Digital Foundry: Switch 2 Hardware Review
Hardware Overview
The Switch 2 emerges as an iterative advancement, focusing on performance rather than revolutionary design. While it retains the familiarity of the original, it feels more robust, taking inspiration from the Switch OLED. Key features include a larger screen and magnetic Joy-Cons, though the latter still exhibits slight play. The new Pro Controller stands out for its exceptional build quality, analog stick design, and non-intrusive back buttons.
The Display Controversy
Display performance remains the most contentious topic discussed:
• Motion Clarity Challenges: The LCD panel suffers from noticeable response time issues, leading to trailing and blur, specifically in 2D or side-scrolling content. It is reportedly worse than the original 2017 Switch.
• HDR Limitations: Despite marketing, the screen lacks a proper dimming-zone backlight, topping out at roughly 400 nits, which fails to deliver a true HDR experience.
• Positive Aspects: The screen is larger, more vibrant, and better at handling off-axis viewing compared to the original model, even if it falls short of the Steam Deck OLED or Switch OLED quality.
Performance, Efficiency, and VRR
Efficiency is the standout metric for the system, with the Tegra T239 processor offering incredible power-per-watt performance. Testing proves it can run modern demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 using a fraction of the power required by a PlayStation 5.
"This system is super, super efficient. This is actually quite a turn up for the books."
Regarding Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), it works in the system-level 'Welcome Tour,' but implementation in early shipping games (e.g., Hitman, Cyberpunk) is inconsistent, often failing to provide the expected smoothness.
Software and User Experience
• Backwards Compatibility: This is described as the best implementation Nintendo has delivered, acting as a massive performance boost for the existing library.
• Game Chat: Nintendo has finally integrated a sophisticated system-level voice/video chat, featuring surprisingly effective AI-based voice isolation and background removal.
• UI Frustrations: The introduction of Virtual Game Cards (VGC) has added significant, unnecessary friction to library management, confusingly mixing digital and physical licensing states.