Nintendo’s latest home console, the Nintendo Switch 2, just earned a spot on Time Magazine’s list of the best inventions of 2025. The annual roundup celebrates products and technologies that changed how we live, work, play, and think this year. In the Entertainment and Gaming category, Time highlighted the Switch 2 for how it expands what fans already loved about the original system while packing in meaningful upgrades.
Time’s write-up makes it clear that the original Nintendo Switch was a milestone in gaming, redefining portable play for a whole generation. The 2025 sequel builds on that legacy by bringing more power and sharper visuals without giving up the flexibility that made the first model a cultural phenomenon. With an Nvidia Tegra T239 chip, dedicated ray-tracing hardware, Deep Learning Super-Sampling support, and the ability to output up to 4K on compatible TVs while delivering smooth handheld performance at 1080p and 120Hz, the Switch 2 bridges the gap between living room hardware and handheld portability in a way few others have managed.
Sales figures reflect how strongly fans have embraced the new console. Nintendo sold 3.5 million units in the switch’s first week, making this the fastest-selling piece of hardware in the company’s history. That momentum continued well beyond launch, with millions more consoles moving into players’ hands over the following months.
Time paired the Switch 2 with a handful of other standout inventions for 2025, including handheld gaming PCs and high-end projectors, but it was Nintendo’s innovation in marrying handheld convenience with cutting-edge tech that earned recognition. For Zelda fans in particular, the Switch 2 represents not just an exciting platform for future adventures in Hyrule but also one of the most talked-about gaming devices of the year.
With strong hardware showing, robust sales, and industry recognition on its side, the Switch 2 capped its breakthrough year by joining Time’s Best Inventions of 2025. That kind of spotlight doesn’t come often for gaming consoles and it underscores how Nintendo’s latest system is resonating across both gamer communities and broader audiences.
