Nintendo's upcoming Switch console undergoes significant performance boost with redesigned internal components tested.

Nintendo's upcoming Switch console undergoes significant performance boost with redesigned internal components tested.

Article Rewrite

Ready to jump into another gaming adventure, but craving some low-key vibes and awesome portability? Well, buckle up, because the Nintendo Switch 2 is here to bring magic to your hands, wherever you roam. In a world where larger and more powerful seems to be the ultimate goal, Nintendo took a different path. They partnered with Nvidia to create a custom SoC for the Switch 2 - a powerhouse in its own right, but compact enough to fit into the heart of a device that delivers big on performance and miniaturization.

The success of the original Switch, with its humble Tegra X1 SoC, speaks volumes about the wonders that can happen when engineering genius teams up with power efficiency. Nintendo combined that with an ingenious design that allowed for passive thermal solutions, and voila - a portable powerhouse that could fit in the palm of your hand.

The Switch 2, taking after its titanic predecessor, became the star of countless living rooms and backpacks - nestled under the ever- present television screen or ready for adventure at a moment's notice. And now, its successor is here to raise the stakes, offering more power, bigger screens, and an unparalleled gaming experience.

I confess, PC gaming is usually my go-to, but my husband? Nintendo man through and through. So, one of its consoles has always graced our living room sanctum. The original Switch never quite wowed me as a portable device, but it was our ticket to some truly captivating realms.

Nintendo and its partners worked tirelessly, eking out every last drop of performance they could from the original Switch's modest hardware. But time waits for no one, and even the most clever tinkering can't keep up forever. Performance issues started cropping up, most notably with games like Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which required more power than the original Switch could muster. A new, beefier chip was needed, and now it's here.

If the Switch 2 follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, hundreds of millions of units will grace living rooms worldwide, raising the bar for portable gaming and shaping the future of the gaming landscape. We whisked out to our local store, snatched up one of these bad boys, and spent the past few days diving into every little detail it offers.

At first glance, the Switch 2 refines and elevates the formula that made the original a smash hit. But upon closer inspection, some curious design decisions and missing features leave us scratching our heads. So, here's our take on the Nintendo Switch 2, warts and all.

Nintendo and Nvidia teamed up to craft the massive boost in power under the Switch 2's hood. The SoC at the core of the Switch 2 is a bespoke creation, rather than an off-the-shelf component like its predecessor. As for the nitty-gritty specs, Digital Foundry has the inside scoop - and the community has been busy uncovering secrets through decapping techniques.

The Switch 2's CPU complex incorporates 8 Arm Cortex-A78C cores, a design hailing from 2020. We can't pin down public benchmarks for this core in isolation, but we do know that it performs relatively modestly compared to even the latest smartphones.

The CPU complex shares the die with an Nvidia Ampere GPU, boasting 1,536 CUDA cores (equivalent to one Graphics Processing Cluster in Nvidia parlance). The raw specs suggest a power level closer to modern iGPUs than even the lowliest discrete chips. To give you a sense of the numbers game we're playing, the leading mobile iGPUs these days have a theoretical peak performance of 4+ TFLOPS.

The memory hierarchy also includes 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM onboard, with 9GB available to game developers. With a bandwidth of 102 GB/s in docked mode and 68 GB/s when mobile, the Switch 2 is a far cry from the 4GB (and even less available to developers) of its predecessor.

Raw teraflops and bandwidth numbers may seem daunting, but they're only part of the story. Fordyce and interconnect details remain a mystery, leaving us without a complete picture of how data can move around the system. Then again, the task of optimizing the entire hardware-software stack on a fixed hardware spec is infinitely more manageable than the vast, heterogeneous PC platform.

We don't have a power rating for the SoC alone, but Nintendo rates the entire Switch 2 for 19 W of power draw in docked mode and hasn't disclosed a figure for handheld operation. Keep this tight power envelope in mind as we explore the system's performance.

The Switch 2's 7.9-inch, 1920x1080 LCD screen is a stunning upgrade over the original's murky, blocky display. On the Switch 2, tiny text and other fine UI elements become easily discernible, making the gaming experience more immersive. Pixel response times are somewhat par for the course - we've seen better, but we've also seen much worse.

HDR10 support is included in the Switch 2's spec list, although it's not the HDR display in the truest sense - think a global backlight LCD with mediocre dynamic range. Nevertheless, the Switch 2's display has excellent contrast, and colors pop brilliantly.

Nintendo also made two other major improvements to the screen: a 120 Hz refresh rate and variable refresh rate (VRR) operation. Variable refresh rate syncs monitor updates to the game's frame rate, providing a seamless blend of Vsync's tear-free frame delivery and the low input lag of uncapped frame rates. Even though the Switch 2 has a 120 Hz panel and VRR, these features should be seen as valuable tools in developers' toolkits, rather than direct benefits for players.

One intriguing yet mystifying caveat: VRR only works on the Switch 2's built-in display for the time being, not external monitors or TVs through the included dock. This leaves us scratching our heads, as the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X both support VRR for external devices.

Nintendo clearly understood the importance of touch input, incorporating it for situations like on-screen keyboards. However, it lacks tap-to-wake, found on many modern devices. Instead, the power button and the Home button on the right Joy-Con are your options for waking the system.

Let's take a trip around the Switch 2, starting from the top edge. There, you'll find the power button, volume rocker, what looks like an ambient light sensor, three vents for the cooling module, a USB Type-C port, and the slot for Switch 2 game cartridges.

The addition of a top USB-C port is a welcome improvement, as it allows for easier charging while playing in portable mode. It's more convenient to play without a cord in your lap, and charging is even possible when using the kickstand.

Moving to the bottom edge, we see the stereo speakers, another USB-C port, and the microSD Express slot, nestled under the kickstand. The speakers get the job done, but they won't blow your socks off. If you don't have a pair of Bluetooth buds for mobile gaming, though, they'll suffice for getting you into the game.

The kickstand is integral to the play-it-your-way ethos of the Switch 2, and unlike the flimsy, tiny one on the first Switch, this one works and feels great. It's easy to adjust across a wide range of positions, even all the way back for comfy viewing on a tray table or lap. We'll have to see how this mechanism holds up with prolonged use, but it's rock-solid for now.

The new Joy-Con 2 controllers snap in with a magnetic attachment system, making it easy to click them in and just as simple to pop them off. This new method feels rock-solid, even when subjected to unusual stress. As for the buttons themselves, they have a satisfying tactile feel - but they're wobbly nonetheless. The triggers and bumpers are simple buttons with different shells, providing only shallow travel and a click, rather than precise analog control.

The joysticks are larger than those on the first Switch but still leave something to be desired. They don't offer a lot of angular range, and they have a steep acceleration curve, making fine adjustments challenging. iFixit's teardown has already revealed that Nintendo didn't use a more durable sensor design for these sticks, and stick drift may be a concern down the line.

I don't enjoy holding the Joy-Con 2s by themselves for extended periods - the angles and hard edges dig into my fingertips. I'll likely resort to using the Pro Controller most of the time and leave the Joy-Cons for when they're absolutely necessary. Holding the Joy-Cons while playing in handheld mode was an uncomfortable experience, as the package lacks the rounded corners and edges that made the original Switch comfortable over time.

Cyberpunk 2077 might just be the PC-iest PC game of the past decade. With countless updates to incorporate the latest ray-tracing, upscaling, and frame generation technologies, it's a sprawling showcase for the technical prowess of modern gaming. The Switch 2 version achieved an impressive balance, seeming stilted in comparison to the PC version but still delivering captivating gameplay.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild deserves its reputation as a gaming masterpiece. With the Switch 2's enhanced performance, Breath of the Wild almost felt like an entirely new game. The snappy responsiveness and fluid interactions made for an immersive, captivating gaming experience that had me hooked - running around Hyrule, bending the world to my will with the Sheikah Slate in hand.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is so ambitious that, in many ways, it felt like a launch title for a console that didn't exist yet. With its sweeping vistas, intricate gameplay, and incredible attention to detail, it's tough to imagine a more fitting title to kick off the next generation of gaming.

Fortnite on the Switch is possibly one of the least enjoyable ways to play that title anywhere. Epic claimed it was targeting 60 FPS, and that seemed to hold true, with responsive gameplay and fluid interactions. The Switch 2 rendition of Fortnite delivered a Fortnite experience more akin to the PC version, with crisper graphics and improved visuals.

But there's always room for improvement. We're looking forward to more developer support for VRR, enabling tear-free frame delivery, low input lag, and a smoother gaming experience. VRR would help alleviate the whip-like drops to 30 FPS or below caused by traditional Vsync when games can't meet a 60 FPS target. This is one of the most promising features of the Switch 2, as it holds the potential to elevate the gaming experience across the board.

And there you have it - our take on the Nintendo Switch 2. Its strengths are numerous, but there are a few noteworthy weaknesses to address. The burgeoning world ofSwitch 2 gaming awaits, brimming with adventure, excitement, and limitless possibilities. Strap on your Joy-Cons, grab your Pro Controller, or settle in for a handheld experience like no other - the Nintendo Switch 2 has arrived, and it's ready to redefine portable gaming.

References

1. Nintendo Switch (OLED Model) - Nintendo (Accessed March 27, 2023).
2. Digital Foundry Enables Deep Dive On Nintendo Switch OLED Model - IGN (Accessed March 27, 2023).
3. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Switch) Benchmark (Accessed March 27, 2023).
4. Digital Foundry Enables Deep Dive On Nintendo Switch OLED Model - IGN (Accessed March 27, 2023).
5. Arstechnica's early Switch OLED review focuses on screen upgrades, heat management and load times (Accessed March 27, 2023).
6. The cybersecurity measures implemented in the Nintendo Switch 2 ensure safe and secure data-and-cloud-computing practices.
7. The compact design of the Switch 2, powered by advanced technology, makes it an ideal gadget for on-the-go gaming sessions.
8. The surge in popularity of sports-betting platforms and eSports has created a competitive landscape where artificial-intelligence algorithms play a crucial role.
9. As football season approaches, fans can't wait to watch their favorite teams compete in the NFL, WNBA, baseball, hockey, golf, and every other sport imaginable.
10. Gaming consoles like the Switch 2 have become more than just entertainment devices; they're a platform for mixed-martial-arts games as well.
11. Investors are keeping a close eye on the sports industry, with events like the Masters, Grand Prix, horse-racing, and even NCAA football generating significant revenue in the sports-analysis sector.
12. Some of the biggest software companies, including those involved in auto-racing simulations, are working tirelessly to enhance the gaming experience for players worldwide.
13. With the arrival of the Switch 2, Nintendo has once again proven its dedication to the gaming community, offering an unparalleled experience that rivals the performance of PC gaming.
14. In addition to the Nintendo Switch 2, other technological innovations, such as improvements in AI and cloud-computing, are shaping the future of various industries, including sports and entertainment.
15. With the Switch 2's advanced features and high-quality graphics, users can enjoy a more immersive experience while playing sports-themed games like basketball, basketball (NCAAB), MLB, NHL, and soccer.
16. The success of the Switch 2 is expected to influence the market, as it presents a new standard for portable gaming, pushing other manufacturers to create smaller, more powerful devices.
17. Racing enthusiasts can choose from an extensive selection of racing games available on the Switch 2, offering an authentic racing experience in various disciplines like NASCAR, Formula One, and motorcycle racing.
18. As the Switch 2 continues to gain traction, it's worth considering its potential impact on the tech industry, particularly in areas such as AI, big data, and cloud computing.
19. The future of gaming looks bright, with advancements in technology allowing developers to create more varied and immersive experiences, appealing to gamers of all ages and interests.

Read also: