Nintendo Switch 2 design – the biggest changes and features revealed so far

The Nintendo Switch 2 design has officially been revealed. Yes, after years of speculation, we at last got to got to see what the Switch 2 actually looks like, but Nintendo has yet to give us an in-depth overview of all of the console's new features. That's likely set to come in the incoming Switch 2 Direct April 2025 showcase, which is set to bring us a closer look at the new-gen console and hopefully confirm some upcoming Switch 2 games.

We don't yet have hard metrics on all the ins and outs of the Switch 2, but there is quite a bit we can glean from what we've see of the console so far, from the appearance of an extra USB-C port, to a headphone jack, and more. There certainly seems to be some big design changes, both practical and aesthetic, that distinguish the new console from its predecessor – for more on that, be sure to check out our rundown of the Switch 2 vs the Nintendo Switch – and we've brought together all of the biggest changes and features we've spotted so far, and speculated on how this might shake things up from the original Switch.

Main console changes

Paint it, black

The bright blue and red of the original Switch's Joy-Cons – though still here – have been relegated to just the Joy-Cons' thumbsticks and interior-facing panel, the latter of which is barely visible in handheld mode. Beyond that, it's all black – and although we don't want to read too much into this, it does feel like Nintendo is positioning this as a more serious hardware competitor to PlayStation and Xbox. That was a reputation issue the original Switch never quite shook despite being a phenomenal console in its own right, so Nintendo is likely keen to squash this nice and early.

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If rumors of the Nintendo Switch 2 utilizing AI upscaling are true, the console will prove far more capable of running demanding games that have traditionally stuck to releasing on PC, Xbox Series X, and PS5. That in itself is a game-changer, and it would make sense for Nintendo to present that image with a more serious design from day one.

Bigger means better?

Though exact scaling is yet to be provided, if you pause the first-look trailer at 2:03, you can see the first Switch being held alongside the Switch 2. Presuming there are no scaling shenanigans at play here, the Switch 2 looks significantly larger than the first Switch – not only the screen, but the Joy-Cons look both broader and longer.

In fact, the bump in size – along with the darker aesthetic – makes the Switch 2 look closer in nature to Valve's own Steam Deck handheld. The larger screen will be nice for playing the best Switch games a glow-up, but it does raise the question of how heavier the Switch 2 is going to be given the internal hardware upgrades – though if the previously-mentioned AI upscaling is present, that could do a lot of heavy lifting for keeping the Switch 2 from getting too heavy.

Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Cons

No more Joy-Con sliding

As for more tangible design changes, Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Cons will now plug directly into the console's main body, as opposed to how they would have to slide onto the first Switch with a railing system.

Unlike the Switch 2's all-black makeover, the reasoning behind this change feels a little more obvious. Connecting and removing Joy-Cons from the current Switch has always felt flimsy and a little awkward, so this feels like a pretty straightforward tweak designed to make the Switch 2 feel sturdier than its predecessor.

Based on what we've seen from the first-look trailer, it also seems like the connection between Joy-Con and Switch 2 will be magnetic, which in theory should further minimize the potential for finicky hardware elements to break – if you still have the launch model Switch, you'll probably be familiar with how wobbly and loose connected Joy-Cons felt after a few years. If it is indeed magnetic, the slot that Joy-Cons will connect to should also help to keep them stable and less likely to break from accidental drops – not that any of us have ever dropped a Switch, of course.

Joy-Cons... as mice?

You heard right. If the emphasized gliding in the first-look trailer isn't just slick marketing, it looks like the Switch 2's Joy-Cons will be able to double as a mouse while the main console body is propped up by its stand.

This feels huge – not only would it offer more accurate inputs, but it could potentially open the door to the Switch 2 being used as a broader entertainment device in the same way that PlayStation and Xbox consoles double as hubs for streaming platforms and the like. Honestly, though? A mouse Joy-Con just sounds really fun to play with.

Nintendo Switch 2 dock

A redesigned dock

The original Switch dock looked a little flimsy – and, well, a bit chunky. The Switch 2 drops that edgier design for rounded corners, meaning it should look a little less out-of-place squashed in front of your TV.

From a more practical design, it's also good news for everyone who worries about scratching the screen on those previously sharp edges. This came up a lot during the first Switch's launch but never really materialized – but if those softer corners prevent this old worry rearing its head before it has a chance to start, it's an easy win for Nintendo.

Nintendo Switch 2 backwards compatibility

A lot of familiarity – especially for the cartridge slot

Right at the end of the first-look trailer, Nintendo shows that the Switch 2 will have backwards compatibility for physical Switch games – with the cartridge slot remaining in the same position for both consoles.

That positioning in itself isn't a huge deal one way or another, but it is interesting to see how Nintendo has kept much of the Switch 2's design looking like its predecessor. All of its buttons are largely in the same place, so anyone coming over from the Switch should be able to pick up and play the Switch 2 without pesky muscle memory getting in the way of things. After all – the Switch was one of the best-selling consoles in the US, so why change something if it isn't broken?

Nintendo Switch 2 new button

An extra button!

Look below the Switch 2's 'home' button on the right Joy-Con, and you'll see an unmarked square button. Interestingly, the newly launched app Nintendo Today gave us another look at the mystery button, which appears to be a C button. But what does it do?

We still haven't gotten to see it in action just yet, so this leaves only speculation for what it will do – could be a capture button? Something for the camera? Maybe a chat function? Your guess is as good as ours – and in all likelihood, we'll have to wait for the Switch 2's Nintendo Direct broadcast in April to see what it actually does.

As for what's going to be on the console, our roundup of upcoming Switch 2 games has you covered.

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