After years of speculation, rumours, debates and whatnot, Nintendo has finally given us a more definitive picture of the Nintendo Switch 2. The Japanese gaming giant’s much-awaited hybrid console has been the subject of a lot of hype, and understandably so, especially when you consider the success of the original Switch. With that in mind, there’s a lot of things that have changed with the newer system, despite a general sense of familiarity with the hardware and software involved. So what can you expect one the system launches? Let’s take a look.
CHECK OUT: Lenovo’s New Handheld Comes in Windows and Steam Versions
Display Upgrades
One of the first things that you’ll notice with the Switch 2 is its larger size. While the Switch and its 6.2-inch display (7 inches in the case of the OLED model) are dwarfed by competing handhelds such as the ROG Ally and Steam Deck, Nintendo has equipped the Switch 2 with an 8-inch display, which brings it up to speed with newer rival systems. With that said though, the device will feature an LCD panel instead of an OLED display, which is kind of a bummer especially when you consider the overall image quality the one gets when viewing content on OLED screens.
Thankfully, the Switch 2’s screen is now capable of displaying games at 120fps with an HDR mode, at a higher resolution of 1080p. This is a much-welcome upgrade over the original Switch’s display which wasn’t terrible per se, but in a market filled with impressive displays from devices like Samsung for example, the OG Switch always felt a bit lacking in the screen department.
Other Hardware Changes
Nintendo has also redesigned the Switch 2’s controls – the new Joycon 2 comes with a magnetic attachment system, which seems a bit more straightforward than the sliding rail mechanism used in its predecessor. The controller also features larger SL and SR buttons along with the analog sticks – speaking of the latter, Nintendo has confirmed that the new sticks unfortunately DO NOT use Hall Effect technology, although they have been redesigned, presumably to prevent the drift problems on the first-gen version. The Joycons can also be used on their side on a table as mouse controls, although this implementation will vary per game.
The Switch 2 will also come with support for 3D sound which should provide users with a more immersive listening experience, and there’s now a built-in microphone which allows for voice chats, which can be initiated using the “C” button on the console; the Switch 2 also comes with two separate USB-C ports for charging, an interesting change but one that we’re not really complaining about nonetheless. Nintendo will also sell an external accessory that will serve as a dedicated webcam during gameplay.
The rear kickstand has also been tweaked to be wider, although it does feature a more “open” design this time around. Should you choose to play in docked mode, the Switch 2’s dock does support 4K output for TVs, and even has a built-in fan for cooler gaming sessions. Finally, the console’s internal storage has now been increased to 256GB, and users can increase this with micro SD express cards for faster data speeds.
Price and Launch Date
With all that being said, the Switch will launch in the United Kingdom on June 5, with the console retailing for £395.99, although there’s a version with a bundled copy of Mario Kart World that will go for £429.99; as for buyers in North America however, recent announcements regarding heavy tariff changes have forced Nintendo to re-think its pricing strategy, although it was earlier stated that the console will go for $449.99 in the US.
