The Nintendo Switch 2 has been revealed in an hour-long presentation, and there are plenty of big announcements to talk about. We’re going to stick to the hardware and software for now, though we’ll admit that the new open-world Mario Kart game looks great. Switch 2 is bigger and better than its predecessor in many ways, and this includes a large screen with higher resolution to match.

Nintendo has announced that the Switch 2 offers a full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution, which puts visual density on par with devices such as the ASUS ROG Ally and MSI Claw. It also means it jumps ahead of the Steam Deck, which runs at a modest native resolution of 1280 x 800. The refresh rate has also been improved up to 120Hz, just like the Ally.

Nintendo Switch 2 gets bigger and better specs

Some other features coming to Switch 2 include a Discord-like Game Chat feature, and even the ability to use either Joy-Con controller as a mouse, which will certainly come in handy for a few different genres. Overall, we’re impressed with the generational improvements for the sequel, and we can only hope to see something similar when Steam Deck 2 arrives. Valve has also said it is waiting for a generational leap before it commits to new hardware.

What we will mention is that we don’t consider the Switch 2 to be a Steam Deck replacement, and most of this comes down to the console vs PC discussion. The Deck will still have access to a large library of PC games, while the new Switch continues to be the go-to device for the latest Nintendo-exclusive titles. There’s no reason why you can’t own both with little crossover.

Nintendo Switch is penciled in for launch on June 5th, 2025.

About the Author

Jack Goodall

At PC Guide, Jack is mostly responsible for reporting on hardware deals. He also specializes in monitors, TVs, and headsets and can be found putting his findings together in a review or best-of guide.