The tech boffins over at Digital Foundry have delivered their closing verdict on Swap 2, and it is principally optimistic—however the console’s LCD display has been discovered wanting.
In his evaluation, Digital Foundry boss and video games media veteran Richard Leadbetter says that, total, he is “completely happy” with Nintendo’s new hybrid system:
Regardless of being considerably bigger than Swap 1, the thinness of the hand held stays a lot the identical, making it really feel considerably much less cumbersome than Steam Deck and different PC handhelds. Equally, the larger display could make for a extra immersive expertise and color replica is considerably improved over the unique mannequin. What’s additionally stunning – and extremely appreciated – is the variety of video games that both run at native 1080p in handheld mode (like Mario Kart World, for instance) or use DLSS to upscale to 1080p, delivering pleasing outcomes.
Leadbetter likes the {hardware} basically, taking time to reward the brand new Pleasure Con controllers and even citing the “little ‘ft’ on the underside of the unit” as praise-worthy. “That is the unique Swap revised and refined right into a typically extra pleasing and simpler unit, delivering a correct generational improve with extremely spectacular effectivity.”
Nevertheless, the console’s LCD show—a degree of competition even earlier than the console was launched—proved “problematic in numerous methods” for the trade vet:
“Nintendo promised HDR, however an edge-lit LCD that hardly tops out at 420 nits won’t ever ship something like a good excessive dynamic vary expertise with the signature HDR distinction and highlights virtually fully absent in handheld play. Much more disappointing is movement high quality: the Swap 2 LCD has blurring traits which are simply worse than the 2017 Swap’s show. Facet by aspect with the Swap OLED panel, the important thing issues with Nintendo’s alternative for Swap 2 come into sharp focus – it’s merely nowhere close to pretty much as good.
There are clear issues with Swap 2’s VRR (variable refresh fee) performance too. Now, in principle, we consider that there’s no purpose why it shouldn’t work successfully. The Swap 2 Welcome Tour software program features a VRR showcase that demonstrates what we expect is a 40-120Hz VRR window, however crucially it additionally reveals assist for LFC – low frame-rate compensation – exterior of that window. A completely featured VRR on Swap 2 is feasible!”
One other minor grumble pertains to the size of the equipped USB-C cables, which Leadbetter feels merely aren’t lengthy sufficient.
Do you agree with Digital Foundry’s verdict on Swap 2? Tell us with a remark beneath.
Damien has been writing professionally about tech and video video games since 2007 and oversees all of Hookshot Media’s websites from an editorial perspective. He is additionally the editor of Time Extension, the community’s latest website, which – paradoxically – is all about gaming’s previous glories.
