Switch 2 Has a Display Issue That Could Ruin the Experience for Some
Nintendo Switch 2 brings a 120Hz display and improved visuals, but a recent report points out a major issue: slow screen response times.
Image Credits Nintendo
Nintendo’s upcoming Switch 2 is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about handhelds of the year, but not all the news around it is great. As per a recent report from Tom’s Hardware, the Switch 2’s new 120Hz LCD screen might look modern on paper, but under the hood, it has some serious issues, especially with response time.
Switch 2's New 120Hz Screen Has a Little Slower Response Time
A Chinese reviewer named Chimolog tested the handheld’s screen and found that the average response time sits around 17ms, with worst-case scenarios going as high as 27ms. For anyone who plays fast-paced games or even regular 60 FPS titles, that’s not great. In fact, it’s actually too slow to deliver a proper 60Hz gaming experience without some level of motion blur or ghosting.
Now, for those who may not know, response time is how fast pixels can switch between colors. If that’s too slow, the image can look blurry during movement, especially in shooters or action-heavy games. Even monitors with 60Hz refresh rates usually come with 10-15ms response time, and here we are with a 120Hz screen that struggles to keep up.
What’s worse is that the original Switch, yes, the older one, seems to have a faster screen than the new model. According to the testing mentioned in the article, the old Switch's LCD was 10ms faster on average. That’s pretty wild when you think about it.
But to be fair, not everything about the display is bad. The screen reportedly offers great colors, strong contrast, and solid brightness levels. It’s just the motion performance that’s not living up to expectations.
It’s kind of surprising that Nintendo chose to go with such a slow panel on a console made for gaming. Maybe the company was cutting corners to keep the price low, or maybe they’re saving the better screen for an OLED version down the line, but who knows as of now?
In the end, though, most gamers probably won’t care. The Switch 2 has already sold millions, and people just want to play Mario, Zelda, and Pokémon. Still, for those who do care about screen quality, especially competitive players, this is a bit of a letdown.
Let’s hope Nintendo hears the feedback and improves things in future versions.
