I tried the Nintendo Switch 2s new handheld boost feature, and I couldnt believe how good these smash-hit Switch games looked

Date:
Sun, 29 Mar 2026 18:00:00 +0000

Description:
I tested the Nintendo Switch 2s handheld boost mode, and its an absolute game-changer heres why.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Tech Radar Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Become a Member in Seconds Unlock instant access to exclusive member
features. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting
your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Join the club Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards. Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter 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 GameChat 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. Article continues below You may like The latest Nintendo Switch 2 update takes handheld mode to the next level I've tested
it and the results are 'incredible' The 25 best Nintendo Switch 2 games to play right now After more than eight months with the Nintendo Switch 2, I still cant get over this one performance upgrade and it's got nothing to do with visuals or framerate 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. Pokmon Legends: Arceus Image 1 of 4 My trainer with handheld boost mode on (Image credit: Nintendo / The Pokmon Company / Game Freak) My trainer with handheld boost mode off (Image credit: Nintendo / The Pokmon Company / Game Freak) My Giratina with handheld boost mode on (Image credit: Nintendo / The Pokmon Company / Game Freak) My Giratina with handheld boost mode off (Image credit: Nintendo / The Pokmon Company / Game Freak) I've not played Pokmon 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 Pokmon 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. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

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... Today's best Pokemon Legends Arceus deals 24.99 View 48.97 View 49.99 View Show more We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Fire Emblem: Three Houses Image 1 of 4 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. What to read next Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade Switch 2 review: Nintendo's handheld console makes for one of the best ways to play FFVII The 27 best Nintendo Switch games in 2026 Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 review: good, but not quite great

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. Today's best Fire Emblem Three Houses deals 45.45 View 48.66 View 49.99 View Show more We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Image 1 of
4 (Image credit: Nintendo) (Image credit: Nintendo) (Image credit: Nintendo) (Image credit: Nintendo) 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! Today's best Super Smash Bros. Ultimate deals 501 Amazon customer reviews 42.95 View Low Stock 44.99 View 52.99 View Show more We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices The best Nintendo Switch 2 games to play right now Our top picks for Nintendo's latest handheld

Read our full guide to the best Nintendo Switch 2 games 1. Best overall: Donkey Kong Bananza 2. Great for multiplayer: Mario Kart World 3. A sequel
for the ages: Hollow Knight: Silksong 4. A timeless adventure and remake: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition 5. Best Pokmon: Pokmon Legends Z-A Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

And of course, you can also follow TechRadar on YouTube and TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/gaming/i-tried-the-nintendo-switch-2s-new-handheld-b oost-feature-and-i-couldnt-believe-how-good-these-smash-hit-switch-games-looke d


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)