Digital Foundry Highlights Nintendo Switch 2's Display Limitations

06/24/2025

Recent findings by Digital Foundry, a prominent technical analysis group, indicate that the display on the new Nintendo Switch 2 console falls short of contemporary standards. John Linneman of Digital Foundry has publicly commented on the screen's performance, describing it as one of the least responsive modern LCD panels currently available. This assessment comes after rigorous testing, including data from the specialist PC Monitor site Chimilog, which placed the Switch 2's screen at the bottom of a comparative list of 32 LCD displays based on average response times.

Further elaborating on the display's shortcomings, Linneman noted that the Switch 2's LCD is approximately three times slower in response than the original Steam Deck LCD. Surprisingly, in certain aspects, it even underperforms the LCD screen of the initial 2017 Nintendo Switch. While many users have expressed satisfaction with their Switch 2 screens, and the general consumer reception has been largely positive, these technical insights from Digital Foundry suggest a compromise in display quality that might not align with the expectations for a newly released console in 2025.

The revelation about the Switch 2's display performance brings to light the ongoing trade-offs in console design, where manufacturers balance cutting-edge technology with cost efficiency. Despite the technical critiques, the user experience remains a diverse landscape, with many players enjoying the new console without noticeable display issues. This situation underscores the fact that while objective technical data can highlight imperfections, the subjective enjoyment derived from gaming often transcends these details. The ongoing conversation about the Switch 2's screen also hints at the potential for future hardware revisions, perhaps an OLED model, that could address these display concerns and further enhance the visual experience for all.