After seven years of Nintendo Switch’s undisputed dominance of the hybrid and handheld console market, and after thousands of rumors and concept designs circulating on the Internet, Nintendo has finally pulled back the curtain and launched its rightful successor. We’re talking about the Nintendo Switch 2. The console that has come to carry the legacy of one of the most successful gadgets in gaming history.
The story of this console is a strange one. Nintendo has always been known for its strange innovations; from the Wii’s motion controllers to the DS’s second screen. But this time it seems that the Japanese giant has decided not to reinvent the wheel. The Switch 2 has been released for about six months, and now that the initial excitement has died down, it’s the best time to take a closer look and see what this device really has in store. Is this just a Switch 1 with a bigger screen, or are there enough changes under the hood to call it a generational leap? In our Nintendo Switch 2 review, we’re going to dissect this console, every bit of it. So if you’re planning to buy one or just love technology, this article is for you.

Nintendo Switch 2 Design Review

The first thing you’ll probably think when you pick up the Switch 2 is: Wow! It’s so big! The Nintendo Switch 2 is clearly bigger than its predecessor. This increase in size may seem like a negative at first glance, but Nintendo has managed to overcome this with a few design tricks.
The key point here: despite the increase in length and width, the device is still very thin. To be more precise, the thickness of this console is about the same as a cell phone in a protective case. This means that unlike competitors like the Steam Deck, which feels like an ergonomic (but heavy) brick in your hand, the Switch 2 still retains that slim, tablet-like feel. This slimmer profile means it doesn’t take up much space when you put it in a backpack or bag, and it’s still a true portable device.
One of the very small changes that has made a big difference to the ergonomics is the rounded edges. On the previous model, the bottom edges of the device were a bit sharp, and if you had large hands or were used to holding the console tightly, your palm would start to rub against it after an hour or two of gaming. But with the Switch 2, Nintendo has designed the edges to be more curved. This curve makes the console sit much more softly in your hand, putting less strain on your palm muscles. This means long gaming sessions will be less tiring.

Remember how bad the original Switch’s kickstand was? A thin piece of plastic that seemed like it could break at any moment and only held the console at one angle. Nintendo solved this problem with a wide, metal stand in the OLED model. Now, in the Switch 2, we see the same wide design of the OLED model, but with a strange change.
The stand still covers the width of the device and allows you to adjust the console to any angle you like (which is great for tabletop games or watching movies), but the material of the stand seems to have less metal and the geometry has changed slightly. Perhaps Nintendo wanted to control the overall weight of the device, which has increased due to the larger screen. In any case, the functionality of the stand is still excellent and is one of the positive features of the design.

Size and usability comparison with competitors

To get a better idea, let’s do a quick comparison:

• Nintendo Switch 2: Large, thin, flat. Perfect for those who want their device to fit easily in a laptop bag or backpack.
• Steam Deck / ROG Ally: Bulky, with big grips. They may be easier to hold in your hand, but they’re a lot harder to carry around. Nintendo tried to strike a golden balance between portability and a big screen with the Switch 2, and it seems to have largely succeeded. The device still has that magical pick-me-up-and-play feel that many PC handhelds haven’t quite managed to achieve.

Nintendo Switch 2 Display Review

Now we come to the most controversial part of the story. When the OLED Switch model arrived, we all fell in love with its deep blacks and infinite contrast. Now, with the Switch 2, Nintendo has made a strange decision: returning to LCD.
The Switch 2 is equipped with a 7.9-inch LCD display. Before you get discouraged, let’s take a closer look at the technical details. This is not just your average LCD panel. First of all, the image resolution has been upgraded to 1080p (Full HD). Remember, the previous Switch had a 720p screen. On an 8-inch screen, 1080p resolution offers a very good pixel density. Images are extremely sharp and clear, and the pixelation that we saw in the Switch 1’s heavy games is no longer there. Text is legible and the graphic details of the games are much better visible.
But the crown jewel of the Switch 2’s display is its refresh rate. The panel supports a 120Hz refresh rate. This is a huge change. If you’ve ever worked with a 120Hz phone, you know how much smoother and more vibrant everything looks. In games, this means smoother camera movements, less input lag, and a much more responsive feel. This is a huge boon for fast-paced action or racing games (like the new Mario Kart).

The display also supports the HDR10 standard. While LCD can’t turn off pixels to create absolute black like OLED, the HDR technology in this panel makes colors richer and the difference between bright and dark areas of the image more noticeable. Nintendo claims that the quality of this panel is high enough to keep users satisfied, and tests show that the brightness and color quality are really good.

With all these definitions, there is one problem that cannot be ignored: light reflection. LCD panels usually have a more layered structure than OLED, which makes the screen look a little mirrored in open environments and under sunlight. Tests have shown that using the Switch 2 outdoors (such as a park or beach) can be a bit challenging because of the high reflection of the environment on the screen. Of course, indoors, the brightness of the screen is quite sufficient and you will not have any problems.

Why didn’t Nintendo go OLED?

The main reason for this decision was probably cost. An 8-inch OLED panel with a refresh rate of 120 Hz and a resolution of 1080p would significantly increase the total price of the console. Nintendo has always tried to offer its consoles at a price that families can afford. Perhaps we will see a Switch 2 OLED model in the future, but for now we have to deal with the fact that image quality (resolution and refresh rate) has been sacrificed for the panel technology.(Apple iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 comparison)

Nintendo Switch 2 Battery Performance and Charging

When it comes to power, the battery always suffers. The Switch 2 is no exception. Tests show that if you want to play a graphics-intensive (AAA) game like Cyberpunk 2077, the device’s battery lasts for about 2 hours and 20 minutes to 3 hours.
This is standard for a modern handheld (even better than the ROG Ally, which barely lasts 1.5 hours), but it’s a step down from the OLED Switch model, which easily lasted 4.5 to 5 hours.
Of course, if you’re playing lighter 2D games or older Switch 1 games, you can expect 4 to 5 hours of continuous play. Nintendo itself claims 6.5 hours, which is probably measured with the screen at its lowest brightness and Wi-Fi turned off, and is not very realistic.
It takes about 3 hours to fully charge the device from 0 to 100 percent. This is really long for 2024. When mid-range phones charge in 45 minutes, waiting 3 hours to charge the console is a bit annoying. So if you’re planning to buy, be sure to think about a strong and fast-charging power bank that you always have with you.

Nintendo Switch 2 Game Console Hardware Review

This is where the Switch 2 flexes its muscles. Nintendo has finally ditched the old Tegra X1 chipset (which was from the Stone Age of technology!) and gone for a new custom chipset from Nvidia. The most important hardware upgrade is the increase in RAM to 12 GB of LPDDR5X. To understand how important this is, you need to know that the Switch 1 only had 4 GB of RAM! Low RAM has always been the biggest bottleneck for game developers, causing poor-quality textures or slow games.
Now with 12 GB of high-speed RAM, developers have their hands full. The Switch 2 is ready to run modern high-quality games. The high speed of LPDDR5X also means faster loading and smoother execution of heavy open world games.

The console’s dock isn’t just a piece of plastic for charging, either. The new dock is designed to output 4K at 60 frames per second to your TV. That’s where Nvidia’s DLSS technology comes in. The Switch 2’s chipset may not be capable of rendering high-end games at 4K on its own, but it can upscale the image from a lower resolution to 4K using DLSS AI. The result? The image you see on your TV will be incredibly clear and high-quality, without putting a terrible strain on the hardware.
The new dock also has a more complete set of ports:

• HDMI port (version 2.1).
• Built-in Ethernet port (no need to buy a dongle to have wired internet anymore).
• One USB-C port and two USB-A ports for connecting controllers and accessories.
  Interestingly, the dock has a built-in cooling fan. This means that when you dock the console and want to play at full power (Boosted Mode), the dock helps cool the device so that performance doesn’t drop.

On paper, the Switch 2 in docked mode offers 60% of the resolution and 50% of the frame rate of the PlayStation 5. You might be thinking, “Oh man, that’s weak!”, but wait. We’re talking about a handheld console that fits in your bag! It’s amazing that a portable device can have even half the power of the PS5.

In practice, games like Cyberpunk 2077, which were completely unavailable on the Switch 1 (or were a disaster if they were), run well on the Switch 2. In handheld mode, the graphics of the games are fantastic, and visual effects like reflections and shadows are very close to ninth-generation home consoles. The cooling system of the device is also very well designed and unlike gaming laptops or some other handheld consoles, the fan noise is not annoying at all and the device does not get very hot.(Samsung Z Trifold phone resistance test)

Nintendo Switch 2 console controllers

Nintendo always does something new in its controllers. The Switch 2 Joy-Cons (which we call Joy-Con 2.0) are no exception to this rule. The rail system for connecting the Joy-Cons in the Switch 1 was good, but over time it loosened and lost that solid and solid feel. This time Nintendo has completely removed the rail and used a magnetic connection.
This new system is both very classy and very practical. When you bring the Joy-Con close to the body, it locks in place with a strong magnetic force and a very satisfying click. Removing it is also done by pressing a button, the mechanism of which is very smooth and addictive. This change has given the console a more unified feel and minimized controller play.
The buttons on the Joy-Cons have become larger, making them easier to press. The triggers (L, R, and ZL/ZR buttons) have also become rounder and have better finger rests. But the bad news… the joysticks. Unfortunately, Nintendo is still using the same old potentiometer technology, and the famous drift problem, or automatic analog movement, is still visible. It’s a shame that Nintendo didn’t go for Hall Effect joysticks to eradicate this problem once and for all. The joysticks are still a bit small and button-like, and they don’t have that professional feel of the PS5 or Xbox controllers.

Mouse Mode: Genius or Insanity?

And the strangest feature: Mouse Mode. Nintendo ships a plastic side piece with the console that attaches to the bottom of the right Joy-Con. Once you have this piece attached, you can place the Joy-Con on a table and move it just like a computer mouse!
In this case, the trigger buttons act as left and right clicks. You might think this is a ridiculous and promotional thing at first, but according to the tests conducted, this feature can be useful in some games. This feature opens the door to a whole new genre on the console: strategy games (RTS) and point-and-click games. Imagine being able to play games like Civilization or Company of Heroes on the Switch with precise mouse control. It can even be used in shooter games for more precise aiming. Of course, few games support it right now, but its potential is high.

Nintendo Switch 2 Console Game Review

The best news Nintendo gave us: the Switch 2 is fully backward compatible with Switch 1 games. Both physical cartridges and digital games you bought will work on the new console. And the good news is that older games will run better on the Switch 2. Loading times are much faster thanks to the faster memory and more powerful processor, and games that used to have frame drops now run like butter.
Nintendo is still faithful to the tradition of physical cartridges and tries to put all the game data on the cartridge so that there is no need to download it. But here’s some bad news for your wallet: the price of new Nintendo exclusive games (like the next Zelda or the new Mario) has increased to $ 80. This means that gaming is getting more expensive and you will have to set aside more money to buy games.
Nintendo has come with a lot of money. Titles like Mario Kart World, remasters of the Zelda series with higher graphics and frame rates, and third-party games like Cyberpunk make up the initial list of games. The new Mario Kart has a strong focus on party and multiplayer, although some critics say its single-player gameplay lacks depth.

Nintendo Switch 2 Game Console Speaker Review

Usually, handheld console speakers are not taken very seriously, but the Switch 2 is a surprise in this department. The quality of the speakers has been described as shocking. The volume is very high and the stereo separation is so well done that when you are playing, you feel like you are hearing sounds from around and in a space further away from the device itself. This immersive sound makes you immerse yourself in the game and you may not need headphones at all in many cases. If you are a fan of playing without headphones, the Switch 2 gives you one of the best audio experiences among portable gadgets.

Is the Nintendo Switch 2 game console worth buying?

Well, friends, we have reached the bottom of the Nintendo Switch 2 game console review. The Nintendo Switch 2 is a contradictory console. On the one hand, as a handheld console, it is an engineering masterpiece. The large and fast screen, slim and handy body, the power to run heavy games and innovative controllers make it the undisputed king of portable consoles.
On the other hand, if you want to look at it as a home console (connected to the TV), it has nothing to say against giants like the PS5 and Xbox Series X, and its mediocre battery life may also bother you on long trips.

Nintendo Switch 2 strengths:

• Excellent build quality and improved ergonomics despite the large size.
• 120 Hz display that makes the gaming experience incredibly smooth.
• Suitable hardware power to run today’s games.
• Cool magnetic controllers and mouse functionality that can revolutionize strategy games.
• Full compatibility with your previous games.
• Powerful speakers.

Nintendo Switch 2 weaknesses:

• No OLED display (at least in the base model).
• Average battery life for heavy games.
• Slow charging speed (3 hours).
• Joy-Con drift issue that has yet to be resolved.
• High price of games ($80).
  If you’re a gamer with a busy life who wants to have a home console-like experience while working, on the subway, in bed, or traveling, the Nintendo Switch 2 is the best option you can buy right now. It’s a logical and smart upgrade from the previous generation. But if you currently have an OLED Switch and only play Mario and light games, you may not need to rush to upgrade. But for those looking for the best portable experience, the Switch 2 is an exciting purchase that you won’t regret.(The Best Processor for Photoshop)