Since its launch in June of 2025, the Nintendo Switch 2 has offered over 17 million items by the tip of that yr. The system is Nintendo’s follow-up to the massively widespread Switch, which itself has offered over 155 million items since its 2017 debut. The Switch 2 continues its predecessor’s predominant gimmick of being a hybrid console; it may be performed both in handheld mode, just like the traditional Game Boy of ages previous, or you may slide it right into a dock plugged right into a tv for a extra conventional console expertise.
The Switch 2 is considerably extra {powerful} than the unique Switch, which frequently struggled with notorious ports of video games like “Mortal Kombat 1” and “Ark: Survival Evolved.” By distinction, the Switch 2 has totally featured ports of video games like “Final Fantasy VII Remake”, “Cyberpunk 2077”, and even a day-and-date launch of “Resident Evil Requiem” alongside the PC, Xbox, and PlayStation 5 variations.
That being stated, the Switch 2 is not probably the most {powerful} system in the marketplace. It is not even probably the most {powerful} handheld obtainable for buy in 2026. Let’s check out 5 gaming consoles which are extra {powerful} than the Switch 2.
Keep in thoughts that “more powerful” would not essentially imply “better.” All the teraflops on the planet do not imply a factor if the video games aren’t ok, and the place the Switch 2 lacks in relative horsepower, it greater than makes up for it with video games like “Pokémon Legends: Z-A”, “Donkey Kong: Bananza”, and “Mario Kart World.”
PlayStation 5 Pro
In the present console technology, the trade chief is Sony with its PlayStation 5. That system is already extra {powerful} than the Switch 2, nevertheless it’s not probably the most {powerful} PlayStation in the marketplace. That honor goes to the PlayStation 5 Pro, which options extra {hardware} developments over the bottom mannequin.
The Switch 2 advantages from NVIDIA’s DLSS for upscaling low-resolution photographs into one thing that is crisp and viable on the 1080p handheld display screen or perhaps a 4K tv, although it isn’t practically superior because the DLSS programs which are obtainable on different platforms. To that finish, the PS5 Pro makes use of its personal machine learning-based upsampling resolution known as PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR). While video games like “Star Wars Jedi: Survivor” and “Silent Hill F” had hassle with PSSR, the system was upgraded with the launch of “Resident Evil Requiem”, and it’ll solely get higher over time as PSSR continues to enhance.
On high of proprietary tech like PSSR, the PS5 Pro boasts specs that embrace an upgraded GPU and 16 GB of RAM with sooner bandwidth over the bottom PS5 of 576 GB per second, in addition to 2 extra GBs of DDR5 RAM particularly for back-end system processing. Meanwhile, the Switch 2 options 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM. While docked, it outputs 102 GB per second, which is lowered to 68 GB per second in handheld mode.
Xbox Series X
Alongside the PlayStation 5, the opposite huge dwelling console of the present period is the Xbox Series X. At the beginning of the console technology, Microsoft made the controversial determination to create two consoles: The Xbox Series X and the less-powerful “starter” system, the Xbox Series S. Both are versatile programs with a wide range of performance, however the Series X is superior in nearly each method.
In early comparisons, multiplatform titles like “Cyberpunk 2077″ run equally on Switch 2 in comparison with Series S, with each 30 and 60 FPS modes. Then once more, different video games, like “Final Fantasy VII Remake”, assist 60 FPS on Series S however solely 30 FPS on Switch 2.
While it might be a toss-up how the Switch 2 compares with the Series S, Nintendo’s system lags far behind the Series X, which is far more according to the PlayStation 5. The Series X boasts a customized RDNA 2 GPU that boasts 12 TFLOPS (trillion floating level operations per second) of processing energy, greater than the PS5’s 10.3 TFLOPS, however behind the PS5 Pro’s 16.7 TFLOPS. Meanwhile, the Switch 2 is able to simply 1.7 TFLOPS in handheld mode and a hair over 3 TFLOPS whereas docked to a TV. For followers of moveable play, dropping just a few TFLOPS is a small value to pay to take pleasure in a 60 FPS model of “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” whereas driving the prepare to work or taking a aircraft on a cross-country flight.
Steam Deck OLED
If the Switch 2 has one main weak spot, it is the LCD display screen. the unique Switch was ultimately upgraded to function a superior OLED display screen with glorious black ranges, vibrant colours, and unimaginable distinction. Unfortunately, with the Switch 2, Nintendo went again to an inexpensive LCD show, presumably as a cost-cutting measure. The outcomes are truthfully not excellent. If you play completely in handheld mode it could be value hanging on to your authentic OLED Switch, since Switch 1 video games that run on each platforms truthfully look higher on the OLED Switch than on Switch 2, improved framerates and resolutions however.
If you need a handheld gaming machine with an OLED display screen, then the Steam Deck OLED is the system for you. Its 7.4 inch OLED HDR display screen is not fairly as huge because the 7.9 inch display screen of the Switch 2, however by way of picture high quality, the Steam Deck OLED has it beat by a rustic mile due to the wonders of OLED know-how over LCD shows. Even with a decrease display screen decision (1280x800p vs the Switch 2’s 1920x1080p), the picture merely appears higher on the Steam Deck OLED.
The remainder of the Steam Deck’s specs are nothing to scoff at, both. The Steam Deck OLED options 16 GB of on-board LPDDR5 RAM; this makes for a extra versatile gadget than the Switch 2, because it’s primarily a conveyable PC with Linux compatibility. If you simply wish to play video games then the Switch 2 might be extra to your liking, however if in case you have a considerable Steam library of older, less-demanding video games or need a straightforward and comparatively cheap technique to dive into the PC gaming area, the Steam Deck OLED is value getting in 2026. It’s a unbelievable machine that takes benefit of the sheer scalability of the PC platform.
ROG Xbox Ally X
The Steam Deck is not the one “portable PC” on the town. There’s additionally the wares of the Asus-branded Republic of Gamers, or ROG. They make telephones, laptops, graphics playing cards, and different gadgets. Last yr, they teamed up with Microsoft to make the gadget we’re right here to speak about proper now, the ROG Xbox Ally X. It’s type of a moveable Xbox Series system, however has extra in widespread with the Steam Deck than an Xbox and is the next-generation model of the 2024 ASUS ROG Ally X.
The newer ROG Xbox Ally X has a seven-inch, 1080p LCD display screen and runs on Windows, so you are not locked into the Steam ecosystem. This means that you can play video games from GOG, the Epic Games Store, or another launcher. In phrases of internals, the Ally X has 24 GB of LPDDR5X RAM, double what is offered on Switch 2, and makes use of a AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor for optimum efficiency. Alas, these spectacular specs come at a value. The ROG Xbox Ally X prices $999, and you do not even get HDR or an OLED show, although no less than you get 120Hz and FreeSync VRR visuals for smoother efficiency.
If you are within the thought of a ROG handheld however do not wish to go all the best way with the premium mannequin, there’s additionally the ROG Xbox Ally (with out the ‘X’ on the finish), which prices $599 MSRP however has lowered energy underneath the hood.
Lenovo Legion Go 2
Finally, now we have the Lenovo Legion Go 2, the 2025 iteration of Lenovo’s flagship line of “portable PC” handhelds. The authentic Lenovo Legion Go launched again in 2023, and subsequent fashions have improved on an already sturdy basis. Even greater than most post-Switch handhelds, this one wears its Nintendo affect on its sleeve, proper right down to the removable “TrueStrike” controllers which are successfully Lenovo’s model of Nintendo’s Joy-Cons.
Like most moveable PC handhelds, the Legion Go 2 is tremendously costly, with costs beginning at $1,099. For that value, although, you are getting some main bang to your buck. Instead of the standard 16:9 show, you get an 8.8 inch 16:10 display screen with a decision of 1920×1200. This display screen is each HDR and OLED and has a refresh price of 144Hz, which is a big enchancment over what’s at present potential on the Switch 2. The Legion Go 2 additionally makes use of an AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor to offer as top-notch moveable gaming expertise as potential for any sport you may run on Windows.
The Legion Go 2 is ready to get replaced by an up to date second technology model of the system. As of this writing, there is not any launch date for the upcoming Go 2 Gen 2, however it would substitute the present model of the Go 2. Overall, should you’re rich sufficient to afford a Legion Go 2, you are higher off ready for the Gen 2 model. If you do not really feel comfy placing down properly over a thousand bucks for a gaming handheld, there’s additionally the much less {powerful} Legion Go S line, which begins at $649 and has downgrades together with an LCD display screen, a smaller SSD, much less RAM, a default to Steam OS, and different cost-cutting measures.