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Tom's Guide
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
I just tested the adorable Nintendo Switch 2 Piranha Plant Cam — here's why I won't be buying it
I'm no stranger to cute gadgets and trinkets (I have a Knuckles figurine sitting atop my monitor at work). It's even better when cute gadgets are also good at what they do. I just tested the Piranha Plant Cam for the Nintendo Switch 2, which is one of those things — and it ain't the latter. Taking the form of a Piranha Plant from the Mario universe, the Piranha Plant Cam is extremely cute and well-built, and it's easy to use. All you have to do is plug it into your Switch 2, and it works well in a game like Super Mario Party Jamboree. But it's heavily let down by its video capabilities being limited to just 480p, making images appear washed out and pixelated. Should you buy it? Well, if you want a statement piece, sure. But if you want a camera that actually delivers clear images, I'd reconsider. For the complete breakdown, read my full Piranha Plant Cam for Nintendo Switch 2 review. Specs Hori Piranha Plant Cam Price $59 / £32 Compatibility Nintendo Switch 2, Windows, macOS Max video resolution 480p @ 30fps Field of view 85° Size 8.5 x 4.1 x 2.1 inches Weight 3.56oz Mounting L-shaped Accessories (included) USB-C cable and 3.5mm stereo right-angle adapter Colors Red, Green and White The Hori Piranha Plant Cam is extremely cute and well-built, and it's straightforward to set up and use. I've tested some of the best webcams here at Tom's Guide and the one thing I've found? More often than not, they all look the same, sporting a black or dark grey design that doesn't make them stand out. You know what stands out, though? The Hori Piranha Plant Cam. As the name suggests, this webcam takes the shape of the Piranha Plant from the Mario universe — and I can't lie, it's one of the cutest things I've ever seen. He's just a goofy guy, really (yes, I'm humanizing tech and referring to him as 'he'). There are three parts to the Piranha Plant Cam. The stem — which is permanently attached to the head — slots into the base (a Warp Pipe), and there's a pair of leaves that you can attach to the stem. The mouth can then be opened to reveal the camera, acting as a lens cover. The Piranha Plant Cam's base features an L-shaped mount that you can use to clip the camera onto your TV, monitor or even laptop. If you want to use it on the go in handheld mode, you simply need to plug it into the USB-C slot on the Switch 2's topside without the base. The camera also weighs next to nothing. Without the base, it weighs 1 ounce (3.56oz with). You can also bend the Piranha Plant Cam's neck to achieve your ideal angle. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Overall, I love the Piranha Plant Cam's design, and I prefer it over the official Nintendo Switch 2 Camera's ($54) — and its design is its only saving grace. The Piranha Plant Cam is a straightforward plug-and-play camera. Like I said, you can plug it directly into your Nintendo Switch 2 in handheld mode. If you're using the Switch 2 docked, plug in the included USB-C cable into the back of the Piranha Plant Cam's base and the other end into your Switch 2's dock. Easy as pie. This is also a versatile webcam. I was able to use it on Google Meet calls by plugging it into my MacBook Air M2, and it works with Windows laptops too. So if your usual or built-in webcam decides to randomly die on you, at least you can use the Piranha Plant Cam as a backup — but only if you want to look like you're on a 90s VHS tape. When using the Piranha Plant Cam in GameChat to show yourself to your friends, you have the option of showing your face only. The attached camera will crop your face and remove distracting background elements. With the Piranha Plant Cam, this works well. Nintendo prohibits you from taking screenshots while using GameChat to protect the other players' privacy, so I can't show you what this looks like. But when I tested the Piranha Plant Cam at the office with a plethora of boxes and products in the background, the camera did well to crop out those elements and show my face only. I was quite impressed! So, how does the Piranha Plant Cam perform in games that require a camera? I tested the camera with Super Mario Party Jamboree — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV and played some of the camera mini games on offer. When playing alone, the camera captured me accurately and promptly registered my actions — such as punching the air to hit a coin block, or striking a pose and shouting to outperform Bowser. You can use your whole body to play a few mini games too, which works great when the Switch 2 is docked and the Piranha Plant Cam is connected via the USB-C cable. But because the camera's field of view is limited to 85° and it doesn't utilize a wide-angle lens, it struggles to capture more than two players in the frame. Still, for playing games alone, it works like a charm. I also enjoyed playing Mario Kart World online with a friend, where your video is displayed in a small bubble above your character's head. He said he could see my video clearly when my character was ahead of him in a race, and he didn't notice much jitter and my expressions were clear (as discernible as they can be when the photo barely takes up any space on screen). There isn't a lot wrong with the Hori Piranha Plant Cam, but the one thing that is wrong is a major flaw: the 480p video quality. What does a camera or a webcam need to be considered good? Great resolution for clear video. This is where the Piranha Plant Cam massively falls short as its resolution is limited to 480p at 30fps. Honestly, that's not something that should be a thing in 2025 — I expected at least 720P, especially when the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera boasts 1080p. Now you get why I made that 90s VHS tape reference above. 480p doesn't pack nearly as many pixels as 1080p or 4K, and it is a low resolution that doesn't scale well to modern, higher resolution screens, and we have grown accustomed to sharper video packed with plenty of detail. Color reproduction is also fairly awful, with images and videos appearing washed out regardless of whether you're using the camera on your Nintendo Switch 2 or your laptop. The photo above was taken using Photobooth on my MacBook Air M2, and it's very hazy, grainy and pixelated — just not pleasant to look at or usable. Of course, you'll primarily be using this camera with the Switch 2, and because your video bubble is so tiny, footage doesn't appear as grainy or poor. It's not good, but it isn't horrible either. I'd still choose the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera instead, because 1080p is far better than 480p. This is less about the Piranha Plant Cam's flaws and more about the limitations of the Nintendo Switch 2 itself. Right now, there aren't many games that benefit from having a camera. Super Mario Party Jamboree — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV works well, as noted above, and the camera is good for Mario Kart World too when you've just been red-shelled by your friends and you want to show them just how deeply it affected you. But that's about it. Hopefully, this will change in the future as Nintendo releases more games for the Switch 2, but for now, it's slim pickings. The Piranha Plant Cam for Nintendo Switch 2 is a well-intentioned camera that fails to deliver. Don't get me wrong: it's extremely cute and well-built, it's easy to set up and use, it can act as a backup webcam for your laptop, and it works well in launch window titles like Super Mario Party Jamboree. The tradeoff? 480p video, which is simply not good enough. In my testing, I looked washed out and the color reproduction was terrible. It's fine if you don't care about image quality, but I'd highly recommend grabbing the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera instead, as it boasts a resolution of 1080p — much, much better than 480p. If you've got money to burn and want a cute trinket because you're a huge Mario fan, then sure, get the Piranha Plant Cam. It's currently sitting next to my Knuckles figurine on my monitor, and I plan to keep it there, but not for its intended purpose because I don't like looking like I'm stuck in the 90s.
Engadget
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Engadget
The HORI Piranha Plant camera for Switch 2 is on sale for only $40
Even though the Switch 2 basically just came out, we're already starting to see discounts on some of its accessories. One of the more charming peripherals, the HORI Piranha Plant camera, is on sale right now for only $40. That's $20 off and a record-low price. It's a good deal for anyone who wants to take advantage of the Switch 2's camera functionality in games like Mario Kart World and that recently-released campfire sim. This was designed specifically for Nintendo's new console, so it's a plug-and-play affair. It's actually cheaper than the official Switch 2 camera with this sale and it looks a whole lot cooler. It's a Piranha Plant from the Mario franchise. We called it a "work of art" upon encountering the device and that holds true today. This is 33 percent off and a record-low price. $40 at Amazon This thing is not only stylish, resembling an Amiibo more than a camera, but it's downright useful. The pot the Piranha Plant sits in functions as both a stand and USB extension for the device. The plant itself detaches from the pot, so the camera can be used in portable mode by popping it into the USB port at the top of the console. There's also a built-in privacy shutter. Just close the plant's mouth to obscure the lens. The actual camera specs here aren't going to win any awards, with a frame rate of 30FPS and a resolution of 640 x 480p. However, that's more than enough to capture footage of your floating head to accompany your kart as it races through the Mushroom Kingdom. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice .
Engadget
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Engadget
The HORI Piranha Plant camera for Switch 2 drops to $40
The HORI Piranha Plant camera for the Nintendo Switch 2 is on sale for just $40 , which is a discount of $20 and a record-low price. This is a great deal for those who own a Switch 2 and want to take advantage of the camera functionality in games like Mario Kart World and that recently-released campfire sim . This was designed specifically for Nintendo's new console, so it's a plug-and-play affair. It's actually cheaper than the official Switch 2 camera with this sale and it looks a whole lot cooler. It's a Piranha Plant from the Mario franchise. We called it a "work of art" upon encountering the device and that holds true today. This is a record-low price. $40 at Amazon This thing is not only stylish, resembling an Amiibo more than a camera, but it's downright useful. The pot the Piranha Plant sits in functions as both a stand and USB extension for the device. The plant itself detaches from the pot, so the camera can be used in portable mode by popping it into the USB port at the top of the console. There's also a built-in privacy shutter. Just close the plant's mouth to obscure the lens. The actual camera specs here aren't going to win any awards, with a frame rate of 30FPS and a resolution of 640 x 480p. However, that's more than enough to capture footage of your floating head to accompany your kart as it races through the Mushroom Kingdom. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice .
Metro
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Where to pre-order Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle and accessories in the UK
Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more Pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 have now opened around the world, so here's where you can pick up a console in the UK. Nintendo's reveal of the Switch 2 may still be suffering from some confusion over the finer details, but that hasn't stopped millions of people from pre-ordering the console. The Switch 2's launch is just over a month away, on June 5, 2025, and many retailers have already sold out. This week, pre-orders in the US and Japan also opened, with the latter seeing unprecedented demand. Nintendo's next console looks set for a record-breaking launch, but retailers across the UK and Europe are still only getting intermittent restocks – which makes securing a console very difficult. In the UK, the Switch 2 base console costs £395.99, while the limited time Mario Kart World bundle is priced at £429.99. This knocks off £33 from the game's £66.99 digital price, effectively making it half price. The bundle is currently sold out at most retailers, but there were restocks at The Game Collection and Amazon this week – so it's vital to keep an eye on the list belowto see if the bundle comes back into stock. Alternatively, you can pre-order Switch 2 accessories (now without an invite) through the My Nintendo Store. This includes the GameCube controller, priced at £58.99, which will launch on the same day as the Switch 2, to promote the roster of GameCube games arriving on Nintendo Switch Online. Elsewhere, there's the Switch 2 camera, which is required if you want to broadcast your face while playing Mario Kart World. More Trending here's also a cheaper camera modelled after a Piranha Plant, but the image quality is worse, at 480p resolution compared to the former's 1080p. All the accessories listed below launch alongside the console on June 5, 2025. Nintendo GameCube controller – £58.99 Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller – £74.99 Joy-Con 2 controller set – £74.99 Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip – £29.99 Nintendo Switch 2 All-In-One Carrying Case – £66.99 Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case & Screen Protector – £20.99 Nintendo Switch 2 camera – £49.99 Piranha Plant camera – £33.99 Along with Mario Kart World, the Switch 2 launch line-up includes Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, Split Fiction, and Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up to our newsletter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: Capcom teases Resident Evil 9 reveal as it celebrates sales milestone MORE: The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered review – remaster of the year MORE: Games Inbox: When will there be more UK Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders?
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Morning After: The Switch 2 pre-order struggle
Nintendo may not have enough Switch 2 consoles for everyone, it seems. It's struggling to meet demand both in Japan and the US, where pre-orders were already delayed due to the tariff fiasco. The official release date for the console, June 5, remains unchanged. However, if you signed up ahead of time on Nintendo's site, you may have received an email granting you access to place your order through Nintendo. The company recently emailed users to inform them it has noted 'very high demand' for the console, so 'your invitation email may arrive after the Nintendo Switch 2 launch, scheduled for June 5.' Yeah, your chance to pre-order might happen after the console has already gone on sale. In Japan, when Nintendo offered the chance to 'register your interest' in purchasing a Switch 2, 2.2 million people applied. That's almost two percent of the country's population. You don't have to buy your console direct from Nintendo, of course, but getting the Switch 2 elsewhere has also been challenging. Best Buy, Walmart and Target pre-orders opened at midnight yesterday, while GameStop in-person and online pre-orders started at 11am. And all of those retailers have either already sold out, or list the console as 'coming soon.' Did you manage to get an order in? And did you get the Piranha Plant camera? — Mat Smith MasterClass subscriptions are 40 percent off right now Motorola made a foldable Razr with a wooden body Remedy's co-op shooter FBC: Firebreak comes out June 17 Netflix subtitles are now available in a dialogue-only format After adding music and math to its app, Duolingo is now introducing lessons for the true love language: chess. Lessons for beginners and intermediate players will initially be in beta in its iOS app. The app will start by asking you how much you know about chess, then tailor lessons based on your level — I assume it asks you what the horsey piece is called. If you already know how each piece moves, you'll face Duolingo's Oscar in mini -puzzles, where you have to capture certain pieces using a specified piece. You can also play full level-appropriate games against Oscar — but no other humans for now. Continue reading. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has many excited. Maybe it's the dreamy Belle Époque aesthetic and design. Maybe it's the gloriously pulpy concept of an all-powerful Paintress dooming humankind to an ever-shortening mortal clock. Maybe it's the characters, bolstered by a starry voice-artist roster, and nuanced animation and story. (Maybe, at this point in gaming, it's the $50 price tag.) The surprise boss, however, might be the remake of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, which stealth-launched the day before Expedition 33. Our lives can only take one RPG at a time — this compelling, gorgeous RPG is worth your time. And it's already on Xbox Game Pass. Continue reading. Razer's Pro Click V2 Vertical Edition is the company's first vertical mouse. Vertical designs can be a more ergonomic mouse options, particularly if you experience discomfort when spending long stretches at a computer. Like me, hi. The Pro Click V2 Vertical Edition has eight programmable buttons and promises a battery life of up to six months. It has a 71.7-degree tilt, so you hold it in a handshake-like grip, which can reduce strain in long-use sessions. There's also a support on the base that aims to cut down on wrist friction. The cost of ergonomic comfort? $120. Continue reading. Motorola is introducing the Moto Buds Loop, the company's first take on wireless open-ear earbuds. Instead of completely covering your ear, the Moto Buds Loops cuff the outside, almost like a piercing, blocking out less of the world around you, while still letting you hear your music. Motorola says the earbuds have 12mm drivers and Sound by Bose technology, which means they're tuned for clarity and balance. They also use a combination of AI and dual microphones to minimize background noise. Continue reading.
