2025’s most anticipated console launch has finally come and gone, but you might be wondering where our Nintendo Switch 2 review is. Well, like every other media outlet, we received our review unit just the day before the release date, so we’re still putting the much-anticipated hybrid console through its paces. However, we have some first impressions from spending a couple of days with the console, so you can get an idea of what to expect if you’re still debating whether to pick it up or waiting for your pre-order to arrive.
Why you can trust our advice ✔ At Pocket Tactics, our experts spend days testing games, phones, tech, and services. We always share honest opinions to help you buy the best. Find out how we test.
Let’s start with the positives. The performance and display are a serious step up from the original Switch and, in my opinion, even the Switch OLED. This upgrade is especially noticeable in handheld mode, with the 1080p screen offering a level of quality that even some of the high-end picks from our guide to the best handheld consoles can’t compete with. I’m coming from spending the last few months glued to my Steam Deck OLED, but after a fair few hours playing the Switch 2, I’m already tossing Valve’s console to one side like Toy Story’s Andy discarding Woody following the arrival of a certain Buzz Lightyear.
Following a bit more time with the Switch 2’s LCD display and playing games that dabble in darkness more than the colorful delights of Mario Kart World, I’ve noticed that the on-screen blacks aren’t quite as deep as you might expect if you’re also coming from the Switch OLED or Steam Deck OLED. For anyone who knows a bit about display tech, that shouldn’t be a surprise, as it’s well-documented that OLED screens offer inkier blacks than the LCD alternative. Honestly, I still prefer the Switch 2’s display. The improvement in frame and refresh rates makes gameplay feel that much smoother, so I don’t mind that the darkness in games such as Hades and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom isn’t quite as deep as I’m used to.
While the form factor of the Switch 2 had already won me over from my time testing games at the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience in London, I’m an even bigger fan of it now that I’ve had time to use the handheld in my own home. Due to the bigger screen and elongated Joy-Con 2 controllers, the console somehow feels thinner than the OLED I’ve spent the last few years with, even though it’s the exact same thickness. This isn’t a bad thing at all; if anything, I’m a big fan of it, as it adds to the sleek design aesthetic that Nintendo aced with its last couple of consoles.
There’s an all-around premium feeling to the Nintendo Switch 2. It’s likely due to the combination of the upgraded kickstand, which feels pretty sturdy and offers more flexibility in terms of viewing angles, and the lovely matte finish of the Joy-Con 2 controllers, but given all the furor about the console’s price point before the big launch, I think it feels like a $450 console. Even the dock, though still not the most aesthetically adventurous piece of kit, seems much more premium than that of the original console.
On the subject of the Joy-Con 2 controllers, they’re another marked improvement from the original. The magnetic attachments make them much easier to use compared to the occasionally frustrating rail system of the original, and the bigger joysticks are ideal for getting those drift boosts in all the bendiest Mario Kart World tracks or for anyone, like me, with big Sasquatch hands.
While the Joy-Con 2 controllers feel like a big upgrade, the new mouse controls are a bit of a mixed bag. I can’t fault the responsiveness and accuracy; Nintendo has pulled that off. If you’re a fan of FPS games, I’d recommend at least trying your right Joy-Con 2 in mouse mode to feel the benefit when aiming your weapon. For me, though, there’s a practicality problem.
I don’t sit at a desk when I’m gaming, so if I want to use the mouse controller functionality, I have to pull out my desk tray while I’m on the sofa, which isn’t the most comfortable gaming setup. On the back of this, I’m hoping that when the Switch 2’s first mainline Mario game arrives, it doesn’t force you to use mouse controls. It’s a fine enough gimmick and likely a big win for some, but I don’t want to have to use it when I’d rather be playing in handheld mode.
It’s also worth noting that, while it’s not the most exciting thing about the console, setting up the Switch 2 is remarkably easy. It takes less than half an hour or so, maybe a little more if you’ve got a massive library of screenshots to transfer over, and the step-by-step instructions should serve as a great introduction to anyone picking this up who didn’t check out the original Switch.
Once setup is complete, backwards compatible games associated with your account should begin to download automatically. Some of the best Switch games have received free Switch 2 updates, and after an hour checking out Pokémon Violet, I can’t see myself going back to playing it on my Switch OLED. The most noticeable difference is in the mass outbreak feature, where a specific Pokémon appears in swarms at a certain location. My OLED model struggled to load more than ten Pokémon at a time, but on the Switch 2, an outbreak looks like what I’d always wanted it to look like, with legions of Metang swirling around in the frosty Polar Biome. The ninth-generation Pokémon game still isn’t visually stunning, but it’s a lot better than what I’m used to.
Out of all the software improvements for the Nintendo Switch 2, the most obvious, and the one I was most hoping for, is the new eShop. It is so much better. I’m particularly keen on the new For You feature, which presents you with a selection of games based on your interests that refreshes every Saturday. Given that I’m a games journalist with an inbox full of recommendations from PR companies, I don’t really need it, but for most users, this offers a great way to find something new to play that you’re more than likely to enjoy. Outside of For You, the eShop just feels that much smoother to use, with none of the irritating lag that I so often experienced on the original Switch.
One of the most advertised features going into the Switch 2 launch was GameChat, Nintendo’s new in-game communication tool that allows you to chat and share your screen with up to 12 of your friends. I tried it out with a bunch of other journalists, and it’s a pretty neat feature, provided you’ve got a solid Wi-Fi connection. My internet is a little patchy, and at points, the console automatically turned off my camera and screen sharing due to the poor signal, but this shouldn’t be an issue for most. I don’t think GameChat is something I’ll use all that often, but if you’re a social gamer, it’s a big step up from the original Switch’s meager and convoluted approach to in-game communication.
However, the Switch 2 isn’t perfect. The biggest disappointment so far is battery life, which is much closer to the original Switch than the OLED model that arrived a few years later. So far, I’ve averaged about an hour and a half to two hours playing Mario Kart World at full charge before it’s time to plug in. That wouldn’t be so bad if the Switch 2 wasn’t also pretty slow to charge, especially if you’re still playing, taking at least three hours to juice from flat to 100%. It’s quicker if the console is in sleep mode, but that means you’re not gaming, and right now, all I want to be doing is drifting around the tight bends of Moo Moo Meadows.
@pockettactics We finally got our hands on a Nintendo Switch 2! Check out more Nintendo content on Pocket Tactics #NintendoSwitch2 #Unboxing #Gaming
♬ original sound – Pocket Tactics
I’ve got some smaller frustrations, too. The charging lead that comes in the box is a bit short, which restricts how you play when you’re running low on battery in handheld mode, and as I’ve already mentioned, you’ll experience that fairly often. The handheld also gets a little toastier than I was anticipating, no matter whether you’re playing in handheld or docked mode. It’s nothing too concerning, and if anything, I’m more worried about how much I like the smell of the internal fans going to work coming out of the top vents, but it’s something to keep in mind.
That’s all we’ve got for you so far, but be sure to keep an eye out for our full and detailed Nintendo Switch 2 review in the coming days. If you need to complete your setup when the console arrives, be sure to check out our guides to the best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories and the best Nintendo Switch 2 controllers. Or, if you’re playing a lot of Nintendo’s latest racing game, see our Mario Kart World karts and Mario Kart World characters guides.
