Summary
- Switch 2 upgrades include a larger screen, 1080p output, and 4K support in the dock.
- Joy-Con 2 improves with magnetic attachment, mouse support, and a C button for GameChat.
- Switch 2 enhances internet connectivity, eShop layout, GameCube support, and memory capacity.
The original Switch was a groundbreaking hybrid when it launched in 2017, forever influencing the industry. Nintendo has always been a trendsetter in the portable market ever since they launched the Game Boy in 1989. It led to Sega and Sony coming out with portables along with other companies, but Nintendo was always number one.
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The Switch 2 probably won’t make as big of a cultural touchstone since it’s just a better version of the Switch. Plus, there are other hybrid consoles too, like the Steam Deck. Still, let’s praise the Switch 2 for things it does better than the original model.
8 The Actual System’s Upgrades
From Screens To Ports
The Switch 2 screen is noticeably bigger, but it doesn’t make the console incredibly heavy like a Steam Deck. The original Switch had a 6.2-inch LED screen, the OLED had its improved screen with 7 inches, and the Switch 2 went back to LED and had a 7.9-inch screen.
It now natively supports 1080p above the 720p output of the original and OLED versions. The kickstand is now sturdier, and there is a charging port on the top AND bottom side of the console to make charging less awkward while playing.
7 The Dock Does Something
Play In 4K
The original Switch dock didn’t do much besides charging the console and switching the screen to the TV. The Switch 2 dock is a massive improvement over any of the previous models. The normal resolution on the Switch 2 is 1080p, as previously mentioned, but in the dock, it is possible to get 4K support. There is also a fan attached to the dock to cool off the Switch 2 in addition to the console’s internal system.
6 The Joy-Con 2 Upgrades
Mouse Support
The Joy-Con 2 controllers look bigger naturally because of the bigger screen size, but there are other differences besides their size. Instead of sliding into position to create a click, players can snap their Joy-Con 2s magnetically into their corresponding holders. The Switch 2 system itself is color-coded, unlike the original version, so the blue Joy-Con 2 goes on the left while the red Joy-Con 2 goes on the right.
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The original Joy-Cons cannot slip onto the console, but they still work with supported titles along with other controllers from Nintendo and third-party developers. Weirdly enough, the Joy-Con 2s can also be used as mice for certain control setups and in games. For example, Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster has two new mini-games that demand mouse controls.
5 GameChat
Talk To Your Friends With Video
There is another new addition to the Joy-Con 2 controllers: the C button. The C button will launch into GameChat, and if players buy a Switch 2 camera, they can game with others online with video chat.
The resolution, no matter the accessory used, will not put out high-quality video, unlike a stream on a computer or other consoles. It is funny in certain situations, like playing Mario Kart World, and fans have already found out it supports things like iPhones, which is even funnier.
4 Easier Internet Connections
Play Old Games On Lesser Internet
Not everyone has the most stable internet connection. Some have to rely on mobile hotspots if they live outside big cities, which was fine for downloading games on the Switch, but it wasn’t good for playing every game online.
The Switch 2’s internet connectivity is much better as it downloads games faster and connects to games with even low-grade internet for multiplayer more reliably. For example, testing Mario Kart 8 Deluxe online on the Switch 2 worked with mobile hotspot data, while it did not work on the OLED Switch model. To make it clear, Mario Kart World also worked well.
3 eShop Changes
Upgrades And Downgrades
There are two minor changes made to the eShop. Unfortunately, it still lacks music, and another downgrade is the search function. On the original Switch, players could see a demo page in the search bar, but now players have to go to search, scroll to the bottom, click filters, and then filter to demos.
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The new Switch 2 exclusive games don’t have demos, but older ones like Kirby and the Forgotten Land do. Those are not great things, but what is cool is that favorite games now appear on the Home Screen of the eShop as opposed to having to click on the user profile. Also, it’s easier to filter what is on sale, just like on the Steam Deck.
2 GameCube Support
A Throwback To The 2000s
Fans were hungry for GameCube support on the original Switch, but it never came. Thankfully, it comes with the Switch 2 via the classics library, including three games at launch: F-Zero GX, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, and Soulcalibur 2. Those are three great games that run and look great on the Switch 2, and more GameCube games are sure to follow.
However, it is odd that Nintendo decided to put the original version of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker on the Switch 2 instead of porting the remaster they did for the Wii U, which is something fans also wanted on the original Switch. After all, they did re-release many Wii U exclusives on Switch, including Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and New Super Mario Bros. U.
1 Memory Support
Bigger Internal Memory, Different Cards
The original Switch launched with 32GB internal storage, and the OLED model had 64 GB. They both supported microSD cards to expand the storage capacity easily, but that has changed dramatically for the Switch 2.
Now the console needs microSD Express cards, which are more expensive, but the good news is that the internal memory is 256 GB. The big launch game, Mario Kart World, is only 21.9GB to download. So, even if players download some backwards-compatible games from the original Switch, they should be good without a microSD Express for now.
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