Nintendo Switch 2 review — no gimmicks here, just a fantastic hybrid console

In many ways, Nintendo Switch 2 is quite an un-Nintendo-like follow-up. The Japanese gaming titan is known for its left-field turns and big swings. Which other console maker goes from the record-selling motion-controlled Nintendo Wii to the tablet-based Nintendo Wii U?

However, Nintendo’s successor to the juggernaut Switch, a hybrid handheld and home console system, avoids the “gimmicks” and instead opts for an iterative approach. Giving gamers more of the same, but with across-the-board upgrades. It’s a very wise move.

Nintendo Switch 2 feels like the ultimate version of the Switch concept, taking everything great about its predecessor and buffing it to a fine sheen. From the larger 7.9-inch 1080p 120Hz display, to the dramatically improved specs, which rival those found within the best handheld gaming consoles, such as Valve’s Steam Deck OLED and the Asus ROG Ally X.

And with its still innovative docking system, you can again switch between playing on your TV and gaming on the go in a matter of seconds with zero interruptions. Nintendo Switch 2 makes the original look like merely a proof of concept. It’s the culmination of the Switch idea.

The numerous upgrades don’t come entirely without caveats. The impressively boosted performance levels come at the cost of battery life. Even if you’re heading out with a full 100% charge, you’ll want to keep a power supply to hand. Plus, Switch 2’s larger size only further highlights issues with the console’s flat design that lacks built-in ergonomic grips.

Priced at $449, which places Switch 2 at parity with Sony’s PS5 Slim, Nintendo’s hardware is no longer the “cheap option.” The hybrid is a more substantial investment and less attractive as a second console for those looking to play exclusive games like Mario, Zelda and Kirby.

At the same time, Nintendo has managed to take (almost) everything that worked about the original Switch and improve upon it. Justifying the purchase price even at this early stage, and setting up Switch 2 for an exciting lifecycle ahead, even if the launch library is lacking.

Nintendo Switch 2: Cheat Sheet

• What is it? Nintendo Switch 2 is an upgraded version of the best-selling Nintendo Switch hybrid console, packing a bigger display, tweaked design and better specs.
• Who is it for? Gamers craving a system that can function both as a home console and a handheld, and Nintendo fans looking to enjoy the company’s iconic franchises.
• What does it cost? Nintendo Switch 2 retails for $449 / £395 / AU$699, or you can get it bundled with flagship launch title Mario Kart World for $499 / £429 / AU$769.
• What do we like? There’s a lot to love about the Switch 2. The larger display may not be OLED, but it’s flippin' gorgeous. The visual and performance improvements are substantial, and the newly magnetized Joy-Con 2 controllers are fantastic.
• What don’t we like? The poor battery life is the biggest sore spot. Roughly two hours is barely enough to last even a domestic flight. The lack of built-in grips also makes Switch 2 a lot more uncomfortable to hold than rivals like the Steam Deck OLED.

Nintendo Switch 2: Specs

Nintendo Switch 2: The ups

If you've used the original Nintendo Switch at any point since its launch in spring 2017, then you'll have a good idea what to expect when it comes to Switch 2. But Nintendo hasn't skimped on the upgrades, it's better across the board.

Who needs OLED?

Before Switch 2’s launch, there was much consternation within the Tom’s Guide team about Nintendo's decision to revert to LCD following 2021’s well-received Nintendo Switch OLED.

However you slice it, it is a downgrade over its predecessors' mid-gen refresh (the base Switch stuck with LCD, as did the Nintendo Switch Lite). But Nintendo has done a pretty remarkable job not making it feel like a significant step back because the Switch 2’s display is seriously pretty. Even just scrolling the UI on initial boot up had me oohing and ahhing.

Measuring in at 7.9 inches, compared to 6.2 inches on Switch 1, it’s not only larger but also offers a max 1080p resolution (select games can be played in 4K via the dock), which is a large leap from 720p on the original Switch. It also packs HDR and a 120 Hz refresh rate, allowing for up to 120 fps gaming in select software. Although I expect these will be rare.

Now, I still wouldn’t say no to a Nintendo Switch 2 OLED in the future, but the fact I’ve switched from a Steam Deck OLED to an LCD Switch 2 and haven’t felt particularly shortchanged is a testament to just how excellent the console’s bigger display looks.

Plenty of power to play with

Nintendo consoles have historically been known for being less powerful than rivals like Xbox and PlayStation (even if Nintendo GameCube was more than a match for the PlayStation 2), but unlike its predecessor, Switch 2 doesn’t feel like it’s lagging behind right out of the box.

Naturally, it can’t outmuscle the PS5 Pro or even the base PS5, but it’s quite a boon for Nintendo that the best on-the-go versions of blockbuster titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Hogwarts Legacy are currently found on Switch 2. Oh, and I can’t speak highly enough of finally getting Zelda: Breath of the Wild without fuzzy textures and an inconsistent framerate.

Switch 1 felt like a console that was already somewhat dated from day one, whereas Switch 2 feels primed to compete in the graphics space right now. That is probably until Steam Deck 2 launches and blows it out of the water. But for now, Switch 2 is a portable powerhouse.

Magnets, baby

Not to go all Jesse Pinkman from “Breaking Bad,” but Nintendo Switch 2 has made me love magnets.

On the surface, the Joy-Con 2 controllers don’t look all that different from their predecessors, aside from being larger and slightly more curved, but the real upgrade comes in the way they effortlessly connect to the Switch 2 console.

Gone is the finicky railing system of the Switch 1 in favor of powerful magnets that allow the Joy-Con 2 controllers to snap to the main unit with ease. The days of cumbersome attempts to align the plastic rails, or even worse, accidentally sliding the Joy-Con straps on the wrong way and finding them glued stuck, are mercifully gone. And I couldn’t be more grateful.

The Joy-Con 2 controllers also attach to the Switch 2 console with a delightful degree of sturdiness. The connection points feel solid, with only marginal give, another appreciated upgrade over its predecessor.

I do have some slight concerns that the magnetism may degrade over time, but I’m informed that modern magnets take hundreds of years to lose their strength, so this might be a moot point.

Mouse Mode surprised me

I know I opened this review by saying that Nintendo has eschewed its habit of strange gimmicks, but this is still the Big-N, so there had to be at least one novel new feature.

With Switch 2, this comes in the form of the Joy-Con 2 Mouse Mode, which allows each controller to be used like a PC gaming mouse just by laying the Joy-Con 2 on a flat surface. Heck, you don’t even need the “flat” part; the feature works even when placed on your lap.

The mouse tracking is surprisingly accurate, surface-dependent, of course. You can even use both controllers at once for a dual mouse setup. Plus, there's no setup required; just place your Joy-Con 2s down and the mode will activate.

I’m not sure I would ever want to play an entire game using the control method over traditional joysticks, but it’s still a pretty nifty inclusion, and I look forward to seeing how game developers utilize the option in the future.

GameChat is nice, if not next-gen

Anybody picking up a Switch 2 who owned a Switch 1 may notice a new button on the right Joy-Con 2 marked with a “C”. This is the dedicated GameChat button, and serves as your instant portal to the Switch 2’s new online communication functionality.

GameChat is one of those “does what it says on the tin” features. It allows you to chat with your friends and family while gaming on Switch 2. You can communicate via the console’s built-in microphone (which offers background noise reduction tech), or, if you have the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, you can even video broadcast yourself just like you’re on Zoom.

While PlayStation and Xbox have offered Party chat for multiple console generations at this point, for Nintendo, it’s a huge step up from the antiquated app-based solution found on Switch 1. So, while it’s hardly revolutionary, it’s great to see Nintendo get with the times.

You also have the option to share your screen, letting participants watch your live gameplay, but persistent lag makes this feature close to unusable. Plus, I have to wrinkle my nose at the fact that GameChat is locked behind a Nintendo Switch Online paywall. It’ll be free for the console’s first year, but after 12 months, you’ll need to fork over for a $19 subscription.

Nintendo Switch 2: The downs

While there's much to love about Switch 2, all that extra performance power does come with a fairly significant drawback to battery life. Plus, dedicated handheld players might want to consider investing in a third-party grip case.

Battery life isn’t the best

When discussing gaming handhelds, the conversation will always broach the thorny issue of battery life before long. And this is one area where the Switch 2 sadly doesn’t shine bright.

During my testing for this review, I was able to get just shy of two-and-a-half hours of play from a 100% charge while running Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition with Wi-Fi switched on and display brightness set to the default “Automatic Brightness” setting.

This isn’t a disastrous total, and would last you the length of a short-haul flight or a decently long train journey, but if you’re away from a power outlet for a prolonged period of time, you’re going to want to invest in a good power bank to make significant gaming progress.

It also compared unfavourably to the Nintendo Switch OLED (which we benchmarked at around five hours) and the 2019 model of the Nintendo Switch, which lasted four hours and 40 minutes in our testing. Though it’s roughly in line with competitors like the Steam Deck.

Gimme something to grip

If you plan to play Nintendo Switch 2 in handheld mode for a significant amount of time, you might want to invest in a third-party case with built-in grips because, without one, it’s just not that comfortable to hold for hours at a time.

If you prefer your Switch 2 to be naked, it’s far from a fatal flaw, but my hands quickly found themselves missing the ergonomic design of my trusty Steam Deck OLED. Placing the Switch 2 in dbrand’s Killswitch 2 case intently elevated my portable gaming experience.

The original Switch has this problem too, but the increased size of the Switch 2, which naturally comes with increased weight, only exacerbates the issue. While my hands are far from shovel-sized, I really cannot imagine how a young child could hold one for very long.

The overall slick aesthetics of the Switch 2 certainly trump the Steam Deck OLED or Asus ROG Ally X, with their protruding plastic shells being rather unsightly, not to mention giving them a larger overall profile. But sometimes you’ve got to prioritize function above all else.

Nintendo Switch 2: Verdict

For years, I’ve been pining for a Nintendo Switch console which is the same but with more powerful components. And Nintendo has given me exactly that. Couple the increased under-the-hood improvements with smart upgrades like the magnetized Joy-Cons and the impressive larger display, and you’ve got the best version of an already excellent system.

For the most part, the Nintendo Switch 2 is a thoroughly well-designed hybrid console that offers a fantastic play experience, whether tethered to your television or roaming just about anywhere. Though, don’t expect to play on the go for too long due to the poor battery life.

At present, the Switch 2’s biggest weakness is its limited software library. There’s only a pair of new first-party experiences, Mario Kart World and Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, flanked by a lot of third-party ports of games you’ve (probably) already played elsewhere. But this is to be expected at launch, and over time, this “issue” will naturally resolve itself.

Even if the selection of games needs bulking out, Nintendo Switch 2 is a phenomenal console out of the box. It makes all the improvements I wanted, and even some upgrades I didn’t know I needed. Nintendo struck gold with the initial Switch concept, and its numbered successor takes just about everything I loved about the original and makes it even better.