Verdict
The Switch 2 might lack the gimmicks typically associated with a Nintendo console, but by refining an already excellent product, this follow-up is an easy win. It’s better in just about every way compared to the original 2017 Switch, with a better screen, smarter build and a more capable chip that’ll hopefully lead to more reliability down the line. It’s expensive, and the battery life is far from impressive, yet the Switch 2 is a worthy successor.
Pros
- Plenty of welcome screen upgrades
- Faster performance to give even classic Switch games an extra boost
- Sleek design
Cons
- Poor battery life
- OLED would have been better
- Hefty price
Key Features
-
Review Price: £395.99
-
Big screen The 7.9-inch screen boasts VRR, HDR, and has a 1080p resolution
-
Hybrid design The Switch 2 is both a home console and a portable one
-
Huge library Backwards compatible with Switch games
Introduction
Nintendo has had a chequered past launching follow-ups to ridiculously successful consoles. The Wii U couldn’t replicate the success of the Wii, and the 3DS failed to take the DS forward. With the Switch 2, Nintendo has kept things simple – and it has paid off.
The Switch 2 does exactly the opposite of what Nintendo attempted with the Wii U. This is an obvious sequel – a refinement of an incredibly successful product that, instead of focusing on a new gimmick, just addresses concerns many had with the original Switch from 2017.
Some might think this is boring, and I have seen a lot of criticism of the Switch 2 online, but I think it’s worked out well. This isn’t a perfect console, yet it takes the formula that made the Switch the third biggest selling console of all time and makes it better.
Price and Bundles
The price of the Nintendo Switch 2 has caused a stir since it was announced, owing to the hefty increase over the original model. It’s not just been the console pricing that’s got people talking, but the price in certain games, too.
The Switch 2 starts at £395.99/$449 for the console on its own, that’s up from £259.99/$259.99 the first Switch launched at back in 2017. For £429.99/$499.99, there’s a bundle available with Mario Kart World included, which considering that title on its own is £74.99/$79.99, makes this one much better value.
Not all games are that price – and prices vary depending on whether you go for the physical or download version. Donkey Kong Bonanza, for instance, will cost £64.99/$69.99 for the physical version when that arrives in July.
Still, seeing that price on a Nintendo game is sure to cause concern, and that’s completely fair. I do think the console is still a good investment, and with all that’s been added over the original Switch, the price rise isn’t ludicrous.
You do have to want the hybrid nature and Nintendo’s unique style of games though. If you just want a console to play the latest AAA titles on your TV, just get a PS5.
Design and Joy-Con 2
- Feels much higher-end than the original Switch
- Some might find it big in handheld mode
- Joy-Cons feel great
Nintendo hasn’t torn up the blueprints of its original hybrid console for the Switch 2. This is very clearly a sibling of the 2017 Switch, just one that feels refined, smarter and more grown-up.
The basic premise remains staunchly the same. This is both a portable console and one you plug into a TV. The Switch 2 console is made up of a tablet plus two detachable Joy-Con controllers, while an included docking station connects via an included HDMI cable to the back of a TV. Also in the box is a plastic grip, which turns the Joy-Cons into something more akin to a traditional controller.
The Switch 2 ditches the ‘toy’ aesthetic of the original console. There are no colourful Joy-Con, just tasteful accents of colour, and a sleek black finish. It looks really good, even if some might feel it lacks that distinct charm that often comes with a new Nintendo console.
It’s the biggest Switch yet, owing to its larger display, which now measures 7.9 inches and takes up most of the main ‘tablet’ portion of the console. The Joy-Con are larger too, with buttons that are easier and more comfortable to press as a result.
The Joy-Con still detach, although the process is much smarter this time around. They attach via very strong magnets, rather than clipping in, and detach with a quick press of a dedicated button around the back.
One of my biggest criticisms of the original Switch was that it felt creaky, with the Joy-Cons not feeling particularly stuck to the console. If you twisted the body, it rattled and didn’t feel sturdy. The change to magnets with the Switch 2 alters this – it all feels rigid and more durable.
The Joy-Con 2 have a new gimmick – heck, it wouldn’t be a Nintendo console launch without some sort of gimmick, would it – in that they can be used like a mouse. In certain titles, you can roll the controller along a surface, like a computer mouse, to control whatever you’re playing. It worked surprisingly well, and is so much more accurate than I was expecting. Hopefully games can really put this to use in the future.
If you are mostly playing the Switch 2 docked, I would recommend the Switch 2 Pro controller. It’s more comfortable than the Joy-Con for longer sessions and feels really nice. The Pro controller from the Switch 1 works too, so if you have one of those, that can be used.
While it’s bigger, the Switch 2 is the same thickness as the original and I have been impressed with just how light it feels. Keeping the thickness the same is key, ensuring it doesn’t have that bulky look of something like the Steam Deck OLED or other Windows-toting handhelds.
The Switch 2 still feels portable. Not as much as Nintendo handhelds of the late 90s and early 2000s, like the Game Boy and DS, but still enough to make sticking it in a bag and pulling it out on a train or plane possible.
If you plan to take it out and about, I would suggest picking up a case and a screen protector as well. My Switch OLED is battered, with dings all over the screen, and I’d say I treated it well – I won’t be making the same mistake again.
While Nintendo hasn’t changed too much about the design, there are some welcome differences and improvements. There are now two USB-C ports: one on the bottom and another on the top. This gives you more freedom when using the console on a desk, as you can plug it via the top port and not have the cable get in the way.
Next to the top USB-C port there’s a redesigned game card slot, which is far more robust than before, and a 3.5mm headphone jack remains.
Most of the back is taken up by a new kickstand. This is a huge improvement over the terrible stand from the first Switch that struggled to hold it, and the larger one on the Switch OLED. The updated kickstand is now metal and it spans the width of the tablet. It feels rigid and solid, with plenty of rotation to get the perfect viewing angle.
The dock has picked up some design changes, too. It’s a little curvier now, and an Ethernet port joins the USB-C power port and HDMI out port on the back.
The dock is a little larger as there’s now a fan inside to keep things cool. It’s a shame that the dock is still very plastic-heavy, with an annoying door covering the ports that always pops up and is tough to get back on, but really, you’ll put it behind your TV and not notice it’s there anyway.
Screen
- No OLED option, which is a shame
- Still a great 7.9-inch LCD screen
- HDR support, and VRR in handheld mode
I was disappointed when Nintendo revealed the Switch 2 and confirmed it wouldn’t have an OLED display. While the original Switch shipped with an LCD, the mid-cycle upgraded Switch OLED offered a far superior, as the name implies, OLED panel with much punchier, deeper colours and perfect blacks.
Rumours before the Switch 2’s launch told us to expect a switch back to LCD, but even with this knowledge, it was a blow. When I fired up the Switch 2, with my Switch OLED next to it for the initial System Transfer, I could tell the blacks on the new console were more of a grey, rather than true black.
I’m sure we’ll get an OLED Switch down the line, and in many ways this display is still a huge upgrade over anything seen before on a Nintendo device.
First up, it’s a bigger screen. 7.9 inches, as opposed to 6.2 inches on the first Switch and 7 inch on the OLED. That extra screen real estate might sound minimal, but it does really make portable gaming much more immersive. It makes reading text in dense menus easier in Cyberpunk 2077, too.
It’s a 1080p screen – up from 720p – and can now support refresh rates up to 120Hz in certain games (the upcoming Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, for instance), and there’s VRR too. Although VRR (variable refresh rate) is only supported on the console’s display, and not on a connected TV.
The final screen spec worth mentioning is the addition of HDR support in games, which is supported both on the console’s display and when outputting to a TV. The HDR effect, in my testing, varies and would be more obvious on an OLED that’s able to show perfect blacks. Still, fire up a game that’s been updated with HDR support – Mario Odyssey is a good example – and colours do pop a little more.
I really like the screen on the Switch 2. It’s not perfect, but it’s still a big jump forward and a pleasure to play games on the go. It’s bright, colourful, more detailed and responsive.
Performance
- It’s a powerful console
- 256GB of storage
- Good speakers
Powering the Nintendo Switch 2 is an unnamed ‘custom process’ from Nvidia. The nitty-gritty of the chip is kept mostly under wraps, but it’s important to note that it’s a big improvement over the Nvidia chip in the original Switch that already felt outdated when it arrived.
The Switch 2 is certainly playing catch-up in many areas, and performance is more akin to a PS4 than a PS5 on the whole. It’s great to see Nintendo finally adding support for 4K visuals when docked and HDR output, two features that have been commonplace elsewhere for years.
Nintendo has never been one to compete with Microsoft and Sony for performance dominance, but I think it’s fair to say that the original Switch was hamstrung a bit by its internals. While Nintendo managed to make its first-party games run well (most of the time), third-party developers struggled. As the years went on, ports either dried up or became something of a mess.
The Switch 2 feels far more like a capable console. Games run at far more stable frame rates, and titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Hogwarts Legacy show that developers can port even recent games over without sacrificing too much.
Mario Kart World, Nintendo’s big launch title, plays at a solid, stable 60fps when either docked or in handheld mode and it’s a similar story with some of the updated Switch titles, like Breath of the Wild.
Throughout my time testing the Switch 2, the tablet portion remained cool – with the internal fans rarely spinning up to a noticeable volume. On occasion, when removing the console from the dock after an extended session, it did feel a bit warm, but nothing I was too concerned about. I also never heard the fans in the dock spin up to an audible level.
There isn’t too much to really test the Switch 2’s power as of yet, but everything I have played so far feels like a step above the previous model. Hopefully that’ll last, and the internals here won’t feel quite so outdated so quickly.
Cyberpunk 2077 does however highlight a likely issue many will have with the Switch 2 – and that’s storage space. It’s correct that the console does have 256GB of internal storage (although around 7GB is taken up with the system software), which is 8x the amount on the OG Switch. But games here are much bigger.
Cyberpunk 2077 is 60GB, while No Man’s Sky is 25GB. Download a few big third-party titles and you’ll be filling that 256GB of space in no time.
Of course, the answer to this conundrum is expandable storage. The Switch 2 only works with a new type of microSD card called microSD Express – so that 1TB card you’ve got inside your old Switch won’t be supported.
There seems to be only two sizes of microSD Express readily available in the UK: 128GB and 256GB, although larger sizes should come soon. They’re also a bit pricey – around £50 for the 256GB card. For comparison, a Nintendo-branded 256GB card for the OG Switch is available on Amazon for £19.99.
I think it’s an important Switch 2 accessory, unless you’re keen on waiting for those bigger sizes to arrive.
One of my biggest issues with the console’s performance is its Wi-Fi. Nintendo has bumped it up to WiFi 6, which is welcome, but I still found the general connectivity performance weak. I consistently suffered bad reception, with poor signal quality and downloads slower than I would expect. Downloading a game is quicker than on a Switch, although it could still be better.
GameChat
- Free to begin with
- Works with the additional camera
Nintendo’s attempt to bring some online voice chat capabilities to the original Switch through its mobile app mostly fell flat, especially as chatting with those you’re playing with has been such a basic feature on other consoles for years.
With the Switch 2, there is finally a system-wide chat function built into the software, and it works with video too, either with a supported webcam or the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera.
The GameChat feature will be free for a period, and then included as part of the Nintendo Switch Online package afterwards.
You can access the feature with a push of the C button on the controller, and this brings up a menu of available friends. You can then initiate a call and share gameplay. Pair with the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, and you can share a live view of yourself too.
It all works quite well, in a very Nintendo way. I like how the camera cuts out your face and overlays it over a game, and you can customise how much space everyone takes up on the screen.
As someone who would rarely want to chat to other people while I am playing a game, I can’t see myself using it – but for those who do, this is a nice addition that should have been here before.
Games and Software
- Limited launch lineup
- Backwards compatible with the original Switch games
- Retro games available wth NSO
Mario Kart World is the big launch title for the Switch 2, and…It’s definitely a Mario Kart game. It is fun to pick up and play, plus there’s more to this title than previous entries, including a Free Roam mode that adds a Forza Horizon-like open world and battle royal-like mode that knocks a certain number of racers out each round.
It looks absolutely gorgeous, both on the console’s display and on a TV. Mario Kart in high-res, with punchy HDR – yes please.
Both Tears of the Kingdom and Breath of the Wild have received paid-for Switch 2 upgrades to bulk out the launch lineup, with better frame rates and resolutions for both.
Honestly, playing these iconic games through again in vastly superior quality made me wish I hadn’t bothered with them on the first-gen Switch. If you have the original games, this upgrade is less than £10/$10, and they’re included with the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pass service.
I’d recommend paying up and getting NSO + Expansion Pass, as it’s a pretty stacked service that’s more affordable than online services for the PS5 and Xbox Series. You, of course, get online play and handy extras like cloud backups and discounts, but there’s also access to select titles from older Nintendo systems.
The rest of the launch lineup is littered with third-party titles. For me, the standout is Cyberpunk 2077, which looks and plays superbly well.
The Switch 2 is backwards compatible with the games made for the original Switch. Some Switch titles have picked up smaller free updates, mostly to address performance issues, up the resolution or add HDR.
The extra power of the Switch 2 really helps address issues I had with older games. For instance, Pokémon Violet and Scarlett now play in 60fps, and the frame rate in Zelda: Link’s Awakening is far more stable.
The launch lineup for Switch 2, in itself, is limited. But, with the updates to older games, strong backwards compatibility and services like Nintendo Switch Online offering retro gaming from Game Boy to GameCube, there’s still plenty to play here.
Elsewhere, the software experience on the Switch 2 is a familiar one. Sorry to all those hoping Nintendo had redesigned it, but it very much has not.
The homescreen is basically the same, with a row of games running through the centre and shortcuts to things like the e-Shop and Settings below. There are two themes (light or dark), and still very limited customisation.
Now, there are two ways to look at this. If you’ve used an OG Switch, then you’ll feel right at home. You’ll know where all the settings you require are located, you’ll know how to tweak the brightness or add a new friend – there’s nothing new to learn.
I have always enjoyed a new console UI and it’s a shame Nintendo hasn’t entertained it. Yes, the UI itself is perfectly fine, but I’d have liked a different way to display games and a little more customisation – maybe some themes centred around iconic Nintendo franchises.
At least it has ensured that accessing and navigating the eShop is a far more fluid and speedy experience than before.
Battery Life
- Endurance is the weakest aspect
- Some games hit around 3 hours
- USB-C charger included
I think Nintendo has mostly hit it out of the park with the Switch 2. The improvements are here, from the screen to the performance and a more refined design.
But there’s a catch to all of this, one of which will severely affect the console’s use as a portable console. Of course, I am talking about battery life.
Battery life on the Nintendo Switch 2 is poor. It’s the worst of all the Switch models I have used, and it really does put a dampener on the whole thing. This is meant to be a console that can be played anywhere, but in reality, you can only play it anywhere for about two hours.
That’s not much use on a long flight, or even a fairly short train ride. If you are picking up Switch 2, get a powerful power bank too – you won’t regret it. I’ve been using the Anker Prime and it has seriously extended play sessions.
Nintendo itself doesn’t hype up impressive endurance. It claims between two and six hours of juice per charge, and in my testing, it’s been solely on the lower end of that scale. 2 hours and 45 minutes of playing Mario Kart World took the battery from 100% to 0. With Cyberpunk 2077, it was closer to 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Things are closer to 3 hours and 30 minutes with first-gen Switch titles, but this really varies depending on the game. There might be some indie titles that’ll stretch the battery longer, but I haven’t come across any. Even leaving the console out of the dock and on standby overnight can see the battery deplete by 10-15%.
There are a few ways to try and eke more juice out of the system. Lowering the brightness to below 50% helps slightly, although this sort of defeats the point. I understand that when we can play such intensive games on the go that battery life is going to take a hit, but I am still disappointed that a couple of hours is all that’s possible from the Switch 2.
You do, at least, get a charger in the box, and it’s now comprised of both a cable and a separate charging brick, rather than being a single unit.
Should you buy it?
You loved the original Switch
The Switch 2 is a better Switch. A better screen, better performance and a better design. If you loved the Switch,. you’ll love the Switch 2.
You only want to play AAA games at the best quality
If you just want to play the latest games on your TV in the best quality, you’re best off with a PS5 or Xbox Series X.
Final Thoughts
The Switch 2 is a very un-Nintendo-like sequel. Instead of reinventing the genre with a new gimmick and risking undoing years of hard work (Sorry Wii U), the follow-up to the mighty Switch is more of the same.
While the Switch 2 lacks innovation, it refines a good product into one that can be great. There are, of course, some gimmicks here, but they can mostly be ignored if you’re not interested in video chat or turning a Joy-Con into a mouse.
As a portable/home console hybrid, the Switch 2 is a hit. There are rivals like the Steam Deck OLED and ROG Ally X that offer more power and Windows access, but Nintendo has the best portable games and even though the Switch 2 is big, it’s still designed with handheld and on-the-go play in mind.
The Switch 2 feels like what Nintendo wanted all along, but couldn’t achieve the first time around. A great screen, enough power, modern design and mod-cons like 4K, HDR and more.
It’s just a shame the battery life isn’t very good, and the price for entry is high.
Trusted Score
How We Test
I have been testing a Nintendo Switch 2 unit provided by Nintendo for the past two weeks, across both portable play and docked. I have tested 30 games across Switch 2 and Switch titles, plus NSO and more.
- Tested for two weeks
- Played 30+ games
- Tested both docked and portable play
FAQs
Yes, you can put your Switch games into the Switch 2 – there are a few games that don’t work, but the majority do.
Full Specs
| Nintendo Switch 2 Review |
|---|