Nintendo Switch 2 Upgrades: 4K, 120fps, Battery & Storage

Nintendo shared a wealth of details about the Nintendo Switch 2 during its latest Direct presentation, and we've gathered even more information since the hour-long event concluded—including the new console's technical specifications. While many questions remain, let's dive into what's new with the Switch 2.

As previously mentioned, Nintendo confirmed that the new system will feature a 7.9-inch wide color gamut LCD screen with 1080p (1920x1080) output. This marks a significant upgrade from the Switch 1's 6.2-inch display, the Switch OLED's 7-inch screen (though we'll miss OLED technology), and the Switch Lite's 5.5-inch screen.

The console also supports HDR10 and VRR up to 120 Hz, meaning compatible games can reach up to 120fps if your setup allows.

Placing the Switch 2 into its new dock enables 4K (3840x2160) gaming at 60fps, or 1080p/1440p (1920x1080/2560x1440) at 120fps. These enhanced visuals are powered by a "custom NVIDIA processor," though specific details about the CPU and GPU remain undisclosed.

Battery life details were confirmed: the Switch 2 uses a 5220mAh Lithium-ion battery, providing approximately 2 to 6.5 hours of gameplay and a three-hour charge time in Sleep mode. Nintendo noted these are rough estimates, and actual battery life will vary depending on the games played.

This battery performance is comparable to the original Switch model, which offered 2.5 to 6.5 hours. However, it's a step down from the three newer Switch models—the standard Nintendo Switch (4.5-9 hours), Nintendo Switch OLED Model (4.5-9 hours), and Nintendo Switch Lite (3-7 hours).

In terms of dimensions, the Switch 2 with Joy-Con 2 attached measures approximately 4.5 inches tall by 10.7 inches wide by 0.55 inches thick. It weighs roughly 0.88 pounds without the Joy-Con 2 and 1.18 pounds with them attached.

While the Switch 2 matches the current Switch model in weight, it is both taller and wider than any existing model with Joy-Con attached:

4.5 inches tall x 10.7 inches wide x .55 inches thick / .88 lbsNintendo Switch - 4 inches tall x 9.5 inches long x .55 inches thick / .88 lbsNintendo Switch - OLED Model - 4 inches tall x 9.5 inches long x .55 inches thick / .93 lbsNintendo Switch Lite - 3.6 inches tall x 8.2 inches long x .55 inches thick / .61 lbs

Unfortunately, Nintendo hasn't confirmed whether the Joy-Con 2 will use Hall Effect joysticks, which could address the drifting issues experienced by many Switch owners. While a 2023 patent hinted at this possibility, we'll need to wait for official confirmation.

For audio, the Switch 2 supports linear PCM 5.1ch output. Surround sound effects can also be enabled through headphones or the built-in speaker following a system update.

Storage gets a significant boost with 256 GB of internal memory—a substantial upgrade from the 32 GB in the Switch and Switch Lite, and the 64 GB in the Switch OLED Model. Another key change is that the Switch 2 requires microSD Express cards for up to 2TB of additional storage, meaning existing microSDXC cards from current Switch models won't be compatible.

Additional features include Wireless LAN (Wi-Fi 6) support, two USB-C ports, a 3.5mm 4-contact stereo mini-plug (CTIA standard), and a built-in monaural microphone with noise cancellation, echo cancellation, and auto gain control.

For more details, check out our Nintendo Switch 2 Direct recap, pricing information, confirmed launch titles, and pre-order start dates.

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