The Nintendo Switch 2 has a lot to live up to. It’s the successor to the wildly popular Nintendo Switch, which has sold over 152 million units, dwarfing the popularity of nearly every other home gaming console in history (aside from the PlayStation 2). And the Switch isn’t the only handheld gaming console you can buy: competitors like the Steam Deck OLED have tons of fans and games on offer.
I’ve been playing the Switch 2 since it launched in 2025. My take? It’s tame considering Nintendo’s history, but it’s a worthwhile update to a successful formula.
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What is the Nintendo Switch 2?
The Nintendo Switch 2 is the successor to the original Nintendo Switch, and it works much the same way. It’s still a handheld gaming console with removable controllers that attach to the side of the screen. It still has a docking station that, when plugged in, connects the console to your TV screen. And it can still play Nintendo Switch games, in addition to brand new Switch 2 titles like Mario Kart World. You can even use Nintendo Switch controllers wirelessly with the Nintendo Switch 2.
Dive a little deeper though, and the Nintendo Switch 2 is actually very different from the original. It’s bigger in nearly every way: the screen is larger (7.9-inches, up from 6.2), the controllers are larger, the kickstand is larger and even the TV dock is larger.
But the biggest changes are internal. In handheld mode, the screen can display a more detailed, vivid, and smoother image thanks to 1080p resolution (up from 720p), 120Hz refresh rate (up from 60Hz), and support for high dynamic range (HDR) — all these improvements help games look more detailed and feel more smooth while playing. The console also comes with 256GB of internal storage, up from 32GB in the original.
My experience with the Nintendo Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch 2 is a relatively tame sequel to the original. For Nintendo, who has a history of releasing very different gaming consoles each generation (case and point: the Wii and the Wii U), it’s surprising how similar the Nintendo Switch 2 is to the original.
I think that’s a good thing. I (along with millions of others), loved the original Nintendo Switch, and am pleased the Switch 2 upgrades and refines a winning formula. It’s some of the most fun I’ve had playing games in years, and is a convenient package for anyone who values portability and flexibility.
What I like
Bigger, better screen
When I played handheld mode on the original Switch, I always felt like I was missing out on the “true experience” of playing the game. Games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and even Mario Kart 8 Deluxe felt cramped and underwhelming on the original’s Switch’s 6.2-inch, 720p screen. Maybe I’m just spoiled from playing PC games on big screens, but I couldn’t imagine playing a game like Elden Ring handheld on Switch.
I do not feel this way with the Switch 2: It’s larger, more detailed screen makes games across all genres look and feel like the full experience even in handheld mode.
Better hardware design
Bigger is in fact better this time around. The larger Switch 2 Joy-Con 2s are more comfortable to hold, both together in the Joy-Con 2 Grip and split in half for multiplayer games. The larger kickstand actually works, and is perfect for tabletop gaming, unlike the original Switch’s kickstand. I also love that there are charging ports on the bottom and top of the console now — the top port makes it much easier to charge the console while playing it. All this, put together, makes the Switch 2 feel more polished to use compared to the original.
Improved performance everywhere
The new internals of the Switch 2 are vastly more powerful than the original Switch, and you can feel it everywhere. Nearly everything on the Switch 2 feels smoother and more responsive than the original. Switch 1 games like Pokemon Violet and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom feel completely different on the Switch 2 — they load faster, play smoother and never lag during intense action. Switch 2 titles like Donkey Kong Bananza and Mario Kart World look and feel more robust thanks to the improved hardware.
It brings people together
When I say the Switch 2 brings people together, I’m not talking about the new GameChat feature, although GameChat is a vast improvement over Nintendo’s previous online communication tools.
Nintendo games have a tendency to bring people together in a way others just don’t (Think Mario Party, Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros., Pokemon Go). The Nintendo Switch 2 continues that tradition. Everyone I know wanted to try out the new console, play games together and just hang out, whether they played their original Switch yesterday or haven’t touched a video game in years. Playing Mario Kart World at the NBC Select office was some of the most fun I’ve had at work, and I know I am not alone in that opinion.
Potential drawbacks to keep in mind
Worse battery life
The original Switch had a battery life that lasted between 4.5 and 9 hours. The Switch 2’s battery life is rated between two and 6.5 hours. That’s a significant difference compared to the original, but it doesn’t surprise me, given the much larger screen and increased performance. Competitors like the Steam Deck OLED get between three and 12 hours of battery life, so, depending on the games you’re playing, it’s not much better.
Accessories can be pricey
I promptly bought a travel case when I got my Switch 2. Then after a few months of using it, I wanted more storage space, and bought a microSD express card. It’s 2026, and I am thinking about the Nintendo Switch Pro 2 controller. These accessories aren’t cheap — microSD express cards in particular are pricey.
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Should you buy the Nintendo Switch 2?
The Switch 2 is a worthwhile upgrade to the original, and games like Mario Kart World are a ton of fun to play with friends. If you already have the original Nintendo Switch, I don’t see any reason to buy the Nintendo Switch 2 right now — I would wait a little longer for more exclusive games to launch. That said, I would not buy the original Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch OLED at this time — your money will go a lot further in the long run putting it towards the Nintendo Switch 2.
Why trust NBC Select?
I’m a reporter at NBC Select who covers technology and fitness including stories on fitness trackers, over-ear headphones and point-and-shoot cameras. I’ve covered the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 since launch, and have been using the new console since 2025. For this piece, I compared it to the original and tested its features and games by myself and with friends.
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