Nintendo Switch 2 Hardware Review

Back in March 2017, coming off the back of the muddled release and muted reception of the Wii U, Nintendo brought out its first hybrid system in the form of Switch. Playing at home or taking your gaming on the go, it didn’t take too long to realise that the Kyoto company was onto a winner, and the system’s longevity has led to it becoming a staple in more households than any other Nintendo system before it, blasting past the Game Boy line, the Wii revolution, and even the ubiquitous touch- and dual-screen DS. Eight years later, Switch 2 has finally landed as of 5^th June worldwide. Was the wait for the Nintendo Switch successor worthwhile, though?

It’s a long way to tipp…wait, no. It’s been a long WAIT for Nintendo Switch 2 to arrive, hasn’t it? March 2017 seems like a lifetime ago, and given how COVID-19 happened between then and now, that probably adds to the feeling of it being an age since The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, 1-2-Switch, Just Dance 2017, Super Bomberman R, Snipperclips, Skylanders Imaginators, I Am Setsuna, Fast RMX, and Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment graced gamers’ galleries! That line-up had an epic action RPG experience, wacky mini-games, dancing madness, multiplayer shenanigans, an indie darling of a puzzler, amiibo-esque adventuring, classic Square Enix role-playing, futuristic super-speed racing, and a dastardly platform romp to whet appetites at the console launch.

What is on offer for Switch 2? Well, quite a hefty amount of goodies, headlined by the spectacular Mario Kart World, the delightfully addictive eShop ‘exhibition/museum/tech demo/minigame’ title, Welcome Tour, the sublime special editions of The Legend of Zelda duo, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, plus some excellent third party offerings.

One of the biggest questions, though, is whether or not Switch 2 is significantly different from the original, or does it feel more like the oft-touted Switch Pro that never saw the light of day. Well, it’s safe to say that Switch 2 expands upon the blueprint considerably enough to warrant a whole new platform for people to dive into. From its larger screen to the carefully adjusted speakers, upgraded HD Rumble, more ergonomically shaped exterior, tweaked Joy-Con, magnetic control connections, pristine quality HDR (High Dynamic Range) capabilities, the DLSS jiggery-pokery to boost game quality in various ways, and numerous other additions and upgrades – this is no mere minor step-up! It’s actually a major overhaul of the original Switch, with upgrades that aim to quieten those noisily complaining from day one that Switch couldn’t handle more ‘high end’ releases that came to Xbox Series X/S and even both PS4 and PS5!

Nintendo has done a fantastic job of elongating shoulder buttons and tweaking the curvature of control grips to ensure that the increased size doesn’t impact on comfort in-hand when playing in portable mode, as well as being suitable for those with smaller hands. Everything has been carefully readjusted, moderately modified, and in some cases completely rethought – even down to seemingly minor aspects such as the shape of the speaker area to allow for sound to better reach your ears! It might look like not much has been done, but once playing Switch 2 for a prolonged period and going back to the very first Switch model, the differences are quite stark indeed.

In terms of user interface, everything is as clear and well laid out as before, but streamlined further, especially when it comes to accessing games via the eShop. Nintendo has made it so as many titles as possible can quickly and easily be found, discovered, searched for, added to favourites, and even suggests titles that might tickle your fancy based on personalised tastes.

Mix in the wonder of Game Chat to engage with people around the world, plus the fact that some titles can now even be shared with others whilst using the chat function for multiplayer goodness and letting others sample gaming offerings they might otherwise not have looked into, and the slogan of being able to play ‘all together, anytime, anywhere’ is definitely a reality now. Battery life is standard, with between two and six-to-seven hours maximum, dependent on the title being played and other functions used, and the screen – whilst not OLED – has such a crisp feel that brings even older Switch releases a new lease of life, and seems to be slightly better when played outside from early trials, with slightly less screen glare/reflection. It’s hard to find fault with the new console, and it even feels much sturdier overall, with the magnetic Joy-Con and locking system in place feeling stronger than the old rails.

Whether you’re playing with the Joy-Con 2, complete with newly devised wrist-straps attached, or the Switch 2 Pro Controller with its extra remappable GL and GR buttons on the back, trying out motion controls with the improved gyroscopes included, or dipping into the PC realms with MouseCon functionality (which even works well when used on your lap!), Switch 2 is as accessible as it could possibly be, suiting all styles of gamers. Even the kickstand has been revamped so that it’s much more flexible and sturdier than ever before.