Nintendo Switch 2 is the best console upgrade I’ve ever seen
It has now been 4 days since Nintendo Switch 2 launched and I’m pretty stoked by it. The original Switch was an incredibly successful console for Nintendo with an incredible library of games and a genius hybrid system which has made gaming more accessible to people, it’s no wonder that you are looking to upgrade your console. I managed to pick one up at a midnight launch and have been playing with the console and getting a measure of how it all works since then and these are my honest thoughts and initial impressions about Nintendo Switch 2.
Improved hardware with better finish
There’s always something special about taking a brand new console out of the box and you only get to experience it once when you first purchase your new and shiny gaming system. The first thing that hit me when I first opened the box was just how big the screen is with my first words quite literally being “Oh my god, it’s huge!”
There is a noticeable size difference from Nintendo Switch to Nintendo Switch 2, and if you never had an OLED like me it will be incredibly obvious how much of a difference there is between the two consoles. Nintendo Switch 2 does have a bigger screen than the OLED, but it is also slightly heavier which is noticeable when you first hold it. Whilst the Switch 2 is bigger than I expected, it is still significantly smaller than a Steam Deck so you don’t have to worry about the size if you have smaller hands.
When you get into gameplay, the bigger screen is definitely noticeable as there is more on display than you may be used to from Nintendo Switch and I did find during gameplay that I had to change the way I hold the Switch 2 so that it was better supported because of the additional weight, but it felt good to hold and I was really impressed given my initial concerns about Switch 2 being too big.
From there, it was a case of putting on the Joy-Con 2 which are the new and improved controllers originally designed for Nintendo Switch. The Switch 2 versions are significantly longer to match the increased size of the screen.
Attaching the Joy-Con 2 is incredibly simple as they connect with magnets at the side of the screen. My initial concerns about the magnets not being strong enough to maintain the connection with the Joy-Con 2 have been allayed as these magnets are really powerful and you feel the tug of the magnet long before you get to placing the Joy-Con 2 in the grooves on the console. Removing them is also really easy with a release button on the back of each Joy-Con. This is tucked out of the way of regular gameplay so you aren’t going to be bumping into this accidently whilst you are gaming which is great news if you are a little clumsy.
One thing that did happen to me when I first took the console out of the box was I managed to attach the Joy-Con 2 onto the console upside down and I didn’t notice until I tried to find the power button and had no idea where it was. The console will take the controllers both upside down and back to front, whether or not they work in these other modes, I’m not sure but the quick release didn’t do any damage to the console and I was able to continue as normal once I got the Joy-Con on the right way around. Having looked around online, it also seems like I wasn’t the only person to run into this issue so that is something to keep in mind when you get your Nintendo Switch 2.
I also noticed that the sound of the Joy-Con attaching to Nintendo Switch 2 is different. Gone is the click sound which is made when the original Joy-Con attach to the console. Now, the sound is more of, and go with me when I describe this, a whacking clunk sound. This is probably a testament to the magnets and how the new and updated Joy-Con fit in flush to the system rather than having a slight gap between them. It does give the impression that the build quality is stronger and better than its predecessor which I really appreciate but it is going to take some time for me to get used to it no longer being a click.
Then I went into taking a look at the Nintendo Switch 2 dock which is definitely more attractive to look at than the original dock. It features cleaner and more rounded edges which give a premium feel. The housing itself is still plastic covered, but there’s a bit more of a robust feeling to the Nintendo Switch 2 dock which I really like. When it came to set up though, I did run into a really big issue. I couldn’t work out where the cables went in. Eventually, I realised that the back case pops off and this is where you attach your power cable, HDMI and a much needed ethernet cable so if you want a wired internet connection, you can now get one on a Nintendo Switch console.
Speaking of cables, something else that is worth noting is the location of a new USB C slot on the top of the console, this is where you will attach accessories or you can use this slot to charge Nintendo Switch 2. I am so grateful to see this on a handheld console as trying to charge up the original Nintendo Switch and game at the same time was a bit of a pain if you weren’t able to dock it. What is worth pointing out is that, unlike the bottom USB C slot, the one on top is not central. This isn’t a big deal in daylight, but when I was trying to charge it up late at night with no lights on, I actually slightly scuffed the fans in the top of the console as I was trying to get the adaptor to plug in the middle of the console which is a bit frustrating as a design choice, but I understand why this decision has been made.
On the top of the console is also the physical game card slot located in the same place as you will be used to on Nintendo Switch. However, on Nintendo Switch 2, this is a bit different. Gone is the cheap plastic lid which could very easily be bent back and snapped off if you weren’t careful with it. This has now been replaced with a new mechanism which you need to lift up from the back. The lid itself stays attached to this mechanism and, as a result, I found that it was quite fiddly to insert a game card whilst holding this open. I can’t say this is my favourite way to insert game cards, but as I have a small library of physical games, I don’t think this will be a huge problem for me going forwards.
The final small new feature on Nintendo Switch 2 is the kickstand which you open up to keep the console upright in tabletop mode. I don’t know about you, but I rarely played my Nintendo Switch in tabletop mode and that was partly because the kickstand was a flimsy piece which could become detached and loose really easily. Nintendo Switch 2 has improved on this making it wider and run the full length of the console which is similar to the style of Nintendo Switch OLED. It also folds backwards so that you can lay your console down to almost 180 degrees which is a nice feature to have if you are someone who plays the console in tabletop primarily.
Generally speaking, the look and the feel of the console itself is great. It has a nicer feel to it, but there are still some decisions made with the body of the console which I would like to see improved on in future iterations. Overall, it does feel noticeably bigger and has a smoother finish to it than Nintendo Switch which I really like. The weight of it feels more premium and robust than the original and I can see the console lasting me well into the next generation of Nintendo consoles.
Games look amazing on Nintendo Switch 2
But, it’s not just the physical changes to the console which have been improved, there is a significant performance increase as well under the hood which makes for an amazing gaming experience.
From playtesting a bunch of my digital games, I’ve found that even without purchasing upgrade packs, games are significantly brighter and have richer colours due to the increase in graphical fidelity offered by the HDR LCD screen and the games are also loading much quicker and run faster on Nintendo Switch 2. Testing some of the busy parts of my Animal Crossing islands, I’ve found that there is a lot more smoothness in character movements on Nintendo Switch 2 which is amazing to see.
I haven’t been able to test the docked performance so far, but when I am able to get a chance, I will add this in. What I do know is that the games are now running at 4K60 when docked and I’m excited to see that happen on a big screen. However, even playing handheld, where I had originally thought I wouldn’t see a difference in performance between Switch 1 and 2, I can honestly tell you that there is a noticeable difference and you will see it for yourself if you do go down the route of purchasing a new console.
I also found that screenshots and videos are quicker to take and save as well. This is amazing for me as I’m constantly saving videos and photos from Animal Crossing so with that sped up a bit, I’m a very happy camper.
The audio has also been significantly improved on Nintendo Switch 2. The console speakers have improved massively and the sound is nice and crisp. I also plugged in my headphones for a moment to test what the sound was like if you found yourself in a busy and noisy environment and it was still really clear. Nintendo did reveal that Switch 2 has 3D audio which I was really skeptical about because when I’ve seen this be implemented in other games across platforms, I’ve found it doesn’t work. However, when I was trying out Mario Kart World, I noticed that when I had the headphones plugged in I could hear what the other racers were doing with the sound seeming to come from behind me. It was disorienting for a while but it is a nice feature if you are looking for a more immersive gaming experience.
Battery wise, Nintendo has given the Switch 2 a 2-5 hour battery life which many people have been concerned about because that is a decrease from Switch OLED. From my own tests, sadly I’m finding that the battery doesn’t last as long as I would expect. I’ve even found the battery draining a surprising amount when I’ve had the console in sleep mode with all games closed. I’m not sure why it is doing that, but it is definitely worth keeping an eye on if your battery is important to you.
Credit: Nintendo
Something else you should also factor in which surprised me is that whilst playing with the console charging on a charging cable which wasn’t a licensed Nintendo charger, I found the battery drained quicker than it was charging. So, if you are intending to purchase and you don’t have a Nintendo charger, it’s worth purchasing one if you are planning on taking your Switch 2 on the go.
Based on the performance that I’ve seen so far out of Nintendo Switch 2, I can honestly say that I’m happy with what I’ve seen so far. It is faster than its predecessor and games are performing better than I had expected and that is outside of the upgrade packs Nintendo are selling.
Improved Joy-Con and controllers
Controls wise, the new Joy-Con 2 are really good and I feel like they are a huge improvement on the original Joy-Con. The character movement feels more precise and the physical movement of the joy sticks feels more fluid, requiring less pushing to move a character. The feel is more like a smoother glide than on the original Joy-Con but there is still a nice tactile feel to them.
The buttons on Joy-Con 2 are also bigger overall which is more noticeable in the shoulder buttons and I’m grateful for this as the original Switch Joy-Con buttons were on the small side which were difficult to press when you were playing multiplayer and had passed one of the Joy-Con to another player. The front facing buttons are also noticeably bigger and way more pronounced on Nintendo Switch 2. This isn’t a problem per se and it is much easier to ensure you have clicked the right button, but I did find that my fingers were catching slightly where I wasn’t used to the difference. This quickly passed though.
What for me is a massive downside of the Joy-Con 2 is the location of the C button on the right Joy-Con 2. This is a new button for Nintendo Switch 2 and it is used exclusively to access GameChat but because it’s the same size and shape as the screenshot button and feels similar to the Home button which is located slightly higher up the right controller, I have found myself pressing the GameChat button multiple times with the intent of exiting out of a game. This is less of a problem in daylight when you can see the buttons, but in low light or night time play, it is more common for me to mistakenly open GameChat.
The size of the Joy-Con overall is a good upgrade and I’m definitely going to be enjoying them whilst I’m playing in handheld, but where I think Nintendo have made massive improvements is in the new Pro Controller. If you are someone who prefers the look and feel of a traditional controller, then the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller is a must have accessory for you.
Design wise, it’s not much different to the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. The only way to tell the design apart at a distance is by the grey white panel that the Switch 2 Pro Controller has on the top of it. It is noticeably lighter than the Switch Pro Controller and feels like it’s made from a different plastic. There isn’t the same textured grip on the new version of the Pro Controller which makes it feel like it’s going to slide out of my hands more easily, but from testing it out, I’ve actually quite liked the feel of it over all.
There is also the inclusion of two new paddle style buttons located on the arms of the controller which you can programme for different games. So far, I haven’t seen anything which really uses these buttons effectively, but maybe that will change in the future with more games being launched.
What I do really like on the Switch 2 Pro Controller which is going to make it my number one controller outside of handheld mode is the fact that the GameChat button is in the bottom of the controller and is out of the way from everything else so I’m way less likely to hit this accidentally.
Another thing which has also been included on the new Pro Controller is a headphone jack which is amazing to see. My guess is that you will be able to plug in wired headsets which have microphones as part of them given how Nintendo is pushing GameChat functions for Switch 2, but I haven’t yet been able to test that.
Is a new Pro Controller 100% necessary to enjoy your time with Nintendo Switch 2? Not really, it is a nice accessory to have and it’s one of those things which will enhance my own gameplay. You can use Switch 1 Pro Controllers with Nintendo Switch 2, but it’s worth pointing out that these will not wake your Switch 2 console in the same way as they would for Nintendo Switch. So, if that’s something which is really important to you, you may want to consider upgrading. Otherwise though, there isn’t a huge amount of difference between the two controllers for me to say that the new Pro Controller is necessary right now.
Home Screen & GameChat
Taking a look at the home screen, you will see the visual differences straight away between Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. The new design is more rounded and has a cleaner look to the familiar design despite the bottom bar being more cluttered with options.
I actually really like this look and feel which is more colourful than the original Switch, but what I did notice is that we still only have a light and dark theme to choose from. There are no other themes available which makes me think that Nintendo will carry on with the lack of personalisation through to the next generation.
There are a couple of things I wanted to look at in here with the first one being GameChat. Now, I’ll make it clear that I won’t be using GameChat at all but as someone who takes the protection of children online pretty seriously, I have a lot of concerns about how Nintendo is implementing this and how they intend to keep vulnerable users safe during the initial period where it is free for everyone.
What I was pleased to see is that during the set up mode, you have to go through a phone number verification before you can use GameChat and from going through the set up mode further, you are told that GameChat is only possible to do with approved friends and you approve the access for each friend which is amazing to see. My guess is that in the case of children’s accounts, Nintendo will send the request to a parent or guardian to approve instead, which is great news as I was worried about getting notifications all over the place to join GameChats when I just want to play in peace. So, I’m glad this has been thought through and implemented ahead of the console launch.
Nintendo eShop is actually good now
Where most of the improvements have come to the home screen of the Switch 2 are in the Nintendo eShop and honestly, this couldn’t come any sooner or more needed! My overall impressions of the eShop are that it’s so much better organised and feels more like a place where you can browse games more easily than you could on Nintendo Switch. The lag when loading games is still there but it’s improved so much that for many games, it loads within a couple of seconds of you pressing on a sub menu which is amazing to see.
There’s a new For You tab which allows you to see personalised games which you may be interested in based on what you have played and what your friends have played. These change every Sunday and you can add games straight to your wishlist or see in more detail. From what I’ve seen so far, it works really well. I have found a few games which I can honestly say I’m interested in that I may purchase in the future so I’m pleased that this is now working well.
The Wishlist tab has also been improved so when you first open the eShop it will tell you how many games are on sale on your wishlist which is great to see. I’ve also noticed that the font and styling of the pricing is much clearer and easier to read so you can more easily spot a good deal on the pricing which I’m really pleased to see as well.
The other thing which I noticed was new is that when you look through some of the long lists of games if you pause over a game for a short period of time a game trailer will load up for you to watch through. This is so nice to have because now you can see what you think of a game before you load into it for more details rather than just seeing the cover art and not really knowing what games are right for you.
Accessibility in Nintendo Switch 2
I also wanted to take a look at the accessibility options for Nintendo Switch 2 and I’m pleased to say that there are way more features available for you to adapt than there were on Nintendo Switch. On Switch 2, there is a sub menu in settings for accessibility which makes it way easier for you to customise your experience
The big one is that you can change the button mapping within the main settings of Nintendo Switch 2. You can opt to do this from here or in the quick menu. All you need to do is select the controller you want to remap and press change. This will allow you to change any of the buttons to be what makes sense for you. You can also swap A & B buttons around so if you are used to the xbox layout of your main action button being at the bottom of the configuration, you can swap this out. However, to find this, you have to go to Controllers & Accessories and then scroll down to the bottom. You can also disable mouse controls if you don’t want to use these under the same screen as swapping the A & B buttons, but it is pointed out that even if you do disable them, mouse controls may still be usable in supported software.
Outside of controls, the other accessibility features mentioned here are to manipulate the text including the size and making it bold. You can turn on a zoom feature which was also available on Nintendo Switch where double tapping the home button will show you the screen in a bigger format. There’s also high contrast mode if you need more help with seeing text and options more clearly. There are also audio accessibility options as well which you can enable including text to speech with separate sliders for the speed and volume of this as well as mono audio if you need it.
What I am slightly disappointed to not see as an accessibility feature which is available on the system that is available on other consoles is the option to have subtitles turned on automatically in games. This is one of the big ones I like to turn on in games to be able to support my understanding of what is happening in the game, but I understand that it’s not too difficult to turn this feature on in games where I do need it and that a lot of the games I typically play don’t feature characters which talk so subtitles wouldn’t be necessary in those games. However, it would be nice to see Nintendo bring an option to turn on subtitles in the future.
Summary
Overall, I do think Nintendo Switch 2 is an amazing console. After having my beloved Nintendo Switch for 8 years, it was certainly showing its age and definitely needed an upgrade. Is this console the perfect option for you? It really depends. If you’ve had a Nintendo Switch or a Switch Lite, you are really going to notice the difference and it’s well worth going for a Switch 2 if you really want it. If you are coming from an OLED, you may not see a huge amount of difference in terms of graphics, but when it comes to performance, you will definitely see the difference.
I’m impressed with the hardware overall and I’m really excited to see what the future of Animal Crossing brings. I have been playing a lot of games already on Nintendo Switch 2 and if you want to hear more about what my thoughts are on the games available stick around for a review of Mario Kart World coming soon. And I’ll see you in the next one.
