve never found myself wishing that Nintendo had gone for an OLED instead.
The Joy-Cons are also a big improvement. The magnetic attachment is so much easier than the rails on the original Switch. I’ve lost hours of my life trying to disconnect the straps from my original Switch Joy-Cons (that I need to use, because kids), which often refuse to move despite the button being held down.
Removing the straps from the Switch 2 Joy-Cons was genuinely an enormous relief, as they popped off effortlessly when pressing the release button. The Joy-Cons feel sturdier than the originals, but it remains to be seen whether they will succumb to the same Joy-Con drift that plagues the originals.
Playing docked, you get less of a sense that you’re playing on a new console. The 4K visuals are an improvement, but they’re not as in-your-face as the much-improved display when playing handheld. The Switch 2 Pro Controller also doesn’t feel like a huge upgrade, and I’m not sure why Nintendo opted to make parts of it light gray, but it’s still my favorite way to play docked.
Experiencing Nintendo Switch Joy-Con drift? How to fix it yourself
There’s been a lot of talk about Nintendo Switch Joy-Con drift, but what is it? And, if you’re experiencing it, what can you do about it?
What I didn’t like about the Nintendo Switch 2
Evolution, not revolution
While Nintendo has fallen behind its rivals in terms of the sheer power of its consoles, it’s always made up for in terms of innovation. Revolutionary ideas such as the motion controls of the Wii and the console-handheld hybrid design of the original Switch are what have set Nintendo devices apart. The Switch 2 does add new mouse controls to the Joy-Cons, but otherwise, it doesn’t feel like there’s anything ground-breaking in the Switch 2.
Nintendo estimates the battery life to be between 2 and 6.5 hours, and in my limited experience so far, the Switch 2 has been falling closer to the lower end of those estimates.
It’s telling that this is Nintendo’s first major console sequel. The GameCube could never have been the “N64 2” because the two consoles were just so different. The Switch 2 is obviously an upgraded version of the original Switch, and after the major innovations of the previous few consoles, it feels like a bit of a shame that there’s nothing really new about it.
Another disappointment is the battery life. The upgraded and larger display and the more powerful hardware will inevitably require more power. Nintendo estimates the battery life to be between 2 and 6.5 hours, and in my limited experience so far, the Switch 2 has been falling closer to the lower end of those estimates. It’s not horrific, but don’t expect to get the same battery life that you got out of the original Switch. That said, the addition of a USB-C port on the top of Switch 2, as well as the bottom, means that you’re able to easily play in tabletop mode while connected to power.
The new kickstand is a big improvement on the old one, allowing you to adjust the angle of tilt, but it does feel a little flimsy, making me nervous every time I pop it out. According to the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, it’s made from an aluminum alloy that’s used in planes and spacecraft, but I still feel like I’m going to snap it every time I pop it out, and I’m seriously worried about what my kids will do to it.
The Switch 2 is on track to outsell every PC gaming handheld ever made
Sorry, Steam Deck, it seems the Switch 2 is the handheld of choice.
Should you buy the Nintendo Switch 2?
It’s a tougher question if you already own a Switch
If you don’t own a Switch, or a handheld PC, then the Nintendo Switch 2 is definitely worth considering. It’s a joy to play handheld, looks beautiful, and can handle far more games than the original Switch could. There are plenty of games on the horizon, such as Donkey Kong Bonanza andMetroid Prime 4, that you won’t be able to play on any other device, including the original Switch. So far, I’ve found a lot to love about the Switch 2, with only a few complaints.
If you already own a Switch, is there enough to the Switch 2 to make it worth upgrading? At the current price and with the current line-up of games, that’s a tough call. If you play docked, you’re probably not going to notice a mind-blowing difference in terms of performance when you’re playing games like Mario Kart. If you play handheld a lot, then upgrading is a much easier sell.
Mario Kart World aside, there aren’t currently many huge games available that you can’t already play on your old Switch. However, as more titles are released, the urge to upgrade is sure to get more tempting. If you do bite the bullet, opt for the Mario Kart World bundle, as the game is an absolute blast, and you’ll save yourself $30 compared to buying it separately.
This device was provided to Pocket-lint by Nintendo.
Nintendo’s Switch 2 features a more powerful chip, a higher resolution screen, and upgraded Joy-Cons.
4 reasons I’m getting a Switch 2 instead of a new Steam Deck
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