The Nintendo Switch 2 has arrived, but is it a worthwhile upgrade from the original Switch? What distinguishes the two? How do existing Switch games perform on the Switch 2? Read on for the answers to these questions and more.

Nintendo Switch 2 Review

The Second Coming of the Nintendo Switch

It has been two weeks since the Nintendo Switch 2 was released. The original Switch was a generation-defining console and a global phenomenon, so impactful in popularizing the hybrid concept that other companies quickly followed suit. It essentially bridged the gap between a home console and a handheld device in a way we hadn’t quite seen before, with players able to take their favorite titles from the TV to the subway without missing a beat. With how beloved and innovative the original Switch was, it was always going to be a tough act to follow.

Naturally, the rumors about its follow-up were wild and the anticipation was thick, beginning almost immediately after the original Switch was released. Some insisted it’d take a page out of the Nintendo DS’ book and have a second screen. Others expected the dock to be an actual console, from which a handheld device could be detached.

After all the rumors and speculation, the Switch 2 ended up sticking close to its roots, while providing some much needed upgrades. But are the grips comfier? Have they finally fixed some of the original Joy-Con’s issues? Do Switch games run better on it? We’ve spent over a week with the console. We’ve charged it, we’ve dropped it (gently on the bed), and we’ve tested it in handheld mode, docked mode, and all the awkward places in between to find out how it is, and how it fares against the original Switch. So, is the Switch 2 worth it?

Switch 2 Design and Feel

?? Note: The Switch (bottom right) is using third-party Joy-Cons.

At a glance, there’s a comfortable familiarity to the Nintendo Switch 2—its form factor, silhouette, and button placement all look distinctly "Switch." But the moment you get it in your hands, you realize it’s a very different piece of hardware. Not only does its matte finish feel smoother and more refined to the touch, it’s also quite heavy to hold.

Placing it side by side with past Nintendo consoles, it’s obvious to see how much of a beast the Switch 2 is when compared to, say, the much more pocketable 3DS family. The New 3DS XL, for example, weighed in at roughly 336 grams (about 0.74 lbs)—lightweight enough to carry around effortlessly—while the Switch 2, with its Joy-Con 2 controllers attached, comes in at a substantial 534 grams (about 1.18 lbs).

The comparison gets even more interesting when you consider the Wii U GamePad. Back in 2012, it was criticized for being too bulky. Personally, I thought it was a comfortable controller to hold, at 491 grams (about 1.08 lbs), but others seemed to think otherwise. However, it’s worth remembering that the GamePad was a peripheral for the home console, not a standalone device. The Switch 2, by contrast, fits a more powerful hardware into its thinner form.

Compared to the original Switch, which weighed about 398 grams (about 0.88 lbs) with its Joy-Cons attached, the Switch 2 is noticeably chunkier—nearly half an inch taller and over an inch wider. It’s a bit heavier, a bit more sizable in the hands, but it’s still considerably lighter than competing handhelds like the Steam Deck.

Contrary to what people initially believed upon seeing it, though, the Switch 2 is actually quite nice to hold. Its smoother, matte-finish body rests comfortably in your palms. The additional heft gives it a more grounded feel compared to the somewhat plasticky lightness of its predecessor.

And thankfully, that flimsy leg from the original is a thing of the past. The new kickstand is now a wider, U-shaped design that's robust enough for tabletop gaming, so you won't be fretting about it snapping off. The port layout has also been refined, now featuring dual USB-C ports—one on top and one on the bottom—which is super convenient, especially when you're using it with the kickstand up. Plus, the redesigned dock now smartly includes Ethernet and improved cooling.

The original Switch, while portable, wasn’t something you could easily slip into a regular pocket, unless yours were exceptionally spacious. The Switch 2, being even bigger than the original, continues that trend. Detaching the Joy-Cons doesn’t really change that either; it’s still a bit too sizable for small bags or compartments.

This is even before you put it in a protective or travel case, which is sure to add even more bulk. It’s fairly sturdy, (JerryRigsEverything has a video where he smacks the screen pretty hard a few dozen times before it breaks), but why leave the fate of your new $450 console up to chance? You won’t be pocketing it anyways, but at least with a case, you can toss it in your bag without worrying about keys or other items scratching up that valuable screen.

Nintendo actually ships the Switch 2 with a thin protective film applied directly to the screen, but this scratches easily. Since it’s not meant to be removed, as per Nintendo, it’s smart to slap a proper tempered-glass screen protector on top ASAP. Better safe than sorry, especially when you’re carrying a sizable handheld around town.

Switch 2 Joy-Cons Are Bigger But More of the Same

The wider stance that is naturally forced onto us by the larger device significantly boosts both grip and comfort. The increased console real estate means those of us with larger hands experience less pinching. I've sunk unending hours into this console since its launch, and I feel Nintendo truly nailed the ergonomics. It feels remarkably solid without ever being cumbersome. A big part of that comfort stems from the noticeably larger Joy-Con 2 controllers, a design choice that finally allows players with bigger hands to get a comfortable hold in handheld mode. This translated directly to less hand cramping and a more natural grip, which was a crucial improvement for someone who frequently switches (no pun intended) between handheld and docked mode.

However, it's not a universal experience. A friend of mine, who practically ripped it away and monopolized the console for hours on end, pointed out that while the Switch 2 is just as thick as the original, it’s quite a bit heavier, so there might be times when your hands get tired from holding it up. From my perspective, any initial extra weight became practically unnoticeable after just a few hours of gameplay, but her hands are smaller than mine, so that may be the main reason why. Gamers with smaller hands might need a brief adjustment period to get used to the console's broader profile. In those situations, she suggested using a silicone case with a grip, which immediately fixed the issues.

Nintendo definitely gave the Joy-Cons a serious overhaul this time around. Ditching the classic red and blue over the entire body, the Switch 2's Joy-Cons sport a sleek, predominantly matte black look with subtle red and blue accents highlighting the thumbsticks. These magnetically snap on like magical LEGO bricks, thanks to new rails that do away with the iconic click-clack locking slides of the old models. Sticks are slightly larger, tucked just right under your thumbs, and the ZL/ZR triggers feel expressively clicky, which is nice for longtime Smash players.

Now, for the less exciting news: They’re still using potentiometers. For those unfamiliar, these are the same components used in the original Switch, which famously suffered from stick drift. This means that, eventually, wear and tear could lead to phantom inputs even when the sticks aren't being touched. Though Nintendo asserts these have been improved for smoother movement and better durability, initial reports say otherwise. Multiple users have already reported experiencing stick drift a few days after launch, with some even getting faulty Joy-Cons straight out of the box. It’s a bit disappointing, especially eight years after the original’s release, that this is still an issue.

Nintendo has committed to replacing Joy-Con 2 controllers with stick drift for free, but it’s still kind of sad that it’s not the permanent fix many of us had our fingers crossed for. Many competing handhelds and third-party controllers have started using Hall-effect sensors, which rely on magnets that make them immune to stick drift. Nintendo, though, is sticking with the much more expensive to manufacture potentiometers. That might be due to how the Joy-Cons attach magnetically to the console. Introducing more magnets from Hall sensors could cause interference, or, at the very least, complicate things.

Mouse Mode is Neat But a Bit Awkward

Nintendo also made a notable change to the Joy-Cons’ less-used features. The original Joy-Cons had an infrared sensor, but it was largely underutilized. It found its niche in games like Ring Fit Adventure (as a heart rate monitor) and the Labo series but rarely beyond those. The Joy-Con 2, however, bids farewell to this often-ignored sensor to welcome in the new mouse mode.

Thanks to optical sensors integrated into their rails, each Joy-Con 2 can now function as a mouse when laid flat on a surface. Just attach the included wrist strap for some extra surface area, and you’ll find yourself navigating the Switch 2’s UI or supported games with a mouse-like pointer.

It’s surprisingly accurate, too; nice for games that demand finer control, such as Civilization 7 or Cyberpunk 2077. It does feel a tad unconventional initially, especially given the controller’s more slimmer design. In mouse mode, the face buttons and analog stick are meant to be used vertically, which can be a bit awkward. I noticed my wrist tiring faster than with a traditional mouse (though I’m sure there will be/already are third party solutions to this). Nevertheless, it’s a clever piece of tech, and it’s exciting to see Nintendo rethinking their controller’s design in such unexpected ways. I do hope, though, that it doesn’t suffer the same fate as the original’s infrared sensors.

10x More Graphics Power Than the Original Switch

One of the first things you appreciate when you power up the Switch 2 is just how much the new screen transforms the handheld experience. The display has grown to a 7.9 inch LCD. It’s not OLED, like its immediate predecessor, but a nice step up in quality from the original’s 6.2-inch LCD. That might not seem like a huge deal on paper, but in your hands, it feels more cinematic and much more immersive—nearly borderless, with much thinner bezels that maximize your view without adding needless bulk.

Despite the downgrade from OLED, the Switch 2 still provides a wide range of color with HDR. The resolution has gotten a nice bump, up from the original 720p to 1080p in handheld, which is plenty sharp for an 8 inch screen. For those crying for 4K, you’re just asking for less battery life for not much of an appreciable difference. Text is sharper, finer details in character models are more visible, and everything from menus to cinematic cutscenes benefits from the additional resolution. Pair that with a 120 Hz refresh rate, the first time Nintendo has ever placed importance on 60 fps, and you start to appreciate just how much smoother the whole experience feels.

To reiterate, this is all in handheld mode. It's worth noting that the Switch 2 is more than capable of outputting a 4K image when docked.

This leap in capability is all thanks to the custom NVIDIA T239 chip nestled inside. This brings a boost in both its processing power and graphical fidelity. What that means is that you can now enjoy much more sophisticated lighting and advanced visual effects without dropping too many frames. Loading screens are also remarkably faster, partly due to the chip’s quicker CPU cores and increased memory bandwidth.

The aforementioned chip also supports AI upscaling and NVIDIA’s DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) technology. The games are rendered at a lower resolution internally, and then artificial intelligence upscales them to a higher resolution, like 4K, while maintaining or even improving visuals. It does all these without heavily taxing the hardware. Put simply, the graphics are gonna look good.

This translates to a console with 10 times more graphical power than the original Nintendo Switch. To put that into perspective, it’s squeezing essentially slightly more powerful than a PlayStation 4 Pro into an 8 inch console body, an exceptionally impressive feat.

However, the Switch 2’s battery life takes a noticeable hit in handheld mode. The visuals are impressive, sure, but a full charge, in my experience, only lasts for two to six hours, depending on how demanding the game is. That’s pretty much on par with how the original Switch launched back in 2017, but it’s a noticeable step down from the improved battery life of the Switch V2 and the OLED model, which could stretch their battery lives to nine hours playing, say, Stardew Valley.

For instance, a graphically intensive title like Cyberpunk 2077 had me tethered to a power outlet after roughly two hours of playtime. Relatively lighter games, though, like Pokémon Violet, fared much better, lasting almost four hours before the battery icon flashed red.

What Switch 2 Games Are Available at Launch?

Switch 2 Launch Games That Show Off the Console’s Power

The true test of any console, of course, comes down to its games. The Switch 2 rolls out with a launch lineup that's decent at best, but it definitely showcases what its new hardware is capable of. Plus, it’s largely backward compatible with the enormous catalog of Switch games. I put the system through its paces with two very different launch titles: Mario Kart World and Cyberpunk 2077.

Naturally, you'd expect Nintendo's first-party racer to be incredibly well-optimized, and it absolutely is. The 60fps feels buttery smooth, even during 24-player races. When you jump into 4-player co-op, it dips to a stable 30fps, but this is especially impressive, as it runs at 1080p in handheld mode and 1440p when docked.

?? Note: Cyberpunk 2077 on PS5 (Left) and the Nintendo Switch 2 (Right).

Meanwhile, Cyberpunk 2077—a title I originally tackled on PS5—makes a surprisingly strong debut on the Switch 2. It's admittedly a scaled-back experience compared to its console big brother; you won't find any ray-tracing here, and the resolution alternates between 720p and 1080p, depending on whether you're playing handheld or docked.

Nevertheless, it performs admirably: you're looking at a solid 40fps in performance mode and 30fps in quality mode. That's an improvement over what many thought a Nintendo handheld could ever handle. There are a few minor hiccups in the dense Dogtown area where the frame rate can occasionally stutter, but honestly, even PS5 players are all too familiar with that particular quirk. The bottom line here is that you can now play Cyberpunk 2077 on the go, and that's a massive win.

Switch Games with Upgrade Packs

?? Note: Pokémon Violet on the Nintendo Switch (Left) and the Nintendo Switch 2 (Right).

Where the hardware really shows its prowess is in improving the original’s back-catalog. Loading is faster across the board, resolution is frequently raised, and performance drops diminish. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is a perfect example. The original was nearly unplayable at launch—frame drops, texture pop-ins, and sparse NPCs made its open world feel barren. On the Switch 2, it’s almost like a different game. The world populates quickly with Pokémon, texture resolution is much sharper, and the framerate holds a smooth 60fps.

?? Note: TLoZ: BoTW (Left) and ToTK (Right) not upgraded to Switch 2 editions

But not all games benefit equally. Some titles require an upgrade pack, which typically costs around $10, to unlock their full potential in terms of resolution, loading speeds, and frame rate. Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are prime examples. Without it, their performance still sees some improvement over the original Switch, thanks to the new hardware alone. There are reduced hitches and more consistent frame pacing, but the upper limits remain similar, likely because these games were originally tuned to match the old hardware’s ceiling: 720p handheld, 30fps, and all.

However, with the upgrade, you'll see reduced loading times, boosted resolution, and a smoother frame rate. Plus, you get the new "Zelda Notes" smartphone mechanic. Yes, these improvements are certainly welcome, but unless you're a massive fan of these specific games, your $10 might be better spent on other upcoming titles that can take full advantage of the Switch 2's power from the get-go.

Switch Games That Did and Did Not Benefit From the Stronger Hardware

?? Note: Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (1st), 2, (2nd image), and X (3rd).

It's also worth noting that some older titles naturally scale better with the new hardware than others. Darksiders 3, for instance, which was a bit choppy on the original Switch, now runs at a much smoother 60fps thanks to its uncapped frame rate. Smash Bros. Ultimate now loads so fast you barely have time to read the tips on the loading screen.

However, not all games follow suit. The Xenoblade Chronicles trilogy and its spin-off, for example, largely stick to their original 30fps and 720p-1080p resolutions, with hardly any noticeable improvement, even in loading times. While the art direction still absolutely holds up—these are truly stunning games and an all-time favorite series of mine—you can't help but wish the new hardware was utilized to clean up some of the blurring and temporal anti-aliasing (which contributes to those softer images) that carried over from the original release.

Fingers crossed that these games eventually get upgrade packs in the future. And ideally, like the for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet and Super Mario Odyssey, these would be given away in a free update.

Is the Switch 2 Worth It?

The short answer is yes. It’s a very good console and a worthy successor to a piece of hardware that defined a whole era of gaming. But a more honest answer, especially for the average person, is that it depends. At the time of writing, the base Switch 2 retails for $450, and the Mario Kart World bundle is a painful $500. That’s a big price to pay up front, and it’s made even more steep when you realize the games hover between $40 and $80 a pop. It adds up quickly, especially when you consider that some Switch titles will have separate Upgrade Packs you need to buy just to see them in their best form.

Not to mention all the accessories that you might find yourself needing—a Pro controller, a carry case, an additional microSD card. It adds up quickly and, for a lot of people, it may be hard to justify immediately, especially when the launch library consists largely of two first-party titles—Mario Kart World and Welcome Tour—and some enhanced versions of older games.

It’s also important to be aware that Nintendo has the ability to remotely disable your device from accessing its online services or "brick" it altogether if it detects activities it deems against its terms of service, such as using hardware that they do not condone. There have been several reports of players being banned and subsequently unable to use their Switch 2 due to such actions.

For the 3.5 million of us who took the plunge and bought the Switch 2 on day one, there's definitely a lot to appreciate here. GameChat, for one, lets you connect more easily with friends and find sessions quickly without needing to use phone apps. The HD Rumble 2 feels fantastic and adds a texture to your gameplay. And let’s not forget the backward compatibility; that alone means the Switch 2 already boasts thousands of games in its library right out of the gate.

If you're already a huge Nintendo fan, chances are you've already snagged the console. And if you missed out on the original Switch, this is a great entry point. But for those who already own the first Switch, it might be worth holding off until a few more must-play titles drop.

For me, having gotten it at launch, I’m not mad about the purchase. There’s a lot to love here, and I know it’s a console that will come to its own soon. But for a lot of players, patience might be a virtue here. The Switch 2 still feels like it’s waiting for its moment; a moment we all hope is just around the corner.

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