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Switch 2 delivers smoother performance and stunning OLED visuals, elevating hybrid gaming without losing its original charm.
Improved Joy-Con design and faster storage offer tangible upgrades, but some expected features are still missing.
Limited exclusives and average battery life slightly dull launch excitement, yet future updates promise a brighter horizon.
The highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 is now live, and fans globally are diving in to experience its exciting features. With notable hardware upgrades and gameplay enhancements, the Switch 2 represents a significant leap forward, though it's not without its minor hiccups.
After a week of hands-on time and user feedback, here are the 7 biggest wins and 4 notable letdowns from the Nintendo Switch 2 experience.
Another major upgrade is the custom NVIDIA processor, improved this time around. Enhancing the smoothness of gameplay, loading times, and resolution, the Switch 2 brings a much-needed polish to the experience. Titles like The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Time now offer a clean 60 fps on this variant as opposed to the original switch.
The genius 7.5-inch OLED+ showstopper! It is brighter, sharper, and more colorful than the first model; it lends prestige to every visual detail, whatever you do, whether indoors or outside! Contrast and color reproduction come together perfectly for riveting gaming on the move.
Nintendo got it right doing backward compatibility for Switch 2 with Switch 1 games. This provided respect for the investment players had made into their digital libraries and ensured a staggering selection available to play at launch—while the exclusives would trickle in.
Nintendo refined the Joy-Con controllers with better ergonomics and upgraded stick mechanisms to address drift issues. They’re more comfortable during long sessions, and early reports show reduced hardware complaints so far.
The new SSD-powered storage, combined with Wi-Fi 6E support, means downloading games and system updates is faster and smoother. The sluggish install times of the past feel like a distant memory.
The Switch 2 introduces a cleaner, more modern user interface. Grouped apps, customizable themes, and improved parental controls make navigating the system more intuitive. It’s not a radical departure, but it’s a much-needed polish.
Nintendo finally embraced a more connected ecosystem. With party chat, streamlined friend invites, and game-sharing improvements, Switch 2 leans more toward Xbox Live-style social functionality—without losing its family-friendly appeal.
Despite the improved hardware, battery life hasn’t made a dramatic leap. Most users report 5 to 7 hours of gameplay, depending on settings and title. It’s serviceable, but we hoped for better efficiency from newer chipsets.
While backward compatibility helps, new first-party exclusives are sparse. Flagship titles like Metroid Prime 4 and Mario Odyssey 2 are still months away, making the launch lineup feel a bit underwhelming for early adopters.
Yes, it's 2025, and the Switch 2 still doesn’t support popular media apps like Netflix or Disney+. Nintendo continues to view the console as a game-first device, but that’s no excuse to ignore basic entertainment integrations that users expect.
Bluetooth audio is supported, but there's still no multi-device pairing, and latency issues persist in certain games. For players using wireless headsets or earbuds, this remains a frustrating oversight that should’ve been resolved by now.
The Nintendo Switch 2 stands as a smart and thoughtful upgrade—more evolutionary than revolutionary. With a sharper OLED+ display, improved performance, and refined user experience, it delivers a more premium feel while staying true to the original Switch’s beloved hybrid charm and flexibility.
That said, it’s not flawless. A relatively thin lineup of launch exclusives, only modest battery improvements, and the absence of major media apps prevent it from being a perfect leap forward. Still, Nintendo is paying attention to its community and building on what made the original a global success.
Whether you’re a returning fan or a newcomer looking to dive into Nintendo’s unique ecosystem, the Switch 2 delivers a robust foundation for the next era of hybrid gaming. As more software drops and future updates address early flaws, expect it to become the centerpiece of living room and portable gaming alike.
