🎮 Nintendo Switch 2 Review: A Grown-Up Console for the Kid in All of Us
I tested Nintendo’s Switch 2 to see if it lives up to the hype—and the price. Here’s what I loved, what made me roll my eyes, and what you need to know if you’re trying to buy one before the holidays.
I’ve tested hundreds of gadgets in my career, but few strike a balance between fun and function quite like Nintendo’s latest console. The Switch 2 is here—and while it may look like the same playful hybrid you remember from 2017, it’s bigger, smarter, faster, and built to keep up with today’s tech.
But is it worth $449? And who should actually buy it? I’ve spent two weeks testing the new Switch side-by-side with the original—and so has one of my thumb-twitching besties—here’s what you need to know before adding it to your cart, wish list, or group chat.
🎯 Who it’s for—and why it matters
If you’re a parent, casual gamer, grandparent, or someone who hasn’t touched a video game since Mario was in 2D—this review is still for you. The Nintendo Switch isn’t just for kids or hardcore gamers. It’s a family-friendly, party-ready, travel-saving entertainment machine. It bridges generations in a way few devices do. And the 2025 model? It finally brings the tech up to speed. Sort of.
🫶Three things I love
1. Performance that keeps up
The original Switch was charming—but slow. The Switch 2 is faster, smoother, and ready for 4K. That means games look better, load faster, and don’t lag behind your reflexes. The screen is a sharper 1080p when you’re holding it, and if you plug it into your TV? It delivers a crisp, vibrant 4K picture—finally catching up to other modern consoles.
2. The magnetic Joy-Con glow-up
Nintendo quietly fixed one of the most annoying parts of the original Switch: those slide-on Joy-Con controllers. The new ones attach magnetically. It’s subtle, but it makes swapping them easier, faster, and—most importantly—solid. No more wiggling them into place mid-game. They’re also longer-lasting, with approximately 20 hours of playtime on a charge.
3. Way more space
One of the biggest pain points with the old model? Not enough room for more than a few downloaded games. This one gives you 256GB of built-in storage—eight times what the original had. You can still expand it with a microSD card, but you won’t need to out of the gate.
❌ And three things I don’t
1. The battery life took a hit
This was a surprise: despite all the improvements, battery life actually got worse in handheld mode. You’re looking at 2 to 6 hours on a full charge, depending on what you’re playing—sometimes less than the original. For a console built for portability, that’s a letdown.
2. It’s not OLED
The screen is sharper and larger, yes—but it’s still an LCD. Nintendo’s 2021 Switch OLED model actually looks better in some side-by-side comparisons. For $449, I expected more visual wow-factor out of the box.
3. They’re charging $10 for a glorified tutorial
Nintendo included a mini-game called Welcome Tour that shows off the Switch 2’s new features in a hands-on, interactive way. Fun idea. But instead of giving it away—like Wii Sports back in the day—they’re charging $10 for it. It feels like a marketing demo you now have to pay for. Fans are calling it a misstep, and I agree.
🕹️But how does it feel to play?
We tested it with Zelda, Mario Kart World, and Donkey Kong Bananza, among other popular titles. When docked to the TV, the difference is night and day—faster gameplay, sharper visuals, better frame rate. But handheld? It’s more like a well-executed refresh. If your kid—or let’s be honest, your inner child—loves games, the Switch 2 delivers.
It’s smoother and more fun to play with friends, no doubt about it, even when Paul was kicking my booty, which was … no surprise … always. (At one point he turned to me and said that maybe I should get a video game reviewer stand-in… okay, maybe I said that part, either way, he’s not wrong.)
💁♀️Real talk: Should you buy it?
If you already own a Switch and mostly play on the go, this might not be the upgrade for you—yet. The visuals and battery life won’t blow you away in handheld mode. But if you use your console docked to the TV, love Nintendo’s classics, or want a family-friendly game system with staying power? This is the one to buy.
It’s also a smart pick if your old Switch is showing its age or if you’re buying your first-ever console. Just move fast—retailers are selling out almost as quickly as they restock.
🛍️ Bottom line
The Switch 2 is Nintendo doing what it does best: building something joyful, simple, and surprisingly deep. It’s not flashy. It’s not perfect. But it’s the most refined version of the Switch yet—and for the right player, it’s a total win.
Worth it?
If you’re new to Nintendo or ready for an upgrade: yes.
If you’re a handheld purist waiting for an OLED model: hold out.
If you’re shopping for something everyone in the house can enjoy?
This might just be the best game in town.
🕵️♀️ Inside scoop: How to actually get a Switch 2 before it sells out again
Here’s the truth: the Nintendo Switch 2 is still really hard to find. It sells out in minutes every time it’s restocked. But I’ve got you.
First, set up restock alerts with tools like HotStock and Popfindr. They’ll ping you when major retailers like Target, Walmart, or Best Buy get new shipments.
Second, sign up for early-access memberships—Walmart+, Best Buy TotalTech, even Target Circle. These programs often get inventory before the general public.
Third, go old-school: call your local stores and check in person. Some GameStops and Targets get surprise shipments that never make it online. People are walking in and scoring consoles the old-fashioned way.
Last but not least, go for the bundle. The $499 version with Mario Kart World is often easier to find than the base console and includes one of the best games available right now.
BE WARNED: If you want one before the holidays, don’t wait. Stock is limited, demand is wild, and your best chance is to combine tech alerts with a little real-world hustle.
You’re the best!