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It's been a long wait, but the Nintendo Switch 2 is finally here. I got mine on launch day, and at the time of writing this, I've had it for a little under a day. I've been rushing to try out all the new improvements it brings, and I have to say, this console is looking phenomenal.
Granted, you'd be hard-pressed to find a bigger Nintendo fan on the XDA team, but the Switch 2 is a huge step up from the original — and even the OLED model — in just about every way. So let's dive into the good and not-as-good of Nintendo's new console, and how the next generation is shaping up.
The build quality is immaculate
Moving up in the world
I loved the original Nintendo Switch, but over time, it became fairly easy to see where the build quality wasn't quite as great. The built-in kickstand on the original model was terrible, and I saw many units with cracked vents. Most notably, though, the Joy-Con controllers were prone to problems, and I don't mean just the infamous drifting issue. Some folks have noticed things like the locking mechanism simply not working anymore after a while. Nintendo improved this with the Switch OLED with a much sturdier stand and overall better build quality, though the Joy-Con issues, while better at first, remained a problem. I've had many instances myself where the Joy-Con are "locked", but they still move enough that they no longer connect the pins, ruining the experience.
The Switch 2 builds on the quality improvements of the Switch OLED and feels very premium all around. The matte, rough type of finish makes it feel premium, though I have to wonder how it stands up to sweaty hands over time. My hands tend to get pretty sweaty while gaming, so I'm sure I'll find out eventually. We have a wide kickstand again, making it far better than the original Switch, though the U-like design feels slightly less sturdy than the one on the Switch OLED model.
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This time, though, the improvements extend to the new Joy-Con 2. The new controllers don't use a physical locking mechanism like the original consoles did. All the magic is in the magnetic connection: magnets are hidden inside the console itself (as well as the Joy-Con 2 grip), and they draw in the SL and SR buttons on the controllers, which are made of metal this time. These are very powerful magnets, and they force the controllers to snap in with a very satisfying sound, which you can hear in this unboxing video I recorded for my personal YouTube channel. These magnets do a great job of keeping the Joy-Con firmly in place, too. Holding the console with the Joy-Con attached almost feels more like the Switch Lite with its unibody design, and not like a device with separate parts. I didn't go out of my way to try to wobble the controllers, though, and you probably shouldn't either.
That being said, with enough strength, you can remove the controllers without pressing the release button. This time around, this button just creates a single pressure point to push the controller away from the console, which makes it easier to remove. There's no physical lock that's being disengaged, just strategically applied force.
Even when removed from the console, the new Joy-Con 2 controllers feel a lot better than the originals. Having more metal parts may help, but there's significantly more weight in these new controllers, and it helps them feel more substantial. It's just an improvement in every metric compared to the original Switch.
It is worth mentioning here that the screen is made of glass, but it's covered with a plastic film, which is designed to prevent glass shards from scattering in the event that you break the screen. This is a safety measure so there's not a chance of getting cuts or things like that, especially in the hands of a younger child. You shouldn't remove this film, but what I did was apply a glass screen protector over it to give it a smoother feel. Plastic films don't feel good to touch, in my opinion.
The display is great
LCD doesn't have to be a downside
After the OLED model of the Switch, some may have expected that the Switch 2 would default to an OLED display as well, but instead, we got a new and much-improved LCD panel. In fact, this new screen is so much nicer than the original that I really didn't notice a downgrade from my Switch OLED model.
The big additions with this new model are the sharper 1080p resolution and the addition of HDR support, both of which help this new screen look much better than before. Switch 1 games will need to be patched to support HDR, but this is still a very good display for an LCD, and in some ways, it might be better than an OLED panel. A recurring issue I've had with OLED displays is inconsistent grays, where darker (but not black) areas of the image almost appear to have a gradient from a greenish tone to something closer to red, and the Switch OLED wasn't immune to that (though it wasn't the worst I've seen, either). Using an LCD means that's not a problem for the Switch 2.
Being a much bigger panel also meant that I was much more comfortable using the console in tabletop mode. Everything is a bit larger and more readable, so I didn't have to squint to try and read things on the screen.
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Now you're playing with mice
The Joy-Con 2 are a nice upgrade
The biggest addition to the new Joy-Con 2 controllers, aside from the magnetic connection, are the mouse sensors on both the left and right controllers. Both controllers can be used as a mouse, and I was surprised to find that, during my initial setup, all I needed to do was put the Joy-Con 2 resting on its side, and the cursor just automatically appeared so I could control the menu. You can use either the left or right Joy-Con 2 to control the UI, and they seem to work on most surfaces. I did this on a wooden table, on my shorts, and on my bed, and the controls worked in every scenario without much issue. Granted, I wasn't in a fast-paced game requiring a ton of precision, but if you're in that kind of situation, you're probably already creating the perfect environment for optimal gameplay. This solution works for the majority of people.
I do fear some awkwardness with pressing buttons while using a Joy-Con 2 in mouse mode, though. I haven't had a chance to test it yet, but pressing buttons on the side of the controllers feels like it will be a little awkward. You can scroll lists in mouse mode by using the analog stick, which makes a lot of sense, but it does take some getting used to, especially with the controllers being as small as they are.
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Speaking of the analog sticks, they have been massively improved over the previous iterations. The analog sticks on the Joy-Con 2 have incredibly smooth movement, unlike anything I think I've ever felt in a potentiometer-based stick (and yes, these still use potentiometers instead of hall effect sensors). They're very satisfying, and they're slightly larger than before, but the range of movement is still a bit of a downside. These smaller sticks just don't move as much as a pro controller, for example, so they feel a little more awkward to use. Maybe I just need some time to adapt to them again, though. All the buttons also seem a bit larger and pressing them feels ever-so-slightly more pleasant than the original Joy-Con, which is another welcome change.
The games
They're looking good
I've only had a short amount of time to actually play games, so most of that time has been dedicated to Mario Kart World, and it's already looking incredibly promising. I ran in one Grand Prix, one Knockout Tour, and spent a good while in Free Roam exploring the world. I didn't go super far, though, because it feels like there are secrets around every corner. Everywhere I went, I'd find a P-switch, some hidden coins, or a special character medal, and I had to try and figure out how to get there. There are supposed to be some special question blocks, but I haven't found any yet, so I can tell I still have a very long journey ahead of me there.
I also embraced my poor judgment and decided to buy Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, the infamous paid game that should have been a pack-in. I've only explored the first area, but so far, I do like the concept at play here. Paying for it is silly, but I think I've probably wasted $10 on worse things.
Of course, I also tried a couple of Switch 1 games. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which has a Switch 2 edition, looks gorgeous on the new hardware, and seeing it run at 60 frames per second feels amazing. Likewise, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet finally run at 60FPS and there are nowhere near as many dips as before. It actually feels great to play now. Similarly, I believe the Bowser's Fury portion of Super Mario 3D World, which ran at 30FPS in handheld mode on the Switch, now runs flawlessly at 60FPS in all the available modes. I have yet to play a game that isn't patched specifically for the Switch 2, but I definitely need to look into something like Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity and Bayonetta 3, which notoriously struggled on the original hardware.
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What's not as good?
I might need to buy a new camera
I've already mentioned that the kickstand on the Switch 2 doesn't feel quite as solid as the one on the Switch OLED model, but there are a couple more points I want to bring up that felt a little disappointing. The biggest one, personally, was finding out that my USB-C cameras don't work with the Switch 2. Nintendo did say not every camera would be supported, but I was hoping I could put one of the many review units I have lying around to good use. Sadly, that's not the case. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that most of these have a lot of AI features baked in; the Switch 2 may not be prepared for something like that. I'll have to ask the manufacturers of these cameras if they know why this might be happening.
One thing that I don't believe is that Switch 2's fault is that HDR support on my main TV in the living room isn't very good, or at least it doesn't seem to work as intended. When I went to configure HDR in the settings, I never got the intended result (one icon is visible, the other isn't). Both icons are always visible. I bought this TV four years ago, and it was basically the cheapest 4K TV I could find from a trusted brand, so I wouldn't be surprised if the HDR implementation is subpar.
Finally, I'd just say I saw a surprising number of sign-in requirements to fully set up my Switch 2. I had to sign into my Nintendo account from my phone during the initial setup, then again to enter the eShop, and another time to enable GameChat. It's not a big deal, just a little more time-consuming than I'd like. Speaking of the initial setup, you can also insert the microSD card from an original Switch into the Switch 2 to copy your photo and video captures, which I initially did. This is the only time a standard microSD card will work, though, and you'll need a microSD Express card for regular use.
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I'm so ready for the next generation of Nintendo
This first day with the Switch 2 has been great. I'll admit I wasn't feeling well physically, so I wasn't bubbling with excitement as I had hoped to be, but my first impressions are still very positive with this console and its games. I'll be using it a lot more in the days, weeks, and months ahead, so you can expect to hear a lot more thoughts from me. Assuming I can put down Mario Kart World long enough to write them, that is.
Either way, if you'd like to hear something specific answered, let me know in the comments below. Multiple XDA members have a Switch 2 already, so we can almost certainly get you some answers.
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