IGN hands-on: Switch 2 7.9-inch LCD

IGN published a first hands-on preview of Nintendo Switch 2 on April 3, 2025, after a press event where its staff tested the hardware ahead of the console’s June 5, 2025 release. The preview focused on a 7.9-inch LCD display, revised Joy-Con 2 controllers and handheld performance, with IGN saying the screen looked stronger in person than some buyers may have expected from an LCD panel. Nintendo’s official specifications match the core hardware details, listing a 7.9-inch wide color gamut LCD at 1920x1080 resolution with HDR10 support and variable refresh up to 120 Hz. Nintendo also says the system includes 256 GB of internal storage and estimated battery life of about 2 to 6.5 hours. ### Why did IGN focus so much on the LCD screen? IGN’s preview said the Switch 2’s LCD was the part it expected to miss most compared with the older Switch OLED, but that the concern faded during hands-on use. The outlet wrote that it “walked out completely satisfied” with the LCD, adding that colors “pop and look vibrant” in handheld play. (me.ign.com) Nintendo has framed the panel as more than a basic size increase. The company’s specs page says the display is a “wide color gamut LCD screen” with HDR10 support and up to 120 Hz, which helps explain why early hands-on coverage emphasized color and motion rather than panel technology alone. ### How big is 7.9 inches compared with earlier Switch models? (me.ign.com) Nintendo says the Switch 2 screen measures 7.9 inches. IGN’s related reporting compared that with the original Switch’s 6.2-inch screen, the Switch OLED’s 7-inch display and the Switch Lite’s 5.5-inch panel. That makes the size jump one of the clearest hardware changes visible at a glance. (nintendo.com) Nintendo’s U.S. specs page lists the full system at about 4.5 inches tall and 10.7 inches wide with Joy-Con 2 attached, while the company’s store page describes the screen as a “vivid” 7.9-inch 1080p display. ### Did IGN say anything beyond the screen? IGN’s hands-on preview also pointed to stable handheld performance in the games it tested. (nintendo.com) The outlet said most of the games it played ran smoothly and at a consistent frame rate in handheld mode. Nintendo’s official hardware page adds the broader technical context: the system can output up to 4K in TV mode on compatible displays, and the handheld screen supports up to 120 frames per second in compatible games. (nintendo.com) IGN’s video preview separately said the hardware supports 4K and HDR when docked, or up to 120 fps in some games. ### What do the official specs say about battery life and controls? (me.ign.com) Nintendo says the Switch 2 uses a 5220mAh lithium-ion battery with estimated battery life of about 2 to 6.5 hours. The company says those figures are rough estimates, which means actual battery performance will depend on the game and usage conditions. The hardware also introduces magnetically attached Joy-Con 2 controllers and mouse controls, according to Nintendo’s store listing. (nintendo.com) IGN’s preview said it tested the build quality, screen and mouse mode during its session with the device. ### Where can readers check the underlying details for themselves? Nintendo’s official U.S. tech-specs page now carries the full hardware breakdown, including screen, storage, ports, wireless standards and battery estimates. (nintendo.com) IGN’s hands-on preview and video remain the clearest outlet-level early impressions of how those specs translated in use, especially on the LCD display. (ign.com) Nintendo lists the Switch 2 release date as June 5, 2025 on its store page, and that page also carries the system package contents and current retail listing for the console. (nintendo.com) (me.ign.com)