The Nintendo Switch revolutionized the gaming world—the concept of a hybrid console that made gaming easier both at home and on the go. But in 2025, with the announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2, gamers are wondering: Is this new version really worth the upgrade? Is it a lot better than the old Switch, or just a minor update? In this article, we’ll take a detailed, practical look at the good, the bad, and the really bad of the Nintendo Switch 2 so you can decide if it’s right for you.
What’s Good About Nintendo Switch 2?
A Big Leap in Hardware
The biggest weakness of the first Switch was its outdated and a weak hardware, which often failed to run AAA games smoothly. But the Switch 2 uses NVIDIA’s new custom Tegra chipset (based on the Ada Lovelace architecture), which brings huge improvements in graphics and performance. For example, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom now runs at 60 FPS in docked mode, whereas it was limited to 30 FPS on the older Switch. This change is extremely important for gamers who want fluid gameplay and better visuals.
Bigger Battery as Compared to Switch 1 and Lite
Nintendo’s Switch 2 has a bigger battery. It comes packed with 5,220mAh battery capacity that is a big improvement. Since the size of this handheld game console is bigger than the previous models, the battery size is also bigger and this gives gamers a slight edge as they can now play games for longer hours without worrying about the console’s battery running out.
Screen and Controller Upgrades too
The Switch 2’s 7.9-inch LCD Full HD display supports a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10 support. This is ideal for fast-paced games like Mario Kart 9 or Splatoon 3. This feature gives a gaming experience similar to smartphones, making competitive gaming possible even in handheld mode.
One more thing… the LCD screen of Switch 2 is awesome, it gives neck to neck competition to Nintendo’s OLED Switch variant, and while playing games you will hardly feel it is LCD – I mean the quality is brilliant… but make sure protect it using a screen protector which now available on online stores in around $19 – $25.
Nintendo has also largely fixed the Joy-Con drift problem. The new analog sticks are more durable and have improved sensitivity. Also, the new Pro Controller features back paddles and an improved grip design, which makes it comfortable even during long gaming sessions.
Backward compatibility: Old games won’t be useless
One of the biggest concerns was whether older Switch games would run on the Switch 2? Well, the good news is that the new console is fully backward compatible—you can run both old cartridges and digital games on the new device. This is a big deal for gamers who have already bought a lot of games for the Switch.
Processor, RAM, and iGPU- Everything Upgraded
The Switch 2 is powered by a custom Nvidia T239 chip, that has 8 cores. Out of them 2 are are reserved for the operating system, and the six available for games. As compared to older versions, this new variant has 4 more cores and this works with 12GB RAM. So the processor power got doubled and RAM power got tripled in the all new Nintendo Switch 2.
As published by Muni Anda on Nvidia, the Nintendo Switch 2’s integrated GPU marks a monumental leap over its predecessor, leveraging Nvidia’s Ampere architecture with 1536 CUDA cores and introducing game-changing features like DLSS and ray tracing for far superior visuals and performance.
What’s Bad About Nintendo Switch 2?
256GB is a Low Storage
The Switch 2’s internal storage is just 256GB, which is very little for today’s games. Games like Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom are over 20GB in size, meaning you won’t be able to install many games. In future, the game size will increase and 256GB won’t be sufficient. The only solution to this is to buy expensive microSD Express cards, which is an additional expense overall.
Price is also an issue
The Switch 2 starts at $449.99 USD (approximately ₹39,000 or even higher if you import in India), which is much higher than the older Switch (approx ₹24,999). While consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series S offer more powerful hardware at the same price. However, if you want to play Nintendo’s exclusive games, you have no choice. But as the Switch 2 main highlight – it can now play AAA titles, so what’s better that Playstation 5. It is available in India too and offers better value!
Dock limitations: No True 4K gaming
The Switch 2 dock offers 4K output, but it’s not “real 4K”! It’s just the magic of DLSS upscaling! Meaning, the game is actually running at 1440p or 1080p, and then AI makes it 4K! Now in 2025, when the PS5 and Xbox Series X are offering games in native 4K, why is Nintendo serving this “fake 4K”?
This is a cheap trick…
Nintendo fans might say – “We want gameplay, not resolution!” But the truth is that 4K gaming has become a standard in today’s times! If you are buying a console worth ₹39,999, you deserve real 4K! DLSS is a good technology, but it’s like making a donkey out of a horse!
Battery Size Improved but Life not improved
As reported on Nintendo official website, with the help of the new Full HD LCD display and adaptive brightness, the Switch 2 can last for 2-6.5 hours of continuous play, While the older model V1 lasts from 2.5 to 6.5 hours and V2 lasts from 4.5-9 hours. Means, Nintendo’s fans will get same battery backup – there is no improvement in battery life and its 5,220mAh battery takes about 3 hours to fully charge. At this price, many smartphones with a battery capacity of 5000 mAh get fully charged in about 1.5 hours.
What’s Ugly? The Real Problems You Should Know
Online Infrastructure still Lags
Nintendo’s online system has always been weaker than Xbox Live and PlayStation Network, and the Switch 2 hasn’t seen any major improvements. Basic features like party chat, cloud saves, and multiplayer matchmaking still aren’t as smooth as other platforms. If you’re serious about online gaming, this could be a big problem.
Lack of third-party games
Most major third-party titles are still not coming to the Switch 2. Blockbuster games like Call of Duty, Elden Ring, or Starfield are still only available on PlayStation and Xbox. Nintendo still relies on its own first-party games (e.g. Mario, Zelda, Pokemon), which could be a limiting factor for some gamers.
Overheating and performance throttling
Some early users have reported that the Switch 2 gets hot during long handheld gaming sessions, impacting performance. This problem is especially seen in graphics-intensive games. However, this can be avoided by using external cooling fans or taking breaks in between.
Nintendo Switch 2 Color
The color combination in Switch 2 is bit odd and weird. Instead regular blue and red Joy-Con controllers pair, the latest hand held comes with only black and black Joy-Con controllers with minor red and blue colour effect under the joystick. This makes Nintendo Switch 2 bit ugly and boring as it looks very dull as compared to Nintendo Lite and Nintendo Switch 1.
Final Conclusion: Is it worth buying the Switch 2?
If you’re a dedicated Nintendo fan or prefer portable gaming, the Switch 2 is a great upgrade. Better hardware (CPU, RAM, GPU), bigger battery life, Full HD LCD touch display backward compatibility with Switch 1, and improved controllers take it far ahead of the old Switch.
But if you want to experience true 4K gaming, third-party games, or a better online experience, the PS5, PS5 Pro, or Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S may be better and value for money options.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is a solid upgrade, but it’s not perfect. Its strength lies in its portability and Nintendo exclusive games, not raw power or advanced features. If you’re a Nintendo fanatic, this is the best choice for you.