Nintendo Switch 2 specs unveiled: Bigger screen, better performance, and more

A worthy spec upgrade after the eight-year wait.
 By 
Cecily Mauran
 on 
The Switch 1 and Switch 2 stacked on top of each other showing the difference in size
The Switch 2 is bigger and better. Credit: Nintendo

Eight years after the first Nintendo Switch, we finally have the Nintendo Switch 2. And by all accounts, it was largely worth the wait.

On Wednesday's Nintendo Direct livestream, the gaming company announced the new console with several massive improvements and new features in its typically unfussy fashion. There wasn't much fanfare, letting the Nintendo Switch 2 newness speak for itself. But the rapid-fire succession of news during the tight hourlong event also meant we were thrown a lot of information at once.

In case you missed it, here's a roundup of all the Nintendo Switch 2 specs shared during the livestream:

All the Nintendo Switch 2 specs you need to know

The important stuff

  • 7.9-inch display compared to the OG Switch's 6.2-inch display, with the same 13.9mm thickness

  • 1080p resolution with an LCD screen

  • 120 fps (frames per second) support and HDR support

  • 256 GB of storage compared to 32 GB of storage for the original Switch

  • Two USB-C ports

super mario showing the increased frame rate support
Frame rate support has increased to a whopping 120 fps. Credit: Nintendo

Joy-Con 2 controllers

  • Magnetic attachment to the display with a release button to detach

  • Bigger SL and SR buttons for easier play when using them horizontally

  • Larger control sticks

  • Each Joy-Con 2 controller can be used as a mouse for certain games

Joy-Con 2 controllers showing magnetic attachment
Joy-Con 2 controllers connect magnetically with a pleasing snap. Credit: Nintendo

Audio

  • Built-in mic for GameChat, with noise-cancelling technology

  • 3D audio functionality, even without a surround sound system

Other hardware features

  • New kickstand to hold the Switch 2 at any angle

  • The new dock supports 4K compatibility when connected to an external display. It also has a built-in fan to keep the system cool.

Nintendo Switch 2 supported by a new kickstand
The new kickstand holds the Switch 2 at any angle. Credit: Nintendo
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Cecily Mauran
Tech Reporter

Cecily is a tech reporter at Mashable who covers AI, Apple, and emerging tech trends. Before getting her master's degree at Columbia Journalism School, she spent several years working with startups and social impact businesses for Unreasonable Group and B Lab. Before that, she co-founded a startup consulting business for emerging entrepreneurial hubs in South America, Europe, and Asia. You can find her on X at @cecily_mauran.

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