13 Months Later, Nintendo Switch 2 Looks Better—But Still Has Major Tradeoffs

Thirteen months on the market have given Nintendo’s hybrid successor enough runway to be judged on more than launch-week excitement. After living with the system for that long, this re-evaluation paints a picture of a more solid handheld experience—paired with notable compromises in display, online social features, and some ambitious hardware experiments.

Hardware check-in: sturdier build, weaker screen

The most immediate improvement is the overall feel. Nintendo’s latest hybrid console is described as elegant and more mature in appearance than the original Switch, shedding the more playful, colorful styling. The build quality is singled out as excellent, with tighter part fit and less wobble than the Switch 1—something the writer contrasts directly as the earlier model feeling more fragile over time.

Joy-Con 2 are a highlight: they attach magnetically and smoothly, with no meaningful looseness reported even after 13 months of use. In other words, where a Switch 1 would likely start showing wear in some areas by this point, the Switch 2 is framed as “solid and resistant” as its best long-term trait.

However, the display is the main step back. The OLED model from Switch 1 is called out as visually special, while the Switch 2’s LCD screen is said to “not be at the same height.” The criticism ties that downgrade to cost-cutting intended to keep the console’s price more reasonable.

Battery life is also evaluated pragmatically. It’s not labeled excellent, but it performs well with less demanding games, with the claim that it can reach five hours or more on a single charge. The console’s size and weight are acknowledged as reasons a larger battery may not be practical, and Joy-Con battery performance is described as holding up too—though the writer still dislikes using the Joy-Cons separately, even with larger SL and SR buttons.

Docking remains reliable, with one note that the port layout could be more centralized to make cable management easier. Beyond that, the docking design is credited for offering the kind of versatility Switch docks previously lacked.

Features and software: unique ideas, uneven execution

Despite liking multiple additions, the article’s biggest functional complaint is Nintendo’s social layer. GameChat and related social systems are described as falling “desastrously” behind the competition, with the delivery called unintuitive and frustrating enough that the writer often avoids online communication on Switch 2. The piece also argues that Nintendo has struggled with social systems for years, making the gap feel especially puzzling.

A separate example is the Joy-Con “Mouse Mode.” The concept is called unique and interesting, but the writer says it’s not very effective in practice because it requires a flat, smooth surface—and many games don’t offer compelling, well-supported ways to use it.

Not everything lands poorly, though. GameShare is praised as an excellent bridge between Switch 1 and Switch 2, enabling easier sharing of a digital library with friends or family. The article also gives Game-Key cards a fair nod, framing them as a compromise for people who still want some physical presence while acknowledging that modern games are increasingly large and expensive to store on physical media.

What’s been missing in the software lineup

In software terms, the last 13 months are portrayed as not disastrous, but also not as spectacular as the Switch’s incredible early period. A list of titles is cited as part of Switch 2’s first year—spanning new releases and high-profile franchises—yet the writer argues that the catalog still lacks a single “truly unique” system-defining game that commands all attention.

The article also criticizes how Nintendo sometimes tries to build excitement through ports and versions of games that have already been around for a while, suggesting that while some players may be eager to play new entries on Switch 2, adaptations don’t create the same level of console momentum as a marquee original.

What to watch next: social overhaul and a true system seller

After 13 months, the conclusion is that Switch 2 has proven itself successful enough that there’s no felt need to return to Switch 1—even despite its OLED screen. The writer also positions Nintendo as standing out in a market where other major console makers have recently had slower launch pacing, with Nintendo framed as a rarity and a reference point for how a big hardware company “should” operate.

Still, the piece ends with a clear wish-list priority: Nintendo needs to fix its social and communication systems, described in unusually blunt language as unacceptable. Beyond that, the next big question is whether Switch 2 can secure a genuinely iconic, attention-commanding release that future-proof the platform’s identity beyond its first-year mix of strong but not fully category-defining software.