If you were handed a Nintendo Switch 2, you might not initially realize it. Sure, it might feel a little bigger in the hand, but otherwise the experience of holding Nintendo’s long-awaited follow-up feels familiar, with all the pluses and minuses that go along with that.

Months after it first released a teaser trailer for the new system, Nintendo has fully unveiled the Switch 2 with a lengthy Nintendo Direct stream. Rumors and speculation were confirmed or dispelled,

Gaming specialists who have handled Nintendo's new Switch 2 say the console is a clear upgrade on its predecessor, but it lacks must-have new features and the progress comes at a steep price.

The most obvious change is the size of the screen. Nintendo offered a sizable 6.2-inch screen with the original Switch. The Switch 2 bumps it up to 7.9 inches. This extra inch and a half of screen real estate should be a significant improvement for gamers who primarily use their console as a handheld device.

Switch 1 buyers upgrading to a Switch 2 may also have to budget for some new accessories, from controllers to microSD cards. Here's what is and isn't compatible between the handhelds.

The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct revealed a lot about the new console, but there are plenty more details out there you might not have heard.

Why? Well, the Nintendo Switch 2 still supports expandable storage, but it’s only going to work with microSD Express cards. That’s an important distinction, as non-standard microSD cards don’t carry the properties of ‘Express.’ These higher-end microSD cards, though, do offer faster speeds that are more on the level of SSDs (solid-state drives).

In Japan, gamers can get a Switch 2 for about $343, but it only supports the Japanese language and won't work outside the country. Nintendo is reportedly trying to address weak yen.