Why I’ve Been Waiting for This Moment

Like many Nintendo Switch users, I’ve been eagerly awaiting its successor for quite some time. As someone who grew up primarily gaming on handhelds, the original Switch represented a massive leap forward from the Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita. In my view, the Nintendo Switch occupies an important place in gaming history, it single-handedly revitalized handheld gaming into what we see today.

However, as time passed, the Switch began to lag behind many of the alternatives it inspired, including the Steam Deck, GPD devices, Ayaneo handhelds, and a host of other companies producing handheld PCs. The Switch 2 is the follow-up many people wanted, but is it compelling enough to justify the $450 USD price tag (before tax) for what amounts to a hardware refresh?

Nintendo Switch 2: The Specs

The Nintendo Switch 2 delivers substantial upgrades across the board. The larger form factor measures 4.5 inches by 10.7 inches, compared to the original Switch’s 9.4-inch width. Internal storage has jumped dramatically from 32GB to 256GB, with support for up to 2TB of additional storage via microSD Express cards.

Nintendo rates battery life at 2-6.5 hours—similar to the original Switch—using a larger 5,220mAh battery to offset power consumption from the upgraded components. The system features a 7.9-inch capacitive touchscreen with wide color gamut LCD technology.

Most significantly, Nintendo partnered with NVIDIA to create a custom processor featuring eight ARM Cortex A78C cores which is a substantial upgrade over the original Switch and personally the primary reason I wanted to purchase the Switch 2. EuroGamer published an excellent breakdown of the differences between the Switch 2 and its predecessor that’s worth checking out for a deeper technical dive.

Hands-On Experience

My time with the Switch 2 has been limited but revealing. Between setting up my own console and heading to a friend’s house for some Mario Kart World sessions, I’d estimate about 4-6 hours of total usage.

The initial setup proved frustrating, requiring two chargers to transfer data from my original Switch to the Switch 2. Once setup was complete and my games downloaded, however, my dream of an upgraded Switch finally materialized.

Disgaea 6, a game gifted by a friend, was previously difficult to enjoy on the original Switch. The graphics looked rough, and while the game offered several performance options, only performance mode was truly playable, the higher graphics settings caused noticeable stuttering and frame rate drops. On the Switch 2, Disgaea 6 runs smoothly on the graphics setting with no stuttering, consistent high frame rates, and an overall superior experience.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2, a game I enjoyed but never finished, runs so smoothly it’s hard to believe it’s the same title. The enhanced Breath of the Wild edition runs and looks noticeably better than before.

Given Nintendo’s influence in the gaming industry, I’m hopeful that development companies will optimize their games for the Switch 2’s expanded player base, improvements that could potentially benefit PC gaming as well. My impression is that as gaming hardware becomes more capable, some developers are spending less time on optimization, making Nintendo’s hardware influence potentially valuable.

Should You Buy It?

If your primary goal is experiencing your existing Switch library on faster hardware, absolutely. Seeing my old Switch games run faster and look better is everything I wanted from a Switch successor.

The lack of new first-party launch titles may disappoint some, but it doesn’t bother me since I simply want to play games I’ve already purchased with better performance. Mario Kart World has been genuinely enjoyable, and while the $80 price tag is steep, the game represents a definite upgrade over Mario Kart 8. As a party game, it should prove worthwhile in the long run.

If you’re primarily interested in brand new titles built specifically for the Switch 2 and you’re satisfied with your original Switch performance, your best bet is waiting until the holiday season when more Switch 2-exclusive games will likely be available.