Nintendo Switch 2 price: here's how much the console costs
How much does the Nintendo Switch 2 cost? Nintendo has confirmed its price – here's what you need to know
💰 The Nintendo Switch 2 price is set at $449.99
😯 That’s the most expensive console Nintendo has ever released
📈 And it’s $150 more than the Nintendo Switch
🔎 Here’s what you need to know about the Switch 2’s pricing
We’ve eagerly waited for the Nintendo Switch 2 release date and price for a while, and now, we finally have both.
Following Nintendo’s Direct conference, the company sent out a press release and confirmed what the Nintendo Switch 2 price would be set at. Shockingly, it’s gonna cost more than we predicted based on leaks and our own data: $449.99.
Nintendo Switch 2 price analysis
The price wasn’t predicted by most online, but it did land somewhere in the middle.
The last Nintendo Switch 2 price leaks came from someone who supposedly works at the French retailer Micromania. Shared to Discord and then to X by user Switch2Stock, the Micromania employee believed the console would cost €399 (around $410) “unless Nintendo changes anything at the last minute”.
Earlier leaks had suggested that the Nintendo Switch 2 would be the Japanese company’s most expensive console to date at $399.99, which wouldn’t be too surprising considering how the price of electronics has risen in recent years. Both Sony and Microsoft increased the price of the PS5 and Xbox Series X after launch, and Nintendo would want to avoid a similar scenario.
Nintendo’s home consoles have also slowly increased in price since the Wii. The Wii was $249.99, the Wii U was $299.99 for the Basic Set, and the Nintendo Switch was $299.99.
At $449.99, however, it’s by far Nintendo’s most expensive console to date, which is slightly justified by all the upgrades in tow.
Nintendo Switch 2 price justification
For $50 shy of $500, you’re getting a souped-up Switch. The console comes with a bigger, more vibrant 7.9-inch 1080p LCD display that supports gameplay at up to 120 frames per second. Nintendo also includes HDR content support and 4K output to a supported TV for even sharper gameplay.
The console itself isn’t much bigger than the original Switch and maintains the same thickness. Of course, the hardware itself has changed in that the Joy-Con controllers now latch onto the sides magnetically. There’s also a new C button that fires up GameChat, allowing you to connect with your friends and play games together while chatting in real time. The SL and SR buttons are also bigger, as well as the L and R sticks. You can also use the Joy-Con as mice on a tabletop, which unlocks a whole suite of new experiences to Switch 2.
Nintendo includes better audio quality with 3D-like sound when using headphones. There are two USB-C ports (one on the top, one on the bottom), faster internal storage, 256GB of base storage with microSD Express card expansion, and a built-in fan to keep things cool.
In addition, Switch 2 supports the same physical game cards as the original Switch, while Switch 2 cards will offer faster performance and come in a slick new red finish. A limited edition bundle that includes Mario Kart World will also be available for $499.99.
What about Nintendo Switch 2 OLED?
The lack of an OLED screen on the Switch 2 seems to indicate that Nintendo could also release a Switch 2 OLED model in the future, or perhaps a Switch 2 Lite for cheaper. Both of these consoles remain complete mysteries, and it’s unlikely Nintendo will drop either of them in the near future given that the Switch 2 still needs to ship.
Adam Vjestica is The Shortcut’s Senior Editor. Formerly TechRadar’s Gaming Hardware Editor, Adam has also worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor, where he helped launch the Nintendo Switch. Follow him on X @ItsMrProducts.
Max Buondonno is Editor at The Shortcut. He’s been reporting on the latest consumer technology since 2015, with his work featured on CNN Underscored, ZDNET, How-To Geek, XDA, TheStreet, and more. Follow him on X @LegendaryScoop and Instagram @LegendaryScoop.
