Nintendo Switch 2 vs. Switch 1: Here's how the gaming consoles compare

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Switch 2 vs. Switch 1: Pricing and availability

The Nintendo Switch 2 is priced between $450 and $500, while the original Switch is priced between $200 and $350. The original is available now from all major retailers. The Switch 2 launched on June 5 but is sold out at most stores. Retailers are restocking, but the console is likely to remain hard to find for several months.

The original Nintendo Switch comes in three different versions. The standard Nintendo Switch, which launched in 2017, costs $300. The Nintendo Switch Lite, which launched in 2019 and only works as a handheld, costs $200. And the Nintendo Switch OLED, which launched in 2021 and features a higher-contrast screen, costs $350. Although the systems rarely go on sale, Nintendo occasionally offers bundle deals with a complimentary game and subscription to Nintendo Switch Online.

The Nintendo Switch 2 can be bought for $450 or as a bundle with Mario Kart World for $500.

Many Switch 2 games cost up to $20 more than games on the original Switch. For example, while "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe" on the standard Switch costs $60, "Mario Kart World" on Switch 2 costs $80.

Switch 2 vs. Switch 1: Games

The original Nintendo Switch has been widely praised for its game library, which includes Nintendo-exclusive franchises, popular multi-platform titles, and even a collection of retro games. The Switch 2 offers many of those same games and more.

Nearly every game made for the original Nintendo Switch can run on the Switch 2. You can use the same physical game cards or connect your Nintendo account to transfer digital titles. Some games, like "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom," have also received Switch 2 Edition upgrades that boost the resolution, increase framerates, and add new features. Switch 2 upgrades for some titles are free, while others cost an extra fee.

However, a few Switch 1 games are incompatible with the Switch 2's new Joy-Con controllers. Games that rely on the size, shape, or unique features of the original Joy-Cons can’t be played with the new Joy-Con 2 controllers; this includes "Ring Fit Adventure," "1-2 Switch" and its sequel, "Game Builder Garage," "Nintendo Switch Sports," and "WarioWare: Move It." But these games aren’t lost forever — you can connect the original Joy-Cons to the Switch 2, allowing you to play them again.

That said, some original Switch games won't play correctly on the new console even with the old Joy-Cons connected. Nintendo has released a list of about 100 Switch games that have compatibility issues with the Switch 2. Many of these issues will hopefully clear up in the future as developers update their games, but there is no guarantee.

The Nintendo Switch 2 also has some exclusive games you can't play on the original Switch. Nintendo-developed titles released so far include "Mario Kart World" and "Welcome Tour," while "Donkey Kong Bananza" will be released on July 17. And though original Switch owners can already play select retro games from the Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo, Game Boy, Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis, and Game Boy Advance, Switch 2 owners also get access to select GameCube games. This requires a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pass subscription.

Beyond Nintendo titles, the Switch 2 also supports several third-party games you can't play on the original Switch, like "Cyberpunk 2077," "Elden Ring," and "Final Fantasy 7 Remake." Expect more in the future, but don’t expect them to run as well as they do on current-generation PlayStation and Xbox consoles. While it's cool that Switch 2 owners finally get to play games like this on Nintendo hardware, these games still look and play better on the more powerful PS5 and Xbox Series X.

Based on the games released so far and those announced for later this year, the Switch 2 shows much promise, but the number of true exclusives you can't already play on the original Switch is small. This will change in the future, but it's a big factor that early adopters should keep in mind when considering a Switch 2. This is especially true if you already own an original Switch that can play most of the same games.

Switch 2 vs. Switch 1: Display and design

The standard Nintendo Switch model has a 6.2-inch 720p LCD screen, weighs about 0.88 pounds with the Joy-Cons attached, and measures 4.02 inches tall, 9.41 inches wide, and 0.55 inches thick. The Switch Lite has a 5.5-inch 720p LCD screen, and the Switch OLED has a seven-inch 720p OLED screen. The changes in device size and weight are negligible between all three models.

The Switch 2 boasts a larger 7.9-inch 1080p LCD screen with HDR (high dynamic range) and 120Hz support. It weighs about 1.18 pounds with the Joy-Cons attached and measures 4.5 inches tall, 10.7 inches wide, and 0.55 inches thick. While the original Switch only had one USB-C port at the bottom, the Switch 2 has two: one at the bottom and one at the top. It also includes a microphone built into the top of the device and a wider kickstand.

The docks are slightly different, too. The original Switch dock is about 0.72 pounds and measures 4.1 x 6.8 x 2.12 inches. The Switch 2 dock beefs up to 0.84 pounds and measures 4.5 x 7.9 x 2.0 inches. It also includes a built-in Ethernet port, a cooling system, and replaces the original dock’s two USB-A ports with an extra USB-C port.

The Switch 2’s Joy-Cons (aptly named the Joy-Con 2 controllers) are now magnetic and connect to the console with a satisfying snap. The original Switch required you to slide the Joy-Cons on and off a physical rail. The Joy-Con 2 controllers are also slightly bigger and heavier. You can still connect the old Joy-Cons to the Switch 2, but some gameplay features might be disabled.

Switch 2 vs. Switch 1: Performance and battery life

A new custom processor allows the Switch 2 to run faster and provide better graphics than the original Switch.

When connected to a TV, the original Switch and Switch OLED offer up to 1080p (Full HD) resolution, but the Switch 2 bumps that up to a max of 4K resolution. The Switch 2 also supports outputting video at up to 120Hz, letting you play at 120 frames-per-second (FPS) in compatible games. The original Switch was limited to a max of 60Hz.

These upgrades make a big difference for the few Switch games receiving upgraded Switch 2 Edition releases. "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" and "Tears of the Kingdom" look fantastic running at higher resolutions and frame rates. The actual in-game textures and models haven't changed, but the display quality and performance have.

Certain games, including the Switch 2 Edition of "Metroid Prime 4: Beyond," will offer a choice between a Performance mode (lower resolution to guarantee higher framerates) or a Graphics mode (higher resolution at the cost of framerates).

Remember, though, that performance can vary wildly by game. Even if you have your Switch 2 connected to a 4K/120Hz TV, it’s not guaranteed to run at that quality. That's simply the max the system is capable of. That said, since the Switch 2’s new processor supports Nvidia’s DLSS technology, which uses machine learning to artificially create frames that the system would otherwise skip, expect more stable frame rates across the board.

Simpler games and apps also load faster than they did on the original Switch. During a roundtable discussion Business Insider attended, the Switch 2 developers specifically called out Nintendo's infamously sluggish eShop app as one that’ll see big speed boosts on the new console. They also noted that even if you don’t buy a specific Switch 2 Edition upgrade, original Switch games should load faster when played on the Switch 2. During testing, this proved to be true as games like "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" featured noticeably quicker loading.

The Switch 2’s battery is about 50% bigger than the original model's. However, the Switch 2’s more powerful processor could actually cause battery life to drain faster. While the original Switch tended to last from 4.5 to nine hours, Nintendo only promises two to 6.5 hours on the Switch 2. And as always, more demanding games will drain the battery faster than simpler ones.

Switch 2 vs. Switch 1: Extra features

Visual improvements aren’t the Switch 2’s only new tricks. The console boasts three major features not found on the original model: Mouse control, GameChat, and GameShare.

Both Joy-Con 2 controllers have an optical mouse sensor built into them, which activates when you turn the controller on its side. This unlocks precise aiming in shooting games, easier controls in strategy games, and more. It’s an exciting change that opens up many new possibilities for Switch 2 titles.

GameChat is the feature that Nintendo is pushing the hardest. Pressing the C button on the right Joy-Con 2 opens a menu that lets you voice-chat with people on your Friends list. You can talk to up to three other people at once. If you have a compatible USB-C camera attached to the console, you can broadcast video of yourself and share a live feed of the game you’re playing.

GameShare, meanwhile, allows you to play certain titles with people who don’t own that game. Not all games support this, although some titles can even be shared with people playing on the original Switch.

Other minor new features include more built-in storage space (256GB, expandable up to 2TB), 3D audio support, and “more durable” joysticks. But like their predecessors, the new joysticks don't use Hall effect sensors, which are known to help reduce the risk of joystick drift.

Switch 2 vs. Switch 1: Specs

The bottom line

It’s always exciting when Nintendo releases a new console. And to be sure, the Switch 2 is a lot of fun. But for most people who already own an original Switch, it’s not worth buying just yet.

The Switch 2 costs at least $100 more than the original Switch, and that’s not even considering that its games are more expensive. That’s a lot of money to spend when the new console’s main selling points are slightly better graphics, a new control style that only a few games support, and voice chat.

Nintendo consoles live and die based on their exclusive games, not their extra features. And right now, the only first-party Switch 2 exclusives are "Mario Kart World" and the "Welcome Tour" tech demo. There are also two third-party exclusives, "Fast Fusion" and "Survival Kids," but every other launch title is already playable on at least one other system, and many are even available on the original Switch.

If you already own a Nintendo Switch — especially if it’s a Switch OLED — keep your money and wait until the Switch 2’s library builds up a bit. However, the Switch 2 is a worthy buy if you don’t own any Switch model yet. It offers the best way to play Nintendo's vast library of Switch titles and is a better investment than buying the original model since it will support more new games going forward.

You can learn more about the new console in our Nintendo Switch 2 review and our Switch 2 breakdown.