The Switch 2 is almost here, and yet almost everything about it still remains a mystery. In May 2024, Nintendo finally confirmed the existence of a Switch successor and assured fans that it would officially announce its release sometime during its fiscal year, meaning before the beginning of 2025. That’s certainly a wide window of time. It leaves the impression that an announcement could happen at any moment.
I originally wrote this explainer in early 2024 to support answer a question many people were asking themselves online, namely whether they should buy a Switch or wait for improved hardware. A few months ago, it was a lot easier to draw the line. I suggested that if you haven’t played Nintendo’s huge, blockbuster catalog of games on Switch, playing them should be your top priority. I was hesitant to suggest waiting for Switch 2, in part because there’s no point holding back from so much pure joy.
We’re closer than ever to the long-awaited reveal of the Switch 2, and it makes sense that Nintendo’s confirmation of a recent Switch successor has cooled your enthusiasm for buying the 7-year-old hardware. But until (or maybe even after) the official debut, the answers below should support those who are in awe of the indecision. Of course, we’ll update this post once the Switch 2 is announced and there’s concrete information that helps you understand its similarities (hopefully no backwards compatibility and microSD card support) and advantages over the regular Switch.
So, should you buy a Switch or wait for the Switch 2? Let’s look at a few scenarios below.
Have you played any of the games available on Switch?
If not, just buy the damn console now. We only have so much time on this precious planet, so don’t wait any longer to catch up on the last seven years of amazing games. We’re at Nintendo’s whim to release their next console (that Really (which takes a lot of time) but you can take control and play or gift someone some awesome games while you wait.
Do you need the latest and greatest technology?
If you answered “yes,” then a large part of me understands that feeling. It would suck to buy a Switch now just so Nintendo can debut a heated recent model in the coming months. Luckily, the regular Switch is still a perfectly fine way to play. With a few exceptions, most Nintendo-published games run wonderfully on the console, so try not to let FOMO get in your way if you just want to play games. If it helps you make up your mind, Nintendo often releases mock-up games for its newer console on its previous console, and that trend could continue into the next generation of hardware.
Looking for incredible performance in a portable device?
If so, you probably already know that the Switch won’t satisfy your thirst for high-resolution graphics (not that the Steam Deck OLED and its competitors are ideal in that category). I won’t defend the Switch too much; its graphical capabilities felt dated when the console launched in 2017.
Still, the brand’s best games have excellent graphics that make up for their lack of power, and the Switch lets you get the most visual splendor out of stylized games like Splatoon 3, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Realmand many others are $349.99 OLED Switch. It has most of the same components as the other models, but with a larger OLED screen. The OLED itself has the same 720p resolution as the LCD screen in both models. $299.99 Switch AND $199.99 Switch Litebut everything looks better – from contrast to brightness and image quality.
$349
The Nintendo Switch OLED is an improved version of the handheld console, featuring improved sound, a 7-inch OLED display and an improved stand.
Are you concerned about Nintendo backward compatibility?
It’s unclear whether the Switch’s successor will work with all existing Switch games, as Nintendo hasn’t shared a single word about the rumored console. Of course, we hope full compatibility with Switch games will continue, in part due to the console’s massive success. It just makes sense that Nintendo would build on the Switch’s incredible existing library to add value to the recent console, as well as to recent players who want a seemingly endless amount of games to play.
As for access to older titles, it’s possible Nintendo will continue to offer a subscription that offers SNES, Game Boy, and other titles for a monthly fee. In the case of more notable remasters released on Switch, such as Mario vs Donkey Kong AND Metroid Prime RemasteredHopefully they’ll still be available in the eShop on Switch 2.
As for Switch accessories, I imagine that many of them (aside from those that fit the current physical dimensions of the Switch) should work with the newer model as well. Things that connect to the console via USB-C or to its dock via USB-A will, I imagine, work without issue with the future device.
There are some extreme cases where it might be worth holding off on buying a Switch. For example, if you’ve been waiting years for a Switch 2 so you can experience the Switch’s biggest hits with higher-fidelity graphics, you might as well wait.
Then there’s the group that’s fed up with buying recent Joy-Con controllers, some of which are prone to “Joy-Con drift,” a broken state where the analog sticks will drift in a specific direction without any signal. I understand your frustration, and I, too, hope that won’t be an issue in the future if Nintendo decides to iterate the Joy-Con instead of completely replacing it. But what if the company surprises us all with an early 2024 release?
If you’ve reached the end of this article thinking you should just buy a regular Switch, Switch Lite, or Switch OLED, which are all available now, I fully support that decision. Even though it may technically be dated by the time Nintendo debuts the next Switch, it’s still capable of playing memorable games that you won’t get on any other console.
