As soon as upon a time, Nintendo had a close to monopoly on the hand held gaming market. Now, with the discharge of the Nintendo Change 2, not a lot. Within the time because the authentic Nintendo Change launched, there have been a number of different main handheld releases just like the Steam Deck and the Lenovo Legion Go S. The widespread thread? All of those—together with the Change 2—are on the larger finish, a minimum of in comparison with prior handhelds just like the 3DS or PSP. When you’re like me, and ergonomics and portability matter on your handhelds, that may be an issue.
That’s why I’ve taken the freedom of snapping some images of the Change 2 alongside its greatest (each actually and figuratively) rivals, together with the unique Change, so you will get a greater thought of the way it’ll really really feel as soon as it’s in your fingers.
Nintendo Change 2 vs. Nintendo Change
Change 2 with joy-con 2 (left) subsequent to Change 1 with joy-con 1 (proper)
Credit score: Michelle Ehrhardt
First, to set a baseline, let’s evaluate the Change 2 in opposition to the unique Change. Sadly, I don’t have a Change OLED readily available, so for this comparability, we’re going to must go along with the launch mannequin.
That’s not such a nasty factor, although, because it’s the place you’ll get probably the most noticeable variations. First, let us take a look at dimensions and weight. The Change 2 appears prefer it may eat the unique Change. When you like an enormous display, that’s nice, however know that it’ll be rather less transportable, and possibly rather less pleasant to gamers with tiny fingers. Numbers-wise, the unique Change is 4.02 x 9.41 x 0.51 inches and 0.88 kilos (or 0.65 kilos with the controllers indifferent), whereas the Change 2 is 4.5 x 10.7 x 0.55 inches and 1.18 kilos (or 0.88 kilos with the controllers indifferent). That doesn’t sound just like the Change 2 has beefed up that a lot on paper, however in particular person, it seems like evening and day. On the plus aspect, although, it’s nonetheless a lot skinny, and light-weight and cozy sufficient in my grownup fingers. It would even be extra comfy, which I’ll contact on shortly.
Credit score: Michelle Ehrhardt
The Change 2 presents a noticeable improve to the display on the unique Change, coming in at 7.9 inches over the 6.2 inches of its predecessor. It’s additionally now 1080p (versus 720p on the unique) and might show content material in HDR and as much as 120 fps (versus no HDR and 60 fps on the unique). This display is unquestionably an enormous motive why the brand new console is greater, and whereas I wouldn’t be stunned to see a Change 2 Lite come out down the road, it does really feel price it when you really begin enjoying.
Credit score: Michelle Ehrhardt
Let’s check out the dock and the controllers. The Change 2 dock is somewhat taller and wider than the unique Change dock, to accommodate the larger console and the added fan, however it shouldn’t take up an excessive amount of more room in your leisure heart. The larger deal is the brand new joy-con 2 controllers, which I completely love. At 4.57 x 0.56 x 1.2 inches vs. the 4.02 x 0.55 x 1.41 inches on the unique joy-cons, they offer your hand somewhat bit extra to seize onto. I all the time felt like the unique joy-cons had been too cramped, all the time opting to make use of both a professional controller or third-party joy-con whereas enjoying as an alternative, however the brand new joy-con are fairly comfy out of the field, particularly with their barely bigger buttons and sticks. You’d in all probability be positive not bothering to improve to a brand new controller in any respect now, until you completely desire a extra conventional D-Pad.
Pleasure-con 2 (left) subsequent to Pleasure-con (proper).
Credit score: Michelle Ehrhardt
General, the Change 2 feels extra grownup and rather less toyetic. That’s nice information for individuals like me, though youngsters would possibly must take a while to regulate to it.
Nintendo Change 2 vs. Steam Deck
Credit score: Michelle Ehrhardt
In all probability the Nintendo Change 2’s most distinguished competitors in the intervening time, the Steam Deck is a handheld gaming PC from Valve that launched in 2022 and later bought an OLED improve with the identical dimensions and weight, however a barely bigger display. Once more, I’ve the unique mannequin, however each use just about the identical general construct.
If the Change 2 regarded prefer it may eat the unique Change, then the Steam Deck appears prefer it may eat the Change 2. At 11.73 x 4.60 x 1.93 inches, it’s considerably thicker and wider than the Change 2, if not particularly taller. It’s additionally heavier at 1.41 kilos.
Steam Deck (above) vs. Change 2 (beneath) from profile
Credit score: Michelle Ehrhardt
Personally, I feel it’s a bit weighty (though my husband doesn’t thoughts as a lot), however a part of the additional top and depth comes from a purposeful option to make it extra comfy and usable general. The Steam Deck comes with built-in grips that make it simpler to carry than the Change 2, a minimum of for me, even considering the improved ergonomics on the brand new joy-con 2 controllers. And with the additional house these grips want, Valve has additionally taken the freedom of including in massive touchpads on both aspect of the machine, in addition to again buttons on the grips themselves. These open up new methods to play that aren’t attainable on the Change 2, and are further handy when navigating the Steam Deck’s desktop mode. Nevertheless, they do make the Steam Deck a bit much less transportable, as they add some bulkiness to the machine round its edges. That is why the machine sounds thicker on paper than it seems in some images.
As for that desktop mode, it actually factors to the kicker right here: The Steam Deck is, primarily, a shrunken gaming PC, whereas the Change 2 is extra akin to an overgrown PSP. The gadgets are sort of aiming for separate targets, and taking that under consideration, every achieves them fairly effectively. Certain, the Steam Deck is thicker, however when in comparison with even the smallest of ordinary gaming PCs, it’s a formidable type issue for the value.
What do you assume up to now?
What’s much less spectacular subsequent to the Change 2, sadly, is the display. It’s solely 7 inches on the bottom mannequin and seven.4 inches on the OLED mannequin, each of that are smaller than the Change 2’s show. It additionally tops out at 800p and 60 fps, each of that are decrease than on the Change 2.
Nintendo Change 2 vs. Lenovo Legion Go S
Credit score: Michelle Ehrhardt
Lastly, I wish to evaluate the Change 2 in opposition to one other machine I’m reviewing proper now: the Lenovo Legion Go S. This machine from Lenovo is the newest in third-party Steam Deck options, and it’s particularly attention-grabbing because it’s the primary to run Valve’s SteamOS. There are many different competing handheld gaming PCs in the intervening time, however for my cash, that is the one to concentrate to.
At 11.77 x 5.02 x 0.89 inches, it’s a little taller and wider than even the Steam Deck, although not by a lot. And at 1.61 kilos, it’s heavier, though the grips are barely extra bulbous, so I really assume it’s barely extra comfy to carry.
Change 2 (left) vs. Legion Go S (proper) from above.
Credit score: Michelle Ehrhardt
The important thing enchancment right here—except for internals—is the display, which is eight inches, 1200p, and helps 120 fps. That’s an enchancment on even the Change 2. Nevertheless, you additionally do get just one touchpad right here (which is way smaller) and solely two grip buttons. On the plus aspect, the triggers have a swap that allows you to modify their journey, so you may flip them into twitchier hair triggers when you’d like.
General, this can be a fairly completely different market section than the Change 2, so I doubt they’ll hamper one another a lot. It’s chonkier, however—just like the Steam Deck—for good motive. Handheld PCs must be larger general, since their elements aren’t all the time made with such small type components in thoughts. However on the plus aspect, since these gadgets are already larger, they often add in some further ergonomics and controls to compensate.
I believe Nintendo will hold following this sleeker, Apple-esque design development, whereas handheld gaming PCs will really feel a bit extra comfy stretching their legs, a minimum of till a possible Steam Deck 2 and even wider market adoption. There’s room for each, however when you’re questioning which might higher slot in your bag, now you already know. As for the smaller, extra toyetic consoles of the previous, effectively, even when the Change 2 is smaller than the competitors, it’s nonetheless larger than what I performed with rising up. For enjoyable, right here’s a Change 2 subsequent to a 3DS XL.
Credit score: Michelle Ehrhardt
