The Nintendo Switch 2 is the highly anticipated follow-up to the brilliant console/handheld hybrid many of us have been using daily for more than eight years. While not a radical departure in concept, it's much more powerful, features a larger and sharper screen, supports 4K and 120Hz gaming, and has Joy-Con 2 controllers that double as mice. On the downside, it costs more at $449.99, requires some visual trade-offs when connecting to a TV, and has unimpressive battery. Those drawbacks don't hinder a great gaming experience, though, which features the excellent Mario Kart World and deep backward compatibility with Switch 1 titles. For taking just about everything from the original and making it better, the Nintendo Switch 2 is equally worthy of our Editors' Choice award for gaming systems. 

Design: A Bigger, Sharper Display and an Improved Kickstand

The Switch 2 is a plain black tablet that closely resembles the original. At 4.4 by 7.9 by 0.5 inches (HWD), it's 0.4 inches taller than the Switch 1 (both LCD and OLED versions). That extra size accommodates a larger 7.9-inch display. However, the system doesn't look or feel much bulkier than its predecessor. It’s a little heavier, though, at 18.9 ounces to the OLED model's 14.9 ounces.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Adding less than half an inch to the Switch 2's height is an acceptable trade-off for a bigger, sharper display. The 7.9-inch 1080p LCD is almost a full extra inch in diagonal measurement than the OLED Switch's 7-inch screen, and is downright massive compared with the LCD Switch's 6.2-inch panel. The 1,920-by-1,080 resolution is more than double the pixels of the first generation's 720p (1,280 by 720) screen.

The display is a clear win in terms of size and clarity, but note that it uses LCD instead of OLED. On smaller displays, OLED screens show much more vivid colors than LCDs, which is the case when comparing the OLED Switch with the original LCD Switch. Fortunately, the Switch 2's LCD is noticeably brighter and more vibrant than the original's. Colors aren't quite as deeply saturated as they are on the OLED Switch, but it’s an excellent picture across the board.

Like the original, the Switch 2 has a USB-C port on its bottom edge that connects to the dock, charges the system with a cable, or connects a USB-powered accessory. That said, the port's location makes the Switch 2 hard to use when the kickstand is deployed. That's why Nintendo added a second USB-C port to the top of the console that's far more accessible. Besides the second USB-C port, the Switch 2's top edge holds a power button, a volume rocker, a game card slot protected by a plastic door, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

The thin kickstand is much improved. It's a U-shaped metal arch on stiff hinges that props the console up at almost any angle. When closed, the stand rests flush against the Switch 2's chassis. A microSD Express card slot sits behind the kickstand, like on Switch 1 models.

The Switch 2's dock is functionally identical to the one that comes with the OLED Switch, but with rounded corners to make it look a bit more friendly. Inserting the console into it lights up a power indicator, and video automatically outputs to your TV. The dock contains ports for USB-C (power), HDMI (TV), and Ethernet (wired network connectivity). Two USB-A ports let you hook up accessories.

Hardware: Nintendo Finally Hits 4K

Thanks to a new custom processor from Nvidia, the Switch 2 supports a 120Hz refresh rate, 4K graphics, variable refresh rate (VRR), and high dynamic range (HDR) video. That means sharper, smoother, brighter, and more vibrant visuals—but not all at once. You must make a few choices on just how sharp or smooth you want your games to be.

4K is only available when outputting to a TV, and it's limited to a 60Hz refresh rate. You can drop the resolution to 1080p or, if your TV supports it, 1440p, and use a 120Hz refresh rate. VRR, which lets the display adjust the refresh rate on the fly and helps reduce judder and screen tearing, is only supported on the Switch 2's screen, not a TV.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

HDR works on the Switch 2's display and a TV, but I ran into a strange problem. The HDR picture sent to my Hisense 65U8H TV was dim and washed out. Disabling the HDR signal output made everything look much brighter and colorful on the TV, when it should have been the other way around. In handheld mode, HDR works exactly as it should. For more, check out 9 Simple Tips to Make Your Switch 2 Games Really Pop on Your 4K TV.

The Switch 2 has 256GB of internal storage, up from 64GB on the OLED Switch. You can expand that by up to 2TB with a microSD Express card (make sure you get one labeled microSD Express; a standard microSD card won't work). For wireless communication, the Switch 2 has Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), upgraded from the Switch 1's Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac). Bluetooth is available for controllers and other accessories.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Battery Life: A Step Backward

Battery life is one of the few areas where the Switch 2 is a downgrade from its predecessor. Nintendo estimates that the system will last between 2 and 6.5 hours on a charge, with the wild variation being the processing power a game demands. In testing, Mario Kart World and Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour sessions killed the battery in just under four hours. The OLED Switch and the original LCD Switch (that received a battery upgrade) last between 4.5 and 9 hours, so this is a big step back.

The Switch 2's battery life is short, even compared with PC gaming handhelds like the Valve Steam Deck OLED (3 to 12 hours). In fact, the Switch 2 only lasts as long as the original LCD Switch did at launch (2.5 to 6.5 hours). If you want to use the Switch 2 on the go, keep it charged and consider getting a portable battery pack. 

Controls: Using the Joy-Con 2

The Joy-Con 2 controllers look and feel just like the originals, though they’re slightly taller. They're still thin, flat gamepads, and that extra bit of grip area makes them more comfortable to hold when not attached to the console.

The control layouts are almost identical, with the left and right Joy-Con 2 each holding an analog stick, four face buttons, two system buttons (plus or minus, and home or capture), a bumper, a trigger, and a pair of additional buttons (SL and SR) on the mounting rail for when you hold a single Joy-Con 2 sideways. The rail buttons are now large enough to easily press with your fingers, no longer requiring a snap-on grip to access. The right Joy-Con 2 has a new C button for accessing the GameChat communication feature, which I'll discuss in a bit.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

The Joy-Con 2 controllers connect to the console and accessory grips differently from the original gamepads. Instead of sliding a rail vertically down a long groove, you simply line up the Joy-Con 2's rail and press it directly inward. It connects with a much softer click than the classic Switch 1 snap and stays in place via a physical lock and magnets. The result is a very secure connection with no wobble.

You can also wirelessly connect them to the system. For most games, you'll use both Joy-Cons at the same time for the full dual-analog control scheme afforded by conventional gamepads. 

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Like the first-generation Switch, the Switch 2 comes with two types of controller accessories. There's a double grip that holds both Joy-Con 2s at once to make them feel like a standard gamepad. In addition, a pair of wriststraps lets you use the controllers separately and prevents them from flying across the room when you play a game with motion controls. 

You can play some games with a single Joy-Con, in which case you simply turn the controller sideways. This is the control scheme I like the least, and not just because it's uncomfortable. Making it work requires having four identical face buttons on either Joy-Con 2. That means you must use the face buttons instead of a conventional, plus-shaped direction pad. It's a compromise that makes the Joy-Con 2 awkward for controlling 2D platformers, fighting games, and other titles that benefit from precise directional movements. Of course, this was the case with the original Switch and its Joy-Con, too.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Internally, each Joy-Con 2 features motion sensors and haptic feedback motors. The seldom-used infrared camera on the right Joy-Con is gone, but it’s not much of a loss when compared with the big, new Joy-Con 2 feature: mouse mode.

A small optical sensor built into the rail of each Joy-Con 2 lets you use them as mice by simply placing them flat on a surface. A mouse cursor automatically appears on the screen and tracks the Joy-Con's movements. You should snap one of the wriststrap grips onto your Joy-Con when you want to use it as a mouse, for more stability from the extra surface area and smoother sliding from the low-friction pads (similar to the ones found on the bottom of ordinary mice).

It's a great addition that adds precise control that benefits shooters, strategy games, and other genres. Although they act as mice, the Joy-Cons aren't remotely shaped like mice. As a result, the thinner design and starkly vertical (in mouse mode) face buttons and analog stick feel more awkward than a flatter, conventional mouse. My wrist hurt after prolonged sessions.

Features: Interface, GameShare, and GameChat

The Switch 2's interface is similar to the Switch 1's, with a nearly identical menu structure and design elements. It's simple and easy to use, laying out your 12 most recently played games in a single row of big tiles. If more than a dozen games are installed on the Switch 2, you can access the full list by scrolling all the way to the right. You can also arrange games into folder-like groups, just like on the Switch 1. Annoyingly, you can't put those groups on the home screen; you have to go into the full installed software list to view the groups.

(Credit: Nintendo)

Browsing your game collection has become slightly more convenient on both the Switch 2 and the original Switch, courtesy of virtual game cards. Previously, if you wanted to access your digital games, you had to either navigate to the installed game list or open the eShop app and select Redownload Software if they were uninstalled. Now, you can easily find all your games by clicking the virtual game card icon on the home screen. It's convenient and lets you virtually lend the game to a family member if you're a Nintendo Switch Online subscriber with a family plan.

The Switch 2 has an additional game-lending feature that the Switch lacks. GameShare lets you share your game with friends over Wi-Fi, so the whole group can enjoy local co-op (or competition) with only one game copy. Nintendo had a similar system for select DS and 3DS titles called Download Play, and it's a cool way to let friends game together, each on their own Switch 2. Like Download Play, GameShare is only available on titles that support it, and that's currently a very short list. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, Clubhouse Games, Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S, Split Fiction, Super Mario Odyssey, and a few others are compatible with GameShare. Mario Kart World is notably absent.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

You can participate in online voice and video communication via GameChat. Simply press the new C button on the right Joy-Con or Switch 2 Pro Controller to make or join chat rooms. The service leverages the Switch 2's integrated microphone and uses your Switch 2 or TV speakers for audio. You can connect the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera or any compatible USB webcam to add your face to the mix. Surprisingly, GameChat doesn't require a Nintendo Switch Online membership—yet. Until March 31, 2026, any Switch 2 owner can talk with their friends on GameChat for free.

GameChat works well, thanks to the microphone's remarkably good noise cancellation feature. I tested the Switch 2 docked right in front of my TV, inches from the TV's speakers. Not only was my voice clear in testing, but none of my game sounds came through the microphone.

Game Library: A Strong Start

Mario Kart World is the Switch 2's biggest launch title, though Nintendo has a compelling short-term slate of upcoming releases. Donkey Kong Bananza, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, Kirby Air Riders, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and Pokémon Legends: Z-A are scheduled to come out by the end of the year, which is about as stacked as a Nintendo schedule can be without a new mainline Mario or Zelda title.

On the third-party side, the system has Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, Deltarune Episodes 3 and 4, Hitman: World of Assassination, Split Fiction, and Street Fighter 6 as major launch titles, with Borderlands 4, Elden Ring Tarnished Edition, Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army, and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 rounding out the calendar until 2026.

The reasonably strong launch window library is backed up by the Switch 2's excellent backward compatibility. Whether it's on physical cards or digital, nearly every original Switch game will work on the Switch 2. Out of more than 15,000 Switch 1 games, only 136 currently have confirmed issues on the Switch 2. That list is already two-thirds the size of the list of 209 games that Nintendo warned about a few weeks before launch, so if one of your favorite titls doesn't currently run properly on the Switch 2, there's a good chance that it will be updated in the future so that it does.

(Credit: Nintendo)

Don't expect every Switch game to suddenly look much sharper or run more smoothly on the Switch 2, though. If a game isn't programmed to take advantage of the system's extra power, it likely won't. Nintendo states that most Switch games will perform on the Switch 2 like they did on the Switch 1. The exceptions are games labeled as Switch 2 Editions, which are updated to use the new system's capabilities. The good news is that these versions, like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, look far better on the Switch 2 than they did on the Switch 1, with higher resolutions, faster frame rates, and new content and features. The bad news is that these versions aren't always free, and upgrading a game you already own costs between $10 and $20.

The Switch 2 also has several classic game collections for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers. The $20-per-year subscription includes dozens of NES, Super NES, and Game Boy games, and upgrading to the $50 Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack adds Sega Genesis, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 64, and GameCube titles. GameCube games are new to Nintendo Switch Online and are exclusive to the Switch 2. The collection currently includes F-Zero GX, Soul Calibur 2, and The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker. Several others, such as Chibi Robo, Luigi's Mansion, and Super Mario Sunshine, are confirmed for release.

Performance and Graphics: In Line With the PS5 and Xbox

The original Switch wasn't the most powerful console when it launched in 2017, and has been showing its age for some time, with a 1080p maximum resolution and difficulty consistently hitting 30 frames per second in many games. Nintendo has poured a lot more power into the Switch 2, so the console can play in the same graphics league as the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X. It isn't their total equal, though; Sony and Microsoft's consoles might be older, but they're larger and more expensive than the Switch 2. They also don't have screens, batteries, or any of the other elements required for portable gaming, which means they have more space for more powerful hardware.

(Credit: Nintendo)

I played several games on the Switch 2 and can confidently say that you can expect strong performance in both 1080p handheld mode and 4K TV mode. It's comparable to the PS5 and XSX, but don't expect PS5 Pro or high-end gaming PC levels of incredibly smooth action and fancy graphical effects. That said, it's much sharper and smoother than the original Switch across the board.

On the Nintendo side, Mario Kart World looks fantastic on the Switch 2. It's bright and colorful, staying close to 60 frames per second in 4K and pushing well above that most of the time in 1080p handheld mode. The frame rate slightly dips when 24 racers are on the screen at the same time, but it's still highly playable. For more, read I Took the #1 Spot in Mario Kart World's Knockout Tour. Rule the Race With My Top 5 Tips.

(Credit: Nintendo)

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Switch 2 Edition is an incredible visual upgrade from the Switch 1 version, simply on the virtue of its maximum resolution and consistent performance. The game renders in 4K on a TV, appears to run at 60fps in nearly all situations, and maintains an incredible draw distance. It's even smoother in 1080p, hitting close to 120fps.

Hitman: World of Assassination runs very well on the Switch 2. That's a testament to the system's power, considering Hitman 3 was only available on the Switch 1 as a cloud-based game. It's visually sharp and doesn't chug even when rendering dozens of people in crowded areas. The game struggled a little in 4K60, but it didn't drop below 30fps in testing. It really demonstrates that the system can keep up with the PS5 and XSX.

(Credit: IO Interactive)

Fortnite is smooth on the Switch 2, though it ran perfectly well on the Switch 1, too. More than performance, I found the Switch 2 version better due to the controls. I prefer to play shooters with a mouse, and Fortnite supports the Joy-Con 2's mouse controls. I found it a more accurate gaming experience than using the right analog stick to aim.