https://www.techpowerup.com/338352/nintendo-switch-2-slammed-for-poor-display-120-hz-with-30-fps-response-times [_e28c1b6e] [_e0401729] [ ] [ ] * Home * Reviews * Forums * Downloads * Case Mod Gallery * Databases [ ] + Databases... Back + VGA Bios Collection + GPU Database + CPU Database + SSD Database + Review Database + Upcoming Hardware * Our Software [ ] + Our Software... Back + GPU-Z + RealTemp + NVCleanstall + TPUCapture + MemTest64 * More [ ] + More... Back + Articles + Old Stuff + Computer Trivia + TPU Live + RAM Latency Calculator * Contact Us * Wednesday, June 25th 2025 [nintendo] Nintendo Switch 2 Slammed for Poor Display--120 Hz With 30 FPS Response Times by Cpt.Jank Yesterday, 20:02 Discuss (58 Comments) Despite the Nintendo Switch 2 offering rather modest specifications by today's standards, even for a handheld gaming device, it has already broken console sales records with over 3.5 million sales in its first four days on the market. The on-paper specs claim that the Nintendo Switch 2 is capable of 120 Hz, promising a sizeable upgrade over the 60 FPS display of the original Switch and Switch OLED. Recent testing by Monitors Unboxed and Digital Foundry, however, reveal that these claims may be less than honest, since the handheld console's real-world performance falls short by a fair margin. The most noticeable issue with the Nintendo Switch 2's display is the response times. Despite having a 120 Hz display, Monitors Unboxed found in its testing that the display achieved an average response time of as high as 33 ms. While testing was conducted at 60 FPS, the response times even fall short of this low bar, with 16.67 ms being the slowest response time required for the pixels to refresh between frames such as to avoid blur or smearing. Even the original Nintendo Switch manages faster response times, with an average of 21.3 ms. This is further exemplified by the Blur Busters test conducted by Monitors Unboxed, where significant loss of detail can be seen in fast-moving objects. Brightness was better on the Switch 2 in Monitors Unboxed's testing, measuring in at around 400 nits, but contrast is less than spectacular, with contrast ratios measuring in at just 1068:1. Color performance was also good on the new Switch 2, with 97.6% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut, however HDR performance suffered from the relatively low brightness and a lack of color management, which makes Switch 1 games seem more saturated than intended. [ZeVnspYPaM0PxNdE_thm] [TiscflULwKHMohSC_thm] Monitors Unboxed goes on to theorize that the Switch 2's display is slow because Nintendo has seemingly not enabled overdrive and may be running additional low-voltage settings, likely to conserve energy and extend battery life. The end result of this is that, while the Nintendo Switch 2 may feel more responsive to play on, especially at 120 FPS, it comes at a noticeable sacrifice in image clarity at those higher resolutions. The likely cause of these slow response times also means Nintendo could theoretically address the issues with a firmware update. Digital Foundry found similar results in its testing, with the publication similarly criticizing the Switch 2's display for its poor motion performance but also adding that the Switch 2's backlight is disappointingly a single panel instead of using dimming zones or something like a mini LED display, making a "true HDR" experience impossible on the Switch 2's built-in display. Sources: Monitors Unboxed, Digital Foundry Related News * Tags: * 120 Hz * Color * Digital foundry * Display * handheld gaming * HDR * Monitor * Monitors * Nintendo * Nintendo Switch * Nintendo Switch 2 * Performance * Switch 2 * Jan 2nd 2025 Nintendo Switch 2 PCB Leak Reveals an NVIDIA Tegra T239 Chip Optically Shrunk to 5nm (54) * Apr 4th 2025 Nintendo Cancels Switch 2 Pre-orders in the US (51) * Jan 15th 2025 Nintendo Switch 2 Docked and Handheld Performance Revealed By Tipster (43) * May 29th 2025 Nintendo Seemingly Blocks Video Streaming Apps On Switch 2 (64) * Apr 2nd 2025 Nintendo Switch 2 Launches June 5 at $449.99 with New Hardware and Games (99) * Jun 5th 2025 Nintendo Launches the Switch 2 (41) * May 14th 2025 Final Nintendo Switch 2 Specifications Surface: CPU, GPU, Memory, and System Reservation (31) * Jun 11th 2025 Nintendo Switch 2 Sets Record, Selling Over 3.5 Million Units Globally in First Four Days (70) * Apr 17th 2025 Nintendo Revises Switch 2 Product Info; VRR Support Scrubbed from Some Official Sites (29) * Apr 2nd 2025 Lexar Ships the World's First 1 TB MicroSD Express Card for Use With Nintendo Switch 2 (30) Add your own comment 58 Comments on Nintendo Switch 2 Slammed for Poor Display--120 Hz With 30 FPS Response Times 1 to 25 of 56Go to Page123PreviousNext #1 Hecate91 The switch 2 keeps on getting more disappointing as an overpriced and underpowered console. It's interesting how the sw2 display has worse latency than the sw1 display. Posted on Jun 25th 2025, 20:37 Reply #2 Guwapo77 Yeah, I'll wait until they reintroduce the OLED version. Posted on Jun 25th 2025, 20:59 Reply #3 Chaitanya Apart from poor performance there is also the fact that screen is quite fragile and without its screen "protectors" it becomes a safety hazard. Posted on Jun 25th 2025, 21:06 Reply #4 Event Horizon Intentionally bad to save power, or to maximise the desirability of the inevitable OLED variant? Posted on Jun 25th 2025, 21:45 Reply #5 LabRat 891 :roll: I have to wonder how many of us were (mostly-figuratively) born yesterday? Anyone that's been into (handheld/console) gaming since the GameBoy-DS-> days should've already noticed the pattern: Nintendo actively and purposefully 'gimps' first release hardware, leaving room for an 'S', 'lite', etc. revision. Posted on Jun 25th 2025, 21:45 Reply #6 Gooigi's Ex LabRat 891:roll: I have to wonder how many of us were (mostly-figuratively) born yesterday? Anyone that's been into (handheld/console) gaming since the GameBoy-DS-> days should've already noticed the pattern: Nintendo actively and purposefully 'gimps' first release hardware, leaving room for an 'S', 'lite', etc. revision. Exactly! Posted on Jun 25th 2025, 22:05 Reply #7 vbq7qK68eyYAH4iR Mere Mortal Even the original Nintendo Switch 2 manages faster response times, with an average of 21.3 ms. I'm guessing this text should read as the Switch 1, not 2? The fact the display is slower than the first switch, really highlights that the system really should have shipped with an OLED for day 1. It isn't HDR capable. It isn't capable of hitting 120FPS in anything other than the menus. Just ship it with a 60hz OLED and docked could be 120hz with LFC and set the target for developers to be 40FPS. It really seems like you're getting a subpar product, when we all know that an OLED version is coming in 2-3 years, to extract more money from users. Posted on Jun 25th 2025, 22:32 Reply #8 GodisanAtheist Shut up and buy our new console, send more money. We all know it doesn't really matter the quality, it's all vibes and aura and shit nowadays. Post truth world. Posted on Jun 25th 2025, 22:33 Reply #9 Chaitanya QuicksPeople pay money for junk like this? In record breaking numbers apparently(wont be suprised if good number of them are using it connected to a TV). Posted on Jun 25th 2025, 23:14 Reply #10 Hxx QuicksPeople pay money for junk like this? Oh yeah lots of tools bought this. I recall an early article talking about record sales . As I commented on that thread the first switch is cheap and great for what it is . This one is a hard pass Posted on Jun 25th 2025, 23:48 Reply #11 Battler624 vbq7qK68eyYAH4iRI'm guessing this text should read as the Switch 1, not 2? The fact the display is slower than the first switch, really highlights that the system really should have shipped with an OLED for day 1. It isn't HDR capable. It isn't capable of hitting 120FPS in anything other than the menus. Just ship it with a 60hz OLED and docked could be 120hz with LFC and set the target for developers to be 40FPS. It really seems like you're getting a subpar product, when we all know that an OLED version is coming in 2-3 years, to extract more money from users. This is exactly what I wanted, but do keep in mind that nintendo is just now reaching 2017 stuff, so it'll take about 3 years for that to happen. Posted on Jun 25th 2025, 23:53 Reply #12 SuperWideGaming 4 Words: Too little too late Posted on Jun 26th 2025, 0:13 Reply #13 wolf Better Than Native Everyone I know who bought the switch 2 is having an absolute blast with it, and isn't getting dragged down with it's technical shortcomings because it's giving them great experiences. Inevitable gap here for the OLED refresh. Hopefully they do respond to feedback and perhaps give users the option to run the display with overdrive/higher voltage to boost response times. Posted on Jun 26th 2025, 0:20 Reply #14 Hyderz 8 years for the switch console.... was too long i reckoned the switch 2 should have released 3 years earlier... Posted on Jun 26th 2025, 0:20 Reply #15 JustBenching wolfEveryone I know who bought the switch 2 is having an absolute blast with it, and isn't getting dragged down with it's technical shortcomings because it's giving them great experiences. Inevitable gap here for the OLED refresh. Hopefully they do respond to feedback and perhaps give users the option to run the display with overdrive/higher voltage to boost response times. Stop having fun goddamn you, can't you see the screen isn't good? Damn /s The fact that no one has noticed it until put under the microscope says everything that needs to be said - the screen is perfectly fine for what it is. Posted on Jun 26th 2025, 0:43 Reply #16 FoulOnWhite This has poo pooed the switch 2 for me, i will wait now for switch 2 v2. Posted on Jun 26th 2025, 1:16 Reply #17 Apocalypsee Just to proof most people aren't sensitive enough to slow pixel response time, but on the other hand I disagree Nintendo charge that much for outdated hardware and poor screen. Posted on Jun 26th 2025, 1:29 Reply #18 Hyderz ApocalypseeJust to proof most people aren't sensitive enough to slow pixel response time, but on the other hand I disagree Nintendo charge that much for outdated hardware and poor screen. pretty sure the switch 2 was originally priced at 579 or around that... but raw materials prices went up thats why they use the cheaper lcd screens... hate to think how much the oled is gonna cost when it comes out... im guessing $729.. as with hardware.. limitations with handheld mode battery life... cant put more powerful processors... Posted on Jun 26th 2025, 1:38 Reply #19 Frick Fishfaced Nincompoop JustBenchingStop having fun goddamn you, can't you see the screen isn't good? Damn /s The fact that no one has noticed it until put under the microscope says everything that needs to be said - the screen is perfectly fine for what it is. Basically this. But the price is downright horrific. EUR550 sans game, when the Switch OLED was released at EUR400 andthe OG Switch was EUR330 with Breath of the Wild. Posted on Jun 26th 2025, 1:43 Reply #20 Chomiq wolfEveryone I know who bought the switch 2 is having an absolute blast with it, and isn't getting dragged down with it's technical shortcomings because it's giving them great experiences. Inevitable gap here for the OLED refresh. Hopefully they do respond to feedback and perhaps give users the option to run the display with overdrive/higher voltage to boost response times. They must really love the built in hardware motion blur feature. Posted on Jun 26th 2025, 1:55 Reply #21 LittleBro Lol. I recall when I was gaming on 19" LCD Fujitsu Siemens that had 1280x1024 resolution and 22ms latency. For that time it was technologically OK (display was from 2007 or 2008). But such latency now is disgusting. They sell it for gaming. Anything above 8ms is problem for gaming, even at 5ms ghosting is quite noticeable. Posted on Jun 26th 2025, 3:19 Reply #22 Rightness_1 It's Nintendo and a device aimed at 8-16 year olds who make their parents pay for it. What exactly do people expect? Posted on Jun 26th 2025, 3:39 Reply #23 Hecate91 JustBenchingStop having fun goddamn you, can't you see the screen isn't good? Damn /s The fact that no one has noticed it until put under the microscope says everything that needs to be said - the screen is perfectly fine for what it is. The screen has worse average response times than the sw1, displays with 5-8ms are cheap now but Nintendo probably used the cheapest display they could find. Also given because they just threw a sticker over the glass instead of a nice plastic cover makes it even more obvious they were being cheap. Nintendo fans defending this nonsense says a lot. Edit- The sad thing is quite a few budget TV's have better response times, so once the console is connected to a tv the difference in performance would be noticeable. Posted on Jun 26th 2025, 3:42 Reply #24 cucol Hyderzpretty sure the switch 2 was originally priced at 579 or around that... but raw materials prices went up thats why they use the cheaper lcd screens... hate to think how much the oled is gonna cost when it comes out... im guessing $729.. as with hardware.. limitations with handheld mode battery life... cant put more powerful processors... Then, you can buy a redmi note 14 phone with Oled 120hz screen at arround 150$, but nintendo will want 200$ just for the oled upgrade. Posted on Jun 26th 2025, 3:55 Reply #25 sLowEnd Eh. The screen could be better, but it's not the end of the world the way it is. My 2DS' screen was complete garbage even by the standards of when it came out, but I still had plenty of fun with it. In the case of the Switch/Switch 2, you aren't even stuck with using it if you don't like it. Just dock and connect to a display of your choice. 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