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The cheapest places to buy a Nintendo Switch 2
The new Switch 2 console features a much-needed hardware update, a redesign, and a new – albeit pricey – Mario Kart. Here's where to find the best price on this coveted piece of kit.
It's baffling to think that Nintendo's latest console launched over eight years ago in March 2017. Even the 2021 Switch OLED still used a lot of the same, somewhat outdated, hardware.
Luckily its successor, the (not-so-creatively-named) Nintendo Switch 2 is out – it's got a flashy redesign with a larger screen, 4K output support, and a new NVIDIA processor.
It's been released for a few months now, launching with a price tag of £395.99. Initially, the stock situation in the UK was dire – many retailers sold out of the console quickly. Now, things have stabilised.
Looking to get an older Switch? Save money on consoles and games with our best Nintendo Switch deals.
How much is a Nintendo Switch 2?
The Switch 2 will set you back £395.99, or you can get it bundled with extras such as games or the camera for extra.
This is a bit more than our predicted price of £335. The Switch OLED launched with an RRP of £309, so we're seeing a pretty steep price increase of £87 compared to the last console.
Thinking about getting a PS5 instead? You can sometimes pick one up for cheaper than a Switch 2, especially if you keep up with our guide on the best PS5 deals.
Where can I buy a Switch 2?
* References to ‘Average price' and 'Cheapest price' are based on Which? market knowledge and information supplied by our partners. Average price is checked for the six calendar months prior to publication. Not all retailers are included in our checks.
Initially we saw stock sell out across most retailers, but now that some time has passed the situation is looking much better.
Retailers with Nintendo Switch 2 stock
If you're looking for the best price on a Switch 2, we've got some bad news: we haven't seen any discounts on the new console... except for £1 off from Currys. Not amazing. We're hoping to see some reductions closer to the holidays, but in the meantime, you can take a look at our pricing data and where to buy one below:
*Average price in the last six months: £402.38. | Cheapest price in past six months: £394.99
You can keep an eye on the best prices below:
If you're looking for other retailers, you can also check out:
- Argos – Switch 2 and bundles available
- EE Store – Switch 2 available, bundles too, but only for existing EE customers
- The Game Collection – bundles and console sold out for now
- JD Williams – Switch 2 available
- John Lewis – Switch 2 and bundles available
- Nintendo – If you have a Nintendo account, you can log in and buy
- ShopTo – consoles and bundles available
- Smyth's Toys – Switch 2 and bundles available
- Very – Switch 2 and bundles available
The best value-for-money on a Switch 2 is when you pick up the console and Mario Kart World bundle, which typically costs £429.99.
We've spotted a deal on it from EE, which gets you £12 off the bundle and brings the cost down to £418 – making it the cheapest we've seen the bundle go for (so far).
Pick up this deal from the EE Store (£418). Otherwise, you can take a look at other retailers below:
Should I buy a Switch 2 bundle?
We've taken a look at many of the 'deals' that retailers are offering on the Switch 2. Sadly, many of them just aren't worth it unless you're going to use all of the included accessories and games.
The only bundles worth getting are the official Nintendo ones that come with either Mario Kart World or Pokemon Legends Z-A.
Currently, the best deal on a Switch 2 bundle is from the EE Store, where you can get a Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart World for £418, which saves you £12 on a console and game.
What games are available on the Switch 2?
Expect to see the usual suspects: Mario games, the Legend of Zelda, Pokémon and releases for many Nintendo franchises. This hardware refresh likely means there will be more graphically demanding games available on the Switch 2.
Right now, the hot topic is Mario Kart World, which has larger, 'more open' courses and 24-players able to race at the same time. When it was announced, we were very excited to hear all this – until we saw the price tag. It will set you back an eye-watering £75, which is quite pricey for a new game.
Other than that, the Switch 2 launched with new versions of games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, and a new Donkey Kong game.
Looking for more gaming performance? A PlayStation 5 might be a better choice for you. Read our guide on how to buy a PlayStation to find out what to know before buying.
Will I be able to play my old Switch games on the Switch 2?
Backwards compatibility — when a game console can play previous-generation games on the most recent console — is a staple of most modern games consoles.
Luckily, you will be able to play your games from the Switch 1. You won't need to keep your extra console lying around for when you finally wrap up Tears of the Kingdom.
While we were initially worried about the backwards compatibility of games like Ring Fit Adventure or Nintendo's Labo line of accessories, it appears you can still play these on the Switch 2. There are, of course, some caveats, but since you can connect old Switch 1 Joy-Cons to the Switch 2, you'll be able to still play these games. That said, not all Nintendo Labo accessories will work in the same way as with the old Switch.
Right now, the only Nintendo-exclusive that won't work on the Switch 2 is the Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04: VR Kit – this is because the larger screen of the Switch 2 won't fit in the accessory. There are a quite a few third-party games with compatibility issues though, and we'd recommend looking at the full list from Nintendo's website.
A Nintendo Switch 2 would make an excellent gift, but why not check out our other expert recommendations? Read our guide on the best tech gifts.
What kind of specs does the Nintendo Switch 2 have?
The biggest upgrades are an increased screen size of 7.9 inches, a step-up in resolution from 720p to 1080p full HD, increased storage of 256GB, an additional USB-C port, and there will be 4K 60Hz support for monitors and TVs – which was something on our feature wish list when Switch 2 rumours were circulating.
It weighs a bit more than the Switch 1 (401g vs. 320g of the Switch OLED), but that's to be expected with a larger handheld.
One noticeable feature missing from the Switch 2 is an OLED screen. For now, Nintendo is sticking with an LCD screen with HDR support. Whether or not Nintendo will launch an OLED version of the Switch 2 is still yet to be determined.
Take a look at our picks for the best 4K gaming TVs to get the most out of your console.
Will the old Switch get a price drop?
As of right now, yes! Depending on how this Switch-uation develops, it might be worth just sticking with the old Switch 1 while Nintendo fills out the catalogue of new games.
In the meantime, there are some savings to be had right now. Check out our breakdown of the best Nintendo Switch deals to save money on games and consoles.
Our favourite deal is currently on a Switch OLED which is at some of the cheapest prices we've seen. Compare prices below:
Read our best Lego deals to find discounts on popular sets.
