- Better graphics
- Bigger, brighter screen
- New and improved Joy-Cons
- 4K video output on TV
- Battery life leaves more to be desired
- Lacking first-party exclusives
- Mouse mode bugs
The Nintendo Switch Lite has been my sidekick since its release. It saw me through four international trips, two breakups, and a global pandemic. I witnessed the rise and fall of Animal Crossing’s stalk trading market and played the entirety of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and (most of) Tears of the Kingdom.
As a broke uni student, I couldn’t justify paying double the price when the Lite scratched my portable console itch. Though in return for some money saved, I gained a deep longing for the docked mode. The fortuitous timing of the first lockdown and the release of Animal Crossing: New Horizons meant most days were spent cozied up on the couch.
However, I envied those who were trading turnips and meticulously decorating their island on the Big Screen, while I was enslaved to the Small Screen. Even though the Switch 2's 4K support for docked mode was what grabbed my attention, the portable mode is what kept it. The Switch 2 truly shines when in portable mode, and it reignited my love for consoles I can take anywhere.
Mouse mode 2: Electric Boogaloo
Anticipation for the Switch 2 ebbed and flowed. Some were concerned the minor performance upgrades wouldn’t be enough to make it a best seller. Others thought it might follow in the footsteps of the Wii U, which was perceived as an overpriced, gimmicky console with a weak first-party catalogue. There’s no denying the high price might deter those who already own a Switch, and the current first-party lineup is disappointing, but I can’t see the Switch 2 befalling the same fate.
Unlike the Wii U touchscreen, the Switch 2 doesn’t have a main gimmick. While the mouse mode does feel a little gimmicky upon setup, it’s not a one-trick pony. Flip it sideways on any surface and use it like an optical mouse. Rotate it to solve puzzles, control your character’s view in an RPG, or map the shoulder buttons so you can shoot and aim down sight with the one Joy-Con.
It’s the perfect addition to party games like Mario Party Jamboree, but they can also be used to replace the Pro Controller in first-person shooters (FPS).
Up until now, I’ve sworn off playing FPS on console. Character movement isn’t much of an issue, but I find it nearly impossible to precisely aim and shoot with a joystick. When I gave the mouse mode a crack at the Switch 2 Experience preview event, it gave me a leg up in precise aiming and shooting.
When I gave it a whirl at home, I was disappointed by how unreliable it was. The Joy-Cons frequently disconnected, and almost every Fortnite match I played without the Pro Controller crashed. In some matches, only one Joy-Con would disconnect. I’d mapped inventory and movement for one Joy-Con and shooting for the other. So if one Joy-Con loses connection, I’m playing with a handicap that makes it nearly impossible to play as intended.
Bugs aside, getting a handle on the controls took no time at all. The aiming and shooting were easy to adjust to, as was shuffling through inventory slots. I genuinely loved using the mouse mode, I just wish it were more reliable.
Heavy is the hand that holds the Switch
The Switch 2 is a comparatively heavy console. It weighs 534 grams, almost twice the weight of the Switch Lite. It takes time to get used to, and I’m not fully there yet. Coupled with the fact that it doesn't feel as ergonomic as it could be, you may need to factor in breaks for long gaming sessions where you’re not using the Pro Controller.
After 45 minutes of some pre-bedtime Mario Kart World (as a treat), my hands were begging for a break. It seems to vary between games, though, because I can still play an egregious six straight hours of Animal Crossing without cramping.
The weight change isn’t for no reason, though. The faster CPU and bigger, more vibrant screen are reason enough to schedule a quick snack break here and there. Even though it’s a heavier console, it still feels somewhat natural to hold, especially during short gaming stints.
Portable powerhouse
What I love about the Switch 2 is that it spotlights what made the Switch Lite a best seller: portability. There’s no denying that the docked mode is equally as important, but portability is where the Switch 2 shines brightest.
After years of owning a Switch Lite, I craved the flexibility of a home console. The Switch 2 is a sizeable jump in tech specs from the OG Switch, but I knew it wasn’t going to stand toe to toe with heavyweights like the PlayStation 5 Pro. When compared to a home console, the humble Switch 2 isn’t going to compare. But when it’s compared to other portable consoles, it's punching above its weight.
There aren’t many Nintendo titles that run at the newly supported 120Hz mode, though Tears of the Kingdom has 4K output via the dock. The huge difference in frame rate and resolution is palpable, especially in areas that were typically laggy, like the Korok forest.
Even though the display itself has been downgraded from an OLED to an LCD, I didn’t notice the difference all that much. Especially since the HDR and resolution upgrades do most of the heavy lifting. This sees titles that don’t have a remaster yet look much more vibrant and detailed. You can truly notice the difference these upgrades have on a game like Animal Crossing.
Gameplay is much smoother, and there’s a noticeable decrease in load times. Loading your save file and walking in and out of buildings takes no time at all. Best of all, there’s no drop in frame rate when you’re touring neighbouring islands. Visit all the treasure islands you please, and you won’t have to worry about lag. What a dream.
In terms of battery life, it does a solid job of keeping up. I can rack up about six hours of gameplay on the Switch Lite before I need to plug in a charger. With the Switch 2, I get about the same. That being said, my Lite is almost six years old.
Even though the Switch 2 battery is 20% larger than the OG Switch, the chipset has to draw more power to supply juice to the bigger screen and stronger hardware. The trade-off for impressive graphics is, unfortunately, a battery life that leaves you wanting more.
Telstra might not be where you'd expect to buy a console, but it is selling the Switch 2. You can either pick up the Switch 2 through its Telstra Plus reward store, where you can spend any Telstra Points you have for a discount. Alternatively, you can buy it on a plan, where you'll pay it over 12 or 24 months. Pricing works out to be $58.25 per month on a 12-month plan, or $29.12 on a 24-month plan.
Either way, that adds up to just under $699, so there's no premium for paying off the Switch 2 in instalments. Notably, you don't need to have a Telstra mobile or NBN plan to buy the Switch 2 on a plan.
Nintendo Switch 2 - Final thoughts
Nintendo isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel with the Switch 2. It has refined what made it such an iconic console and has given it a new coat of paint, both on the inside and out. The Switch 2 isn't an entirely new experience, but it's one that feels both fresh and familiar.
The upgraded components and tech specs liven up some of Nintendo’s most popular titles. But unless you don’t currently have a Nintendo Switch, it's an eye-watering price to pay for some minor quality-of-life improvements.
If you’re in the market for an upgrade, it’s worth choosing what Switch 2 exclusives are worth your while. While the catalogue of first-party exclusives looks a little bare bones right now, more titles are expected to be released in the coming months. Donkey Kong Bananza and Kirby and the Forgotten Land both release this year, and there are rumours of a new Animal Crossing game set for 2026. So if you’re not dying to get your hands on Mario Kart World, it’s worth seeing what announced exclusives catch your eye and invest accordingly.
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Hannah Geremia
Digital Content Editor
