I have actually been playing the Nintendo Switch 2 for 2 weeks. Is it worth the buzz?

The Nintendo Switch 2 has a lot to live up to. It's the follower to the hugely popular Nintendo Switch, which has offered over 152 million systems, dwarfing the popularity of nearly every other home video gaming console in history. The only 2 exceptions are the PlayStation 2, which offered about 160 million units and the Nintendo DS, which sold around 154 million systems.

It's been 8 years considering that the Switch introduced, and the video gaming industry has changed. Handheld video gaming consoles are popular among gamers, with rivals like the Steam Deck OLED offering a robust experience with a massive library of PC games. Economic unpredictability has actually likewise changed the video gaming market, with brands and items throughout all markets fluctuating in cost due to possible tariffs.

I'm the tech press reporter at NBC Select, and I have actually been a player my entire life. I've owned Nintendo consoles, consisting of the Nintendo Switch, for the majority of that time. And I have actually been playing with the Switch 2 considering that launch day. My take? It's tame by Nintendo's standards (and history), however it's a beneficial upgrade to an effective formula.

selectThe Nintendo Switch 2 is here - what to know whether you're unpacking or including to haul

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What is the Nintendo Switch 2?

Nintendo Switch 2 (Out of Stock)

- Larger, more comprehensive screen

- More comfortable hardware

- Vastly enhanced efficiency


- Worse battery life

- Very few brand-new video games (yet).


The Nintendo Switch 2 is the follower to the initial Nintendo Switch, and when you initially look at the console it works similar way. It's still a portable gaming console with detachable controllers that attach to the side of the screen. It still has a docking station that, when plugged in, links the console to your TV screen. And it can still play Nintendo Switch video games, in addition to brand new Switch 2 titles like Mario Kart World. You can even use Nintendo Switch controllers wirelessly with the Nintendo Switch 2.

Dive a little much deeper though, and you'll discover that the Nintendo Switch 2 is really various from the original. It's larger in nearly every way: the screen is bigger (7.9-inches, up from 6.2), the controllers are larger, the kickstand is larger and even the TV dock is larger.

The most significant modifications are internal. In handheld mode, the screen can display a more comprehensive, vivid, and smoother image thanks to 1080p resolution (up from 720p), 120Hz revitalize rate (up from 60Hz), and assistance for high dynamic range (HDR) - all these enhancements assist games look more detailed and feel more smooth while playing. The console likewise features 256GB of internal storage, up from 32GB in the initial.

My experience with the Nintendo Switch 2

The Nintendo Switch 2 is a relatively tame sequel to the original. This is typical for every other video game business, however for Nintendo, who has a history of releasing really various video gaming consoles each generation (keep in mind the Wii and the Wii U), it's surprising how comparable the Nintendo Switch 2 is to the original.

I think that's an advantage. I (together with millions of others), enjoyed the initial Nintendo Switch, and am pleased the Switch 2 upgrades and refines a winning formula. It's some of the most enjoyable I have actually had playing video games in years, and is a convenient package for anybody who values mobility and versatility.

What I like

Bigger, better screen

When I played portable mode on the initial Switch, I constantly felt like I was missing out on the "real experience" of playing the video game. Games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and even Mario Kart 8 Deluxe felt confined and underwhelming on the original's Switch's 6.2-inch, 720p screen. Maybe I'm just ruined from playing PC video games on cinemas, however I could not picture playing video games like Elden Ring portable on Switch.

I do not feel in this manner with the Switch 2: I have actually played a handful of video games on its bigger, more detailed screen, and didn't ever feel like I was getting a diminished experience. Games throughout all categories look and feel better to play compared to the initial.

Better hardware style

Bigger remains in reality much better this time around. The larger Switch 2 Joy-Con 2s are more comfy to hold, both together in the Joy-Con 2 Grip and split in half for multiplayer video games. The larger kickstand really works, and is perfect for tabletop video gaming. I can not overstate just how much better the kickstand is on the Switch 2 compared to the too small, too wobbly original Switch kickstand. I also enjoy that there are charging ports on the bottom and top of the console now - the leading port makes it much simpler to charge the console while playing it. All this, assembled, makes the Switch 2 feel more polished to utilize compared to the initial.

Improved efficiency everywhere

The brand-new internals of the Switch 2 are vastly more powerful than the initial Switch, and you can feel it everywhere. Nearly everything on the Switch 2 feels smoother and more responsive than the original. Switch 1 games like Pokemon Violet feel totally different on the Switch 2. The video game loads quicker, plays smoother and never lags or hiccups throughout intense action. For video games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, you can buy a $10 Upgrade Pack that enhances the resolution and frame rate, but even without this, the improvements are visible. Even little things, like scanning the home menu and Nintendo eShop feel more responsive.

It brings individuals together

When I state the Switch 2 brings people together, I'm not discussing the brand-new GameChat function, although GameChat is a vast enhancement over Nintendo's previous online interaction tools.

Nintendo video games tend to bring people together in a manner others simply do not (Think Mario Party, Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros., Pokemon Go). The Nintendo Switch 2 continues that tradition. Everyone I understand wanted to experiment with the brand-new console, play games together and just hang out, whether they played their original Switch yesterday or haven't touched a video game in years. Playing Mario Kart World at the NBC Select workplace was a few of the most enjoyable I have actually had at work, and I understand I am not alone because viewpoint.

Sure, it may not be as practical as something like a smartwatch or set of over-ear earphones, but video games are expected to be enjoyable, and Nintendo provides.

Potential disadvantages to bear in mind

There aren't a great deal of new games (yet)

There aren't many brand-new games special to the Nintendo Switch 2 at the time of writing: it's generally Mario Kart World and Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. Nearly every other game offered for the Switch 2 is also offered on another gaming console like PC, PlayStation 5 or the initial Switch. This isn't unexpected to me - an absence of new video games is typical for any brand-new video gaming console launch. If you desire a load of brand name brand-new video games to play, you may wish to wait a year or more before buying the Switch 2.

Worse battery life

The initial Switch had a battery life that lasted in between 4.5 and 9 hours. The Switch 2's battery life is rated in between 2 and 6.5 hours. That's a considerable distinction compared to the original, however it doesn't amaze me, given the much bigger screen and increased performance. Competitors like the Steam Deck OLED get between three and 12 hours of battery life, so, depending on the video games you're playing, it's not much better.

You must get a case

I purchased a case for my original Nintendo Switch instantly, however I know a couple of people who didn't. The console wasn't too huge, and might slide into a bag or backpack without much hassle. Because the Switch 2 and its screen is so much bigger, I would think twice to throw it in a knapsack without a case - there's a likelihood things in your bag might potentially scratch the screen. The Switch 2 comes out of package with a screen protector built-in, but I promptly began using the thin and basic Belkin Travel Case for Nintendo Switch 2 with mine.

It runs out stock all over

Unsurprisingly, the Nintendo Switch 2 runs out stock online at a lot of retailers. If you desire the brand-new console as soon as possible, your best choice is going to a shop in-person. I would expect more online schedule in a year or 2, in addition to more brand-new video games to play.

Related

selectThe best Nintendo Switch video games for every type of player

Should you get a Nintendo Switch 2?

The Switch 2 is a worthwhile upgrade to the original, and video games like Mario Kart World are a lots of fun to play with friends. If you currently have the initial Nintendo Switch, I do not see any reason to buy the Nintendo Switch 2 right now - I would wait a year or 2 for more special video games to launch. That stated, I would not purchase the initial Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch OLED at this time - your cash will go a lot even more in the long run putting it towards the Nintendo Switch 2, which will matter for many years to come.

Why trust NBC Select?

I am a press reporter at NBC Select who covers innovation and fitness including current stories on point-and-shoot electronic cameras, smartwatches, running shoes and more. I have actually covered the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 since launch, and have actually been utilizing the brand-new console for the previous couple of weeks. For this piece, I compared it to the initial and evaluated its features and games by myself and with friends.