Nintendo Switch 2 in action for the first time! Get Mario Kart World game for free with it

Nintendo consoles stubbornly hold their prices for a long time. However, if you’re looking for a Nintendo Switch 2 bundle with Mario Kart World, an interesting option has appeared on Mall.cz via Allegro. The price dropped from the usual 12,490 CZK to 10,990 CZK, which isn’t a dramatic discount, but for a console on the market for only a few months, it’s a nice saving of 1,500 crowns. Most importantly, it’s a verified seller, so you don’t have to deal with dubious imports or warranty issues.

What kind of device is the Nintendo Switch 2

Eight years after the release of the original Switch, the Nintendo Switch 2 arrives as an evolution, not a revolution. At first glance, you’ll recognize the same hybrid console. However, the basic parameters have changed: a 1080p display instead of 720p, up to 4K output when connected to a TV, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a significantly more powerful chipset.

The display grew from 6.2″ (on the original Switch) to 7.9″, and the Joy-Con controllers received magnetic attachment instead of mechanical rails. The new controllers also feature an optical sensor for mouse mode, which works surprisingly well – although only a handful of games currently utilize this feature. The weight increased only minimally to 535 grams with the controllers attached.

Performance finally competes with modern consoles

The Switch 2 features an Nvidia processor, which allows playing titles like Cyberpunk 2077 or Street Fighter 6 in reasonable quality. Graphically, it’s not on the level of PS5 or Xbox Series X, but the results are better than with the Steam Deck – primarily due to game optimization directly for the hardware.

Older games from Switch 1 come alive on the new hardware. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom runs at a smooth 60 fps without the stutters that plagued the original version. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, which were a technical disaster on Switch 1, now look tolerable. Mario Kart World then demonstrates what’s possible to get out of the new hardware – 24 players online, an open world between races, and a stable 60 fps in 1080p.

Backward compatibility is interesting. Most games from Switch 1 work without problems, and some received automatic enhancements – higher resolution, better framerate, faster loading. Nintendo also offers paid “Switch 2 Edition” upgrades for selected titles like Zelda or Splatoon 3.

The display looks great, even if it’s not OLED

Nintendo returned to LCD technology instead of OLED, which on paper looks like a step backward. In practice, however, the 1080p “Vivid LCD” panel with HDR10 support is very high quality. Yes, the contrast isn’t as sharp as with the Switch OLED, and blacks aren’t as deep, but the image is significantly sharper thanks to the higher resolution.

However, HDR has its flaws. In some games (Cyberpunk 2077, Breath of the Wild), the image with HDR enabled looks paler than with it off. This is likely due to poor calibration, which future updates should resolve. If HDR doesn’t make sense to you, turn it off in the settings.

Battery lasts 2-3 hours. That’s a problem.

Here comes the biggest disappointment of the Switch 2. When playing demanding games like Mario Kart World or Zelda, you can expect 2-3 hours of battery life on a single charge. This is significantly worse than the original Switch (4-9 hours) and Switch OLED (4.5-9 hours). Even the Steam Deck OLED lasts similarly long.

For less demanding games (Hollow Knight, retro titles), you can get a maximum of 4-5 hours. But even the menu itself can drain the battery surprisingly quickly. If you plan long train or plane journeys, count on a power bank. Charging also takes over two hours.

Nintendo apparently sacrificed battery life on the altar of performance. The Switch 2 is thinner than competing handhelds yet more powerful – something had to give. The question is whether the battery was the right sacrifice.

Who is the Switch 2 suitable for?

If you’ve never owned a Switch, the Switch 2 makes sense. You get modern hardware with access to a huge library of games and avoid the technical limitations of the old model. For families with children who want quality Nintendo games, it’s a clear choice.

However, if you already own a Switch 1 or OLED, consider whether to wait. Yes, performance is significantly better. Yes, older games look great. But worse battery life, a higher price, and a weak game lineup mean there’s no need to upgrade right away. Wait a year until there are more exclusives, maybe a revision with better battery life will appear, and prices will drop.

For travelers and commuters, poor battery life is a big problem. If you often spend long hours on a train or plane without access to electricity, the 2-3 hour battery life might disappoint you. The Switch OLED with 5-6 hours might be a better choice in this case.

The discount makes sense, but consider whether to rush

The drop from 12,490 to 10,990 CZK is not a dramatic discount, but for a console on the market for only a few months, it’s a nice saving of 1,500 crowns. Nintendo stubbornly holds its prices, so don’t expect bigger discounts in the coming months. If you’ve decided to buy, this is a solid moment.

The Switch 2 is a technically impressive upgrade. Performance, display, and build quality are several classes above the original Switch. The problem is that it comes with teething problems – terrible battery life, a weak game lineup, a high price, and HDR issues in some titles.

Do you have a Switch 2, or are you waiting for a better game lineup?