I’ve been Playing the Nintendo Switch 2 for two Weeks. is it Worth The Hype?

I have actually been playing the Nintendo Switch 2 for two weeks. Is it worth the buzz?

The Nintendo Switch 2 has a lot to measure up to. It’s the follower to the extremely popular Nintendo Switch, which has sold over 152 million units, dwarfing the popularity of nearly every other home video gaming console in history. The only 2 exceptions are the PlayStation 2, which sold about 160 million units and the Nintendo DS, which offered around 154 million units.

It’s been 8 years since the Switch released, and the video gaming market has changed. Handheld gaming consoles are popular amongst players, with rivals like the Steam Deck OLED using a robust experience with a massive library of PC video games. Economic uncertainty has likewise changed the gaming market, with brand names and products across all markets changing in rate due to possible tariffs.

I’m the tech reporter at NBC Select, and I’ve been a gamer my whole life. I have actually owned Nintendo consoles, including the Nintendo Switch, for the majority of that time. And I have actually been playing with the Switch 2 because launch day. My take? It’s tame by Nintendo’s requirements (and history), but it’s a rewarding update to an effective formula.

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What is the Nintendo Switch 2?

Nintendo Switch 2 (Out of Stock)

– Larger, more comprehensive screen

– More comfy hardware

– Vastly enhanced performance

– Worse battery life

– Few new video games (yet).

The Nintendo Switch 2 is the follower to the initial Nintendo Switch, and when you at first look at the console it works similar method. It’s still a handheld video gaming console with detachable controllers that attach to the side of the screen. It still has a docking station that, when plugged in, links the console to your TV screen. And it can still play Nintendo Switch games, in addition to brand name 2 titles like Mario Kart World. You can even use Nintendo Switch controllers wirelessly with the Nintendo Switch 2.

Dive a little much deeper though, and you’ll discover that the Nintendo Switch 2 is very various from the initial. It’s bigger in nearly every method: the screen is larger (7.9-inches, up from 6.2), the controllers are larger, the kickstand is larger and even the TV dock is bigger.

The biggest changes are internal. In handheld mode, the screen can show a more detailed, vibrant, and smoother image thanks to 1080p resolution (up from 720p), 120Hz revitalize rate (up from 60Hz), and support for high vibrant variety (HDR) – all these improvements assist games look more detailed and feel more smooth while playing. The console also comes with 256GB of internal storage, up from 32GB in the original.

My experience with the Nintendo Switch 2

The Nintendo Switch 2 is a fairly tame follow up to the initial. This is normal for each other video game business, but for Nintendo, who has a history of releasing very different gaming consoles each generation (remember the Wii and the Wii U), it’s unexpected how comparable the Nintendo Switch 2 is to the initial.

I think that’s a great thing. I (along with countless others), enjoyed the initial Nintendo Switch, and am delighted the Switch 2 upgrades and improves a winning formula. It’s a few of the most enjoyable I’ve had playing video games in years, and is a practical plan for anyone who values mobility and versatility.

What I like

Bigger, better screen

When I played portable mode on the original Switch, I constantly felt like I was losing out on the “true experience” of playing the game. Games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and even Mario Kart 8 Deluxe felt confined and underwhelming on the original’s Switch’s 6.2-inch, 720p screen. Maybe I’m simply spoiled from playing PC video games on huge screens, but I could not picture playing video games like Elden Ring portable on Switch.

I do not feel this way with the Switch 2: I’ve played a handful of games on its larger, more in-depth screen, and didn’t ever seem like I was getting a watered-down experience. Games across all categories feel and look much better to play compared to the original.

Better hardware style

Bigger is in truth much better this time around. The bigger Switch 2 Joy-Con 2s are more comfortable to hold, both together in the Joy-Con 2 Grip and split in half for multiplayer video games. The bigger kickstand actually works, and is best for tabletop gaming. I can not overstate just how much better the kickstand is on the Switch 2 compared to the too small, too shaky original Switch kickstand. I also love that there are charging ports on the bottom and top of the console now – the leading port makes it a lot easier to charge the console while playing it. All this, assembled, makes the Switch 2 feel more polished to utilize compared to the original.

Improved performance all over

The new internals of the Switch 2 are significantly more powerful than the original Switch, and you can feel it everywhere. Nearly whatever on the Switch 2 feels smoother and more responsive than the initial. Switch 1 games like Pokemon Violet feel completely different on the Switch 2. The video game loads faster, plays smoother and never ever lags or missteps throughout extreme action. For games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, you can buy a $10 Upgrade Pack that improves the resolution and frame rate, but even without this, the enhancements are obvious. Even little things, like scanning the home menu and Nintendo eShop feel more responsive.

It brings people together

When I state the Switch 2 brings people together, I’m not discussing the new GameChat feature, although GameChat is a vast enhancement over Nintendo’s previous online interaction tools.

Nintendo video games have a tendency to bring people together in a manner others simply don’t (Think Mario Party, Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros., Pokemon Go). The Nintendo Switch 2 continues that tradition. Everyone I know wished to try the brand-new console, play games together and simply hang out, whether they played their original Switch the other day or haven’t touched a computer game in years. Playing Mario Kart World at the NBC Select workplace was some of the most enjoyable I’ve had at work, and I understand I am not alone in that opinion.

Sure, it might not be as practical as something like a smartwatch or pair of over-ear headphones, but computer game are expected to be fun, and Nintendo provides.

Potential downsides to keep in mind

There aren’t a great deal of new games (yet)

There aren’t really lots of new games unique to the Nintendo Switch 2 at the time of writing: it’s primarily Mario Kart World and Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. Nearly every other game available for the Switch 2 is also readily available on another gaming console like PC, PlayStation 5 or the original Switch. This isn’t surprising to me – an absence of brand-new games is common for any brand-new gaming console launch. If you want a heap of brand new games to play, you might wish to wait a year or 2 before purchasing the Switch 2.

Worse battery life

The original Switch had a battery life that lasted in between 4.5 and 9 hours. The Switch 2’s battery life is rated between 2 and 6.5 hours. That’s a substantial difference compared to the original, however it does not surprise me, given the much larger screen and increased efficiency. Competitors like the Steam Deck OLED get between three and 12 hours of battery life, so, depending upon the video games you’re playing, it’s very little better.

You should get a case

I purchased a case for my original Nintendo Switch instantly, but I understand a couple of people who didn’t. The console wasn’t too huge, and might move into a bag or backpack without much trouble. Because the Switch 2 and its screen is a lot larger, I would hesitate to throw it in a backpack without a case – there’s a good opportunity things in your bag might potentially scratch the screen. The Switch 2 comes out of package with a screen protector built-in, however I quickly began utilizing the thin and easy Belkin Travel Case for Nintendo Switch 2 with mine.

It runs out stock all over

Unsurprisingly, the Nintendo Switch 2 runs out stock online at many sellers. If you desire the new console as quickly as possible, your finest bet is going to a store in-person. I would expect more online accessibility in a year or 2, along with more new games to play.

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Should you get a Nintendo Switch 2?

The Switch 2 is a worthwhile upgrade to the initial, and video games like Mario Kart World are a lots of enjoyable to play with pals. If you already have the initial Nintendo Switch, I don’t see any factor to purchase the Nintendo Switch 2 today – I would wait a year or more for more exclusive video games to launch. That said, I would not buy the initial Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch OLED at this time – your money will go a lot further in the long run putting it towards the Nintendo Switch 2, which will be appropriate for years to come.

Why trust NBC Select?

I am a reporter at NBC Select who covers innovation and fitness including recent stories on point-and-shoot electronic cameras, smartwatches, running shoes and more. I have actually covered the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 considering that launch, and have been utilizing the new console for the past couple of weeks. For this piece, I compared it to the initial and tested its features and games by myself and with buddies.