Nintendo Switch 2 review: The next-gen upgrade you’ve been waiting for

Price When Reviewed

$449.99

Best Prices Today: Nintendo Switch 2

The Nintendo Switch 2 is a true evolution of 2017’s original Nintendo Switch console, with a big step forward in graphics, controls and build quality.  

It’s also much pricier than the original console was at launch, especially when you consider how much flagship games such as Mario Kart World cost. I can’t blame you if you’re on the fence. 

But I’m happy to report that after nearly a fortnight with the console, I believe it’s something worth investing in.  

If you’d like to read my unfiltered thoughts from unboxing the console and playing it with a fresh pair of eyes, then there’s a diary of my first three days with Switch 2, which I updated in real time.  

Design & Build

• Bigger than the original Switch
• One colourway on launch
• Magnetic Joy-Cons
• New C button

The Switch 2 still retains the same core themes of this console line – namely, the hybrid handheld and docked nature, along with detachable Joy-Cons that can be used wirelessly when fully charged.  

The Switch 2 is significantly larger than the original Switch. It’s 12.7mm taller and 30.48mm wider and weighs 534g with the Joy-Cons attached. While that is around 136g more than the original Switch, holding the two side by side doesn’t feel like a huge difference.  

The benefit of a larger design is a big, bright and beautiful glass display in handheld mode, though it’s not quite as travel-friendly. I use a third-party case from Nacon, which takes up a lot of space in my bag, but it feels like a worthy trade-off for the upgrades. 

At launch, there’s just the one colour – grey with orange and blue accents. There aren’t any additional Joy-Con shades to mix and match yet, but the great news is that you can still connect Joy-Cons from the Switch 1 with minimal hassle, albeit with some limitations.  

While the lack of colour choice may be a disappointment to some, I will say that this console looks sleeker and more premium than its predecessor. And besides, Nintendo is probably saving some special editions for later down the line… probably. Don’t hold me to that.  

The benefit of a larger design is a big, bright and beautiful glass display in handheld mode

One big change is that a second USB-C port now sits on the top of the console, joining the one on the bottom. This means that you can charge the console in handheld mode while using the kickstand – a key oversight from the first edition. It’s also for connecting the camera accessory, but I’ll get to that later.  

Speaking of which, the kickstand has had a serious revamp, now in a much sturdier U-shape that can be adjusted anywhere up to 150 degrees.  

On top, you’ll find the power button, volume rocker and the improved game cartridge slot. On the bottom, there’s a microSD card express slot – note that this won’t support regular microSD cards. There’s also a new C button on both the console and controllers, which enables the funky GameChat function.  

The dock itself is a cleaner, rounder shape, and now features two additional USB 2.0 ports, which are useful when first connecting accessories such as the Pro Controllers. The console body feels slightly wobbly when docked, a similar issue to the first Switch. But you know what is a massive improvement? Those Joy-Cons, thanks to a handy little contraption called magnets, which are inside the main console itself.  

By pressing a trigger on the back of the Joy-Cons, you simply pull them away. Then, whenever you put them close enough to the console, they’ll just snap right back into place. Gone are the days of finicky rails. They are ever so slightly wobbly when attached, but I never found this to interfere with gameplay.  

If you’re worried about the Joy-Cons being put on the wrong way (either by a child or after a few bevvies), then don’t worry. Nintendo states in its Welcome Tour game that they can be put on the wrong sides and backwards – they just won’t charge properly if you do this.  

While Nintendo has made the buttons more friendly for smaller hands, I’ve still found using a singular controller for games that require a lot of steering and pressing, such as Mario Kart World, slightly uncomfortable for long periods.

Display, Graphics & Speakers

• 7.9-inch LCD display
• 4K support when docked
• Up to 120fps
• Punchy speakers

The Nintendo Switch 2 boasts a 7.9-inch screen, 1.7 inches larger than that of the OG Switch. While it’s LCD rather than OLED as hoped for, don’t let that put you off.  

This display is a pleasure to use both in handheld and tabletop modes. Details are sharper thanks to the 1080p support (4K is reserved for when the console is docked and performance is smooth) and double the pixels of the first gen. Meanwhile, colours are vivid and pop beautifully on the screen. 

My suspicion would be that Nintendo will eventually release an OLED version, just like with the original Switch, along with a Lite version for those who want a cheaper entry-level console.  

The console supports up to 120Hz refresh rate, and you’ll particularly notice these speedier responses in older games such as the Switch 2 Editions of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. Note that this 120Hz refresh rate isn’t supported if you opt for 4K mode on the TV – it will then be capped at 60Hz.

So, you’ll have to pick your poison to some extent. The highest resolution you can go at 120Hz (if your TV supports that refresh rate) is 1440p.

HDR is also an optional mode within the display settings, and you can enable this both in handheld mode and docked, but you’ll mainly see the difference on your TV.

While the graphics cannot match the prowess seen on the PS5, Xbox Series X or a PC, they finally bring Nintendo into the modern age

While testing on my Sky Glass 2, it’s night and day. Tones are so much more lively, with highly detailed textures. Having it turned off leaves your gameplay looking washed out by comparison. In handheld mode, it’s harder to spot the differences, so if you want to turn this off to save on battery, you won’t miss out on too much.

All these graphics improvements are most obvious in older Switch titles. Take Pokémon Scarlet and Violet as an example. Finally seeing this in 60Hz, with significantly less popping on the map, is a true joy, and really, how the game should have run from the start. 

Meanwhile, Switch 2 editions of The Legend of Zelda titles feature more dynamic shadows, true-to-life colours and finer details than the originals. The more powerful processor also sees certain areas that struggled on the original Switch given a lease of new life. See this video of Korok Forest below for proof: 

#id6851bf45b5792 .jw-wrapper::before { content: “Switch 2 Breath of the Wild Korok Forest” ; }

While the graphics cannot match the prowess seen on the PS5, Xbox Series X or a PC, they finally bring Nintendo into the modern age. 

The built-in speakers also impressed, with more balanced audio, 3D spatial sound support and built-in microphones with noise cancellation. Sound is clear, crisp and punchy, and more immersive than ever. That noise cancellation works well in GameChat – no headphones needed. 

If you opt for private listening, then there is your usual 3.5mm headphone jack and Bluetooth headphone support (which also replicates the 3D audio, if your accompanying buds do too). If you decide to buy the Pro Controller, worth £74.99/$84.99, this now includes a headphone jack.  

Specs, Features & Gameplay

• Custom Nvidia chip
• 12GB RAM
• 256GB storage
• Strong portfolio of new and upcoming games

Nintendo has never officially released the name of the processor that the Switch 2 runs on, beyond it being a custom Nvidia chip. Many sites, such as Eurogamer and Polygon, have reported this as a Tegra T239 processor, with the latter saying that performance power would be about on par with the PS4 and Xbox One. 

What does that mean in real terms? Simply put, it’s zippy to navigate, with load times being reasonably fast. Everything feels much more nippy than the original Switch, even the eShop.

As mentioned above, there are vast improvements in certain games with lag and popping. Plus, combined with 12GB RAM (four times that came with the Switch) and 256GB of onboard storage, you shouldn’t run into much trouble running out of space immediately. 

The dock has a built-in fan for cooling, but I’ve noticed the console gets hot both in handheld mode and docked.

It can even handle more demanding titles such as Cyberpunk 2077, though admittedly, this won’t be to the same standard as its current-gen Xbox and PlayStation rivals. 

But while the Switch 2 may not have the same raw power as the Xbox Series X, PS5 or other handheld consoles such as the Steam Deck, it makes up for it with typical Nintendo quirkiness that you won’t find anywhere else on the market.

GameChat

Let’s start with GameChat. Is this new feature worth the hype? I must admit, when Nintendo first announced it, I was sceptical, but I’ve found myself reaching for it more than I anticipated.  

The Japanese gaming giant has really considered the collaborative nature of its titles, such as Mario Kart World, which is perfectly suited for bantering when you’re sending a red shell to your friend (or enemy, no judging). I tested it out with some fellow journalists, and it added a whole new dimension to the game. 

Technically speaking, the microphones on the console are impressive. It picks up my voice even from across the room, and I can’t hear gameplay from other participants. That said, when playing upstairs in handheld mode while my husband was downstairs, he did notice some occasional feedback on my end.  

What I will say is that the camera adds more fun to GameChat. For example, your video feed appears above your character during gameplay and will be blown up on the scoreboard if you manage to land a podium spot. Is the quality good? Not at all, but it doesn’t detract from being a real laugh.  

Unfortunately, this costs an extra £50.99/$54.99 (though you can instead opt for this ridiculous Piranha Plant version for £33.99 with a lower resolution and no privacy shutter).

New Joy-Cons

Then, there’s the new Joy-Con features. As well as the classic keypad and motion controls, there’s now a mouse sensor inside each one. Simply turn the controller on its side and use it like a PC mouse. 

While this type of gameplay is only available on certain titles, everyone can use it on the main menu and Nintendo eShop (which, as mentioned, is much faster and easier to use). Now, you can navigate keyboard typing so much faster, saving you heaps of time when inputting download codes and Wi-Fi passwords.  

As for the games themselves, I found precision to be sharp. During a minigame in the Nintendo Switch Welcome Tour, I was able to weave in and out of bombs rather swiftly. I was pleasantly surprised by the responsiveness and kept overshooting during my first go. 

Despite Nintendo saying that you can use these mouse controls on your legs if you don’t have a flat surface to hand, you will undoubtedly get a better experience if you use a coffee table, desk or tray table than you will on your lap. Why? Clothes, particularly cotton, linen or any material that isn’t slick, will hinder those glides. 

I briefly experienced other titles such as Drag X Drive and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond during my first hands-on in Paris. While the latter was more akin to a traditional shooter where you point and click, the former gave a new spin on these controls, where you’d drag the controllers downwards repeatedly to steer, with each Joy-Con controlling a wheel. 

Nintendo has plenty more titles in the pipeline that really take advantage of these mouse controls, and it’s a nifty upgrade that I can see having a lot of timesaving potential, especially with titles that have build modes, such as Animal Crossing.

Launch titles

Let’s be frank: whether you buy this console or not will likely come down to the games on offer. At the time of writing, Mario Kart World is by far the most popular title, as expected. While this game will almost certainly need some new features in future updates, it’s one of the best for GameChat. 

If you want something a bit grittier and powerful, there’s Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut and Hitman World of Assassination: Director’s Cut. There are the Switch 2 Editions for both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, which, while they don’t add much in terms of gameplay content, there’s a step up in the graphics. 

There is also the entire Switch 1 back catalogue, with huge titles such as Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, so that really bolsters out your offerings – especially if you’re completely new to the Switch console line.  

As for future titles, we have Donkey Kong Bananza hitting shelves on 17 July, the Switch 2 Edition of Super Mario Party Jamboree on 24 July (with new camera and mouse controls) plus Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Splatoon Raiders. 

Two of the biggest games missing from that list are a new standalone 3D Mario game, which is overdue (the last one was Super Mario Odyssey, released in 2017) and a new edition of Animal Crossing (New Horizons hit shelves in 2020). Both of these potential releases will no doubt be the trigger for some users to buy the Switch 2 if it’s not tempting enough right now.  

Battery Life

• Average 3-4 hours of battery during testing
• Slower charging

In my live diary, I noticed that the battery life was a weak point of the Switch 2, and that opinion hasn’t changed.  

During my tests, the console lasted 3 hours, 12 minutes and 17 seconds to be precise. To break that down, that was playing Fall Guys (online) for 1 hour and 6 minutes, Mario Kart World for 1 hour and 17 minutes with GameChat, and then The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for the remaining 44 minutes.

All this was with automatic brightness, so the environment you’re playing in or the level you choose will have an effect.  

As I expected, Mario Kart World really killed that battery life the most. That’s due to me using the microphones, the video call feature, the speakers and pushing those graphics to their limits.  

Fall Guys was the kindest on the battery life, and I suspect a lot of this was due to having the volume on silent, as my husband was playing on the TV. This also doesn’t have dedicated HDR improvements like the Nintendo-exclusive titles. 

Nintendo quotes anywhere between two and six and a half hours for the battery life. In my personal experience so far, three to four hours seems to be the average when using the console while travelling.  

That’s about as much as the previous-generation console would give me, which was around five years old. So, not the most impressive. 

In my personal experience so far, three to four hours seems to be the average when using the console while travelling.

It’s more disappointing when accounting for charging time. Plugged into the official Switch 2 charger USB-C port, it juiced only 26% in 30 minutes from flat.  

I turned the console off (I suspect it went into sleep mode when it started charging the first time) and tried charging in the dock for another 30 minutes, and that gave marginally more – 31% in 30 minutes.  

Nintendo states that it can take up to three hours to charge, and while my home tests seem to imply it will be quicker than that, it’s not lightning fast. So, if you’re planning on taking this console out and about travelling for longer than 3-4 hours, I advise bringing a cable with you (many trains/planes have ports you can use), or investing in a power bank.  

There are things that you can do to extend the Switch 2’s battery life.

Some reviewers have suggested disabling HDR mode, and I’ve found keeping the audio off or low seems to help, too. There’s also the option to cap charging at 90% in the Settings, which should help the battery last longer within the lifetime of the console. 

Price & Availability

The Nintendo Switch 2 costs £395.99/$449.99 for just the console and £429.99/$499.99 for the Mario Kart World bundle.  

Stock has fluctuated at many major retailers, but right now you can buy it from Nintendo, Smyths Toys and Currys in the UK and Nintendo, GameStop and Walmart in the US.  

For reference, that’s £116/$200 more than the original Switch when it first launched, so a big step up in price.

However, it has been eight years and it still undercuts many other handheld rivals such as the Steam Deck (£459/$529) and Asus ROG Ally (£599/$699), though these have been discounted since launch. It’s also cheaper than the Xbox Series X (£499/$599) and PS5 digital edition in the UK (£429/$449). 

And of course, none of these offer the breadth of features that the Switch 2 has. Plus, the games on offer are generally more family-friendly, so this console appeals to a wider demographic rather than just hardcore gamers.

If you use the Switch 2 for eight years and get the Mario Kart World bundle, that’s just over £50/$50 a year – a lot less than most streaming services.

Of course, that’s without buying any more games – but you can always put those on your birthday and Christmas lists.

Switch 2 flagship games are more pricey, which is a shame but somewhat inevitable. Mario Kart World is £74.99/$79.99, for example, and accessories aren’t pocket-money level either. The camera and Pro Controller will set you back even more, while additional Joy-Cons cost £74.99/$94.99. 

However, I will give credit to Nintendo for offering backwards compatibility with both Switch 1 games and controllers. So, if you’re upgrading and have spare Joy-Cons hanging around the house, you may as well keep hold of them for any group gaming sessions you want to host.  

If you use the Switch 2 for eight years and get the Mario Kart World bundle, that’s just over £50/$50 a year – a lot less than most streaming services.

Should you buy the Nintendo Switch 2?

The Nintendo Switch 2 builds on the shortfalls of the original 2017 edition, with intuitive Joy-Con tweaks, graphics fit for 2025, super-powered performance and interactive features perfect for multiplayer titles such as Mario Kart World. 

Is it perfect? Not quite. The battery life isn’t great, and if you want all the accompanying accessories and multiple games, it will put a dent in your wallet. There is also no denying that some other consoles do offer more if you want raw power and the best visuals. 

While this isn’t the groundbreaking release that the Switch 1 was (understandably), it’s the most unique and versatile console on the market right now, with no real comparable rival, and some compelling titles both out now and on the way.  

Consider this your official stamp of approval to invest in a Nintendo Switch 2.  

Specs

• Nvidia custom Tegra processor
• 256GB storage
• Micro-SD express card slot
• 7.9-inch 1080p LCD touchscreen
• 2 x USB-C port
• HDMI 4K output
• Wi-Fi
• 2-6.5 hour battery life
• 534g (with Joy-Cons)