Nintendo Switch 2 review: A mature evolution of a modern classic

Irish Examiner

03-07-2025

The original Switch was nothing short of a phenomenon, an inventive hybrid console that blended home and handheld gaming with clever design and irresistible Nintendo exclusives. And now, eight years on, many of the players who picked up the original Switch as teens or young adults have grown up, and so too, in many ways, has the console. The Nintendo Switch 2 hasn't strayed far from Nintendo's winning formula, but it feels like a more mature, confident piece of hardware. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but instead, it refines almost everything that made the first model so beloved. From performance to build quality, this is a Switch that's grown with its audience, and the result is the best version yet.
Design and build
Visually, the Switch 2 doesn't stray far from the form factor of its predecessor, but the differences are noticeable in the hand. The console is larger and heavier but feels sturdier, with a refined matte finish and tighter tolerances across the chassis. Gone are the creaky plastics; instead, you get a more premium-feeling device.
The new magnetic Joy-Con system replaces the original rail slide-in method. I was sceptical at first, but the magnetic connection is satisfyingly solid. Snapping them on and off feels smooth and secure, and thankfully, that annoying Joy-Con wobble is now a thing of the past. You can even ping them if they get lost under the couch.
Another sign that the Switch 2 has matured is the shift in Nintendo's design language. The playful neon colours are mostly gone, replaced by a more subdued black finish, bringing it in line with contemporary handhelds like the Steam Deck, Legion Go, and ROG Ally. However, there are still subtle nods to Nintendo's playful roots, with neon blue and orange accents under the left and right joysticks, as well as where the Joy-Cons connect to the main Switch 2.
Display
Nintendo has enlarged the screen on the Switch 2, and while it still uses LCD rather than OLED, it's an excellent panel. At 8 inches, the display feels more immersive, especially when paired with the console's more powerful internals. Games like Mario Kart World and Cyberpunk 2077 look sharper, richer, and far more detailed than anything the original Switch could manage.
Peak brightness is a noticeable improvement over the original, and colours pop, though some users have reported mild ghosting in fast-moving scenes. I didn't experience anything severe myself, but it's worth noting that performance may vary by title.
HDR is technically supported, but its implementation is clunky, enabled by default across all content and requires a dive into menus to fine-tune paper white settings. I got it to work well on my LG OLED TV, but your mileage may vary.
Ergonomics
The Switch 2 is more comfortable to hold thanks to slightly chunkier Joy-Cons and a redesigned back that curves more naturally into the palms. The Joy-Cons still maintain a thin profile, matching the overall design, which means that extended handheld play can still lead to hand fatigue for some users. I wasn't able to use the original for long without additional grips, and while the Switch 2 is an improvement, I still found myself immediately downloading and printing several 3D grip files. I have large hands, and the extra grips made a massive difference to my overall comfort during extended play sessions. There are plenty of third-party grips already available, and of course, you can also purchase the optional Nintendo Controller Pro.
Thankfully, the revised kickstand is now wide and stable, perfect for tabletop play. Nintendo has also added a USB-C port at the top, allowing for play in kickstand mode while charging, which
Performance
Under the hood, the Switch 2 gets a serious boost, powered by a custom Nvidia chip that rivals the performance of entry-level gaming laptops. Cyberpunk 2077, a game that never would've run on the original Switch, plays smoothly at medium settings, and first-party titles like Mario Kart World look absolutely gorgeous, with detailed environments and smooth 60fps gameplay.
Performance across the UI has been significantly improved as well. The eShop, which is a laggy mess on the original, now loads quickly and scrolls smoothly. The Switch 2 handles modern games admirably for a hybrid console, and most of the original Switch games I tried ran much smoother.
Hardware
Battery life is solid but not exceptional. I got three to five hours out of the most demanding games, and lighter titles easily stretch that to seven hours or more. The included charger fully charges the battery in under two hours, and USB-C charging is available at both the top and bottom, adding convenience.
The storage expansion slot, located behind the kickstand, is no longer compatible with standard microSD cards. Instead, it now uses the newer and significantly faster microSD Express format. While this offers improved performance, the downside is that these cards are harder to find and are more expensive.
The new built-in Game Chat now supports voice, video, and even screen sharing with friends, and it works surprisingly well. You can view up to three friends' gameplay feeds in floating windows, a fantastic feature that makes the Switch 2 feel more social than its predecessor.
The new Joy-Con mouse functionality is unexpectedly smooth and intuitive, especially when using the strap accessory. While few games currently take advantage of it, the potential is there.
The Dock
The new Switch 2 dock is cleaner, more compact, and less toy-like, now featuring rounded corners, a softer matte finish, and a more stable base.
There's a USB-C charging port located discreetly inside, along with the usual HDMI and an Ethernet port. It supports 4K output at up to 60Hz, although not every game or app currently takes full advantage of this feature. Even if a game doesn't natively output in 4K, the dock will upscale the image to 4K when connected to a compatible TV or monitor, enhancing visual quality. Nvidia also claims that the Switch 2 offers 10 times the graphical performance of the original Switch.
The dock features improved airflow and active cooling, allowing the console to run cooler in docked mode, even during intense gameplay sessions.
Library
The launch line-up includes Mario Kart World, which acts as both a tech demo and a phenomenal new entry in the long-running series. It's vibrant, tight, and shows off what the new hardware can do when Nintendo pushes it.
Backwards compatibility ensures your old library still has a home, and several older games like Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet already look and run significantly better on the new hardware.
Verdict
The Nintendo Switch 2 isn't revolutionary, but it doesn't need to be. It's a capable refinement of the original that adds meaningful upgrades in power, usability and social features, while still feeling unmistakably Nintendo.
€469 Switch 2 Currys
€505 Switch 2 and Mario Kart World Currys