is a reviewer covering laptops and the occasional gadget. He spent over 15 years in the photography industry before joining The Verge as a deals writer in 2021.
Nintendo’s Switch 2 is faster, more powerful, and all around better than its predecessor in just about every way. It’s also bigger than the OG Switch. But, like, how much bigger?
Okay, sure, we can check the specs and see that the Switch 2 is half an inch (12.7mm) taller and 1.2 inches (30.48mm) wider than the original — and it’s 0.22 pounds (99.79 grams) heavier. But don’t just bark numbers at me! Nah, man, get that nerd math out of here.
What about vibes-wise? How much bigger does it feel?
We already know the Switch 2 is a whole lot less colorful and fun-looking than the original, and it’s definitely not any more comfortable to use, either. So how does it compare to the more lively-looking Switches that came before it? And how about other boring black boxes that have brought us years of joyous games? Well, to show you, I got my Switch 2 out along with its direct progenitors and some of its other ilk from the world of video games, and I took a bunch of pictures.
Nintendo Switch 2 vs. Switch OLED vs. original Switch
First up, the most obvious comparison: the Switch 2, its Joy-Con 2 controllers, and its new dock versus its last-gen counterparts. Any Switch may seem compact compared to various PC handhelds flooding the market these days, especially a surfboard-like one that still hasn’t come out yet, but seeing the Switch 2 next to an original launch-day Switch from 2017 makes me wonder how we ever got on with that dainty original. The OLED edition may not have been any more powerful, but its slightly larger screen did make a huge difference. And now, the Switch 2 is even bigger than that. Despite not being all that comfortable in handheld mode, this feels like the right size for a Switch.
Previous Next
... continue reading