FOMO for new tech is hard. And new game consoles are exciting. I get it, and I’ve contributed to that coverage excitement too. The Nintendo Switch 2 finally became available to preorder in the US this week, and as expected, it looks sold out for now. That’ll change over time, but it’s unclear when, or how, and it’s equally unclear what the constant tariff fluctuations might do to future game console pricing. 

That said, having played on the Switch 2 recently at an event, may I help ease your FOMO somewhat by saying you’re probably OK waiting on it?

I felt this way after my full-day Switch 2 experience, and I’ll reiterate it now: As good as the upgrades the Switch 2 has, and as fun as the new Mario Kart and Donkey Kong games seem to be — and the GameCube gaming library also seems like a blast of retro fun — the Switch 2 is very much an iterative upgrade for now. The very best games on the Switch 2, and its most unique exclusives, are likely still to come.

Nintendo has clearly designed the Switch 2, at least for the moment, to exist as a bridge to the current Switch, with many upcoming games intended to work on the original Switch too. Much more than the debut of the first Switch, the Switch 2 is designed to be a system you could wait to upgrade to. In that sense, it’s following the path of the current gen of Xbox Series X and S and PlayStation 5 consoles.

You can build up your Switch library now and be Switch 2-ready when you eventually upgrade

The Switch 2 plays all the Switch games, which wasn’t the case with the Switch and previous Wii U and 3DS hardware. That means you could skip the Switch 2 now if you needed to, play games on the Switch, and then move your library over whenever. Switch 2 versions of games cost more (ranging from $10 to $20 more), but you can just buy the Switch 2 game upgrades later for a similar price — or play the versions you’ve already got minus the enhanced graphics and game extras.

The Switch 2’s current upgrades are good, but not shockingly good

After playing several of the Switch 2 Edition versions of Switch games for a bit, I noticed better frame rates and graphics resolution, but I honestly didn’t find it to be that much different. I’d prefer playing the enhanced Switch 2 editions, but the experience reminded me a bit of the PS5 Pro versus PS5 versions of games when I first played on the console with Sony last year.

If you have a big TV, you’ll likely appreciate the difference. The bigger Switch 2 screen shows off games in higher-res 1080p with HDR, but you could play on the older Switch and be fine. I’m playing on a Switch OLED again, and after the Switch 2 experience, I don’t have massive I-wish-this-were-a-Switch-2-envy. 

I’m sure this will change as games are developed to take better advantage of the amped-up Nvidia-powered Switch 2 GPU, and when more exclusives arrive. It’s similar to how I felt about the Meta Quest 3, which has better graphics than Quest 2 but didn’t feel like an absolute must-get until a year into its release.

You can still play upcoming Nintendo games on OG Switch

While Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza are Switch 2 exclusives, Metroid Prime 4 Beyond and Pokemon Legends Z-A also play on the Switch. It’s unclear how well these games will play on the Switch versus Switch 2, but you can get a good dose of New Nintendo this year on the older hardware and upgrade the hardware upgrade later. Think of it as a bit of a FOMO buffer.

Looking at Nintendo’s game history, the company often supported its previous consoles for a good couple of years after the new hardware’s release. I’d expect that after 2026 the Switch 2 will start to become the go-to platform for most big game, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see a handful of key Nintendo games still supporting original Switch for another year at least.

There’s no ‘whole new experience’ you’ll miss other than Game Chat, that camera and the mouse 

The original Switch was an eye-opener because it was a portable, full game console that could dock with your TV and turn into a shareable console with modular controllers. It was different from anything Nintendo had made before. The Switch 2 is mostly the same proposition, just nicer.

You won’t feel the same regret for missing out on a whole new way to play this time, since it’s a continuation of the same idea. There are two new features you might envy: audio or video Game Chat among friends and the new Joy-Cons working like mice in some supported games. But Game Chat works only with other Switch 2 owners and needs a Switch Online subscription. The mouse functions are fun at times, but could also end up as just a gimmick. For now, the Switch 2 hasn’t pulled that many wild new functions out of its hat, but that could change, knowing Nintendo. There are also some fun camera-connected party game modes for Mario Party Jamboree if you happen to connect a camera, but no other games even have new camera-based features yet.

It’s fine to wait, but tariffs are still a question mark

I’m saying this well before I’ve had a chance to review the Switch 2, and for sure, it looks like the best Nintendo console in a long while and worth upgrading to. But take some comfort that missing out on getting one early this time isn’t quite as big a deal as it was in 2017, even if you’re feeling the pull of regret. 

The only wild card remains the question of the effect tariffs will have on future console pricing. Will it fluctuate? I hope not, but the prices of Nintendo’s Switch 2 accessories have already gone up as a result of Trump’s chaotic tariff policies, and it’s unclear if that might happen again. The state of pricing and consumer electronics is still in an unknown zone, but in the meantime, you can still have a lot of fun on the Switch you already have, now and even in the near future.

Apple could be sourcing its entire line of iPhones for the US market — about 60 million devices a year — from assembly facilities in India by the end of 2026, according to a report from the Financial Times. 

The planned move comes against the backdrop of the Trump administration imposing tariffs against China of up to 145%, although some products such as mobile phones and computers have been exempted for the time being. Apple has long centered its iPhone production in China, making it vulnerable to any trade war between the two countries and spurring speculation that tariffs could mean price increases for the company’s biggest-selling product. 

By moving third-party assembly of US iPhones to India, Apple could avoid the most significant cost pressure of a trade war, though India itself faces new tariffs as well.

The company had already begun shipping iPhones made in India, adding to its product reserves, before new tariffs became active.

A representative for Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.   

Look at anyone’s list of the best smartwatches money can buy, and you’ll find the Apple Watch Ultra 2 sitting pretty towards the top. Then there’s the black titanium Apple Watch Ultra 2, a watch that’s so stealthy you might think you’ve lost it when you check the time. Smartwatches don’t come much cooler than this one, but at the usual $799 asking price, they also don’t come much more costly. That’s why this deal that slashes the price to just $730 is well worth paying attention to, but it might not be here for long.

This deal saves you $70 off the original price without any of those pesky on-screen coupons or discount codes to deal with. But these prices are often so volatile that we can’t promise this deal will stay around for much longer. That means that ordering now is the best way to make sure you take advantage of the lowest price we’ve seen this thing sell for all year.

This new low is available on the black titanium Apple Watch Ultra 2 in a few different configurations, including those with the ocean band, trail loop and alpine loop. All you need to do is choose the one you like best and then make sure that your favorite is part pf the deal before checking out.

Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.

No matter which band you choose, you’ll get the same Apple Watch Ultra 2, which means a large-yet-comfortable 49mm size and a gorgeous display that’s easy to read even in direct sunlight. Its size also means that it has the longest-lasting battery of any Apple Watch, so you can go longer between charges. There’s even the option to enable a low power mode to eke every last bit of juice out of it if the need arises.

Each Apple Watch Ultra 2 comes with cellular connectivity, so you can leave your iPhone at home while the corrosion-resistant titanium case is joined by a sapphire front crystal that makes it more resistant to scratches.

Like all Apple Watches, the Ultra 2 supports the same health and fitness features that have made these wearables so popular. You can track workouts, including heart rate zones and training load, among other things.

All of that and more make this the go-to smartwatch for people who live an active life and want their wearable to keep up, no matter what they get up to.

Why this deal matters

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is often discounted, but savings are harder to come by on this black titanium model. That means that any discount is worth taking note of. This $70 savings is the best we’ve seen since last year’s Black Friday fun, and this is likely the best deal we’ll see this side of Memorial Day sales.