Pondering whether you should upgrade your TV for the Switch 2? I've been asking myself the same question in the lead up to the new console's launch, and I'm not just looking for an excuse to buy a new living room display. There's no better reason to upgrade your TV than buying a new games console or PC to play it through, and even if Switch 2 might not be the most powerful device out of the lot, there are still benefits of playing on an up-to-date screen.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is capable of better visual fidelity than the previous Switch, and thank goodness. Playing a 1080p upscaled game on a 4K TV up until now has been dicey, depending on how much you care about those jaggy lines. But the sequel makes much better use of the best gaming TVs. Switch 2 is 4K capable, has HDR support, and even a 120Hz mode for those of us who prefer a higher-refresh rate gaming experience.
Technically speaking, you don't need a TV at all to play Switch 2. Sure, the handheld comes with a dock that boasts HDMI output, but you could simply treat it like a portable console and avoid external screens altogether. That said, if you're planning some big Mario Kart nights in the future or just want to kick back on the couch and enjoy the next Zelda game in 4K, you'll want to start thinking about whether your trusty old television is up to the task.
Do you need a 4K TV for Switch 2?
It might be 2025, but you don't need a 4K TV to play Switch 2. Using a UHD display with new consoles naturally comes with benefits, but if you're still rocking an old HD display or a Quad HD gaming monitor, you'll be able to use Nintendo's latest console with those screens just fine. Simply put, you won't be forced to use handheld mode upon freeing Ninty's new gadget from its cardboard prison, as even TVs from two decades ago should technically work just fine.
Will the Switch 2 look good on a 1080p TV? Well, it all depends on the size of your display. Smaller screens can get away with using higher resolutions since the pixels will be less visible at a distance, and even the PS5 Pro looks fairly nice on full HD gaming monitors if you stick to under 27 inches.
However, for those of you looking for an excuse to upgrade your screen, a 4K gaming TV is naturally where this console is going to be most at home. Kicking back on the couch while staring into a generously-sized 4K TV is the natural habitat of console gamers, after all. A gaming monitor at a desk would work equally as well though, with 120Hz refresh rates and the Joy-Con 2 mouse features satiating the PC gaming market.
Don't forget that 4K TVs are now the standard, and they're getting so much cheaper. A standard 55-inch, LED, 60Hz, 4K TV would cost you around $500 / £500 back in 2020, when the PS5 launched. For the same specs now, you could spend less than $300. The market does admittedly go way higher than that if you want a higher refresh rate, a bigger size, or you want to invest in OLED tech. If the Switch 2 is adding just another reason for you to upgrade your TV, maybe it's your time to start looking for a deal. I'd certainly recommend it to anyone who plans to use their TV for more than just the Switch 2.
Will Switch 2 work with 120Hz TVs?
Now that consoles are able to boost fps to new heights, 120Hz gaming TVs are becoming all the rage. That's not to say support extends to every release, but shooters like Overwatch 2 can run at 4K 120fps on the PS5 and Xbox Series X. In theory, the Nintendo Switch 2 can also take advantage of high refresh rates, but I'm not convinced you should buy a 120Hz specifically for it. Even on a PS5, 120Hz modes within games really do a detriment to the visual fidelity you'll see. It's a sacrifice for the faster refresh rate, and the bigger the screen, the more noticeable that drop in quality will be.
The Switch 2's 120Hz mode will only work in docked mode at 1080p, so you're hardly going to get the best bang for your buck out of a 4K 144Hz panel like the LG OLED C4. At 4K, you're only going to be able to output up to 60fps, so spending big on a 120Hz may not be worth it for you.
Luckily, the HDR support will ensure colors are nice and rich if you have a compatible display. In our opinion, this might be the feature to invest in if you're specifically upgrading your display for Switch 2. Especially since VRR isn't actually supported in docked mode.
Should you use an OLED TV with Switch 2?
I'm a huge fan of OLED gaming TVs, and the panel-type would feature in my dream Switch 2 setup. Since most of Ninty's own adventures are cartoon capers with vibrant fantastic worlds to explore, aiming for elevated contrast and colors makes a lot of sense. The only problem is that some of the best options out there, like the LG OLED G4, will run you well over $2,000 for a 55-inch model, and even the cheapest panels come in at around the grand mark.
If you've been using an older LED TV up till now, I'd argue that you could upgrade to mini LED and still give Switch 2 visuals a glow-up. Features like local dimming will help improve contrast tenfold, not to mention colors will look notably nicer compared to yesteryear's LCD setups. I had a blast playing Mario Kart 8 on the OG Switch using the 65-inch Hisense U7N, and I can only imagine the Switch 2 would look even more striking on the affordable display.
Of course, if you've been rocking a Switch OLED all this time, you might be used to exploring Nintendo's wonderful worlds on a screen with elevated vibrancy. That could lead you to thinking things look a bit meh in handheld mode, and using an external screen with the same panel capabilities could make up for the console's integrated display shortcomings. That's not to say the Switch 2's screen will be inherently bad, but you might miss those inky blacks and richer color pallets.
Do you really need to upgrade your TV for the Switch 2?
As I've already touched on, you don't need to upgrade your TV if you pick up a Switch 2. There are various reasons why you might want a new display, especially if you've yet to invest in a 4K display. But, as long as you've got a screen with an HDMI input, Nintendo's new console should work just fine.
If you do decide to grab a new gaming TV for your Switch 2, I'd start off by looking at mini LED screens with an affordable price tag. Chances are that you're currently using an aging LCD model if you've not upgraded your panel in a few years, and even the shorter leap to QLED will provide you with an evenly lit screen, improved colors, and better sharpness overall.
Opting for an OLED display will ultimately take your Switch 2 visuals to the next level, effectively helping the new hardware look its best with tremendous colors, contrast, and even tricks like micro lens array (MLA) tech if you go for a premium LG model. It's a bit too early to tell if the inherent faster refresh rates of expensive displays will come in handy too, but picking up a 120Hz or even 144Hz screen will futureproof your setup overall.
Looking for more displays? Swing by the best TV for PS5 and Xbox Series X and the best 4K TV for gaming. Alternatively, check out the best 120Hz 4K TVs for a selection of faster panels.
