Okay, we finally got the specs for the Nintendo Switch 2, and as someone who gets genuinely excited talking tech, all I can say is: WOW. I’m seriously impressed—way more than I anticipated. This is some genuinely exciting hardware.
Yet, unsurprisingly, the critics are already out in force. You’ve got folks who are either dead-set against picking up a Switch 2, have a hate-boner, or are just flat-out misinformed. Many are advising others to skip the Switch 2 because it’s allegedly “not as powerful” as other handhelds— specifically, the Steam Deck.
Hold up. Full stop. Pause.
Look, I’m not the biggest Nintendo fan myself—my frustration over the lack of new F-Zero content could fuel an entire therapy session—but even I can see that comparing the Switch 2 to the Steam Deck is apples to oranges. We’re witnessing a major technological leap for Nintendo, and that alone warrants reconsideration before dismissing it outright. Though I suppose the two are being pitted against each other due to the similarity in pricing. The Steam Deck will cost you $400 if you go for the LCD version or $550 for the 512GB OLED model, whereas the Switch 2 is priced at $450 with no game or $500 with Mario Kart World.
Sure, we don’t have the full specs yet, but the details we have are impressive. Buzzwords like HDR, variable refresh rates, DLSS, and frame rates up to 120 FPS are being thrown around. And the screen? A stunning 7.9 inches. Yes, I kind of wish they’d just rounded up to 8 inches, but that’s still larger than most handheld gaming devices currently available.
Now let’s talk about DLSS 3.5. With DLSS comes ray tracing support—something wild to even think about for a Nintendo console. Assuming the CPU/GPU combo (which, admittedly, we still don’t fully understand) can handle it, developers will have a powerful tool at their disposal.
As for the Steam Deck? Look, I’ve said it before—it was underpowered with AMD’s Zen 2 SoC, the moment it launched, but the point was to make handheld PC gaming more available, and it succeeded at that. However, hearing people recommend it over the Switch 2 just for raw power feels…odd. There’s speculation that the Switch 2 might be comparable to a PS4 in performance. I’m not fully convinced yet (show me the receipts!), but if it outpaces the Steam Deck, that’s already a win. Nvidia seems to be fully committed to this handheld. While writing this, Nvidia even released a bit more info on the Switch 2—though, notably, they haven’t spilled all the beans on the actual SoC (System on Chip).
Honestly, this tech excites me. I genuinely hope the Switch 2 performs well and finally satisfies everyone who complained that the original Switch was underpowered or that Nintendo was stuck in the past—including me. I can’t count how often I’ve complained about non-Nintendo-developed games feeling subpar on the current Switch.
While I do (or did) enjoy my Steam Deck and respect its role in bringing handheld PC gaming to the masses, there’s no denying that, technologically speaking, the Switch 2 appears to have outpaced it. That’s incredibly exciting for the future of Nintendo-developed and published games—and hopefully third-party games, too. But let’s be honest: I’ll probably still be playing those on my PC or my ROG Ally X.
And that’s without even diving into Nintendo’s ecosystem—which, love it or hate it, is undeniably a huge selling point depending on your gaming preferences. Of course, I have my gripes. Switch 2 game prices are high, and this will be Nintendo’s most expensive console ever (unless you adjust for inflation). But honestly? This still feels like a massive step forward.
Lastly, can we stop this? Seriously? Just play where you want to play and enjoy it, regardless of where.
