The Nintendo Switch 2 is the successor to the Switch (2017) and keeps its hybrid formula: you play it as a handheld, or dock it (a stand wired to your TV) to play on a big screen. It launched on 5 June 2025 at $449.99, sold more than 3.5 million units in its first four days and reached 23.68 million units by 30 June 2026. Because it is hardware, this review uses OtaHub's game criteria, with "Gameplay" covering controls and "Story & World" covering the game library.
The biggest differences from the original sit in the controllers and the screen. Joy-Con 2 (the detachable controllers) snap to the console with magnets instead of sliding on rails, and the screen grows to 7.9 inches at 120Hz. On the other side, the console cost about 50% more than the original at launch, the battery lasts only 2 to 6.5 hours, and Nintendo still has not used anti-drift sensors (stick drift is when the stick moves on its own without you touching it). So this is an upgrade rather than a generational leap.
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | Nintendo (custom Nvidia Tegra T239 chip) |
| Publisher | Nintendo |
| Release date | 5 June 2025 (retail); this retail model is the one reviewed |
| Platform | Nintendo Switch 2: a hybrid console for handheld and docked play; backward compatible with Switch games |
| Price | $449.99 at launch (about 50% more than the original Switch); Nintendo announced a rise to $499.99 in the US from 1 September 2026 |
| Language | Vietnamese support unverified |
| Length | Not applicable to hardware; value follows the game library |
| Where to play | Nintendo stores and retailers; official distribution in Vietnam unverified |
| Critic scores | IGN 7/10, The Verge 80/100, Wired 9/10, Engadget 93/100, The Guardian 4/5, PCMag 4/5 |
| Specs | Custom Nvidia Tegra T239 chip, 12GB LPDDR5X RAM, 256GB storage (expandable with microSD Express); 5,220 mAh battery; 534 g with Joy-Con 2 attached |
| Screen | 7.9-inch 1080p, 120Hz, HDR10; dock outputs 1440p120 or 4K60 |
| Sales | 3.5 million units in four days; 23.68 million by 30 June 2026; Mario Kart World 15.39 million copies |
Review scope: what is OtaHub's assessment based on?
This is a hardware review, based on the retail model released on 5 June 2025, updated for the game library and prices through 5 October 2026. OtaHub relies on Nintendo's specifications, published sales figures and reviews from the tech press. OtaHub did not measure battery life or heat itself and has no hands-on notes from someone who used the console, so every comment on how it feels to use is a cross-checked synthesis. The review also applies the game criteria set to hardware, so the score is experimental.
Gameplay and controls: what is different about Joy-Con 2?
The easiest change to spot is how they attach. Joy-Con 2 snap onto the sides with magnets and release with a mechanical button, replacing the sliding rails of the old model. The SL and SR buttons and the sticks are larger, and each controller has a 500 mAh battery rated for about 20 hours. The right one has a new C button that opens GameChat, a voice and video chat feature with screen sharing. The new dock adds a Gigabit Ethernet port and a cooling fan (the fan cools only the dock).
Two extras are less convincing. GameChat was free only until 31 March 2026 and now needs a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership, so factor that in if the feature is why you are buying. And Nintendo confirmed in April 2025 that the sticks do not use Hall-effect sensors (a type that wears out less), so worries about stick drift remain almost untouched.
The Joy-Con 2 as a mouse
Slide a Joy-Con 2 across a surface and it becomes a mouse. It only works in games that support it, but it opens a style of play older controllers could not do, namely precise pointing like on a PC, on a handheld console.
This detail stands out because it shows Nintendo still thinks about how people play, rather than only about spec sheets. It is also small enough that you may never use it if your games do not support it.
Story and world: the library and ecosystem
For a console, the "world" is the library. Mario Kart World, the pack-in game, reached 15.39 million copies by June 2026. Headline titles include Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Hades II (25 September 2025). In early 2026 the library added Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch 2 Edition, 15 January), Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (22 January), Dragon Quest VII Reimagined (5 February) and Pokémon Pokopia (5 March).
Backward compatibility is a big pillar. As of May 2025, of 122 Nintendo-developed games tested, only the Nintendo Labo VR Kit did not run, while among third-party titles, around 170 games had issues out of more than 15,000 tested. Nintendo Classics also gets a GameCube catalogue exclusive to Switch 2 (Wind Waker, Soulcalibur II, F-Zero GX). The downside is the Game-Key Card, a "game card" that holds only a digital licence, so you still have to download the game and holding the card does not mean you can play right away.
Graphics and sound: is the 120Hz screen worth praising?
The screen is a 7.9-inch LCD, 1080p, up to 120Hz, with HDR10 and VRR (which stops the image tearing when the frame rate rises and falls). Docked, the console outputs 4K at 60Hz or 1440p at 120Hz. It is the clearest improvement over the original Switch, though many players still want an OLED panel and its absence is among the familiar complaints.
For sound, the console has two virtual surround modes (one for headphones, one for its own speakers) and can output 5.1 audio over HDMI when docked. The noise-cancelling mic is praised in GameChat. Bluetooth has had a bug, though. Wireless headphones or controllers sometimes failed to reconnect after the console woke from sleep, and it was only fixed in system update 21.0.1 (24 November 2025). If you use wireless headphones, keep the console up to date.
Technical performance: how much stronger, and how is the battery?
The Nvidia T239 chip with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM brings a real performance step, and the console supports DLSS (AI-based upscaling). Heat is less reassuring, since about a month after launch some users reported the console running hot in both handheld and docked modes, and the dock fan does not directly cool the handheld unit.
Battery is the most criticised point. The battery is 5,220 mAh and Nintendo estimates 2 to 6.5 hours of play, with about 3 hours for a full charge in sleep mode. If you often play handheld on a bus or a long flight, the lowest figure of 2 hours is worth weighing. Internal storage is 256 GB, and only microSD Express cards can run games, up to 2 TB.
Content and value: console price, game prices and storage
The Switch 2 launched at $449.99 (EUR 469.99, GBP 395.99, A$699), about 50% more than the original Switch at its launch. Nintendo then raised prices: Japan to 59,980 yen from 25 May 2026, and the US to $499.99, Canada to CA$679.99 and Europe to EUR 499.99 from 1 September 2026. Nintendo cited the ongoing global memory shortage, among other factors.
Game prices draw criticism too: some titles cost up to $80. Add a microSD Express card (almost a mandatory extra, since 256 GB is not much for downloaded games) and the total entry cost is not small. On the plus side, the old library carries over, and 23.68 million units sold show that Nintendo players see the value. The value is clear, but it is not cheap.
For players in Vietnam
- Distribution
- OtaHub has found no announcement of official sales in Vietnam. Local price and warranty are unverified.
- Vietnamese
- Unverified. OtaHub found no source confirming a Vietnamese system language on the Switch 2.
- Price
- The international list price is $449.99, rising to $499.99 in the US from 1 September 2026. Resale prices in Vietnam may differ, so compare several shops.
- Accessories
- Only microSD Express cards can run games; ordinary microSD cards store only screenshots and videos.
What critics say, and where OtaHub differs
Reviews are mostly positive but uneven: IGN gave 7/10, The Verge 80/100, Wired 9/10, Engadget 93/100, The Guardian 4/5 and PCMag 4/5, and Wikipedia's roundup adds Nintendo Life at 8/10 and PC Gamer at 78/100. Praise goes to the screen, Joy-Con 2 and dock, while criticism targets price, the missing OLED and the stick drift that remains unaddressed.
OtaHub sits between the extremes. IGN's 7/10 is fair if you look purely at price and battery, but OtaHub thinks it undersells the real progress in the screen and Joy-Con 2. Equally, OtaHub does not follow Engadget's very high mark, because the 2-hour worst-case battery and rising prices are real barriers. That is why OtaHub's Technical & Performance score is not in the top group, while Gameplay and Graphics sit higher.
Who should buy the Nintendo Switch 2?
Buy it if you already love the Switch and want a better screen, stronger hardware and better social features, or if you want new Nintendo games such as Mario Kart World. The old library carries over, so you leave nothing behind.
Think twice if you mostly play handheld for hours at a time (the battery runs 2 to 6.5 hours), if you already own a Switch and rarely play (the price is hard to justify), or if you live in Vietnam and need an official warranty, since OtaHub could not verify a local sales channel.
Strengths and weaknesses
Strengths
- 7.9-inch 120Hz HDR10 screen and a clear performance gain
- Magnetic Joy-Con 2 with larger buttons and a mouse mode
- Backward compatible with Switch games
- Improved dock and social features such as GameChat
Weaknesses
- 2 to 6.5 hours of battery, and a $449.99 price about 50% above the original Switch
- No fix for stick drift
- Some users report the console running hot, and the dock fan does not cool the handheld unit
- Game-Key Cards still need a download, and games cost up to $80
OtaHub score
The total is the weighted average of the six game criteria; editors may adjust it by up to ±0.2. See our review standards.
- Gameplay & Mechanics · 9.2Magnetic Joy-Con 2 with larger SL and SR buttons plus a mouse mode make both handheld and docked play more comfortable than the original Switch. The gap is that Nintendo still has not used anti-drift stick sensors.
- Story & World · 8.7The console runs most Switch games and already has the big first-party titles, but third-party support still leans on ports and Game-Key Cards still make you download the game.
- Graphics & Art Direction · 9.2A 7.9-inch, 1080p, 120Hz HDR10 screen is a clear step up from the original Switch, though many still miss an OLED panel.
- Sound & Music · 8.5Two virtual surround modes and a noise-cancelling mic that works well in GameChat, but Bluetooth has had reconnection bugs after the console wakes from sleep.
- Technical & Performance · 8.9The Nvidia T239 chip and 12GB of RAM are a clear performance step, but the 2 to 6.5 hour battery is short and some users report the console running hot.
- Content & Value · 8.8The console costs about 50% more than the original Switch did at launch and is about to cost more, games go up to $80, and you almost have to buy a microSD Express card.
OtaHub recommendation: Buy now
FAQ
Does the Switch 2 play old Switch games?
Yes, it is backward compatible. As of May 2025, of 122 Nintendo-developed games tested, only the Nintendo Labo VR Kit failed to run. Nintendo tested about 75% of more than 15,000 third-party games and found issues in around 170.
How long does the Switch 2 battery last?
Nintendo estimates 2 to 6.5 hours depending on the game, from a 5,220 mAh battery. A full charge in sleep mode takes about 3 hours.
How much does the Switch 2 cost now?
It launched at $449.99. Nintendo announced a rise to $499.99 in the US from 1 September 2026, with new prices in Canada (CA$679.99) and Europe (EUR 499.99).
Is the Switch 2 officially sold in Vietnam?
OtaHub has found no announcement of official distribution in Vietnam, so local prices and warranty are unverified. Ask retailers directly before buying.
What memory card does the Switch 2 need?
Only microSD Express cards can run games (up to 2 TB). Ordinary microSDHC or SDXC cards store only screenshots and videos. Internal storage is 256 GB.
Sources: Wikipedia (Nintendo Switch 2) (specifications, prices, sales, roundup of press scores), specifications and prices published by Nintendo, and reviews from IGN, The Verge, Wired, Engadget, The Guardian, PCMag and TechRadar. Vietnam: OtaHub found no announcement of official distribution. The score is OtaHub's editorial judgement under our review standards.
