The Nintendo Switch 2 became available in most regions on 5 June 2025. This is about eight years after the original Nintendo Switch was released in 2017 and about four years since the OLED variant was introduced in 2021. This video game console still features the same hybrid handheld and dockable selling point, but now offers significant hardware upgrades over its predecessor. It sold more than 3.5 units worldwide in the first four days since it was released—thereby indicating strong enthusiasm from existing and new Switch fans.
Switch Up: The Ultimate Nintendo Switch 2 vs Nintendo Switch 1 Comparison
1. Processor Specifications
One of the main upgrades to the Nintendo Switch 2 is its CPU and integrated GPU. Both are on the custom Nvidia Tegra T239 system-on-a-chip or SoC which is manufactured using the 5nm process node. The older Switch is powered by the custom Nvidia Tegra X1. This is an older system-on-a-chip based on the older 20nm process node that houses an older-generation CPU and a lower-powered integrated GPU. Take note of the following:
• Central Processing Unit: An 8-core ARM Cortex-A78C CPU with a docked clock speed of 998 MHz and an undocked clock speed of 1.1 GHz powers the new Switch. This is a more recent CPU tech from 2020 that benefits from newer manufacturing nodes and is designed for larger devices like laptops. The older one also has an 8-core CPU but is based on the older ARM Cortex-A57 CPU. This CPU tech is from 2012.
• Graphics Processing Unit: The integrated GPU of the new Switch is based on Nvidia Ampere CUDA cores. This is a 2020 GPU architecture. It has a 1.007 GHz clock speed and 3.097 TFLOPs when docked and a 561 MHZ clock speed and 1.72 TFLOPS when undocked. The GPU in the older Switch is based on the 2014 Maxwell CUDA cores. It has 393 GFLOPS when docked and 236 GFLOPS when undocked
Nevertheless, with newer processing capabilities, the Nintendo Switch 2 supports graphics features like Deep Learning Super Sampling or DLSS and real-time hardware-based ray tracing. It can also output 4K resolutions at 60Hz when docked and up to 120 fps. Its predecessor does not have super sampling and ray tracing. It also outputs 1080p at 60Hz when docked. The overall graphics boost of the newer Switch is around 6 times more than the older one.
2. System Memory and Storage
The general and graphics processing capabilities of Nintendo Switch 2 also receive further hardware boosts from its better system memory and storage configurations. The system or random access memory is an LPDDR5X. The memory in the older Switch is the older-generation LPDDR4. The internal storage of the new Switch also uses the better UFS 3.1 flash storage specification, while its older counterpart uses the older eMMC technology.
• System Memory: The newer Switch specifically has 12GB LPDDR5X memory with a speed of 6.5 GHz when docked and 4.3 GHz when undocked. This is a significant upgrade from the 4GB LPDDR4 memory of the older Switch. It is also worth noting that LPDDR5X is a 2020 memory technology, and LPDDR4 is a 2014 technology.
• Internal Storage: A 256GB internal storage based on UFS 3.1 also differentiates the new Switch from the old Switch. The old Switch originally had 32GB eMMC storage, and the refreshed OLED version has 64GB eMMC storage. It is also important to highlight the fact that UFS is a better and faster solid-state storage technology than eMMC.
• Expansion: Both devices support external or removable storage for storage expansion. The storage of the older one can be expanded up to 2TB using a microSD card. The newer one can also be expanded up to 2TB but uses a microSD Express card. This is a newer and more advanced version of the microSD storage technology released in 2018.
3. Design, Controls, and Display
Other notable differences between the Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch 1 center on their respective look and feel. The two generally look the same. However, when it comes to details like dimension and color, the difference is glaring. The controls or Joy-Con in the new Switch boast several upgrades. However, when it comes to the display screen, it seems that the Switch 2 decides to take the least popular route. Below are the comparisons:
• Design: The Switch 2 is larger and considerably heavier at 272 × 116 × 13.9 mm and 534 grams. This makes the old Switch OLED version lighter and smaller at 76 × 102 × 14 mm and 319 grams. The new device also dropped the iconic light-blue left Joy-Con color and the bright-red right Joy-Con color for an all-black color.
• Controls: It is worth noting that the Nintendo Switch 2 features the Joy-Con 2. Both the left and right controllers feature the same button-analog controller configuration, but also now feature optical sensors for mouse-like aiming. They are also slightly larger and attach magnetically. The older Joy-Cons of the older Switch attach via rails.
• Display: The Switch 2 opted for an LCD instead of the more popular OLED display used in the refreshed Switch 1. Nintendo explained that a 7.9-inch 1080p touchscreen LCD screen is the best option because it has native support for HDR10 and a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz. The choice is more cost-effective than an OLED.
Another difference between the Switch 1 and Switch 2 is the kickstand. The former features a wider and adjustable U-shaped kickstand. The kickstand on the original Switch was too thin. The refreshed OLED version has a wider and more stable kickstand. The newer Switch has the best implementation. The new dock is also larger and heavier, but it now features an internal fan to accommodate the more powerful Switch 2 and long gaming sessions.
4. Software, Connectivity, and Battery
The Nintendo Switch 2 also demonstrates several improvements to the operating system and other software features for a more immersive gaming experience. The ports and connectivity are the same, but some are based on newer standards or technologies. There are also new connectivity features. The battery capacity promises longer single-charge battery life and to handle more advanced processing capabilities and a better gaming experience.
• Software: GameChat supports voice chat with up to 12 players and video chat with screen sharing with up to 4 players using built-in mics and an optional USB-C camera. GameChat supports speech-to-text and text-to-speech. GameShare lets users stream supported games to friends over LAN/Wi-Fi for shared local play. There is also an Expanded Accessibility Menu. The original and older Switch do not have these features.
• Connectivity: Both Switch 2 and Switch 1 have USB ports, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. There are now 2 USB ports in the newer Switch. Wi-Fi is now based on the Wi-Fi 6 standard and Bluetooth is based on the 5.0 iteration. The dock also includes a Gigabit Ethernet port as standard. The older Switch 1 has 1 USB port, Wi-Fi 5, and Bluetooth 4.0. Ethernet or wired network support was only introduced in the OLED version.
• Battery: The Switch 2 is now equipped with a 5220 mAh lithium-ion battery. This is about 19 percent bigger than the 4310 mAh Li-ion battery found in the original and OLED versions of the older Switch. But this is a more nuanced difference. The more powerful hardware of Switch 2 impacts battery consumption. Playing moderate games like Mario Kart World would give about 4 hours of battery life in a single charge.