The Nintendo Switch 2 is bringing massive upgrades including a 1080p handheld display, support for 4K 60fps while docked, and a handful of enhanced ‘Nintendo Switch 2 Edition’ games.
For
- Resolution of 1080p handheld, up to 4K docked
- Supports up to 120fps with compatible displays
- HDR support for both docked and handheld play
- 256GB of storage and support for microSD Express cards
Against
- Software appears to be alarmingly expensive
- Few user interface details as of yet
Still a very capable handheld console eight years on from launch, the original Nintendo Switch has a gargantuan software library and multiple hardware options with the OLED and Lite models.
For
- More affordable than it’s ever been
- An utterly massive software library
- Convenient for travel
Against
- 720p screen is dated by today’s standards
- Third-party ports fall well behind other consoles
The Nintendo Switch 2 vs Nintendo Switch comparison is one well worth familiarizing yourself with now, especially as the new machine launches soon on June 5, 2025.
I’ve owned a Nintendo Switch since its earliest days close to a decade ago now, and I have also recently gone hands-on with the Nintendo Switch 2 console as well as big upcoming games like Mario Kart World for a total of four hours. As such, I’m in a good position to present you with the facts when it comes to specs and improvements, as well as general buying advice to help you make a purchasing or pre-order decision ahead of launch.
There’s been plenty of talk about why the Nintendo Switch 2 is so expensive in terms of its surprising software price increases. But fans eager to have the system on day one will undoubtedly be looking into Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders, and if you’re one of them, you’ll probably be interested in the comparison between Switch 2 and its 2017 predecessor.
In this guide, we’ll be going over all the differences we know when it comes to Nintendo Switch 2 vs Nintendo Switch. You can expect looks at specs and performance, price, as well as various design aspects that set the two consoles apart.
Nintendo Switch 2 vs Nintendo Switch: Price and Value
There is some potentially good news when it comes to the price of the Nintendo Switch 2 hardware, in that it’s largely in line with what we were expecting pre-announcement. Expect it to cost more than every product in the Nintendo Switch family (including the OLED model), but not so much that it becomes unattainable for vast swathes of the consumer base as we saw with PS5 Pro.
The Nintendo Switch 2 will launch at $429.99 / £395.99 / AU$699.95. That’s the price of the console by itself. A bundle that packs in a digital copy of Mario Kart World will also be available at $499.99 / £429.99 / AU$769.95.
However, right now, it’s being reported that US pre-orders will not launch on April 9, 2025, as was initially thought. In a statement given to us by Nintendo, a spokesperson said: “Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. will not start April 9, 2025 in order to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions. Nintendo will update the timing at a later, unspecified date. The launch date of June 5, 2025 is unchanged.”
Otherwise, that is a pretty large jump from the original Nintendo Switch’s launch price of $299.99 / £259.99, as well as the Nintendo Switch OLED’s launch price of $349.99 / £309.99. Instead, Nintendo’s contemporary pricing is more in line with its competitors, but still undercuts them. Both the PS5 Slim and Xbox Series X, for example, currently retail at $499.99 / £479.99.
Personally, I would recommend opting for the bundle if you’re able to do so. Mario Kart World by itself will retail for $79.99 / £74.99. That’s a frankly eye-watering price, and while it is definitely a shame that it’s a digital-only copy in the bundle, you stand to save cash overall by going for this option.
Nintendo Switch 2 vs Nintendo Switch: Specs & Performance
Nintendo had initially been vague in terms of hard specs for Nintendo Switch 2, but the April 2 Direct presentation did give us plenty of points of comparison that we can look at against the original Nintendo Switch hardware. It has also since published a technical specs breakdown to its website.
|
Nintendo Switch 2 |
Nintendo Switch |
|
|
Price |
$429.99 / £395.99 / AU$699.95 |
$299.99 / £259.99 / AU$769.95 |
|
Dimensions (WxHxD) |
10.7 x 4.5 x 0.6in / 272 x 114 x 15mm |
9.4 x 4 x 0.6in / 239 x 102 x 15mm |
|
Weight |
1.18lbs / 0.54kg |
0.88lbs / 0.4kg |
|
Storage capacity |
256GB |
32GB (64GB OLED) |
|
Storage expansion |
MicroSD Express |
MicroSDXC |
|
Connectivity |
Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, ethernet |
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1 (ethernet on OLED model) |
|
CPU |
Custom Nvidia processor (TBC) |
Custom Nvidia Tegra processor |
|
GPU |
Custom Nvidia processor (TBC) |
Custom Nvidia Tegra processor |
|
Display (handheld) |
7.9in Vivid LCD, 1080p, HDR10, VRR up to 120Hz |
6.2in LCD, 720p |
|
Battery size |
5220mAh |
4310mAh |
|
Battery life |
Approx. 2 – 6.5 hours |
Approx. 4.5 – 9 hours |
|
Upscaling |
Nvidia DLSS |
N/A |
|
Ports |
2 x USB-C, 1 x HDMI, 1 x 3.5mm headphone jack |
1 x USB-C, 1 x HDMI, 1x 3.5mm headphone jack |
A quick glance at the specs breakdown shows that yes, the Nintendo Switch 2 is a pretty significant upgrade over the original Nintendo Switch. Details are scarce about the integrated Nvidia processor. But some changes are more apparent, such as the jump to a 1080p handheld display as well as support for VRR (variable refresh rate), HDR10 and refresh rates of up to 120Hz both in docked and handheld modes.
Another notable improvement is storage capacity, which has seen a huge jump to 256GB on Nintendo Switch 2. Compared to the original’s 32GB and the OLED’s 64GB, you can pretty safely store a good number of games here before investing in an extra microSD Express card. But you may want to eventually, as Nintendo Switch 2 does not support microSDXC cards which you’ve probably used on your original Switch.
As for accessories, the Nintendo Switch 2 is launching with the Pro Controller 2 (an improved Nintendo Switch Pro Controller model), the USB-C Camera Accessory for the new GameChat feature, and a wireless Nintendo GameCube controller for use with Nintendo Switch Online games.
Onto battery life now, and Nintendo estimates anywhere between 2 – 6.5 hours when playing Switch 2 in handheld mode. Like the first Switch, battery life will vary greatly depending on the kind of game you’re playing. A more graphically intensive game like Elden Ring will no doubt eat into battery life faster than a title with 2D visuals like Hades 2 or Hollow Knight Silksong.
A comparison of battery life between the two systems indicates that the Switch 2 will be more power-intensive than the original console. What’s likely happening here isn’t so much that the Switch 2 is equipped with a weaker battery. Rather, its games will for the most part be more demanding on the system. Even more so when you factor in options like VRR and HDR10. Turning these off in handheld mode should make the Switch 2 battery’s life a little easier.
I’m also expecting much cleaner image quality in handheld mode across the board. That jump in resolution helps, naturally, but VRR support will be able to tidy up image quality for more demanding games and provide a smoother overall experience.
During my hands-on time, this was most apparent in Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives like Donkey Kong Bananza, and ‘Nintendo Switch 2 Edition’ upgrades like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Original Nintendo Switch games will also be compatible with Switch 2, but it remains to be seen if these titles will benefit from the console’s enhanced features without those paid Nintendo Switch 2 Edition performance upgrades.
One last thing to note on the specs front – and something that’s a little bit of a bummer – is Nintendo’s decision to stick with Wi-Fi 6 for wireless online communication. That’s still an upgrade over the Nintendo Switch and will allow for faster download speeds, but it’s not quite up to the modern standard set by Wi-Fi 7 which we see implemented in PS5 Pro.
Nintendo Switch 2 vs Nintendo Switch: Design and dimensions
The Nintendo Switch 2 handheld is noticeably larger than the original Nintendo Switch. For one, the display has jumped from 6.2 inches to an impressive 7.9 inches. In total, the handheld is 10.7 x 4.5 x 0.6in / 272 x 114 x 15mm, up from the Switch 1’s 9.4 x 4 x 0.6in / 239 x 102 x 15mm. Another key takeaway here is that both consoles have an identical amount of thickness, helping that portability factor.
Impressively, both are also quite similar in weight. It’s 1.18lbs / 0.54kg for the Nintendo Switch 2, compared to the 0.88lbs / 0.4kg of the original Switch. This is with the Joy-Con controllers attached.
In terms of overall design, the Nintendo Switch 2 is a sleeker, slightly rounder silhouette. The Joy-Con 2 have rounder edges which I found sat more comfortably in the hands than the ever so slightly boxier design of Switch 1’s Joy-Con.
One key change on Nintendo Switch 2 is the addition of an extra USB-C port, taking the total up to two – that’s one on top of the machine and one on the bottom. Both can be used for charging, but you may also want to keep the top port free for the USB-C Camera Accessory ($49.99 / £49.99) for use with the new GameChat feature. At a developer roundtable, we were also told that Switch 2 will support third-party cameras and webcams as well.
Nintendo Switch 2 vs Nintendo Switch: Verdict
All in all, the Nintendo Switch 2 is a very clear upgrade over the Nintendo Switch. In fact, I’d go as far as to say Nintendo has gone above and beyond what was initially expected. The biggest surprises in terms of hardware, for me, is undoubtedly the support for 4K resolution and up to 120Hz refresh rate.
If you’re a Nintendo enthusiast already and looking to make the jump, I do recommend trying to get your hands on one come launch day, especially with impressive titles like Mario Kart World, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (and Tears of the Kingdom) Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and Street Fighter 6 all being available day one. You can also check out our Nintendo Switch 2 games guide for a full list of launch titles.
If you’re planning to hold off for potential deals and price drops, then that’s okay too. March 2025’s Nintendo Direct showed us that the original Switch is going to be supported well into 2026 with games like Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream and Rhythm Heaven Groove.
But, if you’re buying a Switch console for the very first time, I would advise against picking up an original Nintendo Switch now. Its games will be broadly compatible with Nintendo Switch 2, it’ll have upgrade options for some games and be able to play more at higher specs.
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