Nintendo Switch 2 review

Full review

The Switch 2 keeps the idea that made the original a hit: one console that works as a handheld, on a table or docked to the TV. Nintendo's specifications give it a 7.9-inch LCD at 1920 by 1080 with HDR10 and variable refresh rate up to 120 Hz. In TV mode it can output up to 4K at 60 fps, and 120 fps at 1080p or 1440p.

It weighs about 401 g, or 534 g with the Joy-Con 2 controllers attached, which is light for a screen this size. Battery life is quoted as roughly 2 to 6.5 hours depending on the game, so demanding titles will need a charger within reach. Storage is 256 GB, and expansion needs microSD Express cards, which are more expensive than standard microSD cards.

Backward compatibility is simple: the console accepts both Switch 2 and original Switch game cards. The online side is Nintendo Switch Online, which covers online play, cloud saves and classic games, with an Expansion Pack tier that adds more retro libraries and, on Switch 2, GameCube games.

It is the most obvious pick for children and for shared household play, because the Joy-Con 2 controllers make local multiplayer easy straight out of the box. If you want the sharpest picture or the biggest third-party library, a PlayStation or Xbox may suit better.