Nintendo Switch vs Switch 2: Is It Worth Upgrading?
If you already own an original Nintendo Switch, here's exactly what changes with the Switch 2 — screen, performance, battery life and price — so you can decide whether now is the right time to upgrade.
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| What we compared | Nintendo Switch | Nintendo Switch 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen | 6.2-inch, 720p, 60Hz | 7.9-inch, 1080p, up to 120Hz, HDR10 |
| Docked output | Up to 1080p | Up to 4K |
| Internal storage | 32GB | 256GB |
| Handheld battery life | Around 4.5-9 hours | Around 2-6.5 hours (closer to 3 hours in real-world testing) |
| UK launch price | £259.99 | £395.99 |
| Joy-Con | Rail-slide attachment, no mouse mode | Magnetic attachment, optional mouse mode in supported games |
| Backwards compatibility | N/A | Plays almost all original Switch games, often with faster loading and better performance |
Our plain-English verdict
The performance leap is real and reviewers agree it's the single biggest reason to upgrade — old Switch games often load faster and run better without any patch. But if you mainly play handheld, away from a charger, the original Switch's better battery life and lower price may still suit you better. NBC Select's own year-later review put it plainly: existing owners without a strong pull toward a specific exclusive like Mario Kart World may be better off waiting for the game library to grow further before spending the extra £136.