Buying a Nintendo Switch 2: Console or Bundle, Upgrading From a Switch, and What Else You Need

The console-only Switch 2 listing on Amazon is just that: the console with Joy-Con 2 controllers and the dock, with games sold separately. Amazon also lists bundles that include a game. A bundle only makes sense if it includes a game you'd buy anyway, so check which game it is and whether it's a physical card or a download code before choosing it over the console alone.

Check the seller too. On the console-only listing we checked, Amazon.com was the seller.

Only in looks. Nintendo's store lists the Nintendo Switch 2 – The Legend of Zelda – 40th Anniversary Edition as the same Switch 2 system with Zelda-inspired designs on the back of the console and on the dock, a black and gold dock with the Triforce symbol, and green and gold Joy-Con 2 controllers. Nintendo lists its release date as October 29, 2026.

The box holds the same items as the standard console: the system, both Joy-Con 2, the dock, the Joy-Con 2 grip, two straps, the AC adapter, a USB-C charging cable and an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. Nintendo notes that no game is included.

Choose it if the design matters to you, or as a gift for a Zelda fan. If you only care about the games, the standard Switch 2 plays exactly the same library.

Nintendo says the Switch 2 can play compatible physical and digital games released for the original Switch, but some may not be supported or fully compatible. If one particular game matters to you, check Nintendo's compatibility information for it before upgrading. User profiles and linked Nintendo Accounts can be transferred to the new console.

Not everything comes along. Nintendo says the original Switch dock is not compatible with Switch 2, and the original AC adapter can charge the new console but can't run TV mode.

Nintendo lists 256 GB of internal storage, with part of it reserved for the system. To add more, the slot accepts microSD Express cards only, up to 2 TB. Ordinary microSD cards, even fast ones, can't be used to store games. Our Switch 2 storage guide explains how to tell the two apart and how to size a card for your library.

Joy-Con 2 controllers come attached, so you can play straight away. A Pro Controller is worth considering if you play long sessions on a TV; Nintendo's own Switch 2 Pro Controller is reviewed on our site, and an original Pro Controller pairs wirelessly too.

In handheld mode, Nintendo estimates battery life at about 2 to 6.5 hours depending on the game, and about 3 hours to charge while the console is in sleep mode. If you travel with it, plan for a charger or a power bank that can supply enough power over USB-C.

• Worth buying: you want Nintendo's new Switch 2 games, a larger 1080p screen with HDR, or up to 4K output on a TV.
• Worth waiting: you mainly play original Switch games that already run well on your console, or a game you care about isn't listed as compatible yet.
• Budget for extras: a microSD Express card if you install many games, and a second controller if you play with someone else.
• What you have may be enough: if your original Switch still does what you want, your games and account will transfer whenever you decide to upgrade.