Unboxing the Nintendo Switch 2: First Impressions and Setup Experience

Happy Switch 2 release day, everyone! After months of speculation and slow-drip announcements, Nintendo’s next-generation console has finally landed. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a launch-day unit, and after unboxing and setting everything up, I wanted to share my first impressions - including some thoughts on the new hardware, the transfer process, and where things are headed.

Let’s start with the hardware itself. As someone upgrading from the OLED Switch, I was stunned by how much more screen real estate the Switch 2 offers. The display is noticeably larger, but the system still feels impressively lightweight and manageable. It strikes a fantastic balance between being immersive and portable, and the thin bezels give it a modern, sleek look.

The new Joy-Con design immediately caught my attention. Snapping them onto the console has a satisfyingly tactile “click” that feels more secure than ever. There’s a reassuring firmness to the connection, and the release mechanism is incredibly responsive. I tested switching between handheld and docked configurations several times, and the transition was seamless. I’m genuinely impressed by how sturdy the Joy-Cons feel while still allowing for easy detachment. Obviously I’ve barely had it for an hour now, but I’m hopeful that we’ll see less drama around the infamous “Joy-Con Drift” that plagued previous iterations of the Switch consoles.

Also included in the box is the new Switch 2 Joy-Con grip controller. It’s got a great in-hand feel - slightly textured and ergonomically refined. While I haven’t received my Switch 2 Pro Controller yet (arriving tomorrow!), this grip has been a solid stopgap and a marked improvement over the original’s bundled grip.

Setup was, thankfully, as smooth as I could have hoped for. The system transfer from my OLED Switch to the Switch 2 was a breeze. The interface walked me through it step by step, and within about 20 minutes, all my save data was on the new system. I did hit one small snag: my existing microSD card isn’t compatible with the Switch 2’s new Express SD format, which means I’ll need to buy a new card. It’s a bit annoying, especially for those with large digital libraries, but not a deal-breaker.

As for the software side - yes, the launch lineup is definitely on the lighter end. There’s no marquee first-party title that screams “next-gen” just yet. But what’s here runs beautifully, and I’m excited to dig into Mario Kart World, which came with the bundle I picked up. I’m really curious to see how the online matchmaking and performance bear out over the next few weeks and months. A number of titles have already gotten the Switch 2 upgrade treatment, so I’ll be keeping a close eye on how those fare visually and technically as well.

All in all, the Nintendo Switch 2 unboxing experience has been a joy. The build quality is excellent, the setup is streamlined, and the screen alone feels like a worthy upgrade - even if it still bafflingly lacks the OLED quality I would have loved to see with the release SKU. Sure, it’ll take a bit of time for the library to fill out, but with what’s on the horizon - Donkey Kong Bonanza, Metroid Prime 4, Kirby and The Forgotten Land and more - I’m confident the Switch 2’s future is looking bright.

I'll be back soon with thoughts on the Pro Controller and deeper dives into some of the upcoming enhanced titles. Until then, enjoy your new consoles…let the games begin!