Hardware Review: Nintendo Switch 2

Is Nintendo's first new console in eight years worth a purchase at its very steep price? To help you find out, we are compiling reviews of the Switch 2 console hardware itself from dozens of publications.

by Jason Dietz — June 6, 2025 ￨ Updated June 24, 2025 at 4:07 PM PDT

What is it?

Nintendo Switch 2 Console
$449.99
Available from June 5, 2025 at Walmart, Best Buy, Target, and other retailers.

Nintendo's first new console since the launch of the original Nintendo Switch in 2017, the Switch 2 is a similar (and almost identical-looking) hybrid device that works as both a handheld and (through a docking station) a traditional console hooked up to your television. Like its predecessor, Switch 2 games are available in both physical and digital formats, and the new console will be backwards compatible with most Switch games (in both formats).

So what's different here? Changes include:

Higher-resolution gaming (1080p as a handheld, 4K when hooked up to an appropriate display) at higher framerates
A larger (7.9-inch) built-in LCD touchscreen
Greatly improved CPU and GPU, plus triple the built-in RAM (now 12GB)
Improved Joy-Con 2 controllers that now feature magnetic attachments for easier connections, slightly larger buttons, and a new ability to function like a computer mouse when detached
New "GameChat" social features (including a dedicated button, built-in microphone, and optional add-on camera) intended to provide easy in-game chatting between competitors
Eight times the built-in storage capacity (now at 256 GB)
Improved "3D" audio
"GameShare," a new feature that allows you to play multiplayer games with others who do not own them
Some versions also come with free holes

Perhaps the most notable improvement is the graphical performance, which brings Nintendo's console much closer to Microsoft and Sony hardware (sort of like a PlayStation 4.5 or an Xbox One and a Half). The expected result is that major third-party games with high-end tech specs that previously steered clear of the Switch will become available on the Switch 2, making the latter more of a true third console and less of a niche product (albeit a huge niche) aimed at a different audience. (A list of launch games for the Switch 2 can be found at the bottom of this page.) Of course, that also means you can expect to see higher pricetags—like Mario Kart World's $80 cost—for major Switch 2 releases.

What are critics saying about the Switch 2 console?

Are there enough upgrades over the original Switch—the #3-selling console of all time—to justify a purchase right now? Below are reviews of the Switch 2 console from a variety of professional sources. (Click on any publication name to read the full review.) Scores (converted to our 0-100 scale) are listed ONLY if one has been assigned by the publication itself; otherwise, we have grouped the reviews into rough categories, from most to least positive, based on the conclusions of each reviewer (and not necessarily their exact scores).

90 Creative Bloq:
"For now, its short list of killer exclusives and even shorter battery life are the only bad points marring an otherwise extraordinary piece of consumer electronics. It's absolutely state-of-the-art. Buy it."

90 Cubed3:
"Nintendo has taken its Wii U tech that was smartly repurposed into the hybrid Switch console, and done wondrous things to make Switch 2 far more powerful, easier to handle, smoother to use, and extremely more enjoyable than ever before. Whilst the initial cost outlay may seem high, this will give considerably more enjoyment, get much more use, and last remarkably longer than a new phone that costs two or three times as much. Even in its launch state, Nintendo Switch 2 is the console of the generation, the standard for what competitors need to work to, and the pinnacle of gaming entertainment, either at home or on the go."

93 Engadget:
"The Switch 2 has everything that made the original so great, but now there's more of it to enjoy. Granted, Nintendo's latest console commands a higher price, but as the successor to the iconic system that revived handheld gaming, this thing is worth it."

90 Gamereactor UK:
"Switch 2 is a sublime piece of hardware [...] You could call it a Switch on steroids, or, as I said, just a Switch that has been back on the drawing board, where every single aspect of its use has been upgraded, streamlined, and improved. Some fans may mourn the loss of crazy innovation, but I'm not one of them. Nintendo's Switch idea works - fundamentally."

90 GamesRadar+:
"The Nintendo Switch may have captured lightning in a bottle, but the Switch 2 is cranking up the generators and putting that electricity to work. The potency of new features like GameChat and the mouse sensors depends entirely on games to support them. For now, the hardware's all there - Nintendo just needs to make sure there's enough software to give these elements some runway."

90 GamingBolt:
"[T]he Switch 2 feels premium. [...] It lacks in the novelty or the sheer impact and shock value of the original Switch, and its emphasis on continuity and cross-compatibility can only contribute to that sense further. But what it lacks in freshness, it more than makes up for in sheer quality. If the Switch 2 is to be Nintendo's only platform for the next 5-7 years, then they have situated themselves extremely well for another round of success to follow up on the trailblazing, pioneering, Nintendo Switch."

90 Gizmodo:
"There is no better system around for couch multiplayer—especially one you can easily pack up and take with you. The Switch 2 is its own beast, and it takes the 8-year-old design of the original Switch and allows it to compete—and beat—the growing number of handheld platforms available today."

90 The Independent:
"It's the small things that really make the Nintendo Switch 2 such a brilliant system. The magnetic Joy-Cons, the improved mic, the snappier UI, GameChat, accessibility – all these quiet upgrades just make using it smoother and more enjoyable day to day."

88 Mashable:
"This is a fabulous console/handheld hybrid with hugely improved system software, much beefier horsepower for playing games, and a more premium form factor that doesn't succumb to the same bulk as its handheld PC counterparts."

90 Pocket Tactics:
"The Nintendo Switch 2 offers fantastic performance, a display that feels like a massive upgrade despite the move from OLED back to LCD hardware, and no shortage of ways to play your favorite games. If not for its slightly disappointing battery life and slow charging, plus an ultimately underwhelming list of launch titles, it would be the perfect hybrid console."

Polygon:
"The Switch 2 is closer to the technical cutting edge than Nintendo has been since the launch of GameCube and Game Boy Advance in 2001 — if not in raw power, then in how efficiently its power is applied. Early signs are that this is a surprisingly, even impressively capable gaming device."

90 Siliconera:
"The Switch 2 is an absolute joy to play, thanks to improved power and quality of life adjustments, and my one wish is the battery lasted longer."

90 TechRadar:
"What's impressive, though, is just how much of an improvement over the original Switch it is. With support for 4K and 1440p resolutions as well as 120Hz in both docked and handheld play, Nintendo has successfully played catch-up with other contemporary consoles. Its 1080p vivid LCD screen is also immaculate, displaying titles with a clarity that you rarely see from other gaming handhelds. Battery life is a downgrade, however, and paired with some Bluetooth audio issues and a handful of issues with other features, there are definitely some teething issues at launch."

90 The Telegraph:
"[T]here's no doubt in my mind that this is the best portable games console you can buy right now."

100 The Times [London]:
"My first week with the Switch 2 has been similar to my last week with the original Switch. Not much has changed and that's not a bad thing. The new iteration is an evolution of its predecessor, not a radical deviation. It's a safe move from Nintendo but the right one. Why fix what isn't broken?"

90 Tom's Guide:
"For years, I've been pining for a Nintendo Switch console which is the same but with more powerful components. And Nintendo has given me exactly that. Couple the increased under-the-hood improvements with smart upgrades like the magnetized Joy-Cons and the impressive larger display, and you've got the best version of an already excellent system. [...] Though, don't expect to play on the go for too long due to the poor battery life."

90 WCCF Tech:
"The Nintendo Switch 2 is an excellent console, a clear upgrade from the Switch with some clear quality of life improvements. It also feels like a more professional console, with a larger screen, crisp and clear, and the ability to run up to 4k when docked. For all its benefits, of which there are many, this will be a console to buy; with the major downside at the moment being a non-existent launch line-up and it simply isn't cheap, particularly as you will need an additional MicroSD Express card to make up for the poor storage capacity."

90 Wired:
"The Nintendo Switch 2 isn't the sort of generational leap PlayStations or Xboxes offer, but rather a refinement of what's worked for the last eight years. In short, it elevates, hones, and polishes almost every facet of the original Switch to deliver what is almost its ultimate form."

AP:
"While the LCD screen isn't quite as sharp as an OLED screen might have been, it's much cleaner than the original recipe Switch. It looks even better when connected to an HDTV since it now supports 4K and HDR. [...] That's not to say it comes close to matching the high-definition performance of the PlayStation 5 or the Xbox X/S. If you're expecting the jaw-dropping graphics of, say, Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Shadows ... well, no."

Ars Technica:
"Even with a bevy of ports and exclusives, it could be hard for the Switch 2's library to compete with the tens of thousands of games available on any handheld PC worth its salt. You'll pay a bit more for one of those portables if you're looking for something that matches the quality of the Switch 2's screen and processor—for the moment, at least. But the PC ecosystem's wider software selection and ease of customization might make that investment worth it for gamers who don't care too much about Nintendo's first-party efforts. If you found yourself either regularly using or regularly coveting a Switch at any point over the last eight years, the Switch 2 is an obvious and almost necessary upgrade. If you've resisted the siren song for this long, though, you can probably continue to ignore Nintendo's once-novel hardware line."

85 CGMagazine:
"The Nintendo Switch 2 has the potential to deliver experiences that eclipse what was possible on Nintendo platforms, thanks to the power of DLSS and, of course, Nintendo's stellar art direction and game design chops. As it stands, it is currently still too early to tell how third parties will embrace the Switch 2 and what games that utilize potentially more tasking engines like Unreal Engine 5 will fair on Nintendo's newly minted successor, but for those wanting the best Nintendo has to offer can rest assured in knowing the Switch 2 will follow the torch the lit by its predecessor as the system continues to mature."

CNN Underscored:
"The Nintendo Switch 2 is without question one of the best consoles I've ever gotten my hands on and the best Nintendo Switch yet, retaining everything that made the original a staple in millions of households while adding some welcome quality of life improvements and a few innovative, delightfully Nintendo-ey features. [...] I can't overstate how great a purchase this is for folks who somehow missed the boat on the original Nintendo Switch [...] But for the less fanatical Nintendo player, especially one that games on other platforms, there's nothing wrong with waiting it out right now."

ComicBook.com:
"From a hardware perspective, Nintendo Switch 2 offers nearly every improvement a user could want over the original. It doesn't feel like a substantial leap in terms of the system's User Interface, and the battery life could end up leaving a lot to be desired. That said, all of the other changes add up to a substantial offering. It feels sturdier, the screen is nicer, the graphics and performance are substantially improved, and new features like GameShare should lead to more enjoyable multiplayer sessions."

80 Comic Book Resources (CBR):
"There are some missteps along the way, like the video function of GameChat and storage space. These are the hurdles that gamers will eventually have to deal with down the line. But right now, playing the Switch 2 has been a blast and makes the future of Nintendo exciting. [...] Nintendo fans shouldn't hesitate to buy this console."

80 DBLTAP:
"The Nintendo Switch 2 is a great upgrade over the original console and remains a compelling gaming device even in a world where portable PCs have become increasingly popular, and not even an Xbox handheld is going to make me regret my purchase. While I'm incredibly eager to see more first-party games launch on the console to bolster the native library, I still haven't stopped playing it since launch, and the other devices in my house have barely been powered on."

80 Dexerto:
"It's hard not to see the Switch 2 as a mere upgrade over what came before. Nintendo has taken a leaf from Sony and Microsoft's playbook, releasing a similar-looking console with beefier hardware under the bonnet. That's no bad thing, though – in fact, this decision to step back and hone in on the success of the original Switch is what makes Switch 2 a winner. It's a safe move and feels necessary if Nintendo wants to keep Valve's Steam Deck and Asus' ROG Ally from nipping at its heels. For Nintendo fans, getting a Switch 2 is a no-brainer."

Digital Foundry:
"In terms of hardware design, we're happy overall with Nintendo's choices. ... However, the screen itself is problematic in a number of ways. ... This is the original Switch revised and refined into a generally more pleasing and more effective unit, delivering a proper generational upgrade with highly impressive efficiency. It comes to something when, screen apart, the biggest criticism I personally have concerns that limited length USB-C cables provided for the power supply and especially the camera."

Empire:
"Nintendo has successfully strengthened the areas where the Switch was weakest, boosting its power, providing proper 4K gaming, and enhancing the functionality of Switch's clever but frequently maligned Joy-Cons. Yes, it's more Switch Pro (or Super Nintendo Switch) than a truly next-generation console, but in sticking closely to their already successful formula, Nintendo look to have strengthened their position with an impressive if unexceptional upgrade."

Esquire:
"[T]he Switch 2 is a worthy successor to Nintendo's breakout handheld. [...] Once it's 2028 and we have a sequel to Super Mario Odyssey, an Animal Crossing game even better than New Horizons, and a Legend of Zelda title that rival Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, the sell may look even easier in hindsight. I don't know if that's worth pulling your hair out to secure a Switch 2 as fast as possible, but it's certainly worth the eventual upgrade."

Eurogamer:
"I appreciate that the launch line-up is thin outside of Mario Kart and that the basics of how the console works are pretty much known. I appreciate the battery life could be a lot better - it can work its way down very quickly. [...] All of that, and yet I'm two days in and I'm still very excited."

Game Informer:
"The Switch 2 feels safe. Arguably too safe. [...] I like when Nintendo tries something new in an attempt to give me something I didn't know I wanted. It didn't do that with Switch 2. For Switch 2, it improved on basically every element of Switch (except for battery life), made it backwards compatible, and made it look and feel better. My primary complaint is that I have not been surprised. Rather, I have been nodding appreciatively, grateful that I have a version of one of my favorite consoles of all time that looks sharper, plays some of my favorite games at a higher quality, and is presenting me with an impressive new Mario Kart. It's what I wanted as opposed to what I didn't know I wanted, and I am happy with that."

Game Rant:
"At launch, the Nintendo Switch 2 is not a console that everyone needs to go out and buy right away. [...] The Nintendo Switch 2 is a much more powerful machine than the Switch 1 and is fun to play, but right now only diehard Nintendo fans and those that have to play Mario Kart World right now need to go out of their way to get it. Once more Switch 2 exclusives are announced and the console's library grows, it will be a no-brainer, but it's OK to stick with the Switch 1 until then."

GameSpot:
"It's a well-made Switch successor with lots of little thoughtful touches and design improvements to make it feel like a more premium product. That means it's less toy-like than the original Switch, which makes me that much more nervous about handing it off to my kids. But in many ways, it feels like the Switch has grown up."

TheGamer:
"It's a fundamental improvement in terms of build quality, performance, and ease of use; but without exclusive games to back it up, it's not the dominating force it could be just yet."

Gaming Bible:
"The Nintendo Switch 2 might not be a seismic leap forward or mind-bending reinvention, but it didn't need to be. Nintendo struck gold in 2017, and if a few smart updates here and there mean we get another eight years of brilliant first-party games, surprising third-party ports, and a massive library of indies, you can consider me along for the ride. My favourite console ever, but bigger and better? I couldn't ask for much more."

80 The Guardian:
"Should you buy one? If you somehow missed out on the original Switch, absolutely yes – it's the zenith of Nintendo's quest to make a hybrid handheld/home console, with a wide range of launch games (though currently only one genuine exclusive must-have in Mario Kart World) and the promise of many glorious exclusives to come. If you already have a Switch, it's worth the upgrade if you can afford it – the larger display, the better controllers, the social applications, all make it worth the outlay."

70 IGN:
"The Nintendo Switch 2 is a vital upgrade over the original Switch if that's the only way you've been able to play games for the last eight years, but improvements that are mostly playing catch-up and a big price jump make this sequel system about as exciting as a long-overdue phone upgrade in the larger scheme of things."

Irish Independent:
"Fire up a game, however, and Switch 2 begins to justify its lofty price, albeit with the caveat that Nintendo has not lined up a stellar launch slate. ... Yes, your old games will respond better and appear shinier but Switch 2 cries out for the killer combination of beauty and brains, such as a new Zelda."

80 Lifehacker:
"[F]or a future-proofed, portable machine that puts out Steam Deck level power and doesn't have the benefit that gaming PCs do—regular updates with new chip upgrades—the Switch 2 makes sense. If you don't care about Nintendo exclusive games or portability, then like with the Switch 1, you can skip it. Otherwise, it makes sense to upgrade to the Switch 2, although you can probably wait until a sale before clicking 'buy.'"

Los Angeles Times:
"I believe those who make the leap will be happy in their investment, even if its lineup of exclusive games is relatively barren for now. There are enough improvements to make the Switch 2 feel fresh."

The New York Times:
"What makes the Nintendo Switch 2 a no-brainer upgrade is its jump in speed and graphics performance. ... While the Switch 2's price is higher, the included Joy-Cons mean the system arrives with two controllers. PlayStation and Xbox consoles typically include only one. All told, the Switch 2 is still a relatively good value."

80 Nintendo Life:
"Switch 2 is a slick bit of kit, though, which instantly makes its predecessor feel slow and look very fuzzy. It makes your old games look and play better, and it's got enough quirks and quality of its own — just — to give it some personality while not upsetting the apple cart. Nintendo is on a very wobbly tightrope between 'surprise and delight' and 'more of the same', and they've done a decent job of walking it - the best you could reasonably hope for."

80 NME:
"There have been plenty of complaints about a lacklustre launch day lineup of games stopping Nintendo's latest being an insta-buy. [... B]ut the Switch 2 is powerful enough to makes old favourites feel new. [...] This is an essential console with a very bright future."

NPR:
"The console isn't perfect. ... Gripes aside, I'm loving the Switch 2 and now gravitate to it more than my cherished Steam Deck. I don't think every Nintendo fan will need to upgrade until more exclusive games arrive, but if you can afford it now and know that you'll want one eventually, it's easy to recommend."

78 PC Gamer:
"The Switch 2 is a clear step up from the previous console in almost every way. However, the gaming market is a very different one from the market that the original Nintendo Switch launched into, and has very different competition as a result. As a Nintendo fan, I'm happy with the machine in my hands. As a PC player, I find it almost entirely unnecessary for now—and that's from me having paid good money for one myself—and it will likely only be whipped out for a handful of games a year."

80 PCMag:
"Put simply, the Nintendo Switch 2 is a better Nintendo Switch. It's much more powerful, has a bigger and sharper display, and comes with useful new features. We wish it had better battery life and fewer visual compromises when using a TV, but it feels and plays great, and benefits from the massive game library of its predecessor. It puts Nintendo on the same playing ground as Microsoft and Sony when it comes to graphical fidelity, and the Switch 2 is far more versatile than the PS5 or the Xbox Series X, thanks to its hybrid handheld nature."

90 Pocket-lint:
"If you don't own a Switch, or a handheld PC, then the Nintendo Switch 2 is definitely worth considering. It's a joy to play handheld, looks beautiful, and can handle far more games than the original Switch could. ... If you already own a Switch, is there enough to the Switch 2 to make it worth upgrading? At the current price and with the current line-up of games, that's a tough call. If you play docked, you're probably not going to notice a mind-blowing difference in terms of performance when you're playing games like Mario Kart. If you play handheld a lot, then upgrading is a much easier sell."

Rolling Stone:
"Although Switch 2 offers a better version of a familiar experience, there's very little that feels revolutionary."

San Jose Mercury News:
"Despite the steep price, it's worth it for gamers who know that Nintendo's strength lies in its ideas."

80 TheSixthAxis:
"The Nintendo Switch 2 is an accomplished sequel. It takes the core of the Nintendo Switch and improves it in practically every way possible, from the vibrant new screen, to the magnetic snap of the Joy-Con 2 and core features like GameChat and a usable eShop. There's some typical Nintendo quirks and limitations, but that's par for the course, and in general it meets the expectations of a modern console. What the system needs now is more new games."

80 Slashgear:
"The hardware is fantastic, and as is typical of Nintendo, the games are phenomenal. Appreciated from this perspective, it would be very easy to give the Switch 2 a glowing recommendation. However, the situation here is not nearly so straightforward as that. Unlike previous Nintendo consoles of the past several decades, the Switch 2 is a relatively costly device to purchase and own. Additionally, there is a litany of unfortunate issues which considered individually might seem minor, but stack them all up and it's enough to rankle the feathers of many who might otherwise have been carefree fans of the console."

Stevivor:
"The Nintendo Switch 2 doesn't reinvent the hybrid handheld-console, but it doesn't need to, and this is Nintendo's best direct successor to a previous system since the SNES. It gives us exactly what we wanted; a more powerful Switch that delivers a handheld-console experience like only Nintendo can – with a clear name that lives up to its promise. ... Still, it's not cheap, and at launch the real hook is a better way to play your existing Switch games."

80 Stuff:
"Some purists may grumble that an iterative update is very un-Nintendo. But for many, the Switch 2 is quite simply the most premium console Nintendo has ever made, and the beefy yet still lean upgrade we've been waiting for. That premium does of course come at a price, in terms of storage as well as battery life, though this is not unique to the other powerful portables on the market right now."

80 The Verge:
"The Switch 2 doesn't feel like the kind of generational leap typically associated with a new platform. When you put all of its features together — the larger display, more powerful internals, better social and sharing features, and more flexible control options — you are left with a device that is markedly better than its predecessor, but is still a step behind the latest PC handhelds in terms of pure horsepower and available games."

Wirecutter:
"The Switch 2 offers easily the best Switch experience we've had. But it's significantly more expensive than the original Nintendo Switch was at launch, and the latest system doesn't have many new games designed exclusively for it yet. ... The Switch 2 is unlikely to get cheaper anytime soon, which prevents it from being an easy, automatic recommendation, and that's worth keeping in mind as you work out the pros and cons of picking one up or waiting."

Paste:
"Top to bottom, the Nintendo Switch 2 is a luxury console: although it offers noticeable frame rate and graphical improvements in a hybrid package, it's very expensive and doesn't have much exclusive software to justify its hefty price tag. Perhaps most deflating, though, is that it lacks that classic Nintendo spark, where an out-there idea spins into something unexpected and new."