This isn’t quite what we expected to see last year, but the ROG Xbox Ally still marks a new chapter in the rapidly developing “handheld war.”

The Nintendo Switch 2 is finally, officially out, and Verge staffers have spent a bunch of time playing with it. The new console has a lot of improvements, like a bigger screen and an extra USB-C port. There’s a bunch of games to play, too, including a new Mario Kart and nice updates to older games.

On paper, the Xbox Series S beats the Switch 2 in terms of raw specs. Yes, that is confusing since Nintendo's handheld can hit 4K 60fps in docked mode while Microsoft's digital-only console targets 1440p, but the former portable relies on Nvidia AI upscaling shenanigans to make that happen.

The Switch 2 is Nintendo's safest console generation leap possibly ever, but is it worth the rising price? I tested it for a week to find out.

Okay, sure, we can check the specs and see that the Switch 2 is half an inch (12.7mm) taller and 1.2 inches (30.48mm) wider than the original — and it’s 0.22 pounds (99.79 grams) heavier. But don’t just bark numbers at me! Nah, man, get that nerd math out of here. What about vibes-wise? How much bigger does it feel?

Now, five years later, the Switch 2 is similarly offering a less than jaw-dropping jump (if still a much needed one). Except, instead of bringing the forefront of what can be done to your living room and on the go,

Nintendo just made a better Nintendo Switch, and that's a good thing. This powered-up console delivers in every way that counts, even with a couple of headaches at launch. Now, we just wait for more games.

The Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller offers a more comfortable and precise way to play Switch 2 games. This is thanks to its ergonomic design and responsive buttons and joysticks. Though expensive, it’s essential for Switch 2 users who primarily play in docked mode or who just want a better controller.

Wondering just how powerful the Nintendo Switch 2 is in terms of raw computing power? One developer has said it’s closer to the Xbox Series S than the PlayStation 4. In an interview with wccftech, Takuto Edagawa,

Take IT Studio! and Crooked Games have announced the arrival of their arcade-inspired arena brawler, Death Kid, on Nintendo Switch and Xbox consoles. With arcade brutality, face waves of relentless enemies and save three souls trapped inbetween life and death.

We went from anxiously waiting for the Nintendo Switch 2 launch this month to the console now being out for over a week. While Nintendo Switch 2 restocks haven’t exactly been hard to come by, 3.5 million units have already been sold. The console is a hit, and like those millions of people, I’ve been spending time with Nintendo’s latest system.