I’ve had the Nintendo Switch 2 since launch day, and it’s exactly what I wanted — a bigger, faster Switch that plays next-gen Nintendo games while keeping everything I loved about the original. The $449 price is fair for what you get. Here’s my full review after 2 months.
Updated April 2026.
Specs
| Spec | Switch 2 | Switch (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Screen | 7.9″ 1080p LCD | 6.2″ 720p LCD |
| Docked Output | Up to 4K | Up to 1080p |
| Chip | NVIDIA T239 (Ampere) | NVIDIA Tegra X1 |
| RAM | 12GB LPDDR5 | 4GB LPDDR4 |
| Storage | 256GB | 32GB |
| Controllers | Magnetic Joy-Con 2 | Slide-in Joy-Con |
| Battery | 3-6 hours | 2.5-6.5 hours |
| Price | $449 | $299 |
Display
The 7.9″ 1080p LCD is a massive upgrade over the original Switch’s 6.2″ 720p screen. Games look sharp and colorful. It’s not OLED — I wish it were — but the LCD quality is good with decent contrast and brightness. HDR support is included. In handheld mode, 1080p at 7.9″ is 283 PPI — crisp and clean. I play 50% handheld and the screen upgrade makes a real difference.
Performance
The NVIDIA T239 chip with Ampere architecture and DLSS support is the biggest upgrade. In handheld mode, games run at 720p-1080p with DLSS upscaling. Docked, the Switch 2 outputs up to 4K with DLSS. The performance leap over the original Switch is enormous — we’re talking 4-5x more GPU power. Games like Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom run at a locked 60 FPS in both modes. The new Mario Kart runs at 60 FPS with 24 players. It’s finally a modern gaming experience.
Controllers & Controls
The Joy-Con 2 attaches magnetically — no more rail sliding. They snap on and off with a satisfying click. The sticks use Hall Effect sensors, so no more drift (finally!). The buttons feel better — more tactile, less mushy. The triggers are still digital (not analog), which is a Nintendo thing. A new “C” button on the right Joy-Con opens GameChat — Nintendo’s voice chat system. It works, but I still use Discord on my phone.
Games
The launch lineup is strong:
- Mario Kart World: 24-player racing. The best Mario Kart ever made. I’ve put 40 hours in already.
- Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom (enhanced): 60 FPS, 4K docked. The way it should be played.
- Metroid Prime 4: Finally! And it’s incredible. 60 FPS, dual-stick controls, gorgeous.
- Third-party ports: Cyberpunk 2077, Hogwarts Legacy, and more. They run at 30 FPS but they actually work now.
Backward compatibility with Switch 1 games is excellent. Every game I tested works, and many run better (faster loading, higher resolution). My 200+ Switch games carry over — that’s the real value.
Battery
3-6 hours depending on the game. Lightweight games (2D indies) get closer to 6 hours. Demanding games (Cyberpunk, Mario Kart) get 3-3.5 hours. It’s comparable to the Switch OLED. I wish it were better, but it’s acceptable. USB-C charging works with any PD charger.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Massive performance upgrade over Switch 1
- 7.9″ 1080p screen is great
- Hall Effect Joy-Con sticks — no drift
- Strong launch lineup
- Full backward compatibility
- DLSS support for 4K docked
Cons
- LCD, not OLED (OLED version surely coming)
- $449 is $150 more than Switch 1 launch price
- 3-6 hour battery is just okay
- GameChat is basic compared to Discord
- Digital triggers still
My Final Verdict
9/10 — The Nintendo Switch 2 is exactly what it needed to be: a bigger, faster Switch that plays next-gen games. The performance leap is real, the Hall Effect sticks are a godsend, and the game library is already strong. My only real complaint is the LCD screen — an OLED version will probably come in 2027 and I’ll be tempted to upgrade. But if you want to play Nintendo’s next generation of games, the Switch 2 delivers. I’m having more fun with this than any console since the original Switch.
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