When Nintendo first launched the Switch in 2017, it changed the way we think about gaming hardware. A hybrid console that could slide between handheld and TV play was a bold gamble that paid off spectacularly, lasting eight years as a mainstay in homes, trains, and flights around the world. Now the Nintendo Switch 2 arrives — not as a reinvention, but as an evolution. It doesn’t radically change what a Switch is, but after a few months with it, it’s clear that this is the most confident and premium Nintendo console yet.
First Impressions: A Familiar, but Sharper Hybrid
The Switch 2 makes a strong first impression with its larger 7.9-inch screen. If you’ve been staring at the original’s 6.2-inch panel for years, the upgrade feels enormous. Handheld gaming is more immersive, text is clearer, and even simple menus feel like they’ve been given a cinematic boost. The console itself is a little bigger to accommodate the screen, but in practice that’s a good thing, it’s far more comfortable for adult hands, without straying into bulky territory.
Nintendo has sprinkled in thoughtful refinements everywhere. A second USB-C port sits on top, perfect for charging during handheld play. The redesigned U-shaped stand feels sturdier and more adjustable than before. Even the dock has been reworked, rounding off its edges and finally adding a LAN port for wired connections. None of these upgrades scream “next-gen,” but they add up to a smoother, smarter Switch experience.
Performance: A Real Leap Forward
Of course, the big question is performance. The original Switch always felt like it was pushing uphill to run demanding titles. The Switch 2, powered by a new custom NVIDIA processor, smooths those rough edges. Docked, the console now supports 4K visuals at 60fps, with the ability to stretch to 120fps in lower resolutions. In handheld mode, it can hit 1080p at up to 120fps — an enormous leap from the original’s 720p.
The difference is obvious when you boot up something like Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition. It’s surreal to see one of the most notoriously demanding games of the last decade running on a Nintendo handheld. Textures are cleaner, lighting feels richer, and frame rates are far more stable than we’ve come to expect from Nintendo hardware. First-party titles, unsurprisingly, look stunning. Donkey Kong Bananza might not be the Switch 2’s “killer app,” but it runs buttery smooth and shows off the hardware’s newfound muscle.
The Screen and Battery Trade-Off
Not everything is a home run. The 120Hz HDR10 display is gorgeous in motion, with crisp colours and sharp detail, but Nintendo chose to step back from the OLED technology of the last model. Blacks aren’t as deep, and contrast suffers compared to the OLED Switch. It’s still an excellent screen, but it feels like Nintendo left room for an inevitable “Switch 2 Pro.”
Battery life is another compromise. Nintendo estimates 2–6.5 hours depending on the game, but in practice, demanding titles chew through a full charge in just over two hours. That’s technically in line with other handhelds like the ROG Ally, but it’s still disappointing compared to the best of the original Switch.
Joy-Cons: Smarter, Stronger, Stranger
The Joy-Cons have had a small but meaningful glow-up. They’re slightly larger, more comfortable, and now magnetically snap onto the console rather than sliding on rails. They feel stable when attached, though reports of damage from forceful removal suggest caution is still required.
Functionally, they’ve been upgraded with HD Rumble 2 for more nuanced feedback, and a curious new feature: mouse mode. Place them sideways and they double as a pointing device. It’s more novelty than necessity right now, but it could lead to creative gameplay experiments down the line.
The right Joy-Con also introduces a new Chat button, which brings us to one of the Switch 2’s standout features: GameChat.
Software & GameChat: Nintendo Goes Social
Nintendo has finally stepped into modern online features with GameChat, a system that lets you voice chat through the console’s built-in mic and even share screens in real-time. It works in both handheld and docked play, and while it doesn’t quite rival the flexibility of Discord, it’s leaps ahead of Nintendo’s historically awkward online systems.
The Switch 2 also debuts with 256GB of internal storage, expandable via micro SD Express cards. That’s a solid start, but with games like Hitman World of Assassination eating nearly 60GB, you’ll want to invest in external storage quickly.
On the software side, the console adds a fresh home screen with improved accessibility options, and Nintendo Online + Expansion Pack now includes GameCube classics like The Wind Waker and F-Zero GX. There’s also upgraded versions of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom tailored for Switch 2’s hardware. It’s a strong, if safe, starting lineup.
Verdict: The Switch, Fully Realised
The Nintendo Switch 2 doesn’t rewrite the hybrid playbook — it perfects it. From its sharper performance and larger display to smarter Joy-Cons and modernised online play, this is the Switch at its most confident.
Yes, the lack of an OLED screen and limited battery life sting. But after two months of use, those drawbacks fade against the sheer polish and premium feel of the console. It’s the best way to play Nintendo’s classics, the most capable handheld the company has ever produced, and a system that finally bridges the gap between first-party magic and third-party heavy hitters.
Nintendo has understood the assignment. The Switch 2 isn’t revolutionary, but it doesn’t need to be.
