Nintendo Switch 2 Size Comparison: Handheld Evolution Through the Decades

Nintendo’s legacy of portable innovation continues with the launch of the Switch 2, released today on the Nintendo eShop and through global retailers.

Building upon the success of the original Nintendo Switch—a hybrid system that has sold more than 125 million units worldwide—the Switch 2 is already resonating with dedicated fans and the broader gaming community.

As gamers unbox their new consoles, a familiar question resurfaces: how does the Nintendo Switch 2 compare in size to the handheld icons that defined previous generations? To shed light on this, the team at Hookshot Media’s Nintendo Life office assembled every handheld device at their disposal for a comprehensive size comparison with the Nintendo Switch 2.

While a few rare systems—namely the Atari Lynx and TurboExpress—were unavailable, the curated selection spans decades of portable gaming hardware, offering valuable perspective on the Switch 2’s place within Nintendo’s storied hardware lineage. Starting with the enduring Game Boy family, the comparison highlights just how much handheld design has evolved.

The Switch 2 stands taller and wider than the original Game Boy and its successors, including the Game Boy Advance and Advance SP, demonstrating Nintendo’s push toward larger displays and more immersive play experiences.

The new system’s hybrid form factor also marks a significant departure from the pocket-friendly dimensions of classic models. Monochrome options such as the Supervision, Gamate, Bandai’s WonderSwan, original Game & Watch Widescreen, Tiger’s Game.com, and Game & Watch Dualscreen were lined up alongside the Switch 2.

This range highlights the diversity of handheld technology across eras.

Meanwhile, the Sega Game Gear and Game Gear Micro reflect advancements in color displays and ergonomic design, though both now pale in size next to Nintendo’s most recent iteration. Further expanding the scope, lesser-known systems including Gizmondo, Sega Nomad, the WonderSwan SwanCrystal, and SNK’s Neo Geo Pocket Color create a snapshot of the eclectic handheld market circa the 1990s and early 2000s.

Next, a selection of Nintendo’s dual-screen portables—the DS and 3DS series—underscore Nintendo’s continued dominance in the portable space. Sony’s entries—the PSP, PSP Go, PlayStation Vita, and even the Japan-exclusive PocketStation—appear alongside the Switch 2 as testaments to handheld gaming’s enduring appeal among varied audiences.

Notably, the Switch 2’s modern rivals include today’s innovative devices like the Evercade EXP, the quirky Playdate, Steam Deck OLED, and Analogue Pocket, each bringing their own unique approach to portable play. While the absence of select rarities like the Atari Lynx leaves room for future comparisons, this assembly offers a vivid cross-section of how far handheld consoles have come.

As Nintendo continues to refine its hybrid vision with the Switch 2, its stature—both literally and figuratively—reaffirms the company’s role at the forefront of gaming hardware evolution.

For those eagerly awaiting a complete hardware history lineup, the team’s assessment humorously suggests that perhaps only the arrival of a potential "Switch 3" might prompt an even more exhaustive comparison in years to come.

Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Switch Nintendo Game Boy Steam Deck Steam Switch 2 Switch consoles OLED Hookshot Media Damien McFerran Nintendo Life Game Gear WonderSwan Sega Neo Geo Pocket Color Nomad Gizmondo Evercade EXP Playdate Steam Deck OLED Analogue Pocket DS 3DS Sony PSP PSP Go PSVita PocketStation