Nintendo has confirmed that its “successor to the Nintendo Switch” is the Nintendo Switch 2. There have been a lot of rumors and potential leaks in recent weeks, but finally, we’ve been given our first official look at the Nintendo Switch console.
There will be a full showcase on April 2 but until then we’ve got more than enough juicy details to start making comparisons between the original Nintendo Switch and its hotly-anticipated follow-up. Some of the biggest changes can be spotted just by watching the Switch 2 reveal trailer, but a few changes aren’t immediately obvious and require looking a little deeper.
So if you’re wondering how the Nintendo Switch 2 stacks up against the original Nintendo Switch, here’s everything new, and exactly why this new Switch console looks like a full generational leap...
Nintendo Switch 2 vs Nintendo Switch: Design
The most immediately striking difference between the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 is that the latter is larger. As Nintendo cleverly showcased in the Switch 2 reveal video, its next console packs a larger main unit, with an increased display size and thinner bezels.
We haven’t been given the final dimensions yet, but internet sleuths reckon the Switch 2’s screen is about 7.5 inches. Regardless of the exact size, the Switch 2 is a larger device and that makes sense in a handheld gaming world where the chunky Steam Deck OLED rules supreme.
Another noticeable improvement is the redesigned kickstand, which covers the entire back of the console and can be adjusted to multiple angles. It appears to be a significant upgrade from the flimsy stand found on the base Switch, though it's roughly in line with the one found on the Nintendo Switch OLED.
Nintendo Switch 2 vs Nintendo Switch: Specs
If there’s one area of the Nintendo Switch 2 where we’re currently a little in the dark, it’s the console’s internal specifications. It’s safe to say it will be more powerful than its predecessor, which runs on a dated Nivida Tegra XI CPU, but to what exact degree we don’t yet know.
Will Switch 2 take on the likes of the Steam Deck OLED and ASUS ROG Ally X head-to-head, competing to be the most powerful handheld system on the market, or perhaps it’ll offer less horsepower but at a lower cost? After all, Nintendo had the weakest system when it launched the original Switch against the PS4 and Xbox One and it still managed to outsell them both.
There’s a whole bunch of Nintendo Switch 2 spec rumors online right now. One of the biggest is that Switch 2 will take advantage of Nvidia’s DLSS upscaling tech, which will give demanding games a boost even on relatively underpowered hardware. We’ve also seen reports the Switch 2 dock will further enhance game performance but this is unconfirmed.
Nintendo Switch 2 vs Nintendo Switch: Joy-Cons
One of the biggest differences when discussing the Nintendo Switch 2 vs Nintendo Switch is the Joy-Con controllers. On the surface, there might appear to be little difference, but the Switch 2 is packing some big upgrades in this key department. For starters, the Switch 2 Joy-Cons are bigger in size, which is great for players with meaty paws. But that’s not all.
Switch 2’s Joy-Cons will connect to the main console unit via a new snapping (believed to be magnetic) system, rather than the flimsy railing connectors found on the current Switch’s Joy-Cons. The Switch 2 reveal video suggestions that will snap onto the console in a way that looks highly satisfying.
The other big change here is the inclusion of a mysterious new button on the right Joy-Con. Pre-announcement renders had this button labeled with a “C” but in the reveal video it’s blank, so Nintendo appears to be keeping the button’s function under wraps for now.
Nintendo Switch 2 vs Nintendo Switch: Dock
Nintendo Switch 2 includes a redesigned dock. The sharp-angled dock of the first-generation Switch is out and has been replaced with a softer, rounded, dock instead. Obviously, its function will be the same, and it will allow you to connect your Switch 2 to your television in just a single motion.
The video doesn’t really give us much more information to go off here. But I would speculate, that the Switch 2 dock will also include an ethernet port, which was added to the dock supplied with the Nintendo Switch OLED. I reckon Switch 2 will have this often-requested port as standard.
Nintendo Switch 2 vs Nintendo Switch: Bottom line
Nintendo Switch 2 is most definitely an evolution of the Nintendo Switch. While Nintendo is often known for “Bringing the weird” and radically redesigning its flagship console between generations, this time, it’s opted for an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach and I couldn’t be happier.
The original Nintendo Switch remains a fantastic (if very underpowered) console even in 2025, and the Nintendo Switch 2 looks set to make some smart tweaks to the design, improve the Joy-Con controllers, and will undoubtedly be significantly more powerful than its predecessor. With a tease of a new Mario Kart on the way, all signs are looking positive for Switch 2.
Will the Nintendo Switch 2 be able to replicate the juggernaut size of its forefather? That’ll be a tall order (don’t forget the Switch is among the best-selling consoles in history), but based on the initial Nintendo Switch 2 reveal, this successor looks a pretty sure bet to be a gigantic success.
More from Tom's Guide
