The Nintendo Switch 2 Camera is cute and functional, but you might not need it yet

The Nintendo Switch 2 Camera ($54) might not be the most essential peripheral for the Nintendo Switch 2. Still, it’s certainly useful for those who want to be seen when playing online with friends. It’s not mind-blowing, but it works as advertised.

Unlike the best webcams that you stick to the top of your TV or monitor, the Switch 2 Camera sits on top of a small circular stand. The camera is small enough to place on your desk or near your TV easily. The all-black color also helps it blend into the environment, especially if your electronics are also dark.

The 1080p resolution can help deliver a relatively sharp image, and the wide-angle lens can capture multiple people in the same room. The camera has great face detection, which is useful if you only want your face to show when you’re in a GameChat session. Built-in GameChat camera controls allow you to display yourself and your surroundings as you see fit, though.

If you already own a compatible webcam, then you might not need the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera. That said, it’s a solid little device that pairs nicely with Nintendo’s new console. For the asking price, it’s at least worth considering. Find out why in my full review.

Nintendo Switch 2 Camera review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? The Nintendo Switch 2 Camera is a USB-C webcam designed to work with the Nintendo Switch 2.
• Who is it for? For Switch 2 users who want to be seen when playing online games.
• What does it cost? The Nintendo Switch 2 Camera costs $54.
• What do we like? We like the compact design, good image quality and GameChat features.
• What don’t we like? Though it works as advertised, the Switch 2 Camera might not be necessary for some players, especially those who already own compatible USB-C cameras. Game compatibility is also very limited at the moment.

Nintendo Switch 2 Camera review: Specs

Nintendo Switch 2 Camera review: The ups

Thanks to its small size, sharp image quality and handy GameChat options, the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera is a great peripheral for people who frequently play online games.

Compact size

At 6.3 x 2.5 x 1.5 inches and 0.32 pounds, the Switch 2 Camera is one charmingly small peripheral, which certainly fits Nintendo’s aesthetic.

The actual camera has a half-oval shape, and it sits on top of a thin shaft that’s connected to a circular base. You can pivot the camera up and down by a few degrees, but you can’t turn it side to side. There’s a privacy shutter you can easily enable by twisting the front of the camera, and a USB-C port on the camera’s lower back side.

There’s a small rubber hook on the shaft you can tuck the cable through. The cable is 4.5 feet long from tip to tip, which I think is good enough for most setups. I would have liked a braided cable instead of a plastic one, but this is a small nitpick at best.

Then we have the circular stand. It has a rubber base, which does a decent job of keeping the peripheral in place. Aside from a discreet Nintendo Switch 2 logo, the stand is free of embellishments. It’s unassuming, but I like that.

Since the camera is so small and light, it’s as easy to travel with as the Nintendo Switch 2. If you’re wondering, the camera works if the console is in handheld or tabletop mode. So if you want to play with friends while you’re on the road, all you have to do is connect the camera to the Switch 2’s top USB-C port and you’re all set.

Decent 1080p image quality

The Nintendo Switch 2 Camera streams and records at 1080p resolution. 4K resolution would’ve been preferable, but I suspect Nintendo didn’t go beyond 1080p since a 4K camera would consume more bandwidth when playing online. Because of that, I think it’s a decent trade-off.

Image quality is generally good. Details come through clearly enough, and colors are pretty close to real life, if only slightly washed out. I used the Switch 2 Camera in my apartment and at the office, both of which have good lighting conditions. Your results may vary, depending on your lighting situation.

The camera doesn’t automatically pan, tilt, or zoom. While having to move the camera around to get an optimal angle can be a bit annoying, you can frame yourself better by using the built-in GameChat camera controls, which I’ll cover next.

Again, this camera doesn’t have particularly great image quality. But if you have favorable lighting conditions, you should be clearly visible to those you’re in a chat with.

GameChat compatibility

GameChat is a new Switch 2 feature that allows you to talk with friends while playing games. It enables voice chat, screen sharing, and even video chat via a compatible USB-C camera like the Switch 2 Camera. You can have up to 12 players in a voice chat session, and up to four can share their screens or participate in video calls.

As expected, the Switch 2 Camera works nicely with GameChat. Within GameChat, you’re able to choose between showing everything the camera captures or just your head. It does the latter with reasonably accurate face tracking. If there are multiple people in the room with you, it’ll track everyone’s face, which can be beneficial for local multiplayer sessions.

For your background, you can opt to show what’s on your game screen. This is especially useful if you’re playing a different game than others in the chat. Just keep in mind that the game’s frames per second will be sub-30 fps. However, your in-camera frame rate will remain at a relatively consistent 30fps.

The features I mentioned above aren’t new for PS5 and Xbox Series X players. But even though Nintendo is late to the party when it comes to basic online chat features, I think it’s good that said features are here.

Nintendo Switch 2 Camera review: The downs

The Nintendo Switch 2 Camera works as advertised and can be useful if you want to be seen when playing online. However, you might not need to buy it, depending on your circumstances.

Not essential for everyone

Being able to show yourself or see others online can help enhance one’s gaming experience. Conversely, others might find this off-putting.

If you fall into the latter category, then the Switch 2 Camera won’t be necessary. You can communicate just fine with the Switch 2’s built-in mic or with one of the best gaming headsets that are compatible with Nintendo’s console.

The next reason you might not need a Switch 2 camera is if you already own a compatible USB-C webcam for handheld mode or a USB-A one for docked mode. My colleague Ryan Epps used a very old webcam we had in the office and it worked perfectly fine with his Switch 2 since he still had access to the aforementioned GameChat webcam features. Not every webcam will be compatible with Switch 2, but there’s a good chance your current webcam will play nice.

Limited game support

The Switch 2 Camera has some cool features that can make gaming online more fun. Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of games that fully utilize the camera’s unique features.

Right now, Super Mario Party Jamboree - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV is the only game that takes the most advantage of the Switch 2 Camera. As my colleague Anthony Spadafora, who attended the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal event, told me, you can use your hands, head, or even your whole body to play several mini-games. The camera tracked Anthony and three other players simultaneously, and it also snapped a photo to give everyone their own little photo icon, like in Mario Kart World.

While that experience sounds great, it’s a shame that the only game that takes advantage of the Switch 2’s camera so far is an upgraded version of a game from 2024. Hopefully, Nintendo will soon release more games that are compatible with its camera.

Nintendo Switch 2 Camera review: Verdict

The Nintendo Switch 2 Camera is a cute little peripheral that works as advertised. Though it’s not necessary if you don’t want to be seen when playing online or if you already own a compatible USB-C camera, it’s a quality peripheral that pairs nicely with the Nintendo Switch 2. And though not exactly cheap, its asking price isn’t egregious for what it offers.

If you’re looking for an official webcam for Switch 2, the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera is the best option right now.