Nintendo put the price of the Switch 2 up at the start of this month. Right now, though, you can buy one in the UK for less than it has ever officially cost — including less than its original launch price. That's not a typo, and it's not a one-off fluke at some obscure retailer either.
If you've been holding off on a Switch 2, or you're trying to work out whether to buy now or wait for a Black Friday sale, here's exactly what's changed, where the genuine savings are right now, and what's landing in the run-up to Christmas.
What actually happened to the Nintendo Switch 2 price
The Switch 2 launched in June 2025 at £395.99. That price held for over a year, until Nintendo confirmed a round of global price increases back in May 2026, citing market conditions it expected to persist over the medium to long term — chiefly the ongoing global shortage of RAM, driven largely by AI data centre demand pushing up memory chip costs across the entire electronics industry. Nintendo wasn't alone here: Xbox Series S and X, and PlayStation 5 consoles, have all seen UK price rises of their own this year for broadly the same reason.
For the UK specifically, that increase landed on 1 September 2026, taking the console from £395.99 to £419.99 — a £24 jump. Ireland saw a comparable rise, from €469.99 to €499.99, and the US and Canada were hit with larger percentage increases of their own. It's not a huge amount in isolation, but for a big-ticket Christmas purchase, £24 is £24, and it understandably put a few people off buying at the "new normal" price.
Where it's actually cheaper right now
Here's the part that makes this worth writing about. As of late September 2026, both Argos and Smyths Toys are selling the standard Nintendo Switch 2 console for £354.99 — around £65 below the current £419.99 price, and genuinely cheaper than the console's original £395.99 launch price from last year. One reviewer covering the deal called it comfortably the cheapest price currently available anywhere in the country, and pointed out the saving is roughly enough to add a game of your choice on top and still come out ahead.
A couple of honest caveats worth flagging before you rush to check out. It isn't clear yet whether this is a short promotional push or something retailers intend to hold for longer — stock-clearing discounts like this can end without much warning, so if the price looks right when you check it, it's worth acting rather than assuming it'll still be there next week. It's also worth comparing Argos and Smyths directly against Amazon UK and other major electronics retailers before you buy, since pricing on a console this in-demand can shift day to day, and a live price check takes seconds.
New holiday bundles landing before Christmas
Alongside the pricing shake-up, Nintendo has confirmed three new Switch 2 bundles specifically for the 2026 holiday season, each with its own release date:
- Nintendo Switch 2 + Nintendo Switch Sports Resort — landing 22 October 2026, bundled with a full digital download of the game and a 3-month Nintendo Switch Online membership. A sensible pick for families with younger kids or anyone who wants an easy, motion-controlled pick-up-and-play title in the box from day one.
- Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World — landing 29 October 2026, again with a 3-month Switch Online membership included. This is the safest all-rounder bundle for most households, given how central Mario Kart is to the Switch 2's launch line-up.
- Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition — also landing 29 October 2026. This one's a special-edition console rather than a game bundle: Triforce motifs on the back, a matching dock and Joy-Con 2 controllers, priced at £429.99. It's aimed squarely at collectors and dedicated Zelda fans rather than being the best-value option, and past special editions like this one have tended to sell out quickly and attract resellers — if you want it as a gift, it's worth getting your order in as soon as it's listed rather than waiting.
One practical note regardless of which version you buy: the Switch 2 doesn't have a user-replaceable battery, so it's worth budgeting for a decent case or screen protector from the outset rather than treating it as an optional extra later.
Is it worth waiting for Black Friday instead?
It's a fair question, and worth answering honestly rather than just telling you to buy now. Looking back at Black Friday 2025 — the console's first — discounts on Switch 2 bundles were fairly modest, generally in the region of £20 to £25 off, or roughly 5–10%. Nothing like the deeper cuts you'll sometimes see on older, more established hardware.
That matters here because the current Argos and Smyths price of £354.99 already represents a bigger saving in cash terms than most of what turned up on Black Friday last year. There's no guarantee this year's Black Friday will repeat that pattern, but based on the precedent, waiting purely in the hope of a better console-only price isn't a sure bet — especially with the added uncertainty of a promotional price that might not last that long anyway. If you specifically want one of the new holiday bundles, though, those won't even be on shelves until late October, so Black Friday remains the more relevant comparison point for bundle pricing rather than the standalone console.
Getting the most out of your purchase
Whichever version you go for, a console-sized purchase is exactly the kind of order worth double-checking for extra savings before you check out. Our guide to stacking discount codes and cashback walks through how to combine a voucher code with a cashback rate on the same order, rather than treating them as either/or. It's also worth browsing PrimeVoucher's electronics deals category for current offers on accessories, cases and storage — a microSD Express card is worth adding to your basket early, since Switch 2 game files run noticeably larger than the original console's.
If you're ordering online rather than picking up in-store, don't pay for delivery you don't need to — our guide to finding free delivery codes explains where to look and why codes sometimes fail to apply. And with the busiest delivery weeks of the year approaching, choosing click and collect for a console-sized parcel is worth considering rather than risking it being left on a doorstep.
Which bundle actually suits your household?
There's no single "best" option here — it depends on who's unwrapping it. For a household with younger children, the Switch Sports Resort bundle is the easiest entry point: intuitive motion controls, minimal setup, and a game that's genuinely designed to be picked up without a tutorial. For most other households, the Mario Kart World bundle is the safer all-rounder, given how much of the Switch 2's early software line-up and multiplayer appeal centres on it. The Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition is really a different kind of purchase altogether — buy that one because you want the collector's piece, not because it's the most cost-effective way to get a Switch 2 under the tree.
If budget is the deciding factor, the standalone £354.99 console plus a separately chosen game will often work out cheaper than a bundle, particularly if you already own a game from the Switch 2's line-up on another platform or via digital download.
A quick checklist before you buy
- Compare the live price at Argos, Smyths Toys and Amazon UK on the day you're ready to buy — deals like this can move quickly.
- Decide whether you actually want a bundled game or would rather buy the console alone and choose games separately.
- If you want the Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition, don't wait — limited-run special editions on this console have sold out fast before.
- Budget for a case and a microSD Express card alongside the console itself, given there's no swappable battery and game files run large.
- Check for a discount code and cashback before you check out, whichever retailer you end up buying from.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Nintendo Switch 2 cost in the UK now?
The official UK price is £419.99, up from £395.99 at launch, following Nintendo's price increase that took effect on 1 September 2026. However, Argos and Smyths Toys are currently selling it for £354.99, which is cheaper than both the new and original prices.
Why did the Nintendo Switch 2 price go up?
Nintendo pointed to market conditions it expects to continue over the medium to long term, largely driven by a global shortage of RAM linked to rising demand from AI data centres — a cost pressure that's also pushed up prices on Xbox and PlayStation consoles this year.
Is the £354.99 Switch 2 deal likely to last?
It's not clear whether this is a temporary promotional price or something retailers plan to hold onto for longer, so it's worth buying sooner rather than assuming the price will still be there in a few weeks.
What new Nintendo Switch 2 bundles are coming for Christmas 2026?
Three: a Nintendo Switch Sports Resort bundle (22 October), a Mario Kart World bundle (29 October), and a Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition console at £429.99 (also 29 October).
Should I wait for Black Friday to buy a Nintendo Switch 2?
Based on last year's Black Friday, discounts on Switch 2 bundles were generally modest — around £20 to £25 off. The current £354.99 console price already beats that in cash terms, so waiting isn't guaranteed to get you a better deal on the standalone console, though it may still be worth comparing bundle prices closer to the day.
Whichever bundle or retailer you end up going with, it's always worth a quick check for a live voucher code before you check out. Browse the full list of UK stores on PrimeVoucher to see what's currently available.