Nintendo Switch vs Nintendo Switch 2

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

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Switch compared with Switch 2

	NintendoSwitch	NintendoSwitch 2
Overview
Released
Released	March 2017	June 2025
Performance
Type
Type	Hybrid	Hybrid
CPU
CPU	NVIDIA customised Tegra processor	Custom NVIDIA processor, 8-core Arm Cortex-A78C
GPU
GPU	NVIDIA customised Tegra processor (integrated GPU)	NVIDIA Ampere, 1,536 CUDA cores
Memory
Memory	4 GB	12 GB (better)
Storage
Storage	32 GB	256 GB (better)
Disc drive
Disc drive	No	No
CPU
CPU	NVIDIA customised Tegra processor (Tegra X1-based ODNX02-A2 in the 2017 model, according to iFixit)	Custom processor made by NVIDIA; 8 Arm Cortex-A78C cores, 6 available to games; 1101 MHz handheld, 998 MHz docked (Nintendo developer documentation, reported by Digital Foundry)
GPU
GPU	–	NVIDIA Ampere GPU with RT cores and Tensor cores for DLSS; 1,536 CUDA cores at 561 MHz handheld and 1007 MHz docked, 3.072 TFLOPS docked (Nintendo developer documentation, reported by Digital Foundry)
Memory detail
Memory detail	4 GB LPDDR4 in two 2 GB Samsung chips in the 2017 model (iFixit; not published by Nintendo)	12 GB in two 6 GB modules; iFixit identified Micron LPDDR5 in one console; 102 GB/s docked, 68 GB/s handheld; 3 GB reserved for the system (Digital Foundry)
Storage detail
Storage detail	32 GB; about 6.2 GB is reserved for the system	256 GB UFS; part is reserved for the system
Storage expansion
Storage expansion	microSD, microSDHC and microSDXC cards	microSD Express cards up to 2 TB; other microSD cards can only be used to copy screenshots and videos
Display and video
Maximum output
Maximum output	1080p up to 60 fps	4K up to 120 fps
Built-in screen
Built-in screen	6.2″ LCD, 1280 × 720	7.9″ LCD, 1920 × 1080, 120 Hz
Built-in screen
Built-in screen	Capacitive touch screen; 6.2-inch LCD; 1280 × 720; brightness sensor. Nintendo doesn't publish the refresh rate	Capacitive touch screen; 7.9-inch wide colour gamut LCD; HDR10; VRR up to 120 Hz (NVIDIA G-SYNC in handheld mode); brightness sensor
Video output
Video output	HDMI through the dock in TV mode; up to 1920 × 1080 at 60 fps; 1280 × 720 in handheld and tabletop modes	HDMI through the dock in TV mode; up to 3840 × 2160 at 60 fps; 120 fps at 1920 × 1080 or 2560 × 1440
HDR
HDR	–	HDR10
Variable refresh rate
Variable refresh rate	–	Up to 120 Hz on the built-in screen
Audio
Audio	Stereo speakers; linear PCM 5.1ch over HDMI in TV mode; 3.5 mm headset jack	Stereo speakers; linear PCM 5.1ch over HDMI in TV mode; built-in microphone with noise and echo cancellation; 3.5 mm headset jack
Design and power
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	Up to 9 hours	Up to 6.5 hours
Weight
Weight	398 g (better)	534 g
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	4310 mAh. About 4.5 to 9 hours for consoles with serial numbers starting "XK" (sold from August 2019), or 2.5 to 6.5 hours for "XA" consoles (2017 model); about 5.5 hours in The Legend of Zelda - Breath of the Wild on the current model; charges in about 3.5 hours. Console alone weighs about 297 g	About 2 to 6.5 hours; charges in about 3 hours. Nintendo lists a non-replaceable 5220 mAh battery variant (401 g console, 534 g with Joy-Con 2) and a user-replaceable 5172 mAh variant (441 g, 548 g with Joy-Con 2)
Power use
Power use	TV mode 7 W while gaming; handheld 4 W while gaming	19 W average while gaming in TV mode; 8 W on the HOME Menu; 0.5 W in sleep mode
Colours
Colours	Neon Blue/Neon Red Joy-Con (UK store)	–
Connections
Ports
Ports	USB-C on the console (charging and dock); wired LAN in TV mode needs a separate LAN adapter	2 × USB-C on the console (bottom for charging and the dock, top for accessories); dock has 2 × USB 2.0, HDMI and LAN
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth	Wi-Fi 5 (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 4.1	Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth; wired LAN through the dock in TV mode
Controller
Controller	Detachable Joy-Con (L) and (R)	Detachable Joy-Con 2 (L) and (R) with HD rumble 2, mouse sensor, NFC; about 20 hours per charge
Backward compatibility
Backward compatibility	Nintendo Switch game cards only	Plays compatible physical and digital Nintendo Switch games; some are unsupported or have issues