Honestly, everyone's been obsessed with one question for years: is the new Nintendo hardware actually going to be "next-gen," or is it just another marginal step up? Well, the wait is officially over. The Nintendo Switch 2 launched on June 5, 2025, and now that we're well into 2026, the verdict is finally in.
It’s a beast. Sorta.
But "strong" is a loaded word when you're talking about a device that has to fit in your backpack without melting your hands. If you’re looking for a PS5 in your pocket, you’re going to be disappointed. However, if you want to know if this thing can finally handle the games that made the original Switch cry, the answer is a resounding yes. Let's break down what's actually under the hood and why the raw numbers don't tell the whole story.
The Raw Numbers: How Strong is the Switch 2 Really?
When we talk about how strong is the switch 2, we have to look at the silicon. Nintendo finally ditched the ancient Tegra X1 for a custom Nvidia T239 chip. This is based on the Ampere architecture (think RTX 30-series GPUs), which is a massive generational leap.
To put it simply: the original Switch was pushing about 0.4 teraflops docked. The Switch 2 hits 3.07 teraflops docked. In handheld mode, it scales back to roughly 1.71 teraflops to save your battery.
That puts it right in the ballpark of a PlayStation 4 Pro when it’s plugged into your TV. But here's the kicker: it’s way more efficient. Because the architecture is modern, those teraflops go much further than they did back in 2016. It’s got 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM, which is a huge jump from the measly 4GB we suffered with for nearly a decade. About 9GB of that is dedicated purely to games, while 3GB handles the new, much snappier OS.
The Secret Weapon: DLSS 3.5
Raw power is great, but Nvidia’s DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) is the real reason this console feels "strong." Basically, the Switch 2 can render a game at a lower resolution—say, 1080p or even 720p—and then use AI to upscale it to a crisp 4K in docked mode.
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I’ve seen it in action with Cyberpunk 2077 on this thing. It shouldn't work. It really shouldn't. But thanks to those dedicated Tensor cores, the image looks cleaner than a native 1080p image ever could.
Screen and Performance: 120Hz is the New Standard
Nintendo didn’t just beef up the internals; they changed how the games look on the move. The Switch 2 features a 7.9-inch LCD screen. Yeah, I know—we all wanted OLED. But this isn't your cheap 2017 LCD. It supports HDR10 and has a 120Hz Variable Refresh Rate (VRR).
- Handheld Resolution: 1080p (finally!)
- Docked Resolution: Up to 4K via HDMI 2.1
- Refresh Rate: Up to 120fps on supported titles
Playing Mario Kart World at a smooth 120fps feels like a completely different game. It’s fluid. It’s fast. It makes the old 60fps cap feel sluggish.
One weird quirk, though? VRR only works in handheld mode. If you plug it into your fancy gaming TV, you’re stuck with a standard 60Hz signal for now. Nintendo’s always got to leave one head-scratching limitation in there, right?
Real-World Comparisons: Switch 2 vs. The World
How strong is the switch 2 compared to the Steam Deck? This is the comparison everyone wants.
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On paper, the Steam Deck’s Zen 2 processor is a bit of an old dog now. In my testing, the Switch 2 actually edges it out in docked performance because of the Nvidia-specific optimizations. While the Steam Deck relies on FSR (which is okay), the Switch 2’s DLSS is just superior. It produces fewer artifacts and a more stable image.
However, the Steam Deck still wins on raw flexibility and battery life. The Switch 2's battery is... let's be honest, it's a bit of a letdown. You’re looking at 2 to 6.5 hours depending on the game. If you're playing something like the Zelda 2026 update with full ray tracing, expect to be tethered to a wall in under three hours.
What about the PS5 and Xbox Series S?
Let's be real. It's not a PS5. It's not even a Series S.
The Xbox Series S has about 4 teraflops of power and a much beefier CPU. The Switch 2 is a "tweener." It sits comfortably above the PS4 Pro but below the current-gen home consoles. But because it supports Ray Tracing (thanks to 12 dedicated RT cores), it can pull off lighting effects that the older consoles could only dream of.
Storage and Speed: No More Loading Screen Naps
One of the most underrated upgrades is the 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage.
Remember waiting three minutes for Breath of the Wild to load? That’s gone. The Switch 2 includes a custom File Decompression Engine (FDE). It’s basically Nintendo’s version of the PS5’s "Kraken" tech.
It also supports microSD Express cards. These things are fast—we're talking nearly 1GB/s read speeds. It’s not quite NVMe SSD speed, but it’s lightyears ahead of the old UHS-I cards.
Is it Worth the $450 Price Tag?
The price jumped to $449.99, which stung a lot of people at launch. But when you look at the tech inside—the custom Nvidia silicon, the 12GB of RAM, and the 120Hz display—it’s actually priced fairly competitively for 2026.
Actionable Insights for New Owners:
- Don't buy old SD cards: If you want to take advantage of the speed, you need microSD Express (marked with a tiny 'Ex' on the card). Your old cards will work, but your load times will suffer.
- Toggle DLSS Settings: Some games let you choose between "Performance" and "Quality" modes. In handheld, "Performance" is usually better for battery, but "Quality" makes the 1080p screen really pop.
- Check for Backwards Compatibility: Most original Switch games get a "Power Boost" on Switch 2, which stabilizes the frame rate and sometimes increases resolution automatically.
The Switch 2 is the most powerful handheld Nintendo has ever dared to make. It’s not a powerhouse by PC standards, but it’s finally strong enough to close the gap between "handheld" and "home console" for good.
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If you're planning to upgrade, focus on getting a high-quality GaN charger. The 40W peak power draw means your old phone bricks might not keep up during heavy gaming sessions. Make sure your setup is ready for that 4K output before you dock it for the first time.