Nintendo Switch 2 Unveiled: 4K, 120fps, Enhanced Battery, and More

Nintendo has recently unveiled exciting details about the Nintendo Switch 2 through its latest Direct presentation, and the revelations have continued to pour in. Let's dive into the specifics of this highly anticipated console.

Nintendo has confirmed that the Switch 2 will feature a larger 7.9-inch wide color gamut LCD screen, capable of displaying content at 1080p resolution (1920x1080). This is a significant step up from the original Switch's 6.2-inch screen, the Switch OLED's 7-inch display, and the Switch Lite's 5.5-inch panel. While we'll miss the OLED's vibrant colors, the larger screen size promises an enhanced viewing experience.

The new console also supports HDR10 and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) up to 120 Hz, allowing for smoother gameplay at up to 120 frames per second (fps) when supported by both the game and the user's setup.

When docked, the Switch 2 can output games at 4K resolution (3840x2160) at 60fps, or at 1080p/1440p (1920x1080/2560x1440) at 120fps. This impressive performance is driven by a "custom processor made by NVIDIA," though detailed information about the CPU and GPU remains undisclosed.

Battery life for the Switch 2 is expected to last between 2 to 6.5 hours, powered by a 5220mAh Lithium-ion battery. It takes about three hours to fully charge in Sleep mode. Nintendo emphasizes that these are rough estimates and that battery life will vary depending on the games played. Compared to the newer Switch models, this represents a slight downgrade in battery life.

The Switch 2 measures approximately 4.5 inches tall, 10.7 inches wide, and 0.55 inches thick with the Joy-Con 2 attached, weighing around 0.88 pounds without the Joy-Cons and 1.18 pounds with them. This makes it taller and longer than the current Switch models, although the weight matches that of the original Switch.

Speaking of Joy-Con, while there's no confirmation on the use of Hall Effect joysticks to prevent drifting issues, there's a hint from a 2023 patent that they might be included.

On the audio side, the Switch 2 supports linear PCM output 5.1ch, and after a system update, users can enable surround sound effects via headphones or the built-in speaker.

Storage has seen a significant upgrade with 256 GB of internal storage, a leap from the 32 GB in the original Switch and Switch Lite, and 64 GB in the Switch OLED Model. However, the Switch 2 requires microSD Express cards for up to 2TB of additional storage, meaning current microSDXC cards won't be compatible.

Other notable features include support for Wireless LAN (Wi-Fi 6), two USB-C ports, a 3.5mm 4-contact stereo mini-plug (CTIA standard), and a built-in monaural microphone with noise cancellation, echo cancellation, and auto gain control.

For more information, be sure to check out our recap of the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, details on the new system's price, a list of launch games, and information on when pre-orders will begin.