Features

Five reasons why you shouldn’t buy the Nintendo Switch 2

And one reason why you should

Published

April 3, 2025

Luigi Leonardo

We’ve now had 12 hours to fully process the monumental Nintendo Switch 2 launch. After a full hour of unadulterated news and announcements, it’s impossible not to react with a “WOW”. Now, if you’re still cautiously riding the Nintendo hype train, you might be looking for reasons to temper your expectations or convince yourself not to buy on launch. Well, here are five.

The prices are just too high.

Nintendo conveniently left out the prices of the console and its games during the hour-long Nintendo Direct. That’s because Nintendo knew that these prices would deflate (or just outright burst) all the hype it fostered for the full hour. The Switch 2 is not a cheap console.

To be fair, the console itself is comparatively cheaper than other consoles. It will cost US$ 449.99, which sounds fairly believable. However, the prices of games on the platform are much less palatable.

For example, it’s now confirmed that Mario Kart World, one of the first launch titles for the Switch 2, will cost you US$ 79.99 for the digital edition. The physical edition will cost US$ 89.99.

This is the first time that the base version of a game will cost that much. Even if the console itself has a manageable price, buying games for it will set you back by miles. If it’s any consolation, these exorbitant prices will likely apply only to first-party Nintendo games and exclusives… for now. Still, it doesn’t bode well that Nintendo has started the trend of $80 games.

There isn’t much innovation.

For a brand-new console, you should assume the best possible hardware. The Switch 2 does seem promising, especially since it can apparently support modern games like Elden Ring and Cyberpunk 2077. That said, there are still a few doubtful specs inside.

For one, the new console does not come with an OLED screen. Instead, we’re back to LCD. It might not be that big of an issue, though. The display can still support 1080p resolution and 120fps. Plus, the dock supports 4K resolution and HDR.

But that’s not the only thing. The Switch 2 comes with only 256GB of internal storage. Since we don’t know how big the games will be, we can’t tell if this is a good thing yet. It’s still unfortunate that other consoles already come with 1TB internally, but the Switch 2 is still stuck with only 256GB.

We also don’t know just how powerful the new hardware is. Sure, it can play Elden Ring, but is the game on decent graphics settings or on very low? Modern handheld consoles today still struggle with big games like Cyberpunk 2077. If a chunky console like the Legion Go has difficulty playing these games, how can a thinner Switch 2 compete?

Based solely on the hardware presented to us during the Direct, it’s difficult to claim that the Switch 2 is a day-one buy.

Region locking might be a thing now.

Today, the best way to get a new Switch is to get a cheap one during a trip to Japan. New units are naturally cheaper in the country. For example, I got my OLED Switch Mario Red Edition for a little less than US$ 300.

If you were thinking of doing the same thing for the Switch 2, Nintendo has introduced a few caveats. On the Japanese landing page of the new console, the company confirms that there will be a Japanese model to contrast the multilingual/international one. The Japanese version will work only with a Nintendo account set to Japan. If you don’t have an account, you won’t be able to use GameChat, Virtual Game Cards, Nintendo Switch Online, or the eShop. Nintendo also does not guarantee that these domestic models will work in other countries.

It’s possible that we don’t have the full picture yet. We wouldn’t even count out a mistranslation somewhere. Either way, Nintendo has not confirmed whether Japan is still selling international versions, amid the domestic ones. It also has not announced potential price differences if the country does sell both versions.

Regardless, this is now something you have to take note of, especially if Japan will sell only domestic units.

There’s still so much to play on the original Switch.

Like any gamer today, I’m terrible at maintaining my backlog of games. I still have a mountain of titles I haven’t finished or started. This also goes for my Switch. I’ve barely started on Tears of the Kingdom. I haven’t opened the latest Pokémon games. And I haven’t finished Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door.

Even if I dedicate the next two months before the Switch 2’s launch to finishing my backlog of old Switch games, I still think I have enough content to fill me for the year.

The Switch 2 has only a few exclusive titles announced at the moment. Plus, a good chunk of upcoming games will still come to the original Switch. The old version is still a capable console. With so many years of titles, the original Switch can keep chugging along well after the launch of the Switch 2.

It’s also unlikely that most Switch users are upgrading immediately to the new one. If you’re into the Switch for the social aspect, you won’t be missing out on much by skipping the Switch 2’s launch day.

TEKKEN 8 running on the ROG Ally X

Other handheld consoles are still good.

Right after the Nintendo Direct yesterday, we said that PC-based handheld consoles are now facing a crisis. In retrospect, handheld consoles will probably be fine. This is because today’s handheld gamers have something over Switch 2 gamers: They already own a handheld console.

The Switch 2 is a worthy console for prospective handheld gamers… if they don’t already own another console. If they already have a handheld console of their own, it’s hard to justify ditching that for a Switch 2.

Despite the number of titles announced for the Switch 2, PC-based competitors still have access to Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG. The games on these platforms are only just trickling to the Switch 2. As such, they still have the wider library. Because some run on Windows, they also feature more customizability to fit your needs.

But there is one reason to get a Switch 2.

Since the Direct, I’ve slowly convinced myself to only cautiously bite into the launch day hype. All it took was five reasons. I am, however, still a bit optimistic because of one reason.

It’s a Nintendo console. While you can certainly argue that Nintendo doesn’t have a perfect track record, even the less successful consoles, like the Wii U, had their bright spots. The original Switch is still one of the bestselling consoles of all time. A Nintendo console is also the only (legal) way to play the company’s games.

Even if I don’t fall for the launch day hype, I can still see myself buying a Switch 2 somewhere down the line.

Features

Samsung is done chasing specs, says TM Roh

Samsung shifts beyond spec wars

Published

March 9, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

For more than a decade, the smartphone industry has been defined by a familiar race. More megapixels. Faster processors. Bigger batteries. Thinner designs. Being first. Being the most. And being the fastest.

The industry rewarded brands that appeared to be chasing specs. Bigger numbers meant progress. At least on paper.

But if you ask Samsung, the days of chasing specs may no longer define the future of Galaxy smartphones.

During a regional roundtable following the launch of the latest Galaxy devices, I asked TM Roh how the company decides when it’s time for a major hardware upgrade if it isn’t simply chasing specs.

His answer revealed how Samsung now approaches the future of its flagship smartphones.

According to Roh, hardware upgrades are increasingly tied to how well they support Galaxy AI.

“To make Galaxy AI run smoothly, it must be backed by strong hardware,” Roh said during the session, speaking through a translator. He added that Samsung develops its hardware, software, and AI capabilities together — and that major upgrades tend to arrive only when the company reaches what he described as the “desired level of excellence.”
(Quotes are approximate translations.)

“To make Galaxy AI run smoothly, it must be backed by strong hardware.”
(Approximate translation from TM Roh during the roundtable)

In short, Samsung says it’s no longer chasing specs for the sake of winning spec-sheet battles. Not anymore.

Samsung CEO TM Roh answering questions at a media roundtable in San Francisco

When hardware stops chasing numbers

Hardware innovation still matters. But Samsung increasingly frames those improvements as tools that enable smarter software experiences.

During the roundtable, Roh pointed to Samsung’s custom application processors, which now include stronger neural processing capabilities designed to handle AI workloads more efficiently. Dedicated hardware is also being introduced to strengthen privacy and security — including technologies embedded directly into the display. (See: Privacy Display)

Even cameras, historically one of the biggest battlegrounds for smartphone innovation, are evolving in the same direction.

Roh noted that while sensors and lenses remain important, modern smartphone photography now relies heavily on AI-powered image processing working alongside the hardware. This could also explain why, as of writing, Samsung has resisted the extra telephoto lens accessories that is prevalent with other brands.

The shift is subtle but important. Instead of emphasizing bigger numbers on spec sheets, Samsung positions hardware upgrades as part of a broader system designed to support intelligent software.

Why Samsung gets dunked on online

That philosophy, however, exists in tension with how smartphones are often discussed online.

In a landscape driven by benchmark charts and viral comparisons, incremental refinement rarely generates the same excitement as dramatic hardware leaps. Over the past few years, the Galaxy S series has occasionally become an easy target for criticism — especially as rival Android manufacturers compete to deliver the biggest numbers, the fastest charging speeds, or the thinnest designs.

The temptation in tech media, particularly on platforms like YouTube, is often to dunk on Samsung rather than examine the nuance behind its approach. Spectacular upgrades and dramatic spec sheets make better thumbnails.

Yet listening to Samsung executives across multiple briefings reveals something interesting: the messaging is remarkably consistent. Whether discussing cameras, processors, or ecosystem features, the company repeatedly returns to the same principle. Hardware innovation matters most when it unlocks a better overall experience.

A company that knows its role

That consistency suggests Samsung knows exactly who it is in the smartphone industry.

As the largest Android smartphone manufacturer globally, Samsung occupies a position where competitors often measure themselves against it. Many brands differentiate by pushing aggressive specifications or experimenting with bold hardware changes.

In many ways, everyone else is punching up.

Scale changes priorities. When you’re building devices for hundreds of millions of users, the focus shifts toward reliability, ecosystem integration, and increasingly, AI-powered experiences that work consistently across products.

Why Southeast Asia matters in Samsung’s AI strategy

During the roundtable, Roh also emphasized the importance of Southeast Asia and Oceania to Samsung’s AI strategy.

According to the company’s internal research, the region ranks among the most receptive markets for AI-powered mobile features. Younger demographics and heavy social media usage are driving adoption.

In markets where smartphones are central to communication, content creation, and digital services, AI-powered tools — from translation features to image editing — have found strong traction.

That context helps explain why Samsung continues to position AI as the defining layer of its next-generation devices.

Is the smartphone spec race ending?

For years, smartphone makers built their identities around chasing specs.

Bigger numbers meant better phones. Faster chips meant progress.

Samsung, it seems, is chasing something else.

Whether that bet ultimately reshapes the smartphone experience remains to be seen. But if Roh’s comments are any indication, the next major leap in Galaxy hardware won’t happen simply because the numbers can go higher.

It will happen when Samsung believes the experience — not the spec sheet — is ready to move forward.

Hands-On

OPPO Reno15 F 5G hands-on

More question marks than exclamation points?

Published

March 6, 2026

Manila Connoisseur

The OPPO Reno15 Series 5G made its way to the Philippines last month, and reception has been pretty great so far.

With a powerful camera package, AI, and a slew of upgrades, there’s a lot to love and not much negative to say. But that’s with both the standard and Pro models.

On the other hand, with the Reno15 F 5G — the series’ supposed budget-friendly “lite” variant —there were more question marks than exclamation points.

I attack this piece once more from a consumer standpoint: shelling out PhP 23,000 to PhP 26,000 for a midrange smartphone that feels and performs like it’s a few notches below its segment doesn’t sound too pleasant.

Performance

With a Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor, the OPPO Reno15 F performs pretty much like any sub PhP 20,000 mid-ranger. It’s acceptable, but does not punch above its weight as expected.

No major hiccups for light and casual usage. But performance struggles a lot for demanding video games.

It also heats up significantly just 10 minutes into a title like Honkai: Star Rail. This is a stark contrast to the marketed 25℃ and up to 10 hours straight of smooth gameplay.

Although, the experience was still enjoyable with several wins and MVP runs in Call of Duty Mobile. It only means the F variant remains a more camera-centric phone rather than an a hard-hitting all-arounder.

As with other devices, the 7000mAh battery with 80W SUPERVOOC is a strong suit. You’re fueled from dawn ’til dusk, with much to spare. Recharging takes a breeze, too.

Display

The OPPO Reno15 F has a 6.57-inch 120Hz display, with a 92.8% screen-to-body ratio. At least, that allows you to focus on content on the screen.

Content leans more towards the cooler tone, so you’ll have to adjust it manually if you want a warmer or more vivid look.

The 397ppi pixel density is fine to ensure sharper visuals, while the 1400 nits peak brightness is helpful outdoors.

Camera

The device’s 50MP main camera captures decent quality. The color science leans on being natural anew, without being too dull nor washed out. You can pull off smooth portraits too.

I hardly used the phone for stills as I focused on videos, but here are some samples, on the occasions I was able to take the handset with me:

The 50MP front camera is an intriguing add-on, as it is capable of up to 4K video and a wide 100° field of view.

What this does is it essentially removes the need to flip your phone for the popular “0.5” shots. And the quality doesn’t get compromised given the pixel count.

Here are some selfies from different focal lengths:

To its credit, filming with the back camera at 60fps does look and feel smooth, although it can be improved.

Same with the front camera; and the zoom range can be switched from 0.6 to 2x without cutting the recording.

Although, it’s still best to use a selfie stick or small tripod if you’re just after talking head videos.

Speaking of which, here are a few I’ve made with just this device:

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♬ original sound – Manila Connoisseur – Manila Connoisseur

But for travel and on-the-go captures, as OPPO markets for the series in general, even the Reno15 F can cover a lot of background along with your or your groups’ faces.

Make no mistake, there are some useful AI editing features here. In particular, AI Portrait Glow gives your raw capture an effect to make it look it was taken with flash.

I do not recall the device heating up as well when taking many photos or videos, so you can say it’s more optimized for that task rather than gaming.

Connectivity issues

Meanwhile, AI LinkBoost 3.0, as in the case of the OPPO A6 Pro, doesn’t seem to punch above its weight either.

Once, I also played Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and the session opened to a jittery start despite being on Wi-Fi and having a stable connection. I don’t know what triggered this.

Design, feel

We got the Aurora Blue variant which does kind of resemble the northern lights when you tilt the phone a certain way and when light hits its back panel.

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The cursive “Reno” on the large, protruding camera island gives it more style.

However, it’s all just aesthetics. On the downside, the phone is all sorts of slippery.

I couldn’t hold it properly without think of it slipping away from my hands; nor could I put it on my lap with confidence.

So I guess it’s good that it has structural integrity and waterproofing, because you’ll need that.

oplus_16

The 6.57-inch body does have a good balance between being too compact and too large, like ultras and pro maxes.

It has a squarish body and has already adapted to the premium, aluminum frame look from the sides.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

Sadly, the OPPO Reno15 F 5G is a Swipe Left unlike its bigger, more capable siblings. There are plenty of plus points for the camera package but take that away, and I don’t see much difference between the Reno15 F and something like the A6 Pro.

Granted, the asking price of this phone will drop significantly in a few months. But throw in a little more, and you’ve got a legitimate mid-ranger that’s more on the premium side rather than the cheap end of the spectrum.