By Vic Hood
Skip to main content
GamesRadar+
GamesRadar+
GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
Search GamesRadar+
View Profile
Xbox Series X
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch 2
Tabletop Gaming
Toys & Collectibles
Retro Gamer
Newsletters
Total Film
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
Subscribe from just £3
Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
Try a single issue or save on a subscription
Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From£9.99View
Summer Game Fest
New games for 2025
Upcoming Switch 2 games
Switch 2 stock
Recommended reading
I’m hyped for the Switch 2, but I fully believe the Switch Lite has a bright future ahead of it
Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo Switch 2 review: “We’re in for an excellent generation”
Nintendo Switch 2
The Switch 2 wants to be a do-it-all console, but Nintendo needs more first-party magic to overcome the upcoming handheld’s biggest hurdle
Nintendo Switch 2 hands-on: Four hours with the console has me convinced this is the refresh Nintendo needs
Nintendo Switch 2 vs Nintendo Switch: How does the newest handheld compare in 2025
I wildly underestimated the Switch 2, and after just getting a Steam Deck, I’m almost regretting it
After 1 hour of trying the Switch 2’s motion controls, I’m convinced Nintendo is finally ready to give us more Wii remasters
Nintendo Switch 2
I can’t use the Switch 2’s handheld mode, so I’m hoping a Lite is on the horizon
2 July 2025
Opinion | But I don’t just want a lighter, smaller Switch 2
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Vic Hood)
The shooting pains start within a few minutes. Initially, it’s a burning sensation, but it gradually builds to shooting pain that radiates from the joint of my right thumb up my wrist. Despite the extra support from my deteriorating brace, it’s quickly clear that I won’t be playing Deltarune in bed, on my sofa, or anywhere in the Switch 2’s handheld mode. While the Pro Controller has allowed for hours of comfortable play in TV mode, the size, weight, and, most importantly, design of the Switch 2 in my hands is too much for my De Quervain’s tenosynovitis. I re-dock the console and give up – I’ll wait for the Switch 2 Lite.
I’m fortunate, though. My disorder and dexterity issues (a hazard of the perilous job of games journalism) are likely temporary. A steroid injection in the wrist, consistent brace wearing, and in a few months, things should be back to relative normality. But the last few months of dealing with this disorder have made me vehemently aware of how inaccessible the Switch 2’s handheld mode is for those with dexterity issues, and the importance of ergonomic design when it comes to our devices and accessories – I certainly don’t want to end up with the same wrist issues again. It also highlighted the need for a Switch 2 Lite that offers a lighter, smaller, and more ergonomically attuned handheld experience.
A weighty realization
(Image credit: Vic Hood)
On the fence?
(Image credit: Future/Phil Hayton)
Nintendo Switch 2 review: “We’re in for an excellent generation”
The Switch 2 is noticeably larger and heavier than its predecessor. It’s roughly half an inch taller, over an inch wider – due to its 7.9-inch screen – and nearly 150g heavier than the original 399g Switch, at roughly 534g with the Joy-Con 2s inserted (weighing slightly more than the average bag of sugar). While this extra weight doesn’t seem like much, if you held a bag of sugar for hours on end, you’d probably start to feel it, especially if you divided that sugar into two and held both bags up as if holding a handheld. And no, you shouldn’t be resting the console on your knees and looking down: your neck will thank you.
You may like
I’m hyped for the Switch 2, but I fully believe the Switch Lite has a bright future ahead of it
Nintendo Switch 2 review: “We’re in for an excellent generation”
The Switch 2 wants to be a do-it-all console, but Nintendo needs more first-party magic to overcome the upcoming handheld’s biggest hurdle
I’ve had friends, with lovely, working wrists, try out my Switch 2 in handheld mode, and their immediate reaction upon holding it is: “It’s heavy isn’t it?!” Their main concern, like mine, was the ability to play for hours on end without suffering from long-term issues like carpal tunnel. Those who potentially have more petite hands and wrists, like children, could be especially susceptible to this down the line.
But the Switch 2 isn’t the heaviest handheld out there by a long shot. Bulky handhelds are the norm now, for better or worse – I’d say probably the latter. The Steam Deck OLED is a hefty 640g and the Asus ROG Ally is 608g, considerably heavier than the Switch 2, but there’s a key difference: both have ergonomic designs. They’re heavy, but their tailored designs mean they’re suited to extended gaming sessions, with the ROG Ally boasting dome-shaped buttons for comfortable pressing, easy-to-reach rear buttons, and a slanted body design. They’re not perfect, and more suited to bigger hands, but it’s a solid step in the right direction.
The Switch 2 as a handheld, however, is lacking in this department. There are ergonomic improvements over the original Switch, like improved grips, more rounded (and larger) Joy-Cons, and slightly bigger buttons, thumbsticks, and triggers, but Nintendo’s console is still eating the dust of its handheld rivals. The flat design and short control stick make for uncomfortable playing over a longer period, and the buttons are still way too small – especially for those with dexterity issues.
(Image credit: Vic Hood)
Nintendo has an opportunity to address the issues with the Switch 2 as a handheld, though the solution may not come for a couple of years. The Switch Lite, a purely handheld, smaller (and more affordable) version of the Switch released two years after the original console. Having also had issues with the Switch’s size in handheld mode, I was pleased to snap it up and found it a comfortable, easily portable alternative to the main console. But, it still suffers from a lack of ergonomics and isn’t as comfortable as other handhelds.
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter
Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more
Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
With a Switch 2 Lite, Nintendo could take the opportunity to roll out an ergonomic design that makes the handheld more comfortable and accessible. Implementing larger, domed, and naturally placed buttons, easier-to-reach triggers, better grips, and a more rounded design overall could make a world of difference to longer play sessions. A Switch 2 Lite would also, naturally, be smaller and size and lighter, not only making it more comfortable to hold without strain but making the damn thing easier to transport.
Right now, I need to take a backpack to transport my Switch 2 (in its carry case) anywhere, and even when I do, I feel uncomfortable with the amount of space I take up in public areas like cafes and trains due to the screen size. This means there’s a serious downgrade in portability, a critical half of the console’s hybrid appeal.
(Image credit: Future)
Is it likely Nintendo will release a Switch 2 Lite? Yes. We likely won’t see it for a few years, but the success of the Switch Lite means they likely won’t miss the opportunity for more Switch 2 sales. Do I think it’ll have an ergonomic design? No, probably not.
Nintendo’s accessibility efforts are lacking in comparison to Xbox and PlayStation, with both its consoles and games. But Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said during a shareholders meeting in 2024 (as reported by Stephen Totilo) that the company “will continue to make various efforts to ensure that many people can enjoy our games.” Well, the proof is in the pudding. And a Switch 2 Lite is the perfect opportunity for Nintendo to cook.
We’ve rounded up all upcoming Switch 2 games to see what’s in store for Nintendo’s latest console
See more Nintendo Switch 2 Features
Contributor
Vic’s an award-winning games journalist who’s currently pedaling her writing wares as a freelancer. You’ll often find her hiding under her Snoopy blanket, playing the latest horror game, or sinking hours into an emotionally devastating adventure. When she leaves the blanket, she’s either at the pub or arguing with others about Tayto crisps.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
I’m hyped for the Switch 2, but I fully believe the Switch Lite has a bright future ahead of it
Nintendo Switch 2 review: “We’re in for an excellent generation”
The Switch 2 wants to be a do-it-all console, but Nintendo needs more first-party magic to overcome the upcoming handheld’s biggest hurdle
Nintendo Switch 2 hands-on: Four hours with the console has me convinced this is the refresh Nintendo needs
Nintendo Switch 2 vs Nintendo Switch: How does the newest handheld compare in 2025
I wildly underestimated the Switch 2, and after just getting a Steam Deck, I’m almost regretting it
Latest in Nintendo Switch 2
A Claptrap volume slider is just the start, Borderlands 4 boss Randy Pitchford says there are “so many things we are holding back from everyone until launch. So. Many. Things”
Nintendo Switch 2 could revolutionize Zelda technology: Tears of the Kingdom tinkerers confirm lasers are way deadlier now – “We always knew 60 fps would be insane, but I didn’t expect it to be this insane”
Nintendo relents, confirms Donkey Kong Bananza is being made by the Super Mario Odyssey team after weeks of fans guessing just that
These under $30 Switch 2 accessories prove some of the best things come in small Nintendo packages
GTA veteran says game releases seem “more stressful” now than during the PS2 era, because “not knowing whether you can fix everything in the day-1 patch seems terrifying”
Borderlands 4 includes a feature the series should have had from the beginning: a Claptrap-only volume slider that means you never have to hear a word he says
Latest in Features
The Justice Gang explained – The non-Justice League in James Gunn’s Superman may be influenced by team of classic DC supervillains
I have 464 games on my Steam wishlist, 23 games in my Steam Summer Sale shopping cart, and I can feel my already overstuffed library giving me the side-eye
I got a nicotine rush and set zombies on fire in this PS1-style survival horror demo, and it’s basically Resident Evil on a submarine
Xbox finally has a VR headset, but it’s not the PSVR 2 rival I was hoping for
Ironheart casually reveals the Marvel villain everyone has been waiting for – and it makes perfect sense
I’m enjoying Death Stranding 2, but I wish Hideo Kojima would stop teasing me with cool powers I’ll never have
GAME REVIEWS
MOVIE REVIEWS
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach review: “This tarpunk delivery epic is more Metal Gear Solid than ever, for better and worse”
Rematch review: “As with Rocket League, the just-one-more-game pull is magnetic”
Tron: Catalyst review: “Disc slinging is a thrill in this gorgeous rendition of the series, but I’m let down by a time-loop story that falls flat”
FBC: Firebreak review: “A disappointingly bland multiplayer FPS that’s missing far too much of what made Control special”
Dune: Awakening review: “Both extremely compelling and extraordinarily boring, sometimes at the same time – yet still a true Dune love letter”
Jurassic World Rebirth Review: “An unscary sequel that needed a little more time in amber”
M3GAN 2.0 review: “A bold sequel with a slightly underwhelming conclusion”
28 Years Later Review: “Enough terror, splatter and suspense to satisfy”
Predator: Killer of Killers review: “Great characters, thrilling action, and gorgeous Arcane-esque animation”
From the World of John Wick: Ballerina review: “Brilliant action, even if the plot gives you a sense of déjà vu”
Squid Game season 3 review: “A staggeringly excellent final season wraps up one of the greatest Netflix shows ever”
Ironheart review: “A relic of Marvel’s content-at-all-costs era”
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 review: “The show’s most assured run of episodes to date”
Doctor Who season 2, episode 8 spoiler review: ‘The Reality War’ is “a mix of the good, the bad, and the truly baffling”
Doctor Who season 2, episode 7 spoiler review: ‘Wish World’ is “an exciting and ambitious” start to the season finale, with hints of WandaVision
GamesRadar+ is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.
Contact Future’s experts
Terms and conditions
Privacy policy
Cookies policy
Advertise with us
Review guidelines
Write for us
Accessibility Statement
Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury,
BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.
Please login or signup to comment
Please wait…