Nintendo enters the 4K era with a straightforward Switch successor
The display is a huge 7.9-inch LCD touchscreen that's fantastic to play on. It's an upgrade in every way from the original Switch, yet it's similarly great-but-not-industry-leading given its competitors. The Switch 2 screen is very sharp in Full HD and supports HDR, meaning more detail in both the bright and dark areas of an image. But you're not getting the brightness or contrast you might see on a high-end iPhone or expensive TV. It does, however, support a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz, making for games that are smoother, clearer and feel more immediate.
Loading
When placed in its dock, the Switch 2 can display in up to 4K HDR. If your TV supports 120Hz the Switch 2 will pass that through as well, though not at full 4K. Again, this is not something you need to worry about; the console will change resolutions and refresh rates as appropriate for the game without you having to dive into system settings. The upshot is that the new console is far better equipped to take full advantage of a modern TV than its predecessor, games look a lot better in handheld mode, and there's now closer parity between Nintendo's console and other 4K-capable devices, meaning newer games can run.
This does all come with a toll on the battery, however, which is less robust than on the Switch models made from 2019 on, and roughly the same as the launch model Switch.
I stress-tested by playing Mario Kart World online with the brightness right up, and I squeaked past two hours, but not by much. Playing a lot more conservatively, I think six hours is probably the maximum you could hope for.
Games and performance
Of course, to go with its new looks, the Switch 2 has a much more modern and powerful chip inside to bring it up to the level of other current gaming hardware. The likes of Cyberpunk 2077 and Street Fighter 6 don't look as sharp on a docked Switch 2 as they do on a PlayStation 5, but the fact that they run very well – and can be taken on the go – is wildly impressive.
Mario Kart World, Nintendo's flagship launch title for Switch 2, is an astonishing looking game that sets a brilliant tone for what we'll see in the future. It's meticulously detailed, filled with wonderful lighting effects, makes excellent use of HDR, runs impeccably and puts the original Switch to shame with its snappy loading and huge levels of on-screen action and effects.
If you have an existing library of Switch games, you'll also find that they're generally much better to play on Switch 2, though the specifics vary by game. At a bare minimum, if the developer has done nothing to update the game for Switch 2, the increased grunt lets it hit its resolution and frame rate targets more consistently. I tried the Switch version of The Witcher 3, which on Switch 2 is still not exactly pretty, but it's sharper and running at a consistent 30 frames per second; a big improvement.
Other games have had minor but intentional tweaks. Super Mario Odyssey is now in higher resolution with HDR support and it looks amazing. Both The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening and Pokemon Scarlet & Violet get a new lease on life here, where they were very clearly bumping up against a performance ceiling on the original Switch.
And then there are games that came out for Switch and are coming out again for Switch 2. In most cases these have a Switch 2 Edition, meaning if you already own it you can upgrade for a $20 or $30 fee. The Switch's incredible launch title The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the standout here, and emblematic of how big a jump in horsepower this console is. When docked, it's running at 4K at 60 frames per second, or four times the resolution and double the frame rate.
Civi lization VII fans will want to upgrade for the mouse controls alone. It feels a bit awkward leaning over to a coffee table to drag the controller around, but if you're at a desk it feels just like using a peculiarly shaped computer mouse, with a stick on the left side.
Retro fans will be glad to see that the Switch Online library of old-school games are still supported, and in some cases have been improved with better emulation and screen filters. But Switch 2 also introduces GameCube games to the mix, running at much higher resolutions than they originally did in the 2000s, and looking extremely sharp.
A smartly evolved platform
Nintendo does not have a great track record when it comes to helping players transition to a new console generation, but after eight years refining the Switch's platform and operating system, it's surprisingly seamless this time. Bringing over all the profiles, save data and settings from a Switch to a Switch 2 is a breeze, and updated games are integrated with existing data and systems in a logical way.
The operating system will be immediately familiar to Switch users, but it's all been lightly refined and given a fresh visual sheen. Even the Switch 2's online store is smooth and quick, which I think is a first for Nintendo systems overall. Screenshots can now be backed up automatically to the cloud, and found in the Switch smartphone app.
One thing I especially like is how easy it is to manage multiple profiles. My kids aren't getting their own Switch 2 any time soon, but they can play mine using the same profiles they use on their own Switch Lite consoles, and everything syncs properly. Nintendo's also introduced a feature called GameShare in certain Switch 2 games. It streams your screen to other consoles – any Switch consoles, even ones from 2017 – so your friends can play with you using their own screens and controls. Everyone sees the same image, so it's not like proper multiplayer, but it makes for great experiences together with only one copy of the game (and no TV) needed.
And that brings me to the other big platform innovation for Switch 2; GameChat. You hit the C button on the controller, choose which friends to invite, and they'll be notified through their console or smartphone app. When they join the online chat you can talk away (using the microphone built into the console, or a gaming headset), regardless of whether you're playing together or in totally different games. I found it did an impressive job isolating the voices of eight different people when I tried it over a night of Mario Kart, and its features are extensive. You can share live video of your screen, add your face if you have the sold-seperately Switch camera, start a GameShare session over the internet, or even turn on AI-powered live captions.
Loading
Switch's strong parental controls are more or less unchanged for Switch 2, but it's important to note that Nintendo has locked down GameChat, given the potential for young kids to end up talking to people they don't know. If there are any child profiles on the console, all users have to enter the parental controls PIN every time they enter a chat, and the parental controls app has settings for each individual user that let you whitelist the friends they're allowed to talk to, and decide whether they can share video.
Should I get a Switch 2?
Nintendo has put the system in a great position. All the brilliant games from the past eight years are still here, and the door is open for a lot more – plus new kinds of games and high-end titles that would never run on Switch – to arrive in the years to come.
But if you're considering getting the console now – either for yourself or someone else – the biggest question to ask is what the Switch 2 can do that the original Switch cannot. The number of games you can play on the new console but not the old is pretty small, and it will stay that way for a while. But when you add that to the other advantages of the Switch 2 – better performance, better controls, GameChat – it's an attractive upgrade for existing owners and an obvious choice for new buyers who want their system to stay relevant for years to come.
What's unknown at this point is how keen publishers will be to put their games on the platform, how they'll use its various features, and how vital the likes of GameShare and the Switch camera will become. It's hard to see the Switch 2 ending up as overwhelmingly successful as the original, but it has the potential to be just as beloved.
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Sydney Morning Herald
7 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Nintendo enters the 4K era with a straightforward Switch successor
The display is a huge 7.9-inch LCD touchscreen that's fantastic to play on. It's an upgrade in every way from the original Switch, yet it's similarly great-but-not-industry-leading given its competitors. The Switch 2 screen is very sharp in Full HD and supports HDR, meaning more detail in both the bright and dark areas of an image. But you're not getting the brightness or contrast you might see on a high-end iPhone or expensive TV. It does, however, support a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz, making for games that are smoother, clearer and feel more immediate. Loading When placed in its dock, the Switch 2 can display in up to 4K HDR. If your TV supports 120Hz the Switch 2 will pass that through as well, though not at full 4K. Again, this is not something you need to worry about; the console will change resolutions and refresh rates as appropriate for the game without you having to dive into system settings. The upshot is that the new console is far better equipped to take full advantage of a modern TV than its predecessor, games look a lot better in handheld mode, and there's now closer parity between Nintendo's console and other 4K-capable devices, meaning newer games can run. This does all come with a toll on the battery, however, which is less robust than on the Switch models made from 2019 on, and roughly the same as the launch model Switch. I stress-tested by playing Mario Kart World online with the brightness right up, and I squeaked past two hours, but not by much. Playing a lot more conservatively, I think six hours is probably the maximum you could hope for. Games and performance Of course, to go with its new looks, the Switch 2 has a much more modern and powerful chip inside to bring it up to the level of other current gaming hardware. The likes of Cyberpunk 2077 and Street Fighter 6 don't look as sharp on a docked Switch 2 as they do on a PlayStation 5, but the fact that they run very well – and can be taken on the go – is wildly impressive. Mario Kart World, Nintendo's flagship launch title for Switch 2, is an astonishing looking game that sets a brilliant tone for what we'll see in the future. It's meticulously detailed, filled with wonderful lighting effects, makes excellent use of HDR, runs impeccably and puts the original Switch to shame with its snappy loading and huge levels of on-screen action and effects. If you have an existing library of Switch games, you'll also find that they're generally much better to play on Switch 2, though the specifics vary by game. At a bare minimum, if the developer has done nothing to update the game for Switch 2, the increased grunt lets it hit its resolution and frame rate targets more consistently. I tried the Switch version of The Witcher 3, which on Switch 2 is still not exactly pretty, but it's sharper and running at a consistent 30 frames per second; a big improvement. Other games have had minor but intentional tweaks. Super Mario Odyssey is now in higher resolution with HDR support and it looks amazing. Both The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening and Pokemon Scarlet & Violet get a new lease on life here, where they were very clearly bumping up against a performance ceiling on the original Switch. And then there are games that came out for Switch and are coming out again for Switch 2. In most cases these have a Switch 2 Edition, meaning if you already own it you can upgrade for a $20 or $30 fee. The Switch's incredible launch title The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the standout here, and emblematic of how big a jump in horsepower this console is. When docked, it's running at 4K at 60 frames per second, or four times the resolution and double the frame rate. Civi lization VII fans will want to upgrade for the mouse controls alone. It feels a bit awkward leaning over to a coffee table to drag the controller around, but if you're at a desk it feels just like using a peculiarly shaped computer mouse, with a stick on the left side. Retro fans will be glad to see that the Switch Online library of old-school games are still supported, and in some cases have been improved with better emulation and screen filters. But Switch 2 also introduces GameCube games to the mix, running at much higher resolutions than they originally did in the 2000s, and looking extremely sharp. A smartly evolved platform Nintendo does not have a great track record when it comes to helping players transition to a new console generation, but after eight years refining the Switch's platform and operating system, it's surprisingly seamless this time. Bringing over all the profiles, save data and settings from a Switch to a Switch 2 is a breeze, and updated games are integrated with existing data and systems in a logical way. The operating system will be immediately familiar to Switch users, but it's all been lightly refined and given a fresh visual sheen. Even the Switch 2's online store is smooth and quick, which I think is a first for Nintendo systems overall. Screenshots can now be backed up automatically to the cloud, and found in the Switch smartphone app. One thing I especially like is how easy it is to manage multiple profiles. My kids aren't getting their own Switch 2 any time soon, but they can play mine using the same profiles they use on their own Switch Lite consoles, and everything syncs properly. Nintendo's also introduced a feature called GameShare in certain Switch 2 games. It streams your screen to other consoles – any Switch consoles, even ones from 2017 – so your friends can play with you using their own screens and controls. Everyone sees the same image, so it's not like proper multiplayer, but it makes for great experiences together with only one copy of the game (and no TV) needed. And that brings me to the other big platform innovation for Switch 2; GameChat. You hit the C button on the controller, choose which friends to invite, and they'll be notified through their console or smartphone app. When they join the online chat you can talk away (using the microphone built into the console, or a gaming headset), regardless of whether you're playing together or in totally different games. I found it did an impressive job isolating the voices of eight different people when I tried it over a night of Mario Kart, and its features are extensive. You can share live video of your screen, add your face if you have the sold-seperately Switch camera, start a GameShare session over the internet, or even turn on AI-powered live captions. Loading Switch's strong parental controls are more or less unchanged for Switch 2, but it's important to note that Nintendo has locked down GameChat, given the potential for young kids to end up talking to people they don't know. If there are any child profiles on the console, all users have to enter the parental controls PIN every time they enter a chat, and the parental controls app has settings for each individual user that let you whitelist the friends they're allowed to talk to, and decide whether they can share video. Should I get a Switch 2? Nintendo has put the system in a great position. All the brilliant games from the past eight years are still here, and the door is open for a lot more – plus new kinds of games and high-end titles that would never run on Switch – to arrive in the years to come. But if you're considering getting the console now – either for yourself or someone else – the biggest question to ask is what the Switch 2 can do that the original Switch cannot. The number of games you can play on the new console but not the old is pretty small, and it will stay that way for a while. But when you add that to the other advantages of the Switch 2 – better performance, better controls, GameChat – it's an attractive upgrade for existing owners and an obvious choice for new buyers who want their system to stay relevant for years to come. What's unknown at this point is how keen publishers will be to put their games on the platform, how they'll use its various features, and how vital the likes of GameShare and the Switch camera will become. It's hard to see the Switch 2 ending up as overwhelmingly successful as the original, but it has the potential to be just as beloved.
The Age
7 days ago
- The Age
Nintendo enters the 4K era with a straightforward Switch successor
The display is a huge 7.9-inch LCD touchscreen that's fantastic to play on. It's an upgrade in every way from the original Switch, yet it's similarly great-but-not-industry-leading given its competitors. The Switch 2 screen is very sharp in Full HD and supports HDR, meaning more detail in both the bright and dark areas of an image. But you're not getting the brightness or contrast you might see on a high-end iPhone or expensive TV. It does, however, support a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz, making for games that are smoother, clearer and feel more immediate. Loading When placed in its dock, the Switch 2 can display in up to 4K HDR. If your TV supports 120Hz the Switch 2 will pass that through as well, though not at full 4K. Again, this is not something you need to worry about; the console will change resolutions and refresh rates as appropriate for the game without you having to dive into system settings. The upshot is that the new console is far better equipped to take full advantage of a modern TV than its predecessor, games look a lot better in handheld mode, and there's now closer parity between Nintendo's console and other 4K-capable devices, meaning newer games can run. This does all come with a toll on the battery, however, which is less robust than on the Switch models made from 2019 on, and roughly the same as the launch model Switch. I stress-tested by playing Mario Kart World online with the brightness right up, and I squeaked past two hours, but not by much. Playing a lot more conservatively, I think six hours is probably the maximum you could hope for. Games and performance Of course, to go with its new looks, the Switch 2 has a much more modern and powerful chip inside to bring it up to the level of other current gaming hardware. The likes of Cyberpunk 2077 and Street Fighter 6 don't look as sharp on a docked Switch 2 as they do on a PlayStation 5, but the fact that they run very well – and can be taken on the go – is wildly impressive. Mario Kart World, Nintendo's flagship launch title for Switch 2, is an astonishing looking game that sets a brilliant tone for what we'll see in the future. It's meticulously detailed, filled with wonderful lighting effects, makes excellent use of HDR, runs impeccably and puts the original Switch to shame with its snappy loading and huge levels of on-screen action and effects. If you have an existing library of Switch games, you'll also find that they're generally much better to play on Switch 2, though the specifics vary by game. At a bare minimum, if the developer has done nothing to update the game for Switch 2, the increased grunt lets it hit its resolution and frame rate targets more consistently. I tried the Switch version of The Witcher 3, which on Switch 2 is still not exactly pretty, but it's sharper and running at a consistent 30 frames per second; a big improvement. Other games have had minor but intentional tweaks. Super Mario Odyssey is now in higher resolution with HDR support and it looks amazing. Both The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening and Pokemon Scarlet & Violet get a new lease on life here, where they were very clearly bumping up against a performance ceiling on the original Switch. And then there are games that came out for Switch and are coming out again for Switch 2. In most cases these have a Switch 2 Edition, meaning if you already own it you can upgrade for a $20 or $30 fee. The Switch's incredible launch title The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the standout here, and emblematic of how big a jump in horsepower this console is. When docked, it's running at 4K at 60 frames per second, or four times the resolution and double the frame rate. Civi lization VII fans will want to upgrade for the mouse controls alone. It feels a bit awkward leaning over to a coffee table to drag the controller around, but if you're at a desk it feels just like using a peculiarly shaped computer mouse, with a stick on the left side. Retro fans will be glad to see that the Switch Online library of old-school games are still supported, and in some cases have been improved with better emulation and screen filters. But Switch 2 also introduces GameCube games to the mix, running at much higher resolutions than they originally did in the 2000s, and looking extremely sharp. A smartly evolved platform Nintendo does not have a great track record when it comes to helping players transition to a new console generation, but after eight years refining the Switch's platform and operating system, it's surprisingly seamless this time. Bringing over all the profiles, save data and settings from a Switch to a Switch 2 is a breeze, and updated games are integrated with existing data and systems in a logical way. The operating system will be immediately familiar to Switch users, but it's all been lightly refined and given a fresh visual sheen. Even the Switch 2's online store is smooth and quick, which I think is a first for Nintendo systems overall. Screenshots can now be backed up automatically to the cloud, and found in the Switch smartphone app. One thing I especially like is how easy it is to manage multiple profiles. My kids aren't getting their own Switch 2 any time soon, but they can play mine using the same profiles they use on their own Switch Lite consoles, and everything syncs properly. Nintendo's also introduced a feature called GameShare in certain Switch 2 games. It streams your screen to other consoles – any Switch consoles, even ones from 2017 – so your friends can play with you using their own screens and controls. Everyone sees the same image, so it's not like proper multiplayer, but it makes for great experiences together with only one copy of the game (and no TV) needed. And that brings me to the other big platform innovation for Switch 2; GameChat. You hit the C button on the controller, choose which friends to invite, and they'll be notified through their console or smartphone app. When they join the online chat you can talk away (using the microphone built into the console, or a gaming headset), regardless of whether you're playing together or in totally different games. I found it did an impressive job isolating the voices of eight different people when I tried it over a night of Mario Kart, and its features are extensive. You can share live video of your screen, add your face if you have the sold-seperately Switch camera, start a GameShare session over the internet, or even turn on AI-powered live captions. Loading Switch's strong parental controls are more or less unchanged for Switch 2, but it's important to note that Nintendo has locked down GameChat, given the potential for young kids to end up talking to people they don't know. If there are any child profiles on the console, all users have to enter the parental controls PIN every time they enter a chat, and the parental controls app has settings for each individual user that let you whitelist the friends they're allowed to talk to, and decide whether they can share video. Should I get a Switch 2? Nintendo has put the system in a great position. All the brilliant games from the past eight years are still here, and the door is open for a lot more – plus new kinds of games and high-end titles that would never run on Switch – to arrive in the years to come. But if you're considering getting the console now – either for yourself or someone else – the biggest question to ask is what the Switch 2 can do that the original Switch cannot. The number of games you can play on the new console but not the old is pretty small, and it will stay that way for a while. But when you add that to the other advantages of the Switch 2 – better performance, better controls, GameChat – it's an attractive upgrade for existing owners and an obvious choice for new buyers who want their system to stay relevant for years to come. What's unknown at this point is how keen publishers will be to put their games on the platform, how they'll use its various features, and how vital the likes of GameShare and the Switch camera will become. It's hard to see the Switch 2 ending up as overwhelmingly successful as the original, but it has the potential to be just as beloved.
Sydney Morning Herald
12-06-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Inside the secretive labs where Apple's torturers put iPhones to the test
Most of us have, at some point, dropped a phone. Sometimes it hits at just the wrong angle, or on just the wrong surface, and shatters. Other times, it's miraculously unscathed, either because of sheer luck or because of the way it's been designed. In Sunnyvale, California, inside an unmarked and nondescript building, a team of engineers drops more devices each day than you hopefully will in your entire life. The building is home to Apple's durability labs – among many similar facilities around the world – where phones and other products are thrown, dunked, sprayed, submerged, humidified, salted, buffeted, shaken and dismantled. Not only to test their durability and qualify for certifications, but to guide design decisions from the earliest development stages to help the final devices survive the dangers of the outside world. When I visit, the staff are friendly and eager to discuss their meticulous and scientific brand of tech torture (though Apple has not allowed me to quote them). They also give the impression of lab workers who aren't used to visitors. Their work is largely out of the public eye, even more so than some of the work at the nearby main Apple campus in Cupertino. Something that becomes immediately apparent is that, while Apple wants to simulate real-world scenarios, it can't just have its workers drop an iPhone down the stairs or slip an iPad into a soapy bath. The incidents have to be consistent and replicable, so any damage can be understood and mitigated, meaning there's an awful lot of science involved. And robots. But the first area I find is largely robot-free. Here, devices are subjected to simulated worst-case environmental conditions. A massive walk-in cupboard has new iMacs operating in 90 per cent humidity, at 40 degrees. A month in there can simulate years of muggy real-world exposure. Elsewhere, iPhones are being soaked in a high-density salt mist, or withstanding a vortex of artificial sand, designed to simulate the particulate matter of the Arizona desert. A UV chamber simulates the long-term effect of the sun on devices. Sure, you could just put them outside, but the chamber can impart many years worth of rays in just 50 hours. When Apple introduces a punchy new colour or sparkly new finish for one of its devices, it's one that's put up with this kind of punishment and come through fine. Other potential finishes may not be so lucky. Loading It's not all about making sure the devices stay nice on the outside, though. They're tested thoroughly to ensure 100 per cent functionality after their ordeals, and autopsied to check for corrosion or dust ingress. The tests are developed against real-world data indicating the worst likely cases of what could happen to a consumer's device. Part of that comes from analysing damaged products that are sent in for repair or recycling, but a lot also comes from devices in the wild, with anonymised data including the amount of sunlight hitting the sensors and other analytics. When you set up an Apple product and it asks whether you want to send the company data to help improve its products, this is some of the stuff it's talking about.
