Nintendo Change 2 vs Change 1: What’s new, what’s not?

Curious how the Change 2 compares to the Change 1? Tens of hundreds of thousands of avid gamers are asking the identical query.

Nintendo opened the floodgates for Change 2 preorders on Thursday. Whether or not or not you managed to get one earlier than each retailer web site crashed, you are most likely questioning what makes it so totally different from the unique Nintendo Change console.

After the Nintendo Direct Change 2 livestream ended a few weeks in the past, I received to spend a number of hours enjoying with the Change 2 and upcoming video games like Mario Kart World and Metroid Prime 4. After practically 5 hours of hands-on time, I got here away very impressed with the Change 2, but in addition involved about a few key elements. Let’s dig in.

On the floor, Change 2 looks like a reasonably iterative improve. Fortuitously, that is probably not the case.

Nonetheless attempting to get your fingers on the Change 2? Take a look at our up to date preorder information, get able to preorder through Nintendo, and research up on the way to monitor Change 2 restocks.

It is a way more premium-feeling machine

It seems far more skilled than the Change 1.
Credit score: Alex Perry/Mashable

First, I wish to concentrate on the {hardware} and its new options fairly than the software program.

The primary Change was a godsend when it comes to industrial design in comparison with the Wii U. Nonetheless, over time, issues just like the Steam Deck began to make it really feel somewhat bit like a toy. Personally, the Pleasure-Cons had been at all times too small for me to make use of comfortably, rendering it a TV-and-Professional-Controller-only machine in my family. Admittedly, it proved to be a unbelievable machine for youngsters, however I’m not a baby, at the very least not bodily.

From the primary second I received to carry a Change 2 unit, I immediately favored the best way it felt in my fingers. The 7.9-inch 1080p show (which helps HDR and 120Hz refresh charge) is considerably nicer than the 6.2-inch 720p show on the predecessor console. Along with a much bigger display, the Pleasure-Cons even have some added muscle. I nonetheless would fairly use the brand new Professional Controller (which feels nice, however is functionally similar to the final one), however I performed a number of video games utilizing Pleasure-Cons and did not have any comfort-related issues for as soon as.

Nintendo crucially maintained the identical degree of thinness from Change 1 to Change 2, so it is in that candy spot of “simply heavy sufficient to really feel premium and simply gentle sufficient to really feel comfy.” I would additionally prefer to shout out the magnetic Pleasure-Con attachment mechanism, which immediately shut down any skepticism I’ll have had about its reliability the second I attempted it. It well requires you to drag somewhat launch set off on the again to detach Pleasure-Cons from the unit, so it appears practically inconceivable to do unintentionally. Miraculously, although, inserting the Pleasure-Cons magnetically works like magic. Nintendo completely nailed this facet of the machine.

Change 2 has extra horsepower, and it reveals

The brand new Professional Controller feels nice.
Credit score: Alex Perry/Mashable

It is no shock that Change 2 is extra highly effective than its predecessor, as that console was underpowered when it launched eight years in the past. Nintendo did not present us with detailed tech specs on the occasion, so exact comparisons to different {hardware} should wait. Nonetheless, I can affirm that Change 2 is noticeably extra highly effective than the unique Change.

Doing a cross-country race throughout Mario Kart World‘s beautiful open world with out even a touch of loading between tracks is superior. Seeing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom run at a buttery clean 60 frames per second may be very convincing in particular person. The Change 2 can run Road Fighter 6 and Cyberpunk 2077 at ranges that appeared at the very least acceptable from the transient glimpses I noticed of them on the present. It is positively not a handheld PS5, however Nintendo forcing what’s functionally a pill to run (some) video games at 4K decision or 120 frames per second (Metroid Prime 4 seems unbelievable that means) is an actual sight to behold.

You should use a Pleasure-Con as a mouse

The brand new Pleasure-Cons are very good.
Credit score: Alex Perry/Mashable

Nintendo confirmed in the course of the Direct one thing that all of us principally knew already: The Pleasure-Cons have a mode the place they double as laptop mice. I do not know if you happen to can actually use one on a PC (not till somebody hacks that collectively about 5 minutes after launch, anyway) however the major expertise I had with them was very PC-like. My essential publicity to the Pleasure-Con mouse help was in a quick demo of Metroid Prime 4, the place it…principally performed like a PC first-person shooter.

The mouse controls are very responsive and really feel proper. I do suppose the Pleasure-Cons are somewhat bizarre to carry with one facet dealing with down on a flat floor, as that positively brought on some unintentional button presses at inopportune moments. I am additionally not offered on this turning into a daily characteristic in video games after the launch window, and even one thing I personally wish to do, primarily as a result of I do not often hold a flat floor inside arm’s attain whereas I play video games. However I can affirm that it really works exactly as supposed, and as an added bonus, you possibly can simply elevate up the Pleasure-Con and resume enjoying Prime 4 with dual-analog stick controls seamlessly with out even pausing the sport.

Nintendo goes all in on social options

The fabled “C” button.
Credit score: Alex Perry/Mashable

The one main factor I did not get to attempt in any respect because of the nature of the occasion itself was GameChat, a brand new voice chat characteristic activated by the brand new “C” button on the best Pleasure-Con. Allegedly, you possibly can host Discord-like chats for small teams of pals, full with very choppy-looking recreation streaming and even webcam help through a individually offered accent. Nintendo is absolutely going all-in on this with Mario Kart World, as seen in a more moderen Direct devoted to that recreation.

You’ll be able to even pre-order a Piranha Plant webcam on your Change 2.

To be trustworthy, it was fairly foolish seeing Nintendo spend like 10 minutes on the idea of voice chat within the Direct, one thing different consoles have had for actually 20 years. However late is healthier than by no means. The one half I am probably not offered on is that Nintendo actually appears to need you to make use of an open mic on the console itself as a substitute of a headset. The corporate alleges that it may cancel out undesirable background noise, however I did not get to check that. We’ll see. On the very least, Nintendo is acknowledging that individuals like enjoying video video games with their pals on-line, one thing the corporate has not at all times executed nicely, or in any respect.

The battery life is seemingly worse vs Change OLED

Right here is the beginning of the dangerous information when evaluating the Change 2 and Change 1.

Extra horsepower and a greater show additionally imply extra drain on battery, which was confirmed by Nintendo, through Kotaku. (Womp, womp.) It has an approximate battery life of two to six.5 hours, relying on what you are enjoying on it. Evaluate that to the Change OLED, which might vary from 4.5 to 9 hours, and it is not trying so scorching for the brand new console. Once more, that is one thing that was inconceivable to check on the occasion, so we’ll want to seek out out for positive when the console is definitely out. However do not count on superb battery life from Change 2.

It is a a lot bigger drain in your pockets

It nonetheless comes with a dock, in fact.
Credit score: Alex Perry/Mashable

That is the worst information about Change 2: It prices $450 to begin. There’s additionally a $500 mannequin bundled with Mario Kart World, which truly seems just like the extra engaging deal as a result of Nintendo has gone wild with recreation costs this time round. Mario Kart World is a stunning $80 by itself and Donkey Kong: Bananza is $70. There’s additionally somewhat minigame assortment meant to be a tech demo for the console that’s, for causes I can not fathom, a paid obtain. Mix all of that with the truth that upgraded “Nintendo Change 2 Version” variations of outdated video games will include a price ticket for the improve, and it appears like Nintendo is nickel-and-diming us somewhat bit.

I am going to grant the corporate somewhat little bit of grace due to the Trump administration’s chaotic tariff coverage, however prospects who really feel the load of a $500 console buy justifiably will not give Nintendo the identical advantage of the doubt. No matter all of the upgrades Change 2 brings, it is $150 dearer than Change 1 was at launch. It isn’t ideally suited.

UPDATE: Apr. 24, 2025, 3:29 p.m. EDT This story has been up to date with extra pictures of the Change 2 and its equipment, in addition to new particulars in regards to the console’s social options and preorder launch in the USA.