The Nintendo Switch 2 refines the hybrid concept with a 120 Hz LCD, magnetic Joy-Con 2, microSD Express support and improved ergonomics. But is €469.99 too steep? We’ve spent a week testing every angle to find out.
When the Nintendo Switch 2 box arrived on my doorstep, I felt a wave of anticipation mixed with familiar déjà vu. The silhouette looked almost identical to the original, yet hints of meaningful upgrades peeked through. As someone who’s been glued to my Switch since day one—racing in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, exploring every corner of Hyrule, and diving into obscure eShop gems—the promise of 120 Hz, magnetic Joy-Con rails and microSD Express storage was enough to get my heart racing. Over the past week, I’ve docked it, gone handheld on vacation, and even tried a few PC-style experiments via USB-C. Here’s the unvarnished truth on what’s changed, what still feels familiar, and whether this is the definitive hybrid.
| Model | Nintendo Switch 2 |
|---|---|
| Screen | 7.9″ LCD, 1080p, 120 Hz |
| Joy-Con 2 | Magnetic rails, C-GameChat button, optical tracking, refined haptics |
| Ports | 2× USB-C (top & bottom), microSD Express slot, 3.5 mm audio Dock: HDMI, USB-A×2, Ethernet |
| Storage | 128 GB internal; expandable via UHS-II/III microSD |
| Battery Life | 4–10 hrs (120 Hz on/off; varies by title) |
| Price | €469.99 |
The Switch 2 package feels instantly recognizable—Nintendo kept that iconic red-and-white motif—but details stand out: the matte-finish cardboard, the clear sleeve showing off the console’s new contours, and a molded tray that secures the Joy-Con 2 via magnets. Inside, you’ll find:
Holding the unit, I noticed it’s about 20 g heavier. That extra heft comes from a thicker chassis and beefed-up heat pipes—more on that later. The gloss bezel surrounding the LCD and the softly textured backplate strike a balanced aesthetic. Praise also for centering the 3.5 mm jack on top—no more blind fumbling in the dark when plugging in your headset in tabletop mode.
At first, 120 Hz feels like a feature for gamers who chase benchmarks. In reality, cranking the refresh rate transforms everyday tasks. Scrolling through the eShop becomes silky, system menus respond instantly, and dragging icons across the home screen feels satisfyingly fluid. In handheld gameplay, titles built around fast camera movement—think Doom Eternal (via cloud) or Metroid Dread—benefit most. Motion blur nearly vanishes, making high-speed turns in Mario Kart sharper and firefights in shooters more legible.
For slower-paced RPGs, the jump from 60 Hz to 120 Hz won’t feel revolutionary, but it does add polish. The LCD panel doesn’t match OLED for blacks or color saturation, but peak brightness is up about 20 percent over the original LCD. I tested outdoors under midday sun: the screen remained readable with minimal glare. There’s even a toggle in Settings to switch between 60 Hz (for longer battery life) and 120 Hz on the fly, which I switched between during marathon sessions.
The infamous wobble of the original Joy-Con rails is all but gone. These new units snap onto the console magnetically with a satisfying click and stay rock-solid during intense handheld sessions. The reinforced contacts mean you can lift the console by one controller without the other slipping off—a small detail that matters more than you’d think.
On each Joy-Con sits a dedicated C-GameChat button, which launches voice chat (in supported titles) with one press—a nod to competitive and party gamers. Deeper down, optical tracking sensors open up pointer-style controls. In a custom test app, I saw cursor-like precision akin to a Wii Remote but without infrared. Imagine navigating menus or even playing a touch-driven strategy game like Civilization with a handheld mouse input. The SDK is currently limited, but third-party devs could leverage this for unique experiences.
Switch 2’s microSD Express slot supports UHS-II and UHS-III cards, delivering sequential read speeds up to 1 GB/s. In practice, I saw load times cut in half compared to UHS-I microSD. Booting Breath of the Wild took under 15 seconds, down from 30 seconds on the original. Open-world asset streaming—the dreaded texture pop-in—is greatly reduced, resulting in smoother transitions when gliding or fast-traveling.
The baseline 128 GB eMMC is generous, but the real benefit lies in swapping high-speed cards without removing the entire dock setup. Nintendo consolidated the card slot under the kickstand, trading minor inconvenience for easier access compared to old designs that forced you into the dock for swaps.
Nintendo finally listened to longstanding gripes:
During a docked session of Breath of the Wild, fan noise crept up modestly—no jet-engine roar here. And after a 90-minute handheld run of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, the backplate remained cool enough for comfortable gripping—your thumbs thank you.
The Switch 2 OS builds on a familiar foundation but adds useful shortcuts. Holding the Screenshot button brings up a Quick Actions panel: switch refresh rate, toggle airplane mode, or quarantine data without jumping into full Settings. Folder management is now drag-and-drop with multi-select and custom color labels—perfect for sorting indies, AAA titles, and system apps.
The refreshed eShop features personalized recommendations, a dark theme that syncs with system settings, and faster friend-list access. Voice chat invitations appear as non-intrusive pop-ups, and Bluetooth audio pairing works natively with supported headsets. These tweaks aren’t headline grabbers, but they collectively smooth daily use.
At €469.99, the Switch 2 stakes a middle ground. Valve’s Steam Deck and ASUS ROG Ally boast more raw horsepower and PC-style flexibility, but they can be temperamental: Linux quirks, driver updates, and occasional performance hiccups. Switch 2 remains the most turnkey package—power it on, and a Mario title loads instantly, no patching or configuration required.
Against the Switch OLED, the debate is interesting. OLED still delivers deeper blacks and rich color, but you sacrifice 120 Hz, refined ergonomics, and lightning-fast storage. For someone who docks primarily for TV play and seldom notices Joy-Con wobble, the OLED may still be a sweet spot. But for handheld purists, Switch 2 is a clear generational leap.
Every physical cartridge from the original Switch library slots in without drama. Game cards now wear bold red shells to match the console’s aesthetic and slide more smoothly into the slot—though the nubby “taste-aversion” finish remains a fun quirk. Collector’s editions gain reversible cover art inserts for discs and cards, pleasing completionists who care about display and packaging.
Nintendo’s estimate of 4–10 hours holds up under testing:
The gains over the launch Switch aren’t dramatic, but they align with modern portable PCs. For all-day travel, plan to pack the official power bank add-on or any USB-C PD brick—you’ll appreciate the convenience of dual ports when charging and playing simultaneously.
At €469.99, the Switch 2 demands a premium. Early adopters can snag a free digital game voucher and a dock-free travel kit during launch promotions, smoothing the sticker shock. If you’ve held off on upgrading from the original LCD, the enhancements feel like a legitimate leap. If you own an OLED and don’t mind occasional lag or controller wobble, you might wait for a mid-cycle revision or discounted bundles.
Upgrade if:
Wait if:
| Pros | Cons |
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The Nintendo Switch 2 doesn’t overhaul the hybrid concept, but it refines nearly every element that frustrated long-time Switch fans. From the satisfyingly smooth 120 Hz display to the rock-solid magnetic Joy-Con attachments and blazing-fast storage, this is the biggest handheld leap Nintendo has offered since the original launch. It won’t outmuscle dedicated handheld PCs on raw specs, but for pick-up-and-play simplicity, exclusive first-party adventures, and a polished user experience, the Switch 2 still reigns supreme. If you live for Nintendo portability or feel your current unit showing its age, this is the upgrade you’ve been waiting for.