Nintendo Switch 2

The Nintendo Switch 2 is the hybrid console Nintendo finally built that genuinely competes with the PlayStation and Xbox tiers when docked, while remaining the best handheld experience for Nintendo's exclusive games when undocked. At $699.95, it is the entry point to Nintendo's first-party catalogue (Mario, Zelda, Pokemon, Smash Bros, and the upcoming Donkey Kong Bananza later in 2026), and that catalogue is the actual reason to buy this console.

The Nintendo exclusive games are the value proposition. None of these games are available on any other platform: Mario Kart World (the launch title that replaced Mario Kart 8 Deluxe), Super Mario Bros. Wonder, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (with Switch 2 enhanced patch), the upcoming Donkey Kong Bananza, the rumoured next mainline 3D Mario, the next mainline Pokemon. If you specifically want any of these games, Switch 2 is the only way to play them. PlayStation does not have them. Xbox does not. PC emulation is grey-area legal and lags 6-12 months behind launch.

The full backwards compatibility with Switch 1 is the under-appreciated launch decision. Every digital game you own from Switch 1 carries over to Switch 2 via your Nintendo account. Every physical Switch 1 cartridge plays in Switch 2. The transition is genuinely smooth. For existing Switch owners, this changes the upgrade math: you do not lose your library when you upgrade.

The 7.9-inch 1080p 120Hz LCD with high dynamic range (HDR) is the hardware headline. Compared to the original Switch's 6.2-inch 720p 60Hz LCD, this is a genuine generational upgrade. The display is bright (500 nits typical), supports HDR for the games that use it, and the 120Hz refresh makes everything feel smoother in the menus and in-game where developers optimise for it. The trade-off versus the Steam Deck OLED is OLED HDR vs liquid crystal display (LCD) HDR; OLED has perfect blacks and higher peak brightness for HDR content. Switch 2's LCD is good but not OLED-tier.

The dock outputs at up to 4K 60FPS depending on the game. First-party Nintendo titles target 1440p or 4K with reconstruction techniques (DLSS-equivalent on the custom NVIDIA Tegra). Mario Kart World runs at 1440p 60FPS docked. The next Pokemon will likely target 4K 30FPS or 1440p 60FPS. For the first time, Nintendo's TV output is in the same neighbourhood as PS5 and Xbox Series X.

The Joy-Con 2 controllers are the second hardware story. The original Joy-Con had the infamous drift problem that took Nintendo years to acknowledge and eventually offered free repairs for. The Joy-Con 2 are designed for easier replacement (magnetic attachment, more accessible internals) and Nintendo claims improved analogue stick durability. Time will tell. The mouse functionality (slide a Joy-Con 2 on a table surface to use it as a mouse for compatible games) is a genuine new input mode that opens design possibilities for strategy games and unique creative experiences.

The trade-offs. Battery life in handheld mode is 2 to 6.5 hours depending on game, less than Steam Deck OLED's 6-12 hours for similar genres. Nintendo first-party games remain expensive (typically $89.95 at launch and rarely discount). Storage is 256GB internal which fills up quickly with modern games; microSD Express expansion is required. Nintendo Switch Online subscription is essentially required for online multiplayer and access to the legacy library; $35/year basic or $99/year Expansion Pack with N64, GBA, GameCube libraries.

The Australian buyer context. JB Hi-Fi at $699.95 is the price leader and matches Nintendo Direct. EB Games offers trade-in programmes that drop effective price by $100-200 for buyers trading Switch 1 hardware. Big W and Target run console bundles around Click Frenzy and end of financial year (EOFY) that include Mario Kart World and extra Joy-Con 2; bundle value can be $50-100 over the basic console price. Avoid grey-market US/JP imports because Nintendo eShop region matters and Australian stock is now stable.

The trade-off versus the Steam Deck OLED. Both are handheld-first devices. Steam Deck OLED is $200 more, runs SteamOS for the entire Steam library, has the better organic LED (OLED) display, and has trackpads for non-action games. Switch 2 has Nintendo exclusives, full Switch 1 backwards compatibility, dock to 4K TV output, and Mario Kart World as the killer launch title. The choice is purely about library: Steam Deck for Steam-library buyers, Switch 2 for Nintendo-exclusive buyers. Many enthusiast buyers own both because they are not the same device.

The trade-off versus PS5 Slim and Xbox Series X. Switch 2 is the only one of the three with first-party Nintendo games. PS5 has Spider-Man and God of War. Xbox has Game Pass Ultimate. Switch 2 has Mario, Zelda, Pokemon, and the hybrid form factor. None of the three substitute for the others; Nintendo's library is exclusive enough that Switch 2 is essentially the only path to those specific games. Many buyers own a Switch 2 alongside one of the other consoles.