Nintendo Switch 2 vs. Switch: 10 Changes You Should Know About

The Nintendo Switch 2 definite looks similar each Switch lover's imagination console. Nintendo's sequel builds connected what made the archetypal specified a hit, with immoderate large improvements to hardware, controls, and adjacent software.

Before you walk your hard-earned wealth connected the console, present are 10 changes you should cognize about.

1 The Switch 2 Has Grown successful Size

Nintendo's latest portable gaming console is noticeably bigger and heavier than its predecessor, but it each works retired successful its favor. For instance, the caller signifier origin allows for a larger, much immersive screen. The Joy-Cons person besides grown successful size; they diagnostic larger buttons that should amended subordinate comfortableness during prolonged sessions.

The Switch 2 besides has a kickstand that covers its full width; you tin enactment it astatine aggregate angles. There's a caller dock that matches the console's size, somewhat rounder edges, and an progressive cooling instrumentality to modulate the temperature.

Moreover, the summation successful the dimensions and the value of the console should marque it consciousness much premium.

2 The New Joy-Cons Double arsenic Mice

Speaking of the Joy-Cons, they're held successful spot via magnets (as opposed to integrative rails connected the archetypal Switch) and usage pins to pass with the console. To region the controllers, you tin property the mechanical fastener astatine the top, which separates them from the magnets and lets you propulsion them out.

Thanks to the built-in optical sensor, the Joy-Cons tin besides enactment arsenic mice, allowing users to acceptable purpose oregon usage different gestures arsenic inputs by placing the controller level connected a aboveground (with its enarthrosis buttons facing down). The controllers present enactment HD Rumble 2, which tin make a wider assortment of vibrations.

Switch 2's Joy-Cons person a new C fastener that launches GameChat (free until March 31, 2026), a caller societal diagnostic that lets players stock their screens and speech portion gaming. If you want, you tin besides acquisition the Switch 2 Camera for an further $50 implicit the console and person the audio chats into low-yet-acceptable prime video chats.

3 Switch 2 Gets a Long-Awaited Display Update

While the archetypal Nintendo Switch had a 6.2-inch LCD with 720p solution and 60Hz refresh rate, the Switch 2 flaunts a 60% bigger 7.9-inch LCD with doubly the solution (1080p) and a adaptable refresh complaint of up to 120Hz. However, not each games volition enactment higher refresh rates.

Although we don't person the nonstop numbers, the Switch 2's surface is noticeably brighter and amended astatine colour reproduction. Further, the show supports HDR10 for crisp and vibrant visuals erstwhile connected to a compatible outer show (presumably an OLED oregon a miniLED panel).

Speaking of outer displays, the latest Nintendo console tin besides relay video successful 4K solution erstwhile docked with HDR support. Although the Switch 2 doesn't diagnostic an OLED screen, the LCD surface connected the console looks amazing, adjacent when held adjacent to the Switch OLED (as seen successful YouTube videos).

Nintendo besides claims that the console's speakers are much almighty than those of its predecessors. Moreover, the Switch 2's surface gets the update it deserves. It is being speculated that the Switch 2 could get an OLED screen a fewer years down the enactment (as a mid-generation update), and I deliberation that makes sense.

4 Switch 2 Features a Custom NVIDIA Chip

According to the authoritative specifications page, the Switch 2 has a "custom processor made by NVIDIA." According to NVIDIA, the console has a customized GPU with dedicated RT Cores and Tensor Cores, which increases the graphics show by 10x (or truthful the institution says).

In summation to much horsepower, the console besides benefits from precocious features similar Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS), which upscales visuals for an improved ocular experience, and ray tracing for a realistic procreation of lights, reflections, and shadows.

The console's processing powerfulness enables 4K gaming astatine 60 fps via HDMI 2.0 (in TV mode) and up to 1440p solution astatine up to 120fps.

The customized NVIDIA processor besides provides respective AI-based features, including look tracking and inheritance removal with the Switch 2 Camera and a video overlay that places the provender from the camera connected your gameplay erstwhile utilizing video chat.

5 What About RAM and Storage?

The archetypal Nintendo Switch had 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM and only 32GB of onboard storage (some of which was reserved for the strategy files). The handheld console besides allowed buyers to grow the retention utilizing a microSDHC oregon microSDXC card (up to 2TB), and users required 1 astir immediately.

That's not the lawsuit with the Switch 2 anymore. The latest-generation console comes with 256GB of onboard storage, which should beryllium capable for storing a fistful of games offline. There's enactment for retention enlargement (up to 2TB), but you'd person to bargain a new microSD Express card.

Although you tin inactive usage your microSD representation paper with the Switch, its functionality is constricted to copying screenshots and videos from the console; you won't beryllium capable to load video games from your aged representation card connected the caller console.

Although the caller console is rumored to connection 12GB of RAM, Nintendo hasn't confirmed the specification yet.

6 Switch 2's Battery Might Not Perform arsenic Well

The first-generation Switch had a smaller surface (with less pixels), didn't enactment a higher refresh rate, and featured a little almighty chipset, which is wherefore it managed betwixt 4.5 and nine hours of playtime with a 4,310 mAh battery.

However, successful this aspect, the Switch 2's bigger and brighter surface (with doubly arsenic galore pixels) and a much almighty chipset are causing a bigger artillery (5220 mAh) to past for less hours (between 2 and six and a fractional hours).

Of course, a user's existent artillery beingness depends connected aggregate factors, including the brightness level and the crippled they're playing. However, the information that the minimum playtime has been reduced to little than fractional is simply a spot concerning.

7 You Get Two USB Ports connected the Switch 2

The Switch 2 has 2 USB ports: 1 connected the bottommost (like the archetypal Switch) and another connected the top. I conjecture the console volition walk much clip plugged successful than its predecessor. For those wondering, the instrumentality volition instrumentality astir 3 hours to complaint (in slumber mode).

Besides the USB ports, the console has an AC adapter port, an HDMI port, and a LAN port. Wireless connectivity features see Wi-Fi 6 (faster than Wi-Fi 5 connected the archetypal Switch) and Bluetooth (though the mentation remains unspecified).

Switch 2 besides supports physical crippled cartridges (the reddish ones). For supported games, you tin besides insert older cartridges (the bluish ones) into the console.

8 Switch 2 Gets a New Accessory

Alongside the archetypal Switch, Nintendo Sold a Pro Controller, colorful Joy-Cons, the Joy-Con Charging Grip, a two-way charging stand, and a carrying lawsuit (with surface protectors).

The Switch 2 besides supports plentifulness of accessories. These see the caller Switch 2 Pro Controller ($79.99), Joy-Con 2 Controllers ($89.99), Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip ($34.99), and the Switch 2 Camera ($49.99), which enables the video chat diagnostic we talked astir earlier.

Check retired the database of authoritative Switch 2 accessories here.

9 Switch 2 Is Backward-Compatible With Most Games

Aside from its superior processing ability, backward compatibility is different breathtaking facet of the Switch 2. The institution has explained however the console volition emulate the archetypal Switch games utilizing a operation of bundle (which volition person the game's data) and hardware (including show enhancements).

However, not each the aged games volition beryllium compatible with the Switch 2. According to an authoritative support page, implicit 95% of Nintendo's 122 titles are compatible with the caller console. However, lone 20% of the spouse games from different developers tally smoothly connected Switch 2, portion tests are inactive successful advancement connected the remaining titles.

Some games won't tally owed to accessory-related issues. For instance, the Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04: VR Kit isn't compatible, arsenic the Switch 2 can't acceptable successful the Toy-Con VR glasses. Then, immoderate games necessitate the archetypal Switch's Joy-Cons, specified arsenic Ring Fit Adventure.

Many titles should beryllium disposable successful dedicated Switch 2 Editions, optimized for the caller console's hardware, but you'd person to wage an upgrade terms (free if you're a Switch Online Plus member). Then determination are titles entrusted with the responsibility of selling the Switch 2 to aboriginal adopters, including Mario Kart World ($80), Donkey Kong Bananza ($70), Kirby Air Riders, and Survival Kids.

To entreaty to a broader audience, Nintendo has besides added enactment for a few (but popular) PlayStation, Xbox, and PC games, including titles similar Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, and Madden. Although the games won't impressment you with their graphics show connected the Switch 2, the information that a handheld console is moving them is commendable.

10 Switch 2 Isn't for Budget Buyers

The Switch 2 volition beryllium disposable for acquisition starting June 5, 2025. Though Nintendo planned to instrumentality pre-orders from April 9, 2025, it has been delayed owed to the caller planetary tariff rates announced by the U.S. government.

There's immoderate speculation astir the revision of the $449.99 motorboat price, which is already a monolithic summation implicit the Switch 1's terms ($299.99). On apical of that, buyers would besides privation a mates of caller games oregon Switch 2 Edition upgrades, each of which volition adhd to the cost.

Nintendo inactive lists a Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle connected its website for $499.99, but it is unclear whether the terms volition alteration successful the coming days.

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Moreover, the Switch 2 is simply a coagulated betterment implicit the 2017 Switch, but each the fancy features, video games, and accessories travel astatine a higher price, which could interest fund buyers.