First impressions of the Nintendo Switch 2: Bigger, heavier and better, but not without problems
Anyone who pre-ordered the Nintendo Switch 2 should receive the console today. Eight years after the launch of the first-generation Nintendo Switch, the concept remains almost unchanged; the Switch 2 has mainly become larger and more powerful. Nintendo has nevertheless tweaked many aspects of the hardware.
Bigger and heavier, but also higher quality?
At first glance, the Nintendo Switch 2 simply looks like a larger Nintendo Switch – at 18 millimeters tall, the console is even exactly the same thickness. However, upon picking it up for the first time, you immediately notice that the console is considerably heavier. At 535 grams, the Switch 2 weighs about a third more than the first-generation Switch. Compared to competitors such as the Steam Deck (669 grams) or even the Lenovo Legion Go (854 grams), the Switch 2 is still a lightweight.
This mainly due to the downright tiny 20 Wh battery, whose runtime we have not yet been able to test in detail. Nintendo has barely changed the position of the vents, game cartridge slot and power button. The Joy-Con button layout also remains virtually unchanged, with the exception of the new "C" button, which launches game chat. On the other hand, the Nintendo Switch 2 feels more premium than its predecessor, which is partly due to the more matte texture of the plastic casing, but also to the magnetic attachment of the Joy-Con 2.
The controllers are so firmly attached to the console that you could be forgiven for thinking they were an integral part of the housing. By pressing the button on the back, the Joy-Con 2s can be removed with minimal effort to use them as Bluetooth controllers. Nintendo again supplies a grip for connecting both Joy-Con 2s to a gamepad. Alternatively, each Joy-Con 2 can function as a standalone controller, which is useful for playing a round of Mario Kart World with a friend on the go.
The larger format of the console and Joy-Con means that the console is much more comfortable to hold, at least in the average man's hands. People with small hands, such as children, may come to a different conclusion. The new stand feels sturdy—a significant upgrade compared to the wobbly plastic stand of the first Switch. The second USB-C port on the top allows for convenient charging of the console while in use.
Data transfer made easy
Anyone switching from an older Switch to the Nintendo Switch 2 can have all user data transferred automatically, including saved games and screenshots. All you have to do is select the corresponding option when setting up the new console, place both the Switch and Switch 2 next to each other and connect them with a power cable. Games, however, will need to be reloaded from the eShop.
The user interface appears unchanged at first glance, but Nintendo has revised some UI elements and animations. For example, currently selected elements are now highlighted with an animated gradient, giving the system a somewhat more modern feel.
Display and speakers significantly improved
Two upgrades are particularly noticeable when gaming. Firstly, the display, which is significantly larger compared to the original Nintendo Switch with a screen diagonal of 7.9 inches instead of 6.3 inches. While the screen has already been criticized for a low contrast ratio and insufficient HDR peak brightness, this is still an huge upgrade compared to the LCD version of the Nintendo Switch.
Ranging from more vibrant colors to visibly deeper blacks and viewing angles, Nintendo has improved practically every important aspect of the display. The higher 1,080p resolution and the doubly fast 120 Hz frame rate are also clearly noticeable, even if only a few games currently benefit from the high frame rate.
Secondly, Nintendo has also improved the speakers, even if it is not as significant as the display. Overall, the gaming experience benefits immensely from the improvements to the display, speakers and ergonomics. Let's hope that technical glitches such as in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet will be a thing of the past thanks to the console's increased performance; at least Mario Kart World ran without any visible stutters in the first few hours.
Wi-Fi á la 2021
In the first few hours, one problem in particular emerged - the Wi-Fi module. The Nintendo Switch 2 supports the Wi-Fi 6 standard, introduced in 2021, both on the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz channels. However, to get the full signal strength of three bars, the console must be less than three meters away from the router without walls, doors or any other obstacle in the way (tested with a Nest WiFi Pro).
In a more realistic scenario, in which the console is in the room next to the router, the connection remains stable at two bars, but the speed is not the best. The approximately 22 GB download of Mario Kart World took 31 minutes in our test, resulting in a bandwidth of around 95 Mbps. Considering that some games require well over 50 GB of storage, a faster Wi-Fi module would have been desirable.
Source(s)
Own
