Here’s a Comparison of the Switch 2’s Specs With the Original
Pre-orders are currently being accepted for the Nintendo Switch 2 (if you can find a store with inventory ). As we get closer to the console’s June 5 launch date, it’s worth a little thought: The Switch product line is now over eight years old, and Nintendo has made some significant changes to this latest device. If you own a Switch and are considering purchasing a Switch 2, you might be wondering how the two generations of consoles compare.
Nintendo hasn’t released just one console in the Switch era: it’s released three. There’s the original Switch , Switch OLED , and Switch Lite . I’m reviewing all three and comparing their specs to the new Switch 2 . While we’ll have to wait for reviews to directly compare the overall experience of these different devices, we can at least get an idea of them on paper.
Dimensions
Right off the bat, all of Nintendo’s Switches feel completely different. The Switch 2 is the largest, measuring 4.5 inches high, 10.7 inches wide, and 0.55 inches thick. Note that this is with the Joy-Con 2 attached. Nintendo says the thickness from the tip of the joystick to the ZL/ZR buttons is 1.2 inches. It weighs 0.88 pounds on its own or 1.18 pounds with the Joy-Cons attached.
The original Switch is smaller, measuring 4 by 9.4 by 0.55 inches. (The joystick with ZL/ZR buttons is 1.12 inches.) It also weighs slightly less: 0.66 pounds without the Joy-Cons, or 0.88 with them. It’s interesting to note that the Switch 2’s display is equal to the weight of the original Switch with Joy-Cons attached.
The Switch OLED is very similar in size to the original Switch, measuring 4 by 9.5 by 0.55 inches, with the same Joy-Con dimensions as the OG Switch. However, it falls in the middle in terms of weight: 0.71 pounds without the Joy-Cons and 0.93 pounds with them.
The Switch Lite is the smallest of the bunch, measuring 3.6 inches by 8.2 inches by 0.55 inches on the handheld (the joysticks and ZL/ZR buttons add the same 1.12 inches despite being built into the device), and it weighs 0.61 pounds.
Display
Switch 2 has the largest screen of any Nintendo device ever. It features a 7.9-inch LCD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080. It supports HDR10 and has a VRR (variable refresh rate) of up to 120Hz.
The original Switch also uses an LCD as its screen, but its display is much smaller: the OG has a 6.2-inch screen with a resolution of 1280 x 720. There is no HDR support, and the display supports a 60Hz refresh rate. The situation is the same with the Switch Lite, only it has an even smaller 5.5-inch LCD display (after all, it is the most portable Switch).
The Switch OLED, of course, has an OLED display. This means that each of the pixels on this Switch’s display can be turned off individually, resulting in much deeper blacks than an LCD can produce. However, the Switch’s OLED display measures 7 inches, almost a full inch smaller than the Switch 2, without HDR support. The 720p resolution is the same as the original Switch, so you won’t see as much detail as you would on Nintendo’s latest console.
Video output and docking station
Nintendo limits the Switch’s resolution in handheld mode, likely due to battery. But when the console is docked, you can move the console further.
For example, the Switch 2 supports a maximum resolution of 4K (3840 x 2160) at 60 frames per second when connected to a TV. If you want to increase the game’s frame rate to 120fps (assuming the game supports it), you’ll need to drop the resolution to at least 1440p, but you can also use 1080p if you want.
The OG Switch and Switch OLED support the same maximum resolution of 1080p when connected. Switch Lite does not support video output as it is designed for portable playback only.
To output to a TV, you need a docking station. The Switch Dock 2 is very similar to the Switch OLED Dock: it’s slightly larger, but features the same two USB 2.0 ports as well as a LAN port. The original Switch dock had an additional USB 2.0 port, but no LAN port. The biggest difference here, however, is that the Switch 2 dock now features a fan for active cooling, which makes sense for some of those more intense gaming modes.
Pros-Cons
The Switch’s detachable controllers are called “Joy-Cons,” and they’re an iconic component of this particular era of Nintendo.
The new Joy-Cons, called Joy-Con 2, are 4.57 inches tall, 0.56 inches wide, and 1.2 inches thick. The left Joy-Con weighs 2.3 ounces, while the right one weighs 2.4 ounces. This may have something to do with the correct C button on the Joy-Cons, which you can use for the new GameChat feature.
The official Nintendo device specs page doesn’t seem to match the original Joy-Cons, so I took it from this particular Joy-Con page : The original Joy-Cons measure 4.02 inches by 1.41 inches by 1.12 inches. The left Joy-Con weighs 1.73 ounces, while the right one weighs 1.84 ounces.
While all Joy-Cons support HD Rumble (Nintendo’s trademark for haptic feedback), the new Joy-Cons support HD Rumble 2, a new standard. Most notably, however, the Joy-Con 2 supports Mouse Mode , a feature that allows you to use the Joy-Cons on a flat surface, such as a computer mouse.
You also don’t connect the Joy-Con 2 to the Switch 2 the same way as the originals: they connect magnetically (yes, those are strong magnets). While you don’t slide the Joy-Cons into rails like on the OG Switch, you still release them using the buttons on the back of the controllers.
All Joy-Con models use Bluetooth 3.0, support NFC, and have the same battery specifications: they take three and a half hours to fully charge, and you get 20 hours of play time on a single charge.
Battery
Surprisingly, the Switch 2 didn’t improve the battery life of the Switch family, despite having the biggest battery of the bunch. The Switch 2’s 5,220 mAh battery can last between two and 6.5 hours. (Nintendo cautions that these are estimates and that battery life will vary depending on the specific games you play.)
Compare that to the original Switch and Switch OLED, both of which have a 4,310mAh battery and can last between 4.5 hours and nine hours. The Switch Lite (3,570 mAh) is also superior, with a battery life of three to seven hours. This isn’t surprising: the Switch 2 is slightly more powerful than the original Switch, so running a high-performance game at 120fps will use a lot more power than a 720p game running at 60fps or 30fps or lower.
All consoles charge in approximately three hours when in sleep mode.
Storage and Communication
Switch 2 games are arguably the biggest games Nintendo has ever made, as the console is capable of supporting much higher resolutions and frame rates than previous generations. So, it makes sense for Nintendo to put more onboard storage here: 256GB to be exact.
On the other hand, the OG Switch and Switch Lite only come with 32GB of internal storage, while the Switch OLED offers 64GB. If you need more space, you can expand that storage using a microSDHC or microSDXC card on these models. The Switch 2 also supports expanded memory, but specifically MicroSD Express cards, which limits flexibility.
The Switch 2 supports Wi-Fi 6, which is a step up from Wi-Fi 5 on the original Switches. These Switches support Bluetooth 4.1, and Nintendo says the Switch 2 supports Bluetooth without any additional information. It probably supports a newer standard since it launches eight years after the original, but we don’t know for sure at this point.
The Switch 2 also has a second USB-C port on the top of the device. This is a great change that allows you to charge the Switch with the stand extended.
Audio and video chat
For the first time, a Nintendo console supports a camera. Switch 2 lets you connect a webcam for use with GameChat, so you can see your friends while you play, and they can see you. Nintendo sells its own camera, but you can also use third-party webcams .
The Switch 2 also has a built-in microphone for voice chat. So you can talk to your friends via GameChat with or without a camera, although I’m not sure how well they’ll be able to hear you if your console and TV are in another room.
Speaking of audio, the Switch 2 supports “3D Audio,” which the company touts as a more immersive audio experience. Essentially, the sounds should look like they are coming from where they originated in the game. (If a Mario Kart racer is tailgating you, you should hear his engine “behind you.”)
Games
When it comes down to it, the most important element of any console is its game library. The Switch 2, like any new console, has exclusives , although not as many as you might think, at least at launch.
Some of the notable upcoming games that you can currently only play on Switch 2 are Mario Kart World , Donkey Kong Bananza , Drag X Drive , Hyrule Warriors Age of Imprisonment, Kirby Air Riders , and Elden Ring Tarnished Edition . There are also games for Nintendo Switch 2 Edition – original Nintendo Switch games with enhanced graphics thanks to updated hardware. These include Switch Zeldas ( Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom ), Super Mario Part Jamboree + Jamboree TV , Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star Crossed World , Metroid Prime 4 Beyond and Pokémon Legends ZA .
If you have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, Switch 2 also supports GameCube games. At launch it will include The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker , Soulcalibur II and F-Zero GX , but more are coming soon.
You can buy Switch 2 games physically or digitally, but not all physical games will come with the game itself. This is because some of these games are ” game key cards ” that contain a “key” that allows you to download the game from the Internet. Then you can play the game if the game key is inserted into the Switch. This is weird, but it’s worth mentioning since the original Switch doesn’t work this way.
As you’d expect, the Switch 2 can play Switch 1 games, but you might not consider it truly backwards compatible. This is because Switch 2 uses emulation for Switch 1 games , and not all games run well using this emulation. Let’s hope Nintendo fixes the issues here, but if they don’t, you might not want to trade in your old Switch for a Switch 2 if you want to continue playing Switch 1 games.
stand
Nintendo continues to improve the stand with every Switch model. The original had a small, thin stand that could break off (although it can be easily reattached using magnets). The Switch OLED greatly improves on this design, with a stand that spans the entire width of the console and supports more angles. The Switch 2 has a kickstand that allows for even greater variety of gaming angles. It’s not a huge change, but it’s worth a nod.
Price
The Switch 2 has been spared the price increase due to tariffs , with the console costing $449.99 , or $499.99 if you want Mario Kart World included. You’re probably looking for this deal since the game itself costs $79.99. Not all Switch 2 games are $80: Donkey Kong Bananza costs $69.99, but Nintendo is no longer a company offering $60 games across the board.
The original Switch retails for $299.99, while the Switch OLED retails for $349.99. The Lite was originally released for $199.99, but can often be found on sale.