Gaming & Consoles
Nintendo Switch 2 Review: The Sequel Nintendo Fans Actually Wanted
- Brand:
- Nintendo
- Ages:
- 13+ years
- Updated:
- 2026-07-05
The verdict
The Switch 2 is the sequel Nintendo needed to make — a real generational upgrade in screen quality and power that keeps everything people liked about the original, though the higher console and game prices mean it's a bigger financial commitment than its predecessor was.
Pros
- Real, noticeable jump in power over the original Switch — 4K/60 docked output and a much sharper 1080p/120Hz handheld screen
- Magnetic Joy-Con 2 controllers attach with a satisfying click and add mouse-style control options some games use in clever ways
- Fully backward compatible with the original Switch's physical and digital game library
- Larger 256GB internal storage is a real improvement over the original Switch's cramped 32GB/64GB base models
Cons
- At $449.99 it's a meaningfully bigger purchase than the original Switch was at launch, and the Mario Kart World bundle pushes past $500
- Native Switch 2 games are priced higher than typical Switch titles, commonly $69.99 to $79.99
- Battery life is roughly in line with the original Switch, not a generational leap, despite the more powerful hardware
This review is based on Nintendo's published Switch 2 specifications and the pattern of hands-on impressions and buyer feedback since its June 2025 launch, measured against what made the original Switch such a long-running success.
The screen and power upgrade you can actually see
The custom Nvidia chip, 12GB of RAM, and a genuinely sharper 1080p/120Hz handheld display (up from 720p on the original Switch) are the difference-makers here. Docked output now reaches 4K/60 with DLSS upscaling in supported games, and load times are dramatically shorter thanks to faster internal storage. For anyone who found the original Switch's screen soft or its performance dips distracting, this is the fix.
Joy-Con 2 and the mouse-mode gimmick that mostly works
Joy-Con 2 controllers now attach magnetically instead of sliding on rails, and a handful of launch and early titles use them sideways as a computer mouse for aiming or drawing — a genuinely novel option, if one that only a subset of games actually use meaningfully. The bigger, more ergonomic Joy-Con shape is a welcome fix for anyone whose hands found the originals cramped.
Who it's for
Best for existing Switch owners ready to upgrade and new buyers who held off on the original — the backward-compatible library means day-one access to years of existing games. Budget-conscious buyers who don't need 4K docked output or a sharper handheld screen can still find the original Switch OLED at a lower price and lose little in practice.
Frequently asked
- Is the Nintendo Switch 2 backward compatible with original Switch games?
- Yes, both physical cartridges and digital purchases from the original Switch carry over and work on Switch 2, including most save data via cloud transfer.
- How much better is the Switch 2 screen than the original Switch?
- Meaningfully — the handheld resolution jumps from 720p to 1080p with up to a 120Hz refresh rate in supported games, a visible difference for anyone who's used both side by side.
- Do I need to buy new Joy-Cons?
- The Switch 2 ships with redesigned Joy-Con 2 controllers that attach magnetically and aren't compatible with original Switch consoles, so original Joy-Cons won't work as a direct replacement.
- Is the Nintendo Switch 2 worth buying?
- Yes, for the improved screen, power, and backward-compatible library — it's the generational leap the original Switch's aging hardware needed. If budget is tight and you don't need 4K or the sharper handheld screen, the original Switch OLED remains a solid, cheaper option.
You might also like
Gaming & Consoles
Mario Kart World
Nintendo · Ages 7+ years
- First open-world Mario Kart entry — a free-roam mode connects tracks into one continuous explorable map, a genuine series first
- Launch title showcase for Switch 2's power, running smoothly at higher resolutions and frame rates than any prior Mario Kart
- At $79.99 it's priced above the traditional first-party Switch game standard, reflecting Nintendo's higher Switch 2 title pricing
Gaming & Consoles
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Nintendo · Ages 10+ years
- Ultrahand building mechanic turns the entire open world into a physics-based construction toy, layered on top of the same map from Breath of the Wild
- Sky islands and underground Depths effectively expand the explorable space well beyond its predecessor
- At $69.99, it carries the higher price point Nintendo introduced for its flagship first-party titles, above the traditional $59.99 standard
Gaming & Consoles
Stream Deck MK.2
Elgato · Ages 13+ years
- 15 customizable LCD keys give instant visual feedback for what each button does, unlike blind macro keys on keyboards
- Deep software integration with streaming tools like OBS and Twitch, Discord, and many games for one-touch actions and scene switching
- Its full value depends on streaming or heavy multitasking workflows — for a player who just wants to game, it's an expensive way to remap a handful of keys
Buy from Amazon