The subpar display of the Switch 2 has substantially reduced its worth, making a handheld gaming PC a more viable choice.
Ready to dive into the gaming world? Let's talk Nintendo! The Nintendo Switch series, with the latest addition being the Switch 2, is a fantastic choice for a wide range of gamers—especially for families. From classics like Mario games to blockbusters such as Super Smash Bros Ultimate and now, Mario Kart World, Nintendo consoles, especially the Switch 2, have a lot to offer.
But here's the thing—I don't think the Switch 2 justifies its price tag, considering other top-tier handheld gaming PCs on the market. I've mentioned this before, bringing up the significant differences in performance between the Switch 2 and popular handhelds like the MSI Claw 8 AI+ or Asus ROG Ally. However, I'm not here to start a price war.
Now, one of the downsides of Switch 2 is its LCD display, which is notoriously known as one of the worst available in the market. Its response time (33ms at a 60Hz refresh rate) isn’t on par with what you'd expect in a high-end device, resulting in plenty of ghosting and smearing, especially in fast-paced games. And it gets worse: multiple tests online suggest that the Switch 2 doesn't properly utilize HDR, lagging behind in reaching the minimum entry-level HDR brightness.
To give you some context, I’ve tried numerous high-quality gaming monitors over the years, and that response time isn’t exactly what you'd hoped for in a gaming device. While some may not notice it during gameplay or even care about it, it's quite noticeable, objectively speaking.
It's Never Too Late to Upgrade
Although I've been keeping my eyes peeled for an upgrade from my Asus ROG Ally, ideally, I'd love an 8-inch handheld, the Ally's display is truly impressive. With a response time of 7ms and a 120Hz refresh rate, it significantly outperforms the Switch 2's display. The initial price—$649.99 on Best Buy—might seem steep, but it often goes on sale, bringing the cost down significantly, especially for those living in the UK, where it’s currently on sale at £449.99 on Amazon.
Sure, you'll miss out on Nintendo titles, but the broader library of games available across multiple launchers more than makes up for it. And if you manage to legally dump your purchased Switch games, you can play them through emulators (even though Nintendo discourages it).
Step it up a notch, and you could consider the Lenovo Legion Go, featuring similar detachable controllers like the Joy-Cons. Both it and the ROG Ally use the same AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, delivering better gaming performance than the Switch 2. I could go on and on about its benefits, but the main advantage is that you're not going to face online accessibility restrictions—a benefit you won't get with a Switch 2.
Extra Reads
- Nintendo is making me question whether you actually own your Switch 2
- The Nintendo Switch 2 may not be Nvidia's only handheld—rumors say it's developing a new mobile gaming chip, and I'm excited for portable DLSS
- Don't expect good Prime Day Switch 2 deals—here are the 3 handheld gaming PCs I recommend instead, and the deals to look for
While the Nintendo Switch 2 may have popular gaming titles and offer a unique experience, it lags behind in terms of technological advancements compared to other top-tier handheld gaming PCs like the MSI Claw 8 AI+, Asus ROG Ally, and Lenovo Legion Go. With improved response times, higher refresh rates, better gaming performance, and other benefits, it might be worth considering an upgrade to these high-end gadgets, even though they may seem pricey initially.
