Subj : I tested the official Nintendo Switch 2 camera against its Piranh To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Fri Nov 14 2025 21:15:09 I tested the official Nintendo Switch 2 camera against its Piranha Plant rival heres the model Id buy Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2025 21:00:00 +0000 Description: Nintendo's official Switch 2 camera battles it out against Hori's Piranha Plant webcam, and there can only be one winner. FULL STORY ======================================================================Nintendo Switch 2 Camera The Nintendo Switch 2 Camera is a solid way to enhance your GameChat experience with friends and family. 1080p image quality is welcome, and works like a standard webcam for PC. Unfortunately, this models restrictive stand means that it isnt all too well-suited for handheld play, but it's still an option worth considering. Pros Decent 1080p picture quality Plug-and-play setup Privacy shutter included Cons Youll have a rather fuzzy outline A clip option wouldve been nice Rigid design isnt very suitable for handheld play Hori Piranha Plant Camera for Nintendo Switch 2 Horis Piranha Plant camera for Nintendo Switch 2 has a highly creative, fun-loving design that almost makes it worth buying alone. However, this webcam is impossible to recommend outright, due to its outdated, low quality 480p resolution, which results in a blurry, unrefined picture while using GameChat. Pros Playful, endearing design Dual handheld/TV modes Very easy to set up Cons Dismal 480p picture quality TV clip wont fit a fair share of screens Blurry image from a distance If you want to take your GameChat experiences to the next level on Nintendo Switch 2 , youre going to need a USB camera. But which one should you get? Well, during my time searching for the best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories , Ive been able to get hands on with both the official Nintendo Switch 2 Camera and the Hori Piranha Plant Camera for Nintendo Switch 2 . Ive compared everything from picture quality, through to field of view, and value for money in order to pick a definitive overall winner. Interested to hear how these two cameras fared? Ive broken it all down for you below, so lets get right into this contest! Nintendo Switch 2 Camera vs Hori Piranha Plant Camera for Nintendo Switch 2: price & specs Nintendo Switch 2 Camera Hori Piranha Plant Camera for Nintendo Switch 2 Price $54.99 / 49.99 / AU$69.95 $39.99 / 24.99 / AU$64.95 Resolution 1080p at 30fps 480p at 30fps Field of view 110 degrees 85 degrees Dimensions 6.3 x 2.5 x 1.5in / 160 x 64 x 38mm 2.6 x 1.7 x 5.9in / 65 x 44 x 150mm (camera); 1.9 x 1.9 x 1.9in / 49 x 49 x 47mm (base) Weight 0.3lbs / 136g 30g (camera); 80g (base) Compatibility Nintendo Switch 2, PC, MacOS Nintendo Switch 2, Windows, MacOS Nintendo Switch 2 Camera vs Hori Piranha Plant Camera for Nintendo Switch 2: design When it comes to looks, these two cameras really couldnt be any more different! The official Switch 2 camera assumes a slim, sleek build, with the webcam itself sitting atop a flower-like stem, which is attached to a circular metal base. Its not the most interesting or exciting design, but its understated all-black appearance complements the Switch 2 console nicely. Meanwhile, the Hori Piranha Plant camera has a real fun-factor and goes all out on charm. Of course, its shaped just like the classic Super Mario baddie, with an eye-catching red head, attachable leaves, and a plant pot to really seal the deal. It comes with a poseable stem that can be molded to angle the webcam, and the Piranha Plants mouth that can be opened or closed to reveal or conceal the camera. It should be noted that the official camera also has a privacy shutter, which is quick and easy to activate or deactivate. Something else that really sets these cameras apart in the design department is their flexibility or lack thereof. The Piranha Plant can be used in TV mode by connecting a USB-C cable from its port to your console. But the lil Plant can also be removed from its pot, and directly plugged into your Switch 2 consoles USB-C port. Thats ideal if youre using GameChat while playing in handheld mode, and ensures seamless connectivity, however you play. (Image credit: Future) Theres also a clip-mount on the plant pot, so if you want to attach the camera to the top of your TV or monitor, you can do so. It wont fit every screen, but it will undoubtedly be handy for a lot of users. Unfortunately, Nintendos official camera takes a more rigid approach. Theres no mount on this one, and it cant be taken off its stand. So, if youre playing in handheld mode, youll need a surface nearby to place the cameras stand on and then youll also have to connect the cam to your console with a USB-C cable. That felt a tad clunky to me. As much as I appreciate the build quality and neat appearance of Nintendos official camera, the sheer flexibility (and adorability) of Horis Piranha Plant camera sees it take the cake in this category. (Image credit: Future) Nintendo Switch 2 Camera vs Hori Piranha Plant Camera for Nintendo Switch 2: performance Unfortunately, this is an area where Horis Piranha Plant begins to wilt. Look, as much as I love its design, performance-wise, its pretty disappointing. Whats so bad about it? I hear you cry. Well, the Piranha Plants issue is its low resolution, which is just 480p. This is very restrictive indeed and is actually the same quality available on the Nintendo DSi, which came out in 2008. It's also a lot lower than the solid 1080p on offer from Nintendos official camera. Just to see the difference for myself, I decided to hook both cameras up to my Switch 2 and compare the results, and unsurprisingly, the results were as I expected. Now, dont get me wrong, the official camera didnt look stellar or anything. We mentioned in our full review how surroundings can look a tad fuzzy, and in my testing, I also felt that some details like stubble on my face didnt look as defined as I would have liked. Still, though, I looked clear on-screen and my face wasnt blurred or obscured at any stage. (Image credit: Future) Moving on to the Piranha Plant, and the restrictions of 480p became all too obvious. My hair blended into one brown blob, with individual strands harder to make out, and details on my clothing were trickier to discern. I was wearing a purple sweater on a bright day, and the Piranha Plant made it appear devoid of saturation, with my face also looking too blurry. The Piranha Plant cam also really struggled when I was sitting a decent distance from my TV. As I mentioned in my review, it sometimes looked as if my face was melting when sitting a meter away or more. The official camera coped much better in this regard. It's also worth noting that the official camera has a better field of view about 110 degrees, compared to the Plants 85 degrees. That additional scope is useful for party games, say, where you may want to capture a bunch of players sitting in the same room while playing with GameChat. Both cameras run at 30fps, and motion seemed consistent on each model. But there can only be one winner when it comes to performance, and that is, of course, Nintendos official Switch 2 camera. (Image credit: Future) Nintendo Switch 2 Camera vs Hori Piranha Plant Camera for Nintendo Switch 2: value And so we come to the final category: value. This ones interesting, as although both cameras are intended to serve the same purpose, theyre different in just about every meaningful way. First, Horis Piranha Plant camera. This ones not going to be a good value buy if youre looking for good performance during GameChat. The archaic 480p resolution and smaller field of view make it impossible to recommend performance-wise. Having said that, it is a versatile option, especially as it can be plugged directly into your console in handheld mode. It's also got a seriously eye-catching design, and some Mario fans may want to buy it for that alone I have to say, it looks pretty neat alongside my extensive amiibo collection! Its price has seemingly been reduced for good in the US and UK, now standing at $39.99 / 24.99 / AU$64.95. So, if you need a camera that simply functions, and youre a fan of the design on offer, it could be worth considering. Nintendos official camera is pricier, but for good reason its picture quality is actually pretty decent, with the wide field of view and strong build quality making it feel more premium. At $54.99 / 49.99 / AU$69.95, it may feel a little too expensive for many, but you are getting that official branding and quality guarantee. The lack of versatility is disappointing to me, but if I were going to recommend a camera for performance, this would be it. (Image credit: Future) Another interesting question would be: is it worth buying a Switch 2 camera at all? Well, if youre not going to be using GameChat or any of the games that support camera capabilities like Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV , then perhaps not. There arent a ton of titles that make use of the camera at least not yet, which makes a camera feel non-essential. It's also worth flagging that if you have a PC webcam laying around, it may work with the Switch 2 via USB-A or USB-C just make sure to try for yourself, as some models are incompatible with the console. For those looking to get the most out of online multi-player, a Switch 2 camera certainly enhances the experience. If youre playing Mario Kart World online and want to see your friends real-time reaction as you red shell em and overtake on the finish line, then go for it! Youll also need one to access certain minigames in the aforementioned Switch 2 edition of Super Mario Party Jamboree and content in a small handful of other games. Ultimately, if you do decide to invest in a Switch 2 camera, I think you get a little more bang for your buck with the official camera, mainly due to its far superior resolution. But the undeniable charm and lower cost of the Piranha Plant ensures its not a total write-off. (Image credit: Future) Nintendo Switch 2 Camera vs Hori Piranha Plant Camera for Nintendo Switch 2: verdict So, it may not be a huge surprise if youve got this far, but theres a pretty clear winner in this showdown the official Nintendo Switch 2 camera. Dont get me wrong, I love the look of Horis Piranha Plant cam. It has an original, fun design, and its ability to be used seamlessly in TV and handheld mode is a big bonus. As a huge Nintendo fan, the aesthetic alone makes it a cool camera to own. But performance-wise, it doesn't hold up well. 480p in 2025 (and beyond) simply isnt good enough if Hori had even made this 720p, it mightve been a closer fight. But the official Switch 2 camera has solid 1080p picture quality, an attractive, sleek look, and can capture everyone on your sofa with a wide field of view. I wish it was a little more flexible, and Id recommend buying it on sale rather than full price, but if you want a camera for your new console, its the better overall choice. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button! And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too. ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/gaming/gaming-accessories/nintendo-switch-2-camera-v s-hori-piranha-plant-camera-for-nintendo-switch-2 --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .