Nintendo Switch 2 Report Confirms Analog Joycons, But the Screen Size Update is Truly Bittersweet News

Anticipation around the Nintendo Switch 2 continues to grow at a blistering pace, with rumors, quiet whispers, and “leaks” leaving everyone wondering whether the reveal is right around the corner, possibly next week.

In the latest round of speculations, though, a few very reliable insiders have confirmed that the Switch 2 will not only come with analog joysticks but also have a screen size bump—if we’re being honest, though, we’re feeling a kind of mixed bag of emotions about both those things.

Will the new Analog sticks for Nintendo Switch 2 solve the console’s biggest problem?

So, let’s get the first bit of these new rumors out of the way—Nintendo might still be continuing with analog joysticks for the next Switch. Our problem with this is that analog sticks still rely on physical contact within the mechanism, which tends to wear down over time.

What this means is that there’s a very high chance that we might still see the stick drift problem in all its unresolved glory with the Switch 2, something that has already led to several lawsuits against Nintendo for the original Switch and Switch Lite.

It’s quite an eyebrow-raising choice, especially considering how standard Hall Effect joysticks are in third-party controllers nowadays. Thanks to their magnet-based tech, they have practically eliminated drift issues in controllers that use them.

Sure, they’re pricier and might not fit the next console’s rumored $400 price tag. Still, we say that, for a device that’s part handheld, part console, Hall Effect might’ve been THE premium investment many fans would gladly pay for, especially if we don’t get to replace our joycons every year or buy some expensive third-party controls.

Now, we can put on our tinfoil hats all we want and assume that Nintendo is keeping this particular tech just because it gets to make money from its more naive consumers (which might be true as well; the company can stoop to such lows).

But from a logistical standpoint, sticking with analog joysticks might simply reflect a balance between quality and affordability, even if it’s hard to deny that most wish they’d aimed for the pricier but more durable option. Hopefully, Nintendo has been able to rework the analog bits of the sticks so that they can be a little sturdier and longer-lasting than before.

Nintendo seems to be aiming for a bigger screen, but what about portability?

The sadder part, however, is that the Switch 2’s screen bump—likely to a size even larger than the Switch OLED’s and somewhat comparable to a Steam Deck—has left the many who loved the portability of the original and the Switch lite heartbroken.

The larger screen might boost immersion and gaming on the go, but when the console’s biggest USP is its portability, it’s quite the price Nintendo’s willing to pay here, the way we see it.

As things stand, the original Switch was already borderline pocketable; if the Switch 2 gets any bigger, it may mean putting a good chunk of change on sturdy carrying cases or simply putting it in a backpack instead of slipping it into your front pocket.

This bigger screen size is not necessarily a bad thing, though. In fact, it’s probably a boon for people who prioritize display quality over everything else. However, it does slightly shift Nintendo’s device away from the quick-grab portability that made the original Switch a smash hit for commuters and travelers alike.

So, while we might be trading pocket-friendliness for a premium gaming experience, that choice might pay off for those looking to level up their display game.

In a way, the size increase starts to position the Switch 2 more as a portable console in the vein of the Steam Deck, blending console power with a larger form factor.

Perhaps we could see the return of a smaller form factor with the “lite” version of the next Switch, but that’s still a ways off, so it’s best to leave that for the future, or at the very least until the Nintendo Switch 2 hopefully gets its first reveal by the end of next week.

But with all that out of the way, what’s your take on Nintendo’s two decisions? Are you looking forward to a more powerful handheld with the Switch 2, or are you worried it will lose its pocket-friendly appeal? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!