I tried the Nintendo Switch 2’s new handheld boost feature, and I couldn’t believe how good these smash-hit Switch games looked | Tech Radar
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I tried the Nintendo Switch 2’s new handheld boost feature, and I couldn’t believe how good these smash-hit Switch games looked
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(Image credit: Nintendo / The Pokémon Company / Game Freak)
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Recently, Nintendo dropped a firmware update for the Nintendo Switch 2. In System Update 22.0.0, players were treated to a range of small improvements to features like Game Chat and Airplane Mode.
However, Nintendo also sneakily added a brand new option called Handheld Mode Boost. While playing your Nintendo Switch 2 handheld, this feature enables you to run Nintendo Switch games as if you were playing them in TV mode. This means you'll get to enjoy improved visuals while playing on-the-go, making Handheld Mode Boost feel as if it should've been more than just a footnote.
But just how good is this new Switch 2 feature? I tested it out myself, and I have to say: I'm seriously impressed. I'll share my experiences across three classic Nintendo Switch titles down below, but first, a quick disclaimer. The screenshots you'll see in this article do not fully represent the visual quality I experienced first-hand. The difference was more drastic on the eye, and so I highly recommend trying the feature out for yourself to see the true power of Handheld Mode Boost.
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Oh, also, this mode will drain your Switch 2's battery pretty quickly. Given that the console's battery life is already on the low side, this could be an issue for longer play sessions. However, I've written before about how you can address the Switch 2's battery woes.
Right, with that out of the way, let's dive right into my thoughts on this fancy new mode.
My trainer with handheld boost mode on(Image credit: Nintendo / The Pokémon Company / Game Freak)
My trainer with handheld boost mode off(Image credit: Nintendo / The Pokémon Company / Game Freak)
My Giratina with handheld boost mode on(Image credit: Nintendo / The Pokémon Company / Game Freak)
My Giratina with handheld boost mode off(Image credit: Nintendo / The Pokémon Company / Game Freak)
I've not played Pokémon Legends: Arceus since it released, and although I'm far from this entry's biggest fan, it showed off the capabilities of Handheld Mode Boost to great effect.
As you can see in the above images — and even in the headline snapshot — my Pokémon look cleaner with the new mode active. The likes of Regigigas appeared slightly pixelated on my Switch 2 initially, leaving aspects like its outline and mossy parts looking unrefined. However, after I activated Handheld Mode Boost, those janky edges and obscured details were swept away, and I bore witness to a more rounded, attractive version of my legendary 'mon.
On top of that, background elements looked way better with this new mode active. In the screenshots with my trainer, bricks and windows appear blurry and poorly defined. But not with Handheld Mode Boost, which went a long way in revealing the picture's intricacies.
I thought the game looked much better with this new mode, but I have to say, the next title was even more striking...
A conversation between characters with handheld boost mode on(Image credit: Nintendo)
A conversation between characters with handheld boost mode off(Image credit: Nintendo)
A conversation between characters with handheld boost mode on(Image credit: Nintendo)
A conversation between characters with handheld boost mode off(Image credit: Nintendo)
That's right, I was seriously blown away by the improvements that Handheld Mode Boost applied to Fire Emblem: Three Houses, one of the most beloved tactical JRPGs of the modern era.
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When engaging in a conversation with Marianne, I was instantly struck by how jagged her outlines looked without boost mode active, with details like her eyes appearing blurred and less detailed. After activating the new mode, though, it was as if I was playing a totally different title. Individual hairs were more defined, Marianne's pupils and iris were separated more neatly, and the overall picture was vastly improved.
It was a similar story when viewing an interaction between Claude and Hilda, with outlines looking softer and cleaner with Handheld Mode Boost in use. I've actually never finished this game, so this new Switch 2 update has given me a seriously good reason to return.
Last, but certainly not least, we have Super Smash Bros. Ultimate — a phenomenal fighting game with one of the most ambitious character rosters of all time.
And here, the benefits of Handheld Mode Boost were clear for me to see, even if the above screenshots don't fully do it justice. More than anything, I was pleased once more to see outlines looking so much more refined with this new mode, with characters like Sonic appearing slightly rough around the edges before.
The changes were a bit more subtle than they seemed in Fire Emblem: Three Houses, but the new mode still made a considerable difference. Especially as some of my absolute favorite fighters, like Mewtwo and Sephiroth, look tidier and more polished now. But it wasn't only the higher-quality outlines and character models that I enjoyed; it was also the more detailed text and icons, which looked far crisper thanks to Handheld Mode Boost.
This update really did help me enjoy some of my go-to Switch games in a new light, so will you be trying it out for yourself? Let me know in the comments!
➡️ Read our full guide to the best Nintendo Switch 2 games
- Best overall: Donkey Kong Bananza
- Great for multiplayer: Mario Kart World
- A sequel for the ages: Hollow Knight: Silksong
- A timeless adventure and remake: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
- Best Pokémon: Pokémon Legends Z-A
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Harry is a Reviews Staff Writer for Tech Radar. He reviews everything from party speakers to wall chargers and has a particular interest in the worlds of audio and gaming. Harry has a background in business tech journalism, particularly around the telecoms industry.
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I tried the Nintendo Switch 2’s new handheld boost feature, and I couldn’t believe how good these smash-hit Switch games looked
