Switch v Switch 2 - five reasons to buy Nintendo’s new console and one reason to avoid it

The Switch has been a monumental hit for Nintendo with the Japanese tech giant selling millions across the globe. Now, after eight long years of waiting, there's finally a major reboot to this portable games machine with the bigger and better Switch 2 finally going on sale today. There's clearly plenty of excitement around this device, with it already selling out ahead of the official launch. The question is, is it really worth all the hype and should gaming fans splash out almost £400 to own one? We've been checking out old and new, and here are the main differences between them.

You get a bigger screen

Perhaps the most obvious change when quickly glancing at the new Switch 2 is its screen. This latest console comes packed with a massive 7.9-inch LCD full HD panel - that's compared to the smaller 6.2-inch screen found on the Switch 1.

There’s double the pixels packed into this display as well, which means higher resolution graphics.

Another bonus found on the Switch 2 is a maximum frame rate of 120fps which helps to offer smoother gameplay in supported games.

Bigger is definitely better!

There’s more power and storage under the hood The Switch 2 has a beefed-up NVIDIA processor inside which offers a big boost over the original console. That upgrade means games load faster, and the device is much more capable than before.

It's been claimed that the Switch 2 offers 10 times the performance of its older sibling, and that could be vital when downloading and playing the next batch of AAA titles.

It can also play compatible games in 4K resolution and at 60 frames per second when docked, which brings it closer to the experiences found with the PS5 and Xbox Series X.

Another bonus is a more useful 256GB of internal storage which means you get way more space for your downloads. The original machine came with a measly 32GB.

New Joy Cons improve the experience

Those famous Joy-Con controllers have been vastly improved on the Switch 2. Firstly, they are now easier to remove thanks to built-in magnets plus the joystick and buttons have been made bigger for better gaming.

The wrist strap has been streamlined and you can even use these new Joy-Cons like a mouse on your desk for more ways to play.

Exclusive games are coming to the Switch 2

If you buy a Switch 2, you'll be able to play almost all of your old Switch 1 games without any issues. Sadly, the same can't be said for owners of the original device. New titles such as Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza are not backwards compatible, so don't expect to be playing these blockbusters on your old Switch.

There are loads of bonus features

Along with a bigger screen and improved controllers there are plenty of other features packed into the new Switch 2 including a new GameChat button. Once pressed this lets gamers interact with friends as they play.

There's even a built-in microphone on the top of the console so no additional accessories are required to spark up a conversation.

A better kickstand has been added for improved viewing angles, and there are USB-C ports on both the top and bottom of the console.

Watch out! It's very expensive

There's clearly lots to love about the Switch 2, but all of those shiny upgrades do come at a cost. This rebooted gaming gadget will set you back at least £395.99 without any games. Adding a Mario Kart bundle will cost £429.99.

As a quick comparison, the Switch 1 costs £259.99.