The Nintendo Switch 2 Camera is cute and functional, but you might not need it yet
The Nintendo Switch 2 Camera ($54) might not be the most essential peripheral for the Nintendo Switch 2. Still, it's certainly useful for those who want to be seen when playing online with friends. It's not mind-blowing, but it works as advertised.
Unlike the best webcams that you stick to the top of your TV or monitor, the Switch 2 Camera sits on top of a small circular stand. The camera is small enough to place on your desk or near your TV easily. The all-black color also helps it blend into the environment, especially if your electronics are also dark.
The 1080p resolution can help deliver a relatively sharp image, and the wide-angle lens can capture multiple people in the same room. The camera has great face detection, which is useful if you only want your face to show when you're in a GameChat session. Built-in GameChat camera controls allow you to display yourself and your surroundings as you see fit, though.
If you already own a compatible webcam, then you might not need the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera. That said, it's a solid little device that pairs nicely with Nintendo's new console. For the asking price, it's at least worth considering. Find out why in my full review.
Nintendo Switch 2 Camera
Price
$54
Resolution
1080p
Connectivity
USB-C
Features
Video chat, in-game camera functions
Diagonal field of view
Wide-angle
Privacy shutter
Yes
Cable length
4.5 feet
Dimensions
6.3 x 2.5 x 1.5 inches
Weight
0.32 pounds
Thanks to its small size, sharp image quality and handy GameChat options, the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera is a great peripheral for people who frequently play online games.
At 6.3 x 2.5 x 1.5 inches and 0.32 pounds, the Switch 2 Camera is one charmingly small peripheral, which certainly fits Nintendo's aesthetic.
The actual camera has a half-oval shape, and it sits on top of a thin shaft that's connected to a circular base. You can pivot the camera up and down by a few degrees, but you can't turn it side to side. There's a privacy shutter you can easily enable by twisting the front of the camera, and a USB-C port on the camera's lower back side.
There's a small rubber hook on the shaft you can tuck the cable through. The cable is 4.5 feet long from tip to tip, which I think is good enough for most setups. I would have liked a braided cable instead of a plastic one, but this is a small nitpick at best.
Then we have the circular stand. It has a rubber base, which does a decent job of keeping the peripheral in place. Aside from a discreet Nintendo Switch 2 logo, the stand is free of embellishments. It's unassuming, but I like that.
Since the camera is so small and light, it's as easy to travel with as the Nintendo Switch 2. If you're wondering, the camera works if the console is in handheld or tabletop mode. So if you want to play with friends while you're on the road, all you have to do is connect the camera to the Switch 2's top USB-C port and you're all set.
The Nintendo Switch 2 Camera streams and records at 1080p resolution. 4K resolution would've been preferable, but I suspect Nintendo didn't go beyond 1080p since a 4K camera would consume more bandwidth when playing online. Because of that, I think it's a decent trade-off.
Image quality is generally good. Details come through clearly enough, and colors are pretty close to real life, if only slightly washed out. I used the Switch 2 Camera in my apartment and at the office, both of which have good lighting conditions. Your results may vary, depending on your lighting situation.
The camera doesn't automatically pan, tilt, or zoom. While having to move the camera around to get an optimal angle can be a bit annoying, you can frame yourself better by using the built-in GameChat camera controls, which I'll cover next.
Again, this camera doesn't have particularly great image quality. But if you have favorable lighting conditions, you should be clearly visible to those you're in a chat with.
GameChat is a new Switch 2 feature that allows you to talk with friends while playing games. It enables voice chat, screen sharing, and even video chat via a compatible USB-C camera like the Switch 2 Camera. You can have up to 12 players in a voice chat session, and up to four can share their screens or participate in video calls.
As expected, the Switch 2 Camera works nicely with GameChat. Within GameChat, you're able to choose between showing everything the camera captures or just your head. It does the latter with reasonably accurate face tracking. If there are multiple people in the room with you, it'll track everyone's face, which can be beneficial for local multiplayer sessions.
For your background, you can opt to show what's on your game screen. This is especially useful if you're playing a different game than others in the chat. Just keep in mind that the game's frames per second will be sub-30 fps. However, your in-camera frame rate will remain at a relatively consistent 30fps.
The features I mentioned above aren't new for PS5 and Xbox Series X players. But even though Nintendo is late to the party when it comes to basic online chat features, I think it's good that said features are here.
The Nintendo Switch 2 Camera works as advertised and can be useful if you want to be seen when playing online. However, you might not need to buy it, depending on your circumstances.
Being able to show yourself or see others online can help enhance one's gaming experience. Conversely, others might find this off-putting.
If you fall into the latter category, then the Switch 2 Camera won't be necessary. You can communicate just fine with the Switch 2's built-in mic or with one of the best gaming headsets that are compatible with Nintendo's console.
The next reason you might not need a Switch 2 camera is if you already own a compatible USB-C webcam for handheld mode or a USB-A one for docked mode. My colleague Ryan Epps used a very old webcam we had in the office and it worked perfectly fine with his Switch 2 since he still had access to the aforementioned GameChat webcam features. Not every webcam will be compatible with Switch 2, but there's a good chance your current webcam will play nice.
The Switch 2 Camera has some cool features that can make gaming online more fun. Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of games that fully utilize the camera's unique features.
Right now, Super Mario Party Jamboree - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV is the only game that takes the most advantage of the Switch 2 Camera. As my colleague Anthony Spadafora, who attended the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal event, told me, you can use your hands, head, or even your whole body to play several mini-games. The camera tracked Anthony and three other players simultaneously, and it also snapped a photo to give everyone their own little photo icon, like in Mario Kart World.
While that experience sounds great, it's a shame that the only game that takes advantage of the Switch 2's camera so far is an upgraded version of a game from 2024. Hopefully, Nintendo will soon release more games that are compatible with its camera.
The Nintendo Switch 2 Camera is a cute little peripheral that works as advertised. Though it's not necessary if you don't want to be seen when playing online or if you already own a compatible USB-C camera, it's a quality peripheral that pairs nicely with the Nintendo Switch 2. And though not exactly cheap, its asking price isn't egregious for what it offers.
If you're looking for an official webcam for Switch 2, the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera is the best option right now.
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Engadget
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Android Authority
2 hours ago
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Nintendo Switch 2 The Switch 2 isn't as exciting or innovative as you might want or expect from the big N, but it proves that even when Nintendo plays it safe, there's still a unique magic to be found. I wasn't going to buy a Nintendo Switch 2. With no major Nintendo games releasing for a while and better and cheaper ways of playing indie titles, my original Switch had been gathering dust for months; I'd largely pivoted to spending my fleeting gaming hours on my PC rig, a Steam Deck OLED, and testing out a few exciting new Android handhelds. But then it went on sale, and I got an email from a retailer to say they had limited stock, and, well… here we are. I've owned Nintendo home consoles and handhelds stretching back to the Super Nintendo, so I've seen the many, many ups and downs of the Kyoto innovators' weirdest and most wonderful hardware launches. But in all that time, there was one thing missing: '2'. 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Those wanting to see the wild creativity of the Nintendo that brought us a cube-shaped console with a random hand grip, the Wiimote, a dual-screened handheld with a stylus, or the many, many bizarre accessories of past decades, spanning the ungainly Power Glove all the way to the Labo VR box, will come away sorely disappointed with a console that is far more in line with an Xbox or PlayStation generational shift than any previous Nintendo evolution. But 'keep it simple, stupid,' is a saying for a reason. Perhaps burned by the aggressively misjudged Wii to Wii U transition (and paying for it in sales), the Switch 2 is an exercise in being smart enough not to mess with a successful formula. All the core tenets of the Switch 1 are preserved, with tweaks made where it counts that go beyond a mere performance boost. The UI is slightly cleaner and smoother, but immediately recognizable. The Joy-Cons now snap into place via magnets, and while you might get a nasty pinch if you're not careful, it's safer than shoving a Switch 1 Joy-Con back on the wrong way (ask me how I know this). Handheld mode is much improved with the larger display, and you no longer have to do battle with a dangling cable when you need a charge, thanks to the top USB-C port. Other additions like GameShare (sharing a game with someone to play together with one copy) and the Switch 2 Camera setup also make this a more socially friendly console, an area in which Nintendo has historically struggled, particularly in the online space. Seeing someone's reactions in a little bubble next to their racer in Mario Kart World, even if it's at a slideshow-like refresh rate, is a very Nintendo take on modern gaming essentials. So no, the Switch 2 isn't a moonshot project, but it's all the better for it. Mostly… The Joy-Cons and the Dock needed more love Oliver Cragg / Android Authority The Switch 2 is a big boy compared to the Switch 1, but it's still nowhere close to the size or weight of the beefy Steam Deck. So why can I not use it in handheld mode for as long as Valve's behemoth? The answer is ergonomics. I have an inflammatory disease that manifests as fairly consistent aches in my hands, but I can play on the Steam Deck for hours without any issues because the weight distribution and curved design mold to my palms and grip. This wasn't the case with the original Switch, and it's even worse with the Switch 2. The new Joy-Cons have more features and look nicer than ever, but the harder edges are more uncomfortable to hold. People swore by Hori Split Pad Pro replacements for a reason on Switch 1, and I can see the same thing happening again here. Beyond ergonomics and my tolerance, the Switch 2 Joy-Cons still feel underbaked. Teardowns have revealed that the Switch 2 Joy-Con joysticks are based on the same potentiometer tech as the original Joy-Cons. You know, the ones that consistently succumbed to stick drift. Hall effect and Tunneling Magnetoresistance (TMR) are table stakes on the best controllers now, and it's baffling that Nintendo didn't take greater measures to fix one of the biggest pain points of the Switch 1. Instead, that time perhaps went into making the Switch 2 Joy-Cons usable as a mouse — time poorly spent if so, while they do technically work for games like Civilization VII or even shooters like Fortnite, there's a good reason mouse companies don't make products that look like this: they're painfully uncomfortable after about 10 minutes of use. The Switch 2 console upgrades are all on point, but the new-gen Joy-Cons and Dock feel undercooked. The Switch 2 dock equally feels like Nintendo could've done so much more. Docking the console doesn't offer any additional peace of mind over the original Switch and dock combo regarding potential screen damage; it still has solid plastic on either side, which necessitates real care when you're reengaging the device to switch between handheld and home modes. And while the Switch 2 itself got a second USB-C port, the dock still has a whopping zero. It's two USB-A ports all over again, so charging controllers will require one of those USB-A-to-USB-C cables many of us have been trying to eliminate from our gadget lives. Where Nintendon't, others will. dbrand kindly sent me over its KillSwitch case, which immediately solved my Joy-Con woes by adding rubberized, textured ergonomic casing, and improves the dock experience via an adapter so you can dock the Switch 2 externally. The Ultra bundle I received also has the idiot-proof Prism 2.0 screen protectors, which I highly recommend for your Switch 2 (or really any gadget dbrand makes them for). I'm also holding out hope that there's a Hori Split Pad Pro or an equivalent made for Switch 2 to permanently fix the Joy-Cons and give them more reliable sticks and better grips as standard. The price doesn't end at the console Oliver Cragg / Android Authority If you can actually find one to buy, the Switch 2 itself isn't cheap. I'd say that $449 is a fair price for a modern console, especially when you consider that it's a hybrid system that can cover portable and TV play, and that the Steam Deck OLED is another $100 on top at its minimum entry. But the Switch 2 ecosystem is expensive, more so than the Deck and even more so than a traditional console from Microsoft or Sony. $80 games are apparently the new norm, so asking that for Mario Kart World stings, but it's not beyond expectation, especially when the cost of game development is at an all-time high. However, Nintendo has a knack for rarely ever reducing the price of its games. $80 now may drop to $60-$70, but based on recent history, you shouldn't ever expect to see Steam sale or even PSN/Xbox sale level of price drops on first-party Nintendo games. I'm still yet to pick up 2019's Fire Emblem: Three Houses, despite loving the series, because it's always stuck at MSRP, and I can get 2-3 games from my wishlist elsewhere for that price. Likewise, third-party games and indies do go on sale more often, but the sticker price is typically higher than in other ecosystems (and this may get worse if Nintendo doesn't fix another issue I'll get to in a moment). Nintendo isn't the only game in town anymore if you want to play on the go, and long-term it's cheaper elsewhere. Then there are the extras that come with any console, but still add up. 256GB base storage is a big leap from the 32GB of the original Switch and even the 64GB of the OLED model, but you'll still likely need more room for all your games before long, and the Switch 2 is only compatible with microSD Express cards, which start at around $50-60 for a 128GB card, and rise in cost from there for more storage. A Switch Online account is required for online play, and the Expansion Pack is needed for some emulation and additional perks. The USB-C camera is $54.99, and if you want a Pro controller with a capture button, that'll be a hefty $85 add-on. Overall, the Switch 2, even when you factor in the extras, isn't exorbitantly expensive, but with more competition in the handheld space in particular from the Steam Deck and the first wave of Steam OS machines, Xbox's ambitions to fix Windows for portable play, more and more breakout titles coming to mobile (e.g. Balatro), and the ever-increasing number of ultra-affordable retro handhelds, Nintendo isn't the only game in town anymore if you want to play on the go. The cartridge debacle is dumb Oliver Cragg / Android Authority Okay, so this is confusing, so bear with me. In its infinite wisdom, Nintendo decided to make the act of buying games more complicated than it needed to be with the introduction of Game-Key Cards. When you buy one of these boxed Game-Key Card games from a retail store, you get a regular Nintendo Switch 2 cartridge, but the game isn't stored on the cartridge, only an access key. Instead, when you put the cartridge into your console, it'll trigger the system to download the title. To Nintendo's credit, the packaging for Game-Key Card games has clear branding to differentiate them from a native Switch 2 game that is stored on the cartridge. There are also upsides to this approach, such as cheaper production costs for indie studios who don't have to buy larger storage cartridges. On the consumer end, you can also share and sell Game-Key Cards (Nintendo did an awful job at communicating this at launch, with this huge detail only coming out of an interview), which you can't do with previous digital-centric brick-and-mortar store purchases, which had a single-use game code. Game-Key Card confusion has been an unfortunate and avoidable blunder. But if only it were that simple. For starters, Game-Key Cards are no better than code slips for game preservation. If game publishers or Nintendo take the necessary servers offline, that key won't do anything. And the silly part is, even though Game-Key Cards exist, there were still two Nintendo Switch 2 launch games — Civilization VII and Split Fiction — that had a slip in the box, not a cartridge! Even my Switch 2 and Mario Kart World bundle came with a code for the racer, not a Game-Key Card. More alarming is the number of Game-Key Card games vs. actual cartridges, with the former outnumbering the latter — there's a handy list on reddit that is keeping track of each release. Reports are circulating that the number of Game-Key Card games is so high because Nintendo has only supplied 64GB Switch 2 cartridges for companies that want to offer the full physical game, as opposed to the Switch 1, which had a range, reportedly with multiple options and going as low as 4GB. With a suggested $16 cost price of each 64GB full cartridge for Switch 2, it's easy to see why publishers and indie developers have opted to save money per sale by buying cheaper Game-Key Cards that require only storage enough for an activation. The real disadvantage here plays into the Switch's very purpose — a simple, plug-and-play handheld that doesn't require jumping through any hoops. That paradigm continues to be unraveled by confusing initiatives like the Game-Key Cards, and, to a lesser extent, Switch 2 Editions. Here's hoping Nintendo fixes this dumb issue and offers more card sizes soon. Nintendo Switch 2 verdict: Is it worth it? Oliver Cragg / Android Authority When the dust settles and the restocks start hitting, I can safely recommend the Nintendo Switch 2 if you want to play the very best Nintendo can offer in the best possible way. Personally, I'm excited enough to play Metroid Prime 4: Beyond on a platform that can hit 4K at 60fps on my TV that I could justify it to myself. That said, if there's nothing on the horizon from Nintendo's first-party game slate that catches your eye, you might want to hold off, either until something does pop up that's Switch 2-only, or plays so poorly on the original Switch that it comes time to upgrade. Even when Nintendo plays it safe, there's still a unique magic to be found. But Nintendo consoles live and die by Nintendo's own games, and if you're looking instead for a handheld for a far broader experience of AAA and indies, I would recommend at least considering options like the Steam Deck ($549 at Manufacturer site), other Steam OS handhelds like the Lenovo Legion Go S ($499.99 at Manufacturer site), and perhaps even waiting to see what comes of the Xbox Ally devices. We're no longer in a world where handhelds without a Nintendo sticker are a niche curiosity, and while the cost of entry is slightly higher elsewhere, the long-term costs are often a lot lower, and the plug-and-play advantage Nintendo previously had isn't quite as secure as it once was. There's also the lingering possibility of a Switch 2 OLED, which I'd guess is inevitable, but I doubt we'll see it for at least 3-5 years. In the meantime, you could be enjoying playing on a console that does almost everything you'd want from a Switch successor. It's not as exciting or as innovative as you might want or expect from the big N, but even when Nintendo plays it safe, there's still a unique magic to be found. Nintendo Switch 2 Improved performance • Surprisingly great LCD display • Fun social features MSRP: $449.00 Nintendo's best gets bigger and better. The Nintendo Switch 2 offers big upgrades over the original Switch, including a larger 7.9-inch 1080p 120Hz display, a beefed-up, custom NVIDIA processor, 256GB of internal storage, and GameChat social features. See price at GameStopSee price at Newegg Positives Improved performance Improved performance Surprisingly great LCD display Surprisingly great LCD display Superior console design Superior console design Fun social features Fun social features The best way to play Nintendo exclusives Cons Limited upgrades for Joy-Cons and Dock Limited upgrades for Joy-Cons and Dock Expensive ecosystem
