Nintendo Switch 2: Price, Release Date, Specs & Upgrade?

For the millions of us who bought the original Nintendo Switch in 2017, still carrying it everywhere, the question now is whether to keep holding on. The Switch 2 finally arrives in June 2025 with a much bigger screen, sharper picture, and a price tag that makes you pause.

Nintendo Switch 2 release date: June 5, 2025 ·
Nintendo Switch 2 price (US): $449.99 MSRP ·
Nintendo Switch 2 price (Ireland): €250 – €499.99 (Smyths Toys) ·
Nintendo Switch 2 storage: 256 GB ·
Nintendo Switch 2 screen: Full HD (1080p), 120 Hz, HDR ·
Nintendo Switch 1 release date: March 3, 2017

Key facts comparing Switch 2 and Switch 1 — two consoles, eight years apart, one pattern: the gap in storage, screen, and price has never been wider.

The numbers tell one story: every major component has been upgraded. The cost story is less flattering — the Switch 2’s $449.99 US price tag is 50% higher than the original Switch’s $299.99 launch price in 2017 (IGN verified hardware chart). The trade-off: you pay more, but you get 8× the storage, 3× the RAM, and a screen that is both larger and sharper.

What year will the Nintendo Switch 2 come out?

Nintendo Switch 2 release date

• The Nintendo Switch 2 launched globally on June 5, 2025 — confirmed by multiple hardware comparison charts (IGN verified source).
• TechRadar’s coverage aligns with a mid-2025 launch, describing it as a “next-gen successor” with a custom chipset and a 7.9-inch 1080p display (TechRadar tech media outlet).

Nintendo Switch 2 Ireland release date

• Irish outlet Focus Ireland reports that Smyths Toys Ireland and Currys Ireland are expected to stock the console from June 2025 onward (Focus Ireland local tech coverage).
• An official Ireland-specific launch date from Nintendo has not been confirmed, though the global June 5 date is likely to apply.

Why is the Switch 2 still so expensive?

Switch 2 price compared to Switch 1

• The Switch 2 launched at $449.99 MSRP in the US (IGN verified price chart).
• In Ireland, prices are reported in the range of €250 to €499.99 at Smyths Toys (Focus Ireland local pricing report).
• The original Switch launched at $299.99 in 2017 — meaning the Switch 2 costs about 50% more at US launch (IGN historical Switch pricing).
• Expert.ie lists a Switch bundle at €469.99 in Ireland, showing that current-gen hardware already approaches the Switch 2 price band (Expert.ie Irish retailer).

Component and R&D cost factors

• The Switch 2’s 256 GB internal storage is an eight-fold increase over the original’s 32 GB (Beebom comparison analysis).
• The 7.9-inch 1080p display with 120 Hz and HDR support is a significant upgrade over the original’s 720p screen (The Verge tech outlet).
• Magnetic Joy‑Cons and new GameChat voice chat features add to the hardware bill (TechRadar feature list).
• Global inflation and semiconductor supply chain pressures have raised component costs across consumer electronics (Focus Ireland).

Should I upgrade from Switch 1 to Switch 2?

Pros of upgrading to Switch 2

• 256 GB internal storage — double the Switch OLED’s 64 GB and eight times the original’s 32 GB (Beebom comparison)
• Full HD 120 Hz HDR handheld screen vs 720p on Switch 1 (The Verge technology news)
• GameChat voice chat is a new feature not available on Switch 1 (TechRadar).
• Backward compatible with physical and digital Switch 1 games (IGN).

Cons of upgrading to Switch 2

• Higher price — $449.99 vs the current Switch 1 price of around €109-€200 in Ireland (Nintendo-Ireland.com Irish retailer)
• Shorter battery life — estimated 2 to 6.5 hours in handheld mode, compared to 4.5-9 hours on the original (Beebom)
• Heavier and larger — about 534g with Joy‑Con 2 controllers, vs 398g for the original (Nintendo Life buying guide)

Switch 1 vs Switch 2: specs comparison

These are the same console family, but the numbers inside are almost none the same.

Is Switch 1 still worth it in 2026?

Switch 1 price drops after Switch 2 launch

• The original Switch remains available from Irish retailers like Smyths Toys and Currys (Focus Ireland)
• Nintendo-Ireland.com lists a Blue Red Switch console at a current price of €109.68, heavily discounted from its original RRP — showing significant price erosion after eight years (Nintendo-Ireland.com Irish retailer site).

Switch 1 game library in 2026

• Nintendo continues to support the Switch 1 with new games through 2026 (TechRadar).
• The Switch 1 already has a vast library of over 4,000 titles — Switch 2, at launch, starts smaller (Wikipedia list of games).

When did Switch 1 and Switch 2 come out?

Nintendo Switch 1 release date

• The original Nintendo Switch launched worldwide on March 3, 2017 (IGN verified timeline).

Nintendo Switch 2 release date

• The Nintendo Switch 2 launched on June 5, 2025 (IGN).

Time gap: Approximately 8 years between the two models — the longest gap between a major console and its direct successor in Nintendo’s history.

Is it better to buy physical or digital Switch games?

Advantages of physical Switch games

• Physical games can be resold and shared with friends (TechRadar).
• No need to worry about storage limits — the cartridge runs the game (IGN storage considerations).

Advantages of digital Switch games

• Convenience — no cartridge swapping, and games are always with you on the console (TechRadar).
• Sales — digital store fronts often have deeper discounts than physical retail (Beebom).

Switch 2 storage considerations for digital games

• The Switch 2 has 256 GB of internal storage, which is plenty for many games but may fill up with modern titles that can exceed 30GB each (Beebom).
• External microSD Express cards are supported for expansion up to 2TB (The Verge).

Is the Switch 3 coming out soon?

Nintendo Switch 3 rumors and speculation

• Nintendo has not announced any Switch 3 console — the Switch 2 launched only in June 2025 (IGN timeline).
• Industry speculation points to a minimum 4-5 year lifecycle for Switch 2, meaning a Switch 3, if it happens, would be unlikely before at least 2029 (TechRadar).

What we know and what we don’t

Confirmed facts

• Switch 2 issued June 5, 2025 (IGN)
• Price $449.99 US, €250-€499.99 Ireland (Focus Ireland)
• 256 GB storage, 12GB RAM, Full HD 1080p 120Hz screen (Beebom)
• Backward compatible with physical and digital Switch 1 games (IGN)
• Battery: 5220mAh (up from 4310mAh on original) (TechRadar)

What’s still unclear

• Official Ireland RRP — not confirmed by Nintendo or major retailers yet (Focus Ireland)
• Exact Irish launch bundles or retailer-exclusive offers
• Long-term Square-Enix and third-party exclusivity details (TechRadar)
• Future price drops for Switch 2 after initial demand

What notable voices say

With Joy-Cons attached, the original Switch weighs just under 300g, whereas video review measurements put Switch 2 at about 401g — more than 100g heavier.

— YouTube hardware comparison review

Switch 2’s weight at approximately 534g including Joy-Con 2 controllers, while the original Switch is listed at roughly 398g including Joy-Cons, confirming a notably heavier new model.

— Nintendo Life buying guide

Switch 2 offers up to 4K resolution in docked mode with HDR, while the original Switch is limited to 1080p output when docked.

— IGN hardware comparison chart

The Switch 2 is a real hardware generational leap. It is faster, sharper, and undeniably more expensive. For Irish buyers looking at prices around €250 to €499.99 at Smyths, the decision boils down to one thing: do you play mostly at home on a TV via 4K, or do you take your console everywhere on battery? For the first type of player, the Switch 2 is the obvious choice. For the second type, a discounted Switch 1 at €109.68 with its longer battery life and huge game library still makes genuine sense in 2026.

Frequently asked questions