After spending significant time with the Nintendo Switch 2, our team has formed some distinct impressions. It’s undoubtedly an upgrade over its predecessor, bringing welcome technical improvements and refined hardware. And yet, it hasn’t entirely delivered the groundbreaking surprise we’ve sometimes come to expect from Nintendo. It feels like a Switch, only better – but notably, not universally better for everyone or in every scenario.
Join us as we explore our experiences with Nintendo’s latest console, diving into the pros, cons, and what this means for the future of gaming.
The Switch 2 Experience: Improved Performance
Where the Switch 2 undeniably shines is in raw performance and visual fidelity for many games. Titles built for the new hardware, or updated to take advantage of its capabilities, show tangible improvements. Games like the remastered Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Army and Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time demonstrate clearer visuals, often targeting sharper resolutions around 1080p, and significantly smoother gameplay aiming for 60 frames per second in modes where the original Switch might have hovered around 720p and closer to 30fps, particularly in handheld mode.
Beyond resolution and frame rate, the Switch 2 can offer enhanced graphical features, including improved shadow quality and increased object render distance in games that are optimized for it. Load times have also seen substantial reductions on the new console, often cutting seconds off transitions compared to the original hardware. These are concrete, noticeable upgrades that make playing compatible games a more fluid and visually appealing experience.
Design, Controllers, and Portability
The overall design of the Switch 2 feels familiar, building upon the successful hybrid concept. Refined hardware elements, including an updated Pro Controller, offer comfortable and precise input. Traveling with the console remains a core part of the experience, allowing gaming on the go. However, as a device meant for portability, certain aspects come under scrutiny.
Facing the Battery Life Reality
One area causing debate and some frustration among early users is battery life. While Nintendo officially rates the Switch 2 battery life at approximately 2 to 6.5 hours depending on the game and usage, this compares unfavorably to the 4.5 to 9 hours quoted for the original Switch and Switch OLED models.
Real-world tests appear to support this shorter duration. Comparisons running demanding titles side-by-side have shown the Switch 2 powering down significantly sooner than older models. For instance, tests running games like Super Mario Odyssey have indicated the Switch 2 lasting less than three hours, while the Switch OLED could last nearly double that time under similar conditions.
While Nintendo has acknowledged a potential bug that can cause the battery display to show an inaccurate remaining charge, suggesting steps like ensuring the latest software is installed and potentially resetting the meter via recovery mode, practical usage tests indicate the console’s actual endurance can indeed be significantly shorter than its predecessors. For extended play sessions away from an outlet, a high-capacity power bank becomes less of an accessory and more of a necessity, adding bulk to the portable experience.
The Game Library and What’s Next
The success of any console hinges on its games. The Switch 2 launches with a mix of new titles and enhanced versions of existing ones. Games designed specifically for the hardware showcase its potential, while updates to cross-generation titles, like the patches for Fantasy Life i, demonstrate how existing experiences can be improved with faster performance and new features post-launch.
Looking ahead, the promise of future game releases designed with the Switch 2 in mind holds the key to unlocking its full potential and perhaps delivering those truly “game-changing” experiences that showcase the console’s unique capabilities or power.
The Broader Handheld Landscape
The gaming world has evolved significantly since the original Switch launched. The Switch 2 doesn’t exist in a vacuum, now competing with powerful handheld PCs like the Xbox Ally X and Steam Deck, which offer access to vast PC libraries but come with their own trade-offs in terms of battery life, complexity, and price. This raises broader questions about the state of console gaming, including the increasing cost of both hardware and software. Is the current business model sustainable, or is it time for a change? These are pressing questions facing the industry as a whole.
Our Early Take
Our time with the Nintendo Switch 2 confirms it’s a capable successor, offering welcome boosts in performance and visuals for many games and retaining the beloved hybrid form factor. However, challenges like noticeably shorter battery life prevent it from feeling like a universal upgrade or the revolutionary leap some fans might have hoped for. It’s a solid evolution of a winning formula, refined in many ways, but with specific drawbacks that are important for potential buyers to consider.
