At a glance, Switch 2 has a near-identical form factor to its predecessor: a hybrid screen, detachable Joy-Con, and a dock to group it all together. But just because the device appears the same, that doesn’t mean there aren’t some substantial changes going on under the hood.
In this guide, we look at the new Nintendo Switch 2 dock with confirmed details, leaked info, and rumours covering the cables and connections it supports and how the new dock is different from the original.
Nintendo Switch 2 Dock – The Details
While we don’t have the official measurements for the Switch 2 dock just yet, we can confidently say that it’s a fair amount bigger than the ‘Switch 1’ dock (which stood at 104mm x 173mm x 54mm).
Measurements leaked by Dbrand put the Switch 2 width at 200mm with the Joy-Con detached, so eyeballing the reveal trailer it appears to be approximately 20cm wide (as with the current model, the dock is approximately the same width as the console). That’s the best intel we have until we get official measurements.
The Switch 2 dock leaves more screen on display thanks to its rounded corners, and it also appears thinner than its predecessor, although it’s difficult to tell from the first-look trailer.
As for connections, an HDMI port is the only certainty, with the reveal showcasing the dock plugged into a nearby TV. It’s reasonable to assume it will charge using USB-C AC adapter via a port and include other USB ports.
Leaks which supposedly show the back of the dock suggest that it musters the same 15V output voltage as the Switch OLED, but its input voltage has been increased to 20V. It’s also rumoured to ship with a 60W charger.
Switch 2 Dock Rumours & FAQ
Here is a selection of common Nintendo Switch 2 dock questions covering rumoured features and functions:
Can you put Switch 1 into Switch 2’s dock?
Nintendo hasn’t officially commented on potential interoperability with Switch docks. We may not have the official answer until we have the Switch 2 dock (and a ‘Switch 1’ screen) in our hands.
Leaks suggest that the Switch 2 dock is capable of 4K upscaling. Combined with the rumoured more powerful charger, we’d imagine that Nintendo wouldn’t recommend putting your old console in the new dock but that is speculation for now. It’s possible.
Conversely, what happens if you put Switch 2 into Switch 1’s dock? Is it possible to use the new Switch with the old dock?
That one seems a lot simpler. As per the pre-reveal leaks, the Switch 2 appears to have an extra ‘lip’ on the bottom around its USB-C port, meaning the new console won’t sit correctly in your classic hub.
Images: Nintendo
Is the Nintendo Switch 2 4K?
Switch 2 is rumoured to feature an upscaling solution similar to Nvidia’s DLSS technology for 4K output, although we still don’t know for sure.
While not the same as native 4K presentation, this upscaling approach would allow Switch 2 to hit visuals that appear much closer to the realms of 4K, while maintaining the console’s small form factor and hopefully lessened price tag.
A Nintendo patent from December 2024 outlined technology much like DLSS, but with some new features including cloud upscaling, the ability to switch out DLSS models in real-time, and various upscaling capabilities from 540p-1080p up to 1080p-4K.
Investigating the patent for Digital Foundry, Alex Battaglia suggested that the patented upscaling tech may reserve the higher resolution boost for docked play only, allowing 4K visuals when played on a larger screen. That said, it’s only a theory at the moment.
Does the Nintendo Switch 2 use USB-C?
Yes, the Switch 2 houses not one, but two USB-C ports (one on the bottom and one on the top).
While it is safe to assume that the bottom one will fulfil the same role as its predecessor and will be used for docking and charging, Nintendo has yet to reveal any secret plans for the top port.
Can I use my old power supply with the Switch 2 dock?
If the Switch 2’s rumoured 60W charger is to be believed, then probably not.
Switch 1 was comfortable running with a 39W charger, but the ‘Switch 2’ may require a beefier approach to account for that rumoured added power.
Can I use my old cables with the Switch 2 dock?
Aside from the 60W charger we mentioned above, we assume that you’ll be able to use the same HDMI cable to connect it to the TV and the same USB-to-USB-C wires for connecting and charging controllers.
