Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo · Released Jun 2025 · 2nd Gen
Nintendo's current-gen hybrid: a big 1080p 120Hz HDR screen, a major power jump with 4K docked output, and full Switch backward compatibility.
Pros
- +Large 7.9" 1080p 120Hz HDR screen
- +Big generational performance leap; 4K output when docked
- +Backward compatible with the Switch library
- +Official GameCube classics via Switch Online
Cons
- −LCD rather than OLED
- −Premium game pricing
- −Joy-Con drift concerns persist on a new design
What can it play?
Emulation performance by platform, based on real-world testing.
Full specifications
Hardware
- Chipset (SoC)
- NVIDIA custom (T239, Ampere)
- CPU
- 8-core ARM Cortex-A78C
- GPU
- NVIDIA Ampere, 1536 CUDA cores
- RAM
- 12GB LPDDR5X
- Storage
- 256GB UFS (+ microSD Express)
- Weight
- 534 g
- Dimensions
- 272 x 116 x 14 mm
- Cooling
- Active (fan)
Display
- Size
- 7.9″
- Resolution
- 1920x1080
- Panel
- LCD (HDR10, VRR)
- Refresh rate
- 120 Hz
- Touchscreen
- Yes
Battery & Connectivity
- Battery
- 5220 mAh
- Real-world life
- ~3.5 hours
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi 6
- Bluetooth
- Bluetooth
- Ports
- USB-C x2, 3.5mm headphone, microSD Express, Dock (4K HDMI)
- Expandable storage
- Yes (microSD)
Controls
- Analog sticks
- 2
- D-pad
- Yes
- Face buttons
- Yes
- Analog triggers
- No
- Gyroscope
- Yes
- Hall effect sticks
- No
Software & custom firmware
Ships with: Nintendo Switch 2 OS
Also plays natively: Nintendo Switch 2 games, Nintendo Switch games (backward compatible), Switch Online classics
No third-party custom firmware tracked for this device.
Our verdict
The Switch 2 is a substantial leap over the original: a larger 7.9-inch 1080p 120Hz HDR screen, a far more powerful Nvidia chip with 4K output when docked, magnetic Joy-Con 2 with new mouse controls, and backward compatibility with the Switch library. Nintendo Switch Online even adds official GameCube classics. It is an LCD rather than OLED and games carry premium prices, but as the new home of Nintendo's first-party lineup it is essential.