Nintendo gave their community a short teaser of the Nintendo Switch 2. The video revealed the console’s tech demo will air on Apr. 2nd, 2025. Since May 2024, news sources have been gathering leaks of its whereabouts. The only confirmation at the time was the Switch 2’s planned month. With the new teaser, Nintendo’s animation showed the physical upgrades. Let’s go over the differences in its original console.
The Joy-con Redesign
Reattachment Grip
On the original Nintendo Switch, the joy-cons were built to slide on the side of the portable screen. You press a button near the trigger and bumper buttons and pull them up to detach them. To re-attach, you carefully insert them into the screen’s grip docks. The Switch 2’s teaser demonstrated its joy-cons can now be separated from the portable screen by pulling from the side. Their detach button is still present to prevent console damage. The grip docks have an insertion plate in the middle to secure the joy-cons.
Button, Bumpers, and Joystick
The joy-con’s side buttons for the Nintendo Switch are slightly uneven due to its sliding grip. Compared to the Switch 2’s redesign, they are laid out more evenly. The buttons have a more comfortable press, swapping their flatness for a 3d oval prism. The joystick has an added groove plate around the bottom. This offers a player’s thumb ease of use for game movement and thumbstick pressing. The previous joy-con joystick had an open-indented base but gave less movement stability, forcing players to add pressure.
On both Switch 2 joy-cons, there is an added bottom side button. Its function is currently unknown as the wireless connect button is still present. The most logical answer we could think of is for resetting joy-con drift. The right joy-con has an added square button below the HOME button. Judging by the shape, it’s an added photo button for Player 2. The bumpers and ABYX buttons remain the same.
Portable Screen & Charge Dock
Screen Display Size
The Nintendo Switch’s transformation into the Switch 2 immediately shows a 10% size increase. The original screen’s proportions are 4 inches tall by 7.16in. wide without the joy-cons. Using these dimensions, we can assume that the new screen is 4.4 inches tall and 7.9 inches wide. Compared to the Switch OLED model, it beats the Switch 2’s width by 1% (7.986in. wide).
Evenly Supported Kickstand
The single right-hand kickstand from the back of the screen is now replaced with an even curved stand. Switch owners rarely used the stand due to its tabletop stability. The Switch 2’s version promises its screen can be held securely. The console’s teaser showed the screen now has a balanced curved stand with a flat edge. Viewers were surprised that Nintendo added hinges to allow it to bend at a 150-degree angle.
The Rounded Corner Dock Station
Another welcoming change to the Switch 2 is its new charge station design. The top corners have swapped their sharp corners with rounded ones. It appears confusing at first sight but they actually serve a purpose. Switch owners can now easily remove their joy-cons from the dock. The sharp corners gave difficulty when pressing the detach buttons with awkward hand positioning. With its new pull-detach functionality, these corners allow natural positioning to obtain the joy-cons.
Backward Compatibility is Confirmed
At the end of the teaser, Nintendo confirms that the Switch 2 has backward compatibility. Taking inspiration from the Nintendo 3DS, Switch game cartridges can be played on the system. This decision made Switch owners happy for they do not need to repurchase their physical game library through digital downloads. However, Nintendo posted a disclaimer that not all games could be supported on the new console. They planned to share more information on their website in the future.
The Switch 2 Could Have Accessibility in Mind
From the teaser alone, the Switch 2’s functionality shows its capability to market towards player accessibility. Since 2020, the Nintendo Switch has been tested for its accessibility assistance for handicapped gamers. Ring Fit Adventure is the only official Nintendo Switch title that offers an assist mode for gamers with physical limitations.
There’s an extra hole across the joy-con dock insert on the Switch 2’s joy-cons. It’s possible it could act as a microphone for Switch 2 owners who have hand disabilities. There’s also the new flexible 150-degree kickstand to keep in mind. It provides Switch 2 owners with better touchscreen accessibility including those with elbow arthritis. The original Switch single kickstand provided little stability while standing at an 80-degree angle. For now, we will hold further comments until Nintendo confirms on April 2nd.
