To those who have a Switch or are simply fans, it was major news to hear that Nintendo was going to release a new console. Countless Youtubers were hyping the release of the console.
It was issued on June 5, 2025. While it has been almost a year, it still begs the question, is it worth buying?
Prices
The Switch 2 sells at a whopping €469.99 compared to Switch 1, which costs €299. The price is around 1.6 times more!
Winner: Switch
Software
The Switch 2 has new accessibility functions that help a wide range of people. There’s text size adjustments, “mouse mode”, built-in screen reader and microphone support. This can help people who have auditory, visual or verbal difficulties. Furthermore, you can zoom, toggle and invert the colours. You can personalise the Switch 2 to your liking way better than the Switch 1.
Winner: Switch 2
Joy-Con Aesthetic
The Switch 2 doesn’t actually look all that different from the first one. If you get the standard one, it’s in all black with rings of blue and red around the left and right sticks. There are different colours, although the colours are in those areas. This is very different to the Switch’s neon and playful aesthetic.
Winner: Switch
Joy-Con Functionality
Unlike the first one where you had to slide the Joy-Cons on the sides of the controller, you can just put them near the console and they’ll just snap on to it because of the strong magnets. Some Switches are a little old and occasionally when the Joy-Cons are slid in, it doesn’t connect so it has to be done multiple times for it to finally connect and it can also disconnect when played handheld sometimes. The Joy-Con buttons are slightly larger. The Joy-Cons can also be used as a mouse?! For certain games, you can slide the Joy-Con on any surface, including your lap! This unlocks a new way to play games.
Winner: Switch 2
Console screen
The screen size is 7.9 inches (around 20 cm) compared to Switch 1’s 6.2 (~15.7 cm). Even though the Switch 2 is bigger, they both have the same thickness! They both have TV and handheld mode. The Switch 2 is in 4k in TV mode and its screen is 1080p in handled mode. The Switch 1 does not support 4k and is 750p in handheld mode and 1080p in docked mode.
Winner: Switch 2
Stands
The stands are an important topic. The stand in the Switch 1 console is very flimsy, as it was just a small piece of plastic on the side of the Switch. It barely supported the weight of the console as many broke all the time. The new Switch has a proper stand that goes across the whole console, which is how weight distribution should work.
Winner: Switch 2
Cables/ charging port
The difference between the cables is huge! While they both use USB-C cables, the positioning is a different story. When you wanted to charge your Switch before, you’d plug the cable at the bottom of it, which was very annoying if you wanted to play and put it on somewhere with the flimsy stand. Now, it’s on the top and the bottom! This feature is incredibly useful and deserves special recognition.
Winner: Switch 2
GameChat
One of the biggest differences between these 2 consoles is that there’s a “GameChat” function on the Switch 2. This means by simply pressing the new “C” button, you can call your friends and play games with them or simply watch them. According to the official Nintendo website, “it’s all about hanging out and having a good time”. There’s a built-in microphone, which can pick up your voice even if you’re far away. You can also see their faces – thanks to the Switch 2 camera.
Winner: Switch 2
Storage space, speed and battery life
The Switch 2 has 256 GB of storage, which is 8 times more than the Switch 1 (it has 32-64 GB)! The loading times in games are also significantly faster, as they are 2-3 times faster than in the Switch! Nevertheless, with all these features comes a cost. The Switch 2 has a shorter battery life of 2-6.5 hours, while the Switch has 4.5-9 hours.
Winner: Switch
Additional Accessories
As mentioned above, many of the features are sold separately, like the camera. The price for the Switch 2 camera is 59.99€ on the official website. However, there are other more affordable options like the Piranha Plant camera, which is €39.99 and the basic USB camera for €34.99. It is optional to get the camera if you don’t want or need one.
Winner: Tie
Pro controllers
The pro controllers look the same, but the Switch 2 has more buttons. There are “Back Buttons” that can be mapped for any other button. It is lighter and has a matte finish that gives it a professional look and most importantly, they are drift proof!! This is such a big problem with the controllers (especially for the Joy-Cons) in the Switch.
Winner: Switch 2
Games
This is probably the most major drive for someone to get the Switch 2. The perks mentioned above are very nice upgrades, but most people will look over that for the games. Nintendo is releasing new games- but mostly for the newer console. They still issue games on the Switch, but their main focus is the Switch 2. Here are some well known games that are exclusively on the Switch 2:
- Kirby Air Raiders
- Mario Kart World
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- Splatoon Raiders
- Pokemon Pokopia
- Yoshi and the Mysterious Book
- Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
- Pokemon Wind & Waves
There are also a few other games that are in the Switch but have new updates, gamemodes and even new games attached to them, such as:
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World
-
Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- The Legend of Zelda
Winner: Switch 2
Additional information
I think one of the biggest questions is: ‘will my Switch games transfer to the new console?’ The answer is yes. Games that are bought digitally can be easily transferred as well as the game saves data, system settings and screenshots/ videos. As for the physical game cards, as long as you transfer the saved date, you can pick up where you left off in your games.
However, there are actually some games that cannot be with Joy-Con 2 controllers. You can connect the original Joy-Con controllers with the Switch 2 console wirelessly to play those games as if they were on the Switch. The Nintendo Labo VR headsets are incompatible because the Switch 2 is physically bigger and doesn’t fit the cardboard goggles.
Conclusion
It really depends on your personal preference and it is up to you to decide which one to get. If you want a console that is fast, can hold a lot of games and can be used professionally, Switch 2 is for you. If you want something casual and more affordable and not mind the loading times and smaller capacity, Switch 1 is for you.
If you don’t already have a Switch and fancy buying one, I recommend getting the Switch 2 if you want enhanced gameplay and faster loading times.
