We Went Hands-On With The Nintendo Switch 2 Mock-Up At CES 2025

The Nintendo Switch 2 has been leaking fairly consistently for the last month or so, with parts leaking out of factories and several large accessory makers all announcing their products before Nintendo has shown the console, with the leaks all being fairly consistent.

This is extremely common in the tech world, with almost every tech device’s physical shape leaking in the lead-up to announce due to devices going into production. This is super common with smart phones, and it’s often why tech companies will show off hardware before the full announcement (just like Nintendo for the original Switch) although it’s not to be this time.

Fast forward to CES 2025, where accessory maker Genki 3D printed the Nintendo Switch 2 complete with the larger display, the new larger Joy-Cons that will apparently magnetically connect and the new buttons that have been shown in other leaks but don’t have a definitive reason for existing yet.

I got to go hands-on with the Nintendo Switch 2 model, experiencing the larger size of the handheld which felt really good in the hands, but it was the Joy-Con controllers that had me most excited.

Ever since the original Switch launched, I haven’t loved how the Joy-Con connect, with the rails feeling very finicky, and the Joy-Con requiring a wrist-strap to make use of the ZR/ZL buttons. They’re also just not that comfortable to hold due to their size.

This is totally different with the Nintendo Switch 2 mock-up that I tested which gave a great taste of the larger Joy-Con and how they connect via magnets. They easily snap on and off, with a button on the back that will presumably pull the magnets away from the system to allow them to disconnect.

Whilst this is obviously still a prototype, they still felt incredibly solid and not flimsy at all, and absolutely wouldn’t not just fall off without some serious force.

I think that the magnetic nature will also just allow for a lot more accessory options. I got to see a few from Genki including a magnetic Joy-Con charging stand as well as a magnetic Joy-Con grip, and placing the Joy-Con on both was super seamless.

Whilst we’ll likely need to wait a little bit more to see the real Nintendo Switch 2 in the flesh, I’d be very shocked if these were off the mark just based on how close the release likely is, and the amount of leaks that are all consistent, but these mock-ups have gotten me incredibly excited as whilst the hardware changes aren’t massive, they all add up to fixing the small issues that the original console has.