Nintendo Co. (NTDOF) Launches Switch 2: Bigger, Faster, and Better
The arrival of Nintendo Co.’s Switch 2 marks the biggest consumer tech product release of 2025 so far, with legions of gamers now unboxing and trying the new $450 gaming console for the first time.
Impressive Upgrades and Performance
Despite the hype and a $150 increase over the launch price for the original, the second-generation system impresses with faster performance, improved graphics, and enhanced ergonomics, making it feel like a distinctly new machine.
Like its predecessor, the Switch 2 features a versatile design, allowing it to function as a portable handheld or as a living-room console when docked. This time, it’s capable of outputting 4K resolution and vibrant HDR video to your TV.
Showcasing the Switch 2's Capabilities
Currently, Mario Kart World and enhanced versions of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom serve as the best visual showcases of the Switch 2's capabilities, alongside third-party launch titles like Cyberpunk 2077. The improved graphical fidelity and higher frame rates, thanks to the Nvidia Corp.-made processor, are easily noticeable from the moment you start a game.
Comparing with Competitors
While Nintendo’s latest console still lags behind Sony Group Corp.’s PlayStation 5 and Microsoft Corp.’s Xbox Series X—both heavier-duty systems designed for home use—Nintendo fans will appreciate how the in-game worlds of beloved characters like Mario and Link have never looked better.
Enhanced Display and Ergonomics
Unboxing the device is a familiar experience for original Switch owners, but the significantly larger 7.9-inch display is much easier on the eyes, sporting a sharper 1080p resolution. The screen's maximum refresh rate of 120Hz adds to the fluidity, making gameplay particularly engaging.
The upsized screen also means bigger Joy-Con controllers, enhancing the handheld experience with more ergonomic buttons.
Innovative Joy-Con Connectivity
One of the best changes Nintendo made involves how the Joy-Cons connect to the console; they now attach magnetically rather than sliding down onto the hardware. This magnetic connection is firm and eliminates the wobbling some users complained about with the original Switch.
Improvements Beyond the Basics
Nintendo’s thoughtful upgrades extend to the Switch 2’s additional USB-C port for accessories, a new screen lock feature, and enhanced speakers that significantly improve sound quality compared to the Switch OLED Model from 2021. The console’s software interface remains similar to the original but includes fresh color palettes and sound effects.
Launch Excitement and Future Testing
The launch generated excitement, resulting in long lines at retailers like Best Buy Co., GameStop Corp., Target Corp., and Walmart Inc. While the era of long waits for the latest iPhone is over, the debut of a new console remains a rare event, prompting fans to rush to stores in the dead of night.
Further testing is needed to determine whether the Switch 2's powerful processor affects battery life or if it has performance issues with the extensive library of backward-compatible Switch titles.
At first glance, the device leaves a strong impression. Nintendo played it safe with the Switch 2, but that’s precisely what many customers were looking for: a bigger, faster, and more polished version of a wildly successful gadget.