Nintendo Switch 2: Specs, features and how it stacks up

Video game consoles have come a long way since the days of the Atari and Commodore. Now, handheld devices such as the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck enable portable, high-powered gaming for those with the budget, time, and capacity.

The highly-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 will launch in May this year, and the gaming community is hyped for this epic release. In this informative article, we'll discuss the launch, give a rundown on the product, its specs and capabilities, and explain why people are absolutely psyched for its release. We'll also discuss how the Switch 2 stacks up against a handheld gaming PC, specifically the Steam Deck LCD and the new Steam Deck OLED. So, if you're interested in this topic, read on to learn more.

As mentioned above, the Nintendo Switch 2 is due to release in Australia in May. It can play Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive games, as well as both physical and digital Nintendo Switch games from the prior generation. Certain Nintendo Switch games may not be supported on or fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2. The Nintendo website has further information on this.

While the Switch 2 replaces the OG Switch, the original console is likely to be sold for another year or so.

One of the major selling points of the Switch, as the name suggests, is that it can switch between being a handheld video game console and being able to be displayed on a TV, thanks to the innovative docking system. This was a literal goldmine for Nintendo, and the teaser video for the Switch 2 confirms that this bigger and sleeker device will also come dock-compatible.

While nothing concrete has been released about the internal specifications of the Switch 2, there have been several hardware leaks that give us a teaser into the specs. It will definitely be more powerful than its predecessor but is unlikely to be as powerful as a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X or S.

According to Centroleaks, a Brazilian Pokemon leaker, and some sleuth users on Famiboards who rifled through shipping records last year, the Switch 2 will have 12GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. That's a massive jump over the current system's 4GB/64GB split. Centroleaks has also claimed that the new Switch will have an 8-inch screen compared to the current generation of 6.2, which is aligned with the teaser video.

Another spec sheet leak earlier in 2024 claims that the new Switch will have a powerful ARM Cortex-A78AE processor with eight cores, as well as a chip for mobile/auto installations. This chip almost certainly won't be as remotely as powerful as the AMD Zen 2 chips that drive the PS5 and XSX, but this is to be expected for a handheld device. However, that same spec sheet quotes 8GB of RAM and 64GB of storage for the Switch 2, so both of these leaks should be taken with grains of salt. Other hardware leaks claim a 60W power draw for the upgraded dock.

The new system will certainly have more power than its predecessor. However, that may mean it's comparable with a Steam Deck, PlayStation 4 Pro, or an Xbox One X, and we'll compare the Switch 2 to the Steam Deck further down in this article. There is speculation that it may even use DLSS to punch above its weight class in frame generation. Nintendo isn't telling anyone yet, and none of the leaked details fit together to form a coherent picture.

With more processing power and RAM than its predecessor, you can see why people are hyped for the release of the Switch 2.

You may be wondering how the next-gen Nintendo console holds weight against the Steam Deck LCD vs OLED. The next Steam Deck will feature an OLED screen, which is a significant improvement on the LCD screen of the older model.

Currently, the Steam Deck LCD is superior to the OG Switch. This is due to its better processing power, RAM and ability to play AAA PC games on a handheld device. However, the Switch may win out, as the Switch 2 will, on its ability to rapidly allow multiplayer family fun due to the revolutionary Joy Con technology allowing up to eight players to participate in a multiplayer game. So, while the Steam deck allows you to enjoy your entire Steam library and stream PC games on it, both Switches may be preferable for those wanting multiplayer.

The other advantage of the Switch 2 is that, like the OG, it will only allow you to play Nintendo-exclusive titles, such as Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros, Metroid, and Xenoblade.

The OG LCD Valve handheld device holds its own custom AMD Van Gogh (Aerith) GPU. This graphics unit, alongside its 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM, is mainly what gives the beast handheld the ability to load up even titles like RDR2 or Cyberpunk 2077 and do them justice - even if a high frame rate of 60FPS is still out of the question. The original Switch on the other hand, is powered by a custom-built Nvidia Tegra X1 GPU, and it comes with only 4GB of RAM. While it ran exclusive titles fine, this was more a testament to the development nous of Nintendo rather than the Switch's power.

It can stream PC games to a Steam Deck and runs using a custom Linux distribution system, so you can adapt your device to anything. It is essentially a mini handheld PC. Due to its powerful screen, the OLED will probably beat the Switch 2 on frame rates and gorgeous graphics.

One downside to the Steam Deck is that it is a PC, which means it comes with the possibility of bugs, glitches, and crashes and requires tinkering at times, which can run the risk of breaking the device and needing to format it or reinstall the operating system. The Switch 2 will run each game as expected due to the games being designed to run exclusively on the console.

Also, even if games are "Steam Deck verified", this doesn't guarantee that a game will run smoothly on the handheld device; it just means you can play it without a keyboard and mouse. So, gamers may be disappointed when an AAA title has performance issues or doesn't run smoothly, impacting the gaming experience.

This informative article has covered the launch of the Switch 2 this year and an overview of its possible specs. We've also covered how the OG stacks up against the Steam Deck LCD and some information about the upcoming OLED. Finally, we've shared both the positives and the drawbacks of handheld PC gaming devices.