Nearly six months after it was initially announced, the Switch 2 is now finally available to buy globally.

Whether you’re still sporting the original Nintendo Switch and debating an upgrade, or you just want to know what’s new with the Switch 2, we’ve got you covered. We’ve highlighted the main differences between the Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch below.

Keep reading to see how the Switch 2 compares to the Switch. You should also visit our Switch 2 vs Xbox Series S guide too. 

Pricing and availability

After the initial announcement back in January 2025, the Switch 2 is now available globally with an RRP of £395.99/$450. If you’re keen to nab some extras with your console, say the new Mario Kart World or a mighty MicroSD Express storage card, then we’ve rounded up some of the best Switch 2 bundle deals to help you score a bargain.

The Switch has been a firm favourite ever since its launch back in 2017 and is still available to buy from the official Nintendo site and third-party retailers too. With an RRP of £259.99/$299.99, it’s perhaps unsurprising that the eight year old console is considerably cheaper than its recent successor.

The Nintendo Switch 2 has all-new Joy-Cons

Although they look familiar, the Switch 2 sports revamped joy-cons which are now magnetically held to either side of the console. In fact, Nintendo has explained that the SL and SR buttons of each joy-con are made of steel which magnetically attract to the console which “won’t easily detach”.

Speaking of the SL and SR buttons, they are now considerably larger than the previous iteration which Nintendo promises will offer “better control and comfort” while gaming in multiplayer mode. 

Arguably most notably, the right Joy-Con of the Nintendo Switch 2 now includes a C button, which works as a gateway to the brand new GameChat feature. Found exclusively on Switch 2, GameChat allows you to chat with friends while you’re gaming online. 

Our Joy-Con 2 vs Joy-Con guide offers a more in-depth look at the key differences between the controllers.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is bigger

With a 7.9-inch touchscreen display, the Switch 2 is considerably larger than the Switch which measures just 6.2-inches. In fact, it’s actually 0.9-inches bigger than the Switch OLED too. Naturally, this means the Joy-Cons have also seen a sizable increase too, which should make them feel more comfortable to hold during prolonged gaming periods.

However, disappointingly, the Switch 2 doesn’t sport an OLED screen and instead retains the same LCD display of the Switch.

The Nintendo Switch 2 has a new kickstand

The first Nintendo Switch had a seriously flimsy kickstand which not only felt weak but we found it had a tendency to fall over if it wasn’t placed on a steady surface. While Nintendo rectified this problem with the Switch OLED, the Switch 2 has a whole new kickstand.

As seen in the trailer, the kickstand can seemingly fold back further than either of its predecessors, as shown here. 

Not all Nintendo Switch games are compatible with the Switch 2

Nintendo has confirmed that the Switch 2 will play both physical and digital games, and will also benefit from exclusive games too.

While some Nintendo Switch games will be playable on the Switch 2, Nintendo has said that some original titles may not be supported or fully compatible with the Switch 2. Nintendo says it will share more information on this at a later date.

Otherwise, Switch Online members will be able to continue using the service on Switch 2.

The Nintendo Switch 2 has an additional USB-C port

If you own a Nintendo Switch, you’ll likely have felt the frustration of only being able to charge the console when in handheld mode or when docked in its station. Fortunately, Nintendo has included an additional USB-C port which should make it easier to play while charging, particularly in table-top mode.

This USB-C port can also be used to connect the new Nintendo Switch camera, which allows you to video chat with friends via the new GameChat tool.

The Nintendo Switch 2 supports GameShare

GameShare is a new feature for Switch 2, which allows users to share compatible games with another Switch or Switch 2, even if the receivers don’t have their own copy. While a Switch 2 is able to both share and receive games, via either a local wireless connection or through GameChat, the original Switch can only receive titles. 

It’s also worth noting that you can only share titles between a Switch 2 and a Switch locally, as the latter doesn’t support the GameChat tool.

Early verdict

We’ve been seriously excited to get our hands on the Switch 2, ever since its initial announcement back in January 2025. Now that the console has officially launched, we’ll be sure to update this versus once we’ve used it ourselves.

However, even just looking at the specs, the Switch 2 looks like a promising upgrade and one that’s likely to take a spot in our best games console list. Make sure you check back here to see our final verdict in the coming weeks.