A Thorough Review of the "Nintendo Switch 2" as a "Handheld Gaming Console" ―― Reasons Why I Felt Its Usability Has Improved Dramatically――

A Thorough Review of the "Nintendo Switch 2" as a "Handheld Gaming Console" ―― Reasons Why I Felt Its Usability Has Improved Dramatically――

Table of Contents

  1. Release Background and Market Trends

  2. Design & Build Quality

  3. Evolution of Display Experience

  4. New Features and Feel of Joy-Con 2

  5. Performance and Real Game Frame Rate Verification

  6. Compatibility and Upgrades of Old Switch Titles

  7. Battery Life and Thermal Design

  8. Online/Multimedia Features

  9. Comparison with Other Handheld Devices (Steam Deck/Rog Ally, etc.)

  10. Overall Evaluation: Who is it Recommended For?


1. Release Background and Market Trends

  • Fastest to 3.5 Million Units: Within four days of release, global sales exceeded 3.5 million units, setting a new record for Nintendo. In Japan alone, 947,000 units were sold in the first week.en.wikipedia.org

  • Price and Distribution: The price in Japan is 49,980 yen. Initially, there was a shortage, and Walmart and Amazon conducted lotteries/membership pre-sales.tomsguide.comtomsguide.com



2. Design & Build Quality

  • Body: The thickness remains almost the same, but the weight with Joy-Con attached is 534 g. The rounded edges and textured back improve grip.engadget.comengadget.com

  • Stand: Updated to a Surface-style free-stop mechanism, making it easy to fix the angle even on your lap.tomsguide.com



3. Evolution of Display Experience

ItemSwitch (2017)Switch OLEDSwitch 2Experience Difference
Size6.2″7.0″7.9″+27% Display Area
Resolution1280×7201280×7201920×1080Full HD
Refresh Rate60 Hz60 Hz120 Hz + VRRTwice as Smooth

Supports HDR10, making it less prone to color washout outdoors, and can play 4K/60fps via dock.tomsguide.comtomsguide.com



4. New Features and Feel of Joy-Con 2

  • Magnetic Attachment & "Click" Satisfaction: The "rail→magnet" structure allows for quick attachment and detachment with one hand.engadget.comengadget.com

  • Mouse Mode: When the Joy-Con is placed horizontally, the IR sensor becomes a bottom laser, allowing for pointer operation in FPS and RTS games.polygon.comwired.com

  • Increased Size and Ergonomics: The stick length is expanded by 25%. The larger the user's hands, the greater the benefit.tomsguide.comengadget.com



5. Performance and Real Game Frame Rate Verification

  • SoC: Nvidia T239 (Ampere GPU 1536 CUDA cores) + DLSS 2.5 for 1080p→4K upscaling.en.wikipedia.org

  • Measured Examples

    • 'Cyberpunk 2077': Stable 60fps at 1080p medium settings in handheld mode (not supported on the old Switch).laptopmag.comtomsguide.com

    • 'Mario Kart World': 120Hz variable, 4.2W battery consumption during play.tomsguide.com



6. Compatibility and Upgrades of Old Switch Titles

  • 99% of downloaded titles are playable. 'Zelda BotW' receives a free update for 60fps + HDR.tomsguide.comen.wikipedia.org

  • Some titles dependent on Joy-Con functions require patches, but Nintendo has promised to complete support within the year.en.wikipedia.org



7. Battery Life and Thermal Design

ContentSettingsMeasuredOfficial Value
2D Indie60 Hz, 50% Brightness6.3 h2–6.5 h
'Mario Kart W'120 Hz, 80% Brightness2.4 hSame as left

  • Despite using a 5,220 mAh cell, high-load cases often result in shorter battery life than the previous model.gamerant.comengadget.com

  • The rear heat pipe and dock exhaust fan keep the surface temperature to a maximum of 38°C.tomsguide.com



8. Online/Multimedia Features

  • GameChat: Built-in mic + noise cancellation allows up to 6 people to chat

Related Articles