Now that many gamers have successfully acquired their Nintendo Switch 2, it's time to dive into the gaming experience. The highly anticipated Switch 2 officially hit store shelves yesterday and began shipping to those fortunate enough to secure their pre-orders. Notably, customers who pre-ordered through Walmart seemed to enjoy a unique advantage, receiving their consoles early in the morning along with delightful bonus snacks and drinks.
For those who missed the pre-order window in April, the launch day brought pleasant surprises, as many were able to purchase the Nintendo Switch 2 directly from physical retail stores. After a couple of days of hands-on experience, day two marks an exciting time for gamers, as we now have unrestricted access to the new $449 portable console equipped with the latest software.
This article features a detailed liveblog that captures a collection of our thoughts in reverse chronological order. However, here’s a quick summary of where things stand as we wrap up our second day with the Switch 2.
For gamers eager to purchase the Nintendo Switch 2 on launch day, reports indicate that most retail store visits were successful, with stock appearing to be ample even for those who did not pre-order. Conversely, online shoppers are facing more difficulties securing their consoles. Members of our team who opted for pre-orders have encountered longer wait times for their devices to arrive. For instance, our colleague Aaron Souppouris received his pre-ordered controller, yet his Switch 2 is still in transit and has not yet arrived.
As for our initial review impressions, senior reviewer Sam Rutherford is diligently working on compiling our official review. In the meantime, he has been updating the liveblog with his evaluations. One notable observation is that the Switch 2 display can reach up to 450 nits of brightness when ambient light is enabled, and peaks at 400 nits without it. Although this brightness level is somewhat low for a device featuring HDR, the numbers may vary depending on the game being played.
Additionally, Sam noted that the console does not seem to run excessively hot, which can be attributed to the new dock's integrated fan. He also remarked that the dock feels sleeker and more substantial compared to its predecessor. However, he found it curious that the new dock includes only three USB ports, a reduction from the four ports available on the original Switch dock. Nevertheless, the new console compensates with an additional socket.
It is worth mentioning that the dock features a single USB-C port reserved exclusively for power. The remaining two ports are USB-A, which may require adapters for users wishing to connect USB-C accessories like the official Switch 2 camera. While it's possible to connect directly to the console, this may not be ideal for gamers who frequently dock and undock their systems.
If you prefer to catch up via video, check out our Engadget Podcast livestream on YouTube, where Sam Rutherford and Devindra Hardawar shared their impressions of the Nintendo Switch 2 and addressed questions from our live audience. We have already published extensive coverage on the Switch 2, and you can explore our earlier articles for all the relevant details:
Nintendo Switch 2: The Final Preview How to Buy the Nintendo Switch 2: Current Stock Availability The Best MicroSD Cards for Switch 2Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to explore the exciting features of the Nintendo Switch 2 in our liveblog, and join the conversation as we delve deeper into this remarkable gaming console.
