Nintendo Switch 2 Tech Specs: Battery Life, 4K and Up to 120fps, Storage, and More

Nintendo recently unveiled a wealth of information about the Nintendo Switch 2 during its latest Direct, and the excitement continues to build as more details emerge, especially regarding the console's tech specs. While there are still some unanswered questions, let's dive into what we know about the new Switch 2.

Nintendo confirmed that the Switch 2 will boast a larger 7.9-inch wide color gamut LCD screen capable of outputting at a crisp 1080p (1920x1080) resolution. This is a significant upgrade from the original Switch's 6.2-inch screen, the Switch OLED's 7-inch display, and the Switch Lite's 5.5-inch screen. While we'll miss the vibrant OLED technology, this new screen promises a larger, more immersive viewing experience.

The console also supports HDR10 and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) up to 120 Hz, meaning games can reach up to 120fps if both the game and your setup support it, offering smoother gameplay.

When docked, the Switch 2 can play games at 4K (3840x2160) resolution at 60fps or at 1080p/1440p (1920x1080/2560x1440) at 120fps. These enhanced graphics are powered by a "custom processor made by NVIDIA," though specifics about the CPU/GPU remain undisclosed.

The Switch 2's battery life is supported by a Lithium-ion battery with 5220mAh, offering approximately 2 to 6.5 hours of playtime and a three-hour charge time in Sleep mode. These are rough estimates, and Nintendo notes that battery life will vary depending on the games you play. Compared to the launch model of the original Switch, which ranged from 2.5 to 6.5 hours, the Switch 2's battery life is similar. However, it falls short of the newer Switch models, including the standard Switch (4.5 to 9 hours), the OLED model (4.5 to 9 hours), and the Switch Lite (3 to 7 hours).

In terms of size, the Switch 2 measures approximately 4.5 inches tall, 10.7 inches wide, and 0.55 inches thick with the Joy-Con 2 attached. It weighs about 0.88 pounds without the Joy-Con 2 and 1.18 pounds with them. This makes it taller and longer than the current Switch models when the Joy-Con are attached, though its weight matches that of the original Switch.

Speaking of Joy-Con, there's no confirmation yet on whether they will use Hall Effect joysticks to address the drifting issues experienced by many Switch owners. Although a 2023 patent hinted at this possibility, we'll have to wait for more information.

On the audio side, the Switch 2 supports linear PCM output 5.1ch, and a surround sound effect can be enabled through headphones or the built-in speaker following a system update.

Storage has seen a significant upgrade with 256 GB of internal storage, a leap from the 32 GB in the original Switch and Switch Lite, and the 64 GB in the OLED model. However, the Switch 2 requires microSD Express cards for up to 2TB of additional storage, meaning current microSDXC cards won't be compatible.

Additional features include support for Wireless LAN (Wi-Fi 6), 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, be sure to check out our recap of the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, pricing information, a list of launch games, and pre-order start dates.