2025 marks the dawn of a new era for Nintendo, and now we've finally got a look at its brand-new console, the Switch 2. On January 16, Nintendo unleashed its official reveal trailer for the exciting new handheld and gave us a first look at the system. Now, with launch day staring us in the face, it's time to compare how the new console stacks up against what's come before.
At a quick glance, the Nintendo Switch 2 will be just as we expected - featuring a larger screen, magnetically detaching Joy-Con, and a few updated gaming features. The initial trailer was mainly focused on the Switch 2 design, but now we know that it's got a lot more hiding behind its resemblance than we initially thought. Mouse features for the Joy-Con controllers, 120Hz modes, Game Chat, and more are all reasons you might be excited for the latest Nintendo console, but is it worth the investment versus the original?
Do you really need to upgrade? Or will your OG Switch keep trucking on for now? We've rounded up all the on-paper battles and used our experience of hands-on time with the new Switch to give you the play-by-play of this battle.
TL;DR Nintendo Switch 2 vs Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch 2
- Larger screen
- Magnetic Joy-Con
- Backwards compatibility
- Slimmer shape
- Redesigned stand
- Taller controllers
- Sensors seem to be on top of Joy-Cons
Nintendo Switch
- Smaller screen
- Joy-Con on rails
- Thicker design
- Shorter stand with smaller angles
- Shorter Joy-Con
- 1x IR sensor on right controller
Nintendo Switch 2 vs Nintendo Switch: Display
The Nintendo Switch 2 display is, in fact, larger than the original device. It sports an LCD display that can hit 1080p and 120Hz. It may not be the OLED successor some Switch OLED owners will have been hoping for, but it does have HDR support, which may offset your disappointment.
The Switch 2's display increases up to 7.9 inches from the 7-inch screen on the original Switch. It has a peak brightness of up to 400 nits, which clearly takes the cake against the original Switch. HDR10 is also impressive for a handheld console.
In docked mode, it can reach up to 4K60 as well, which is a nice bonus for anyone who got sick of looking at upscaled 720p content on their 4K TV during the original Switch era.
Nintendo Switch 2 vs Nintendo Switch: Joy-Cons
The Joy-Con have had a glow-up. The new Switch 2 Joy-Cons have been stretched into a taller form factor than the previous model's to fit that larger display. That should make for a more comfortable hold overall, especially with the slimmer silhouette and more rounded edges.
The thumbsticks now have a blue/orange hue to the base, and although they've said publicly that the thumbsticks have been redesigned from the ground up, they have refused at every turn to call them Hall Sensor sticks. That's a big worry, because stick drift has not only been a massive problem for players of the original Switch, but also a huge PR crisis for Nintendo. If this problem hasn't actually been fixed, a storm of angry shoppers could be forming a mob outside Nintendo's headquarters.
Face and d-pad buttons remain the same, and home and screenshot buttons are still in their standard positions. There is, however, an extra button placed underneath the Home, in a similar style to the screenshot grabber. This is the Game Chat button, which opens you up to Nintendo's new Discord-like social features.
Nintendo's updated Joy-Con controllers have mouse features, which is a big win. We've seen these used to aim in FPS games like Metroid, but we also know they can be used as a mouse to navigate menus and the like. For PC gamers who prefer this way of interfacing with their favourite games, it adds yet more versatility to the most versatile console on the shelves.
Nintendo Switch 2 vs Nintendo Switch: Battery Life
The Switch 2 has a 5,220mAh battery compared to the original Switch's 4,310mAh. Now, depending on how long you've had your Switch for, the answer for this round may change. It's estimated that after approximately 800 charging cycles, the life span of the Switch can degrade by about 80%. That means that if you've had your Switch for a while now and you're thinking about upgrading, you might not see too much of a performance uplift.
Furthermore, the Switch 2's beefier battery doesn't actually equate to a boost in lifespan. Because there are more powerful parts being used under the show, and a bigger and better light show on the screen, the number of hours you'll get out of your play sessions is actually fewer.
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | mAh | Average battery life |
Nintendo Switch | 4,310 | 4.5-9 |
Switch OLED | 4,310 | 4.5-9 |
Switch Lite | 3570 | 3-7 |
Switch 2 | 5,220 | 2-6 |
So technically, the Switch actually has a better battery life than the new Switch 2, which might not be what you're hoping to hear. That said, if you've been using your Switch for years now, it's likely your battery has degraded a bit. Thankfully, the new Switch 2 has a battery preservation feature to prolong its life.
Nintendo Switch 2 vs Nintendo Switch: Ports
The original Nintendo Switch featured a simple 3.5mm audio out and a bottom USB-C port for charging and docking. What's changed? The new Nintendo Switch 2 features both of these connections, as well as a second USB-C port along the top of the device, next to the headphone jack. Right now, the only accessories I can think of that will likely use this additional port will be gaming headsets, but there could well be more peripherals in the works that will take advantage.
Nintendo Switch 2 vs Nintendo Switch: Dock
It was never really a doubt in anyone's minds, but the Nintendo Switch 2 will be dockable. The new dock looks similar to the re-shaped version shipped with the Switch OLED in 2021, but with a slightly more severe curve around the top of the device, and additional feet placed underneath the lift the system off its surface. It has an integrated fan for optimum cooling when working hard, and it allows you to reach up to 4K 60fps while playing on a compatible screen.
The original Nintendo Switch also makes use of a Joy-Con attachment grip, which allows for easy docked play without the need for a separate controller. This is back for Switch 2, with a similarly shaped device that accommodates both new Joy-Con and their magnetic attachment system as well.
Nintendo Switch 2 vs Nintendo Switch: Kickstand
The original Nintendo Switch didn't have a great kickstand. The flimsy piece of thin plastic didn't offer the best viewing angles due to its restricted recline, and was too small to feel fully supportive of the tablet itself. That was improved in the OLED model, which offered a wider base for the system to rest upon. However, the Nintendo Switch 2 has redesigned the stand yet again.
Instead of a full plastic base, the new device uses a hollowed out ring for its tabletop mode. The reveal trailer showed this stand reclining far further than the original console or the Switch OLED's stand would allow, which means more versatility when those Joy-Con are snapped out of place. I can't think of a reason I'd want my Nintendo Switch 2 to be almost flat on the table right now, but I'm sure the opportunity will present itself.
We're also rounding up all the upcoming Switch 2 games. Or, for more on the new console, check out the Nintendo Switch 2's backwards compatibility features.
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