Nintendo Switch 2.

The Gavler Review.

Nintendo Switch 2 Review: A Year In, the Generational Leap Holds Up

The Nintendo Switch 2 ranks number 3 on Gavler's Best Gaming Handhelds list with a 9.1 — and a year after launch, the case for it hasn't softened at all. GamesRadar+ called it the start of "an excellent generation," and TechRadar described it plainly as "an evolution in almost every way." A 7.9-inch 1080p 120Hz HDR screen, roughly ten times the raw power of the original Switch, and the same play-anywhere hybrid design that made the original a cultural phenomenon combine into an easy recommendation for anyone who cares about Nintendo's first-party library. Buy it if Mario, Zelda, or Metroid matter to you at all — no other device plays them. Consider skipping the launch buy if battery life on demanding games is a dealbreaker; it's the console's most consistent trade-off.

What it is

A year after its June 2025 launch, the Nintendo Switch 2 has settled into a clear identity: the hybrid console-handheld the original Switch always promised to be, finally paired with hardware that can keep pace with modern multiplatform development. The 7.9-inch 1080p 120Hz HDR display is a genuine leap over the original's 720p panel, and the system's overall power — roughly ten times that of the first Switch — is enough that demanding third-party ports like Cyberpunk 2077 and Star Wars Outlaws now run on Nintendo hardware, something that would have been unthinkable on the original console. Docked, it drives up to 4K output on a television.

It sold more than 19 million units in its first year — a fast, decisive commercial validation that Nintendo's bet on real hardware power, not just novelty, paid off with the audience that mattered most.

In use

The critical reception a year on has been strikingly consistent in its enthusiasm. GamesRadar+'s framing — "We're in for an excellent generation" — captures the tone of most coverage: this isn't a console being praised in isolation, it's being praised as the start of a multi-year run of games that will genuinely take advantage of the new hardware ceiling. TechRadar's assessment, "An evolution in almost every way," is a fair, specific summary — nearly every subsystem improved, from the screen to raw compute to the overall build quality, without abandoning what made the original special.

Windows Central's take zeroes in on something more experiential: "It's the perfect game night device." That's a meaningful observation about what the Switch 2 actually is in practice for a lot of households — not primarily a competitor to the PS5 Pro or Xbox Series X on raw power, but a device built around the specific, valuable use case of picking up and playing together, in any room, on any screen, without ceremony.

The honest performance story is the power jump translating into real capability rather than a marketing number. Games that would have been simply impossible on the original Switch — full, largely unmodified ports of recent AAA multiplatform titles — now run credibly on Nintendo's own hardware, closing a gap that had become one of the most consistent criticisms of the platform for years.

Where it shines

• A genuine generational power jump. Roughly ten times the original Switch's performance, enough to bring modern AAA multiplatform ports to Nintendo hardware for the first time.
• A 7.9-inch 1080p 120Hz HDR screen. A significant, immediately visible upgrade over the original's 720p panel, in both handheld and docked-to-4K use.
• The only home for Nintendo's first-party catalog. Mario, Zelda, Metroid, and the rest of Nintendo's exclusive library — nothing else plays them, full stop.
• True hybrid flexibility out of the box. Handheld, tabletop, and TV modes via the included dock, with no additional purchase required.
• Broad backward compatibility. Plays most original Switch games, protecting existing library investment.

The trade-offs — who should skip it

The Switch 2 earned its near-universal praise, but the honest caveats are specific:

• Battery life dips hard on demanding games. As low as roughly 2 hours on the most graphically intensive titles, versus around 6.5 hours on lighter ones — the single most consistently cited downside across reviews.
• It's a closed ecosystem. No Steam library, no mods, no emulation — it complements a Steam Deck rather than replacing one for players who want open PC-handheld flexibility.
• Nintendo's software pricing runs high. First-party titles routinely launch at $69.99 or more, a real added cost on top of the console itself for players building out a library.

How it compares

On the same Best Gaming Handhelds list, Steam Deck OLED at rank 2 makes an entirely different case — it plays your existing Steam PC library rather than a closed first-party catalog, with no equivalent to Mario or Zelda but far more open software flexibility. The two devices solve different problems well enough that many enthusiasts end up owning both rather than picking one.

For power-focused Windows handheld buyers, the ROG Xbox Ally X at rank 1 on the same list is worth comparing too — it trades Nintendo's exclusive library entirely for native Game Pass and considerably more raw AAA performance, at a steeper $999 price.

The Gavler verdict

A 9.1, and a year of real-world use has only reinforced it. The Nintendo Switch 2 delivered the generational leap it promised — a genuine power jump, a much better screen, and the same irreplaceable first-party library that's kept people buying Nintendo hardware for decades. If you care about Nintendo's games at all, GamesRadar+'s framing holds: you'll own one eventually, and there's little reason to wait.

Common Questions

Is the Nintendo Switch 2 worth buying in 2026?

Yes, if you care about Nintendo's first-party games at all. It ranks number 3 on Gavler's Best Gaming Handhelds list (and number 3 on Best Game Consoles) with a 9.1, and it sold more than 19 million units in its first year — a strong signal that its 120Hz HDR screen and major power jump landed with players. It's the only device that plays Mario, Zelda, and Metroid.

How much more powerful is the Nintendo Switch 2 than the original Switch?

Gavler's product data and multiple outlets describe it as roughly ten times more powerful than the original Switch — enough to bring demanding modern multiplatform ports like Cyberpunk 2077 and Star Wars Outlaws to Nintendo hardware for the first time, something the original Switch could never manage.

What's the battery life like on the Nintendo Switch 2?

It ranges from around 2 hours on demanding, graphically intensive games up to about 6.5 hours on lighter titles — a real trade-off for the power jump, and the most commonly cited downside in reviews.

Nintendo Switch 2 or Steam Deck OLED?

They're not really direct competitors — the Switch 2 is the only way to play Nintendo's closed-ecosystem first-party library (Mario, Zelda, Metroid), while the Steam Deck OLED plays your existing Steam PC library with no mods or emulation restrictions. Many enthusiasts end up owning both rather than choosing one over the other.