Subj : The Nintendo Switch 2 Camera gets the job done for GameChat, but To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Fri Oct 03 2025 22:15:09 The Nintendo Switch 2 Camera gets the job done for GameChat, but its not a must-own accessory Date: Fri, 03 Oct 2025 21:00:00 +0000 Description: The Nintendo Switch 2 Camera does what it says on the tin, even if it basically is just a webcam. FULL STORY ======================================================================Nintendo Switch 2 Camera: Review If youre looking to make the most of GameChat for online multiplayer, the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera is a decent way to go about it. Its basic design may lack the charm of the Hori Piranha Plant Camera , but rest assured that the official Switch 2 Camera is a significantly better product, even if I wouldnt classify it as one of the best webcams out there. Im a believer that contemporary webcams should be aiming for at least 720p picture quality, with 1080p being the ideal. The Switch 2 Camera clears Horis product on this front, boasting 1080p picture quality over the Piranha Plants disappointing 480p. As a result, your face will come through crisply on GameChat, as well as on PC for work meetings or chats with friends. Price will definitely be a bit of a sticking point, though. At $54.99 / 49.99 / AU$, it costs less than the Hori Piranha Plant Camera in the US, but a good deal more than it does in the UK. Youre basically paying for the official branding here, really, especially as you can pick up 720p and 1080p webcams that perform just as well for much less. (Image credit: Future) While the Switch 2 Camera can be used when youre playing in handheld mode, its rigid design (not to mention the lack of a clip or mount) makes it best suited for when your console is docked. The tall stem upon which the camera sits is likely the way it is for this reason, so it can still reasonably capture your face while you sit back on the couch. Its likely also designed to support its wide field of view, which is around 110 degrees. Thats a good deal more than most PC webcams, but it does make sense given Nintendos family-friendly approach. If you have a few folk sitting in the room while playing with GameChat, that wider viewing angle does a decent job of capturing everyone in the same frame. You can also adjust the vertical angle of the camera itself by a total of around 30-40 degrees or so. Thats fairly acceptable when you take into account its otherwise unmoving design. And when you want to hide yourself, a privacy shutter is included via a circular dial around the camera. You can also manually turn off the camera feed in GameChats settings by hitting your controllers C button during play. (Image credit: Future) As for performance, the cameras 1080p output is decent, if a little soft around the edges. While youre using GameChat, the Switch 2 attempts to crop you out of the background and place you onto a blank one that takes on the color of your profile picture. Thats a nice touch, and also means you dont have to fiddle around with blur settings. One major problem I had, though, had to do with the space between myself and the blank background. I have a blank wall behind me in my office space, and the surroundings were still noticeably fuzzy. I also had moments during a Mario Kart World play session where I appeared to phase in and out of existence on the screen, so its not a perfect implementation by any means. To be fair, your mileage may vary here depending on your background and lighting conditions. Thankfully, the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera is blissfully simple to set up. Being an officially licensed product, simply plugging it into the console via USB-C caused it to be registered immediately. That was the same case on PC, too, when using it as a webcam. Theres no fussing with drivers or installs. Just plug it in and youre good to go. It also works with a USB-A adapter on both Switch 2 and PC, if you prefer that. (Image credit: Future) Nintendo Switch 2 Camera: Price & Specs Price $54.99 / 49.99 / AU$69.95 Resolution 1080p at 30fps Field of view Around 110 degrees Dimensions 6.3 x 2.5 x 1.5in x 160 x 64 x 38mm Weight 0.3lbs / 136g Compatibility Nintendo Switch 2, PC, MacOS Should you buy the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera? (Image credit: Future) Buy it if... You primarily play in docked mode If docked mode on TV is your preferred playstyle with Switch 2, then the official camera is the way to go for GameChat multiplayer sessions. The wide field of view makes it easy to capture multiple people in the same frame, and is useful if you sit a ways back from your console. You want decently high resolution Compared to Horis 480p, the 1080p resolution of the Switch 2 Camera is preferable, and certainly makes sense given its wide field of view. Its not utterly crystal clear, but it does a fine job of capturing you at a range of distances. Don't buy it if... Youre on a budget The Switch 2 Cameras price tag is a little steep for what is essentially a webcam on a stand. You can buy webcams with similar specs for a lot less, and theyll almost certainly be compatible with Switch 2 via USB-A or USB-C connections. You mostly play in handheld mode Unlike the Hori Piranha Plant Camera, the Switch 2 Camera isnt quite as versatile, lacking any kind of clip or mount. That means handheld play, while doable, isnt quite as well-suited here as it would be with Horis device. Nintendo Switch 2 Camera: Also consider Hori Piranha Plant Camera While its let down by specs like a paltry 480p image quality, the Hori Piranha Plant Camera isnt a total write-off. For one, its L-shaped mount makes it decently suited for handheld play. And if youre a Super Mario head, the design of it is certainly very cute. Read our full Hori Piranha Plant Camera review How I tested the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera Tested for one month Used for Switch 2 GameChat multiplayer and as an office webcam Largely tested with Mario Kart World and chat apps like Discord Ive been using the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera for a little over a month now, as both a Nintendo Switch 2 GameChat device and as a webcam for work and social gaming sessions over Discord. On Switch 2, I primarily played in docked mode while using the camera with an AOC Gaming 24G2SP 1080p gaming monitor. While gaming, I tested the cameras functionality with sessions of Mario Kart World with my TechRadar Gaming colleague Dash Wood. While here, I also made sure to test out GameChats various settings, including screen size and in-game face capture options. Read more about how we test First reviewed: October 2025 ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/gaming/nintendo-switch-2-camera-review --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .