Design and Build
The Switch 2 is the first Nintendo console to take the previous system’s name and put a simple “2” after it. So, as you might expect, it isn’t all that fundamentally different. Both systems are tablets with detachable controllers and a dock that lets you play the device as a handheld or as a home console connected to a TV. It’s a great concept because you can play anywhere. I’m glad that Nintendo didn’t reinvent the wheel.
In terms of size and weight, the Switch 2 is slightly larger and heavier than its predecessor by a half inch in height, just under an inch in width, and four ounces in weight (with the Joy-Cons attached). It didn’t feel bulkier or more cumbersome in my hands during a demo, though.
Winner: Tie
Nintendo Joy-Con 2 (Credit: Will Greenwald)
Joy-Con
The Joy-Con 2 controllers for the Switch 2 feel similar to the originals and have almost identical designs. They have an analog stick, four face buttons, two triggers, and two menu/capture/home buttons. They’re arranged so you can use a single Joy-Con sideways or two for dual-analog gameplay. The newer Joy-Con have slightly larger analog sticks, which is nice. But the Joy-Con 2s have much more interesting tech.
Optical sensors on the connection rails of each Joy-Con 2 mean the controllers double as mice. This allows you to play Metroid Prime 4: Beyond using mouse-like aim as you would with a PC game. However, after a few minutes of using the Joy-Con in mouse mode, my hand started cramping. Still, it’s a cool feature the original Joy-Cons lack.
Winner: Switch 2
Nintendo Switch 2 Revealed: Everything Announced, in 16 Minutes
Voice Chat
The Switch 2 has voice chat; the Switch doesn’t. The right Joy-Con 2 features a new C button that enables GameChat, the built-in communication system. After pressing it, you can speak to in-game friends using the console’s integrated mic. It’s an obvious feature Microsoft and Sony figured out some time ago, but it’s new for Nintendo, and it’s better than the strange smartphone app the company offered with the original Switch.
Winner: Switch 2
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Switch 2 Edition on the Switch 2 (Credit: Will Greenwald)
Screen
The Switch 2 has a bigger and better screen in almost every way. It’s 7.9 inches and features 1080p resolution, so it has twice the pixels. It’s larger at by 2.5 to 0.9 inches, depending on the Switch 1 model you’re comparing it with, and has double the refresh rate (120Hz). It looks great in person.
However, it’s an LCD, so the OLED Switch actually has an edge in contrast and color. OLED screens can show incredibly dark blacks and usually have a wider color range than LCDs. The Switch 2’s LCD is more vibrant than the standard Switch screen, but I couldn’t directly compare it with the OLED display during my demo session. Otherwise, the Switch 2’s screen is simply superior across the board.
Winner: Switch 2
Donkey Kong Bananza (Credit: Nintendo, Will Greenwald)
Processing Power
Historically, processing power hasn’t been a big priority for Nintendo—the original Switch showed its age pretty quickly compared with competing consoles. It was limited to 1080p60, a best-case scenario in docked mode.
The Switch 2 can output 4K60 (or 1080p120 graphics while docked), depending on the game and settings. That means it’s the first Nintendo system capable of 4K resolution or frame rates greater than 60 frames per second. How consistently it can reach those numbers remains a question. Still, the Switch 2 has much sharper, smoother graphics than the previous system.
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Winner: Switch 2
Storage
You won’t immediately need a microSD card with the Switch 2. The Switch 2 has 256GB of internal storage, which can go a long way with Switch titles. The Switch 1 only has 32GB of storage, while the Switch OLED has 64GB.
Winner: Switch 2
Kirby and the Forgotten Land Switch 2 Edition on the Switch 2 (Credit: Nintendo, Will Greenwald)
Playing Switch 1 and Classic Games
With some unclear exceptions, the Switch 2 can play every game the Switch can. It supports Switch game cards and eShop downloads. That said, whether the games will run better on the Switch 2 is unclear. Some games won’t be compatible, but that will likely be a short list dependent upon the original Joy-Cons’ layout and features. Don’t expect Nintendo Labo to work on the Switch 2, since the Joy-Con 2s don’t have an IR camera. Otherwise, all other titles should work.
Some Switch games will look and play much better on the Switch 2. These “Switch 2 Edition” titles are upgraded versions of Switch games that take advantage of the Switch 2’s extra power and features. This means Breath of the Wild, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Super Mario Party Jamboree, and Tears of the Kingdom will receive benefits like 4K60 or 1080p120 video modes and new control schemes. If you already have the original Switch versions, you’ll probably pay an upgrade fee, likely $10 to $20.
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Reaching back to older releases, the Switch 2 lets you play every classic game collection available through Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pass, with one big bonus: GameCube games. If you subscribe to the Expansion Pass, you can access GameCube games on the Switch 2, like F-Zero GX, Soulcalibur II, and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Those titles won’t be on the Switch 1 at all.
Winner: Switch 2
Mario Kart World on the Switch 2 (Credit: Nintendo, Will Greenwald)
Playing New Games
A new console generation means new exclusives, and Nintendo has already announced that some Switch 2 titles won’t appear on the Switch 1. You can play the cross-generation Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokémon Legends: Z-A on the original Switch, but you must upgrade to the Switch 2 for Donkey Kong Bananza or Mario Kart World. It’s safe to say that many third-party Switch 2 games, such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, won’t appear on the original Switch.
Winner: Switch 2
(Credit: Nintendo)
Price
Whether it’s the price of technology or tariffs, the Switch 2 is Nintendo’s most expensive system yet at $449.99. That’s a big ask when the Switch is $299.99, the Switch OLED is $349.99, and the handheld-only Switch Lite is just $199.99. It’s still less expensive than a PlayStation 5 or an Xbox Series X, but not by much.
The price of games is also moving upward. Mario Kart World will be $80. That’s even higher than $70, the current “normal” price of many console games after decades of the market settling around $60 for major new releases. Accessories, like the Switch 2 Pro Controller ($80) and Joy-Con 2s ($90), are also about $10 more than their Switch equivalents.
Winner: Switch
Verdict: It Seems Like Switch 2 Superiority
I can’t give definitive buying advice for the Switch 2 until I get to spend more than a few hours with it. However, from what I’ve experienced so far, it tops the original console in nearly every way. It’s pricey, but the extra $100 to $150 seems reasonable for 4K graphics, 120fps frame rates (hopefully!), new Joy-Con functionality, and GameCube games. If your Switch is still going strong, you can wait a bit before making the jump—but you’ll want to pick up a Switch 2 eventually.
