I tested the official Nintendo Switch 2 camera against its Piranha Plant
rival heres the model Id buy

Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2025 21:00:00 +0000

Nintendo Switch 2 Camera

The Nintendo Switch 2 Camera is a solid way to enhance your GameChat
experience with friends and family. 1080p image quality is welcome, and works like a standard webcam for PC. Unfortunately, this models restrictive stand means that it isnt all too well-suited for handheld play, but it's still an option worth considering.

Pros
Decent 1080p picture quality
Plug-and-play setup
Privacy shutter included

Cons
Youll have a rather fuzzy outline
A clip option wouldve been nice
Rigid design isnt very suitable for handheld play

Hori Piranha Plant Camera for Nintendo Switch 2

Horis Piranha Plant camera for Nintendo Switch 2 has a highly creative, fun-loving design that almost makes it worth buying alone. However, this
webcam is impossible to recommend outright, due to its outdated, low quality 480p resolution, which results in a blurry, unrefined picture while using GameChat.

Pros
Playful, endearing design
Dual handheld/TV modes
Very easy to set up

Cons
Dismal 480p picture quality
TV clip wont fit a fair share of screens
Blurry image from a distance

If you want to take your GameChat experiences to the next level on Nintendo Switch 2 , youre going to need a USB camera. But which one should you get?

Well, during my time searching for the best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories ,
Ive been able to get hands on with both the official Nintendo Switch 2 Camera and the Hori Piranha Plant Camera for Nintendo Switch 2 . Ive compared everything from picture quality, through to field of view, and value for
money in order to pick a definitive overall winner.

Interested to hear how these two cameras fared? Ive broken it all down for
you below, so lets get right into this contest!

Nintendo Switch 2 Camera vs Hori Piranha Plant Camera for Nintendo Switch 2: price & specs

Nintendo Switch 2 Camera

Hori Piranha Plant Camera for Nintendo Switch 2

Price
$54.99 / 49.99 / AU$69.95

$39.99 / 24.99 / AU$64.95

Resolution
1080p at 30fps

480p at 30fps

Field of view
110 degrees

85 degrees

Dimensions
6.3 x 2.5 x 1.5in / 160 x 64 x 38mm

2.6 x 1.7 x 5.9in / 65 x 44 x 150mm (camera); 1.9 x 1.9 x 1.9in / 49 x 49 x 47mm (base)

Weight
0.3lbs / 136g

30g (camera); 80g (base)

Compatibility
Nintendo Switch 2, PC, MacOS

Nintendo Switch 2, Windows, MacOS

Nintendo Switch 2 Camera vs Hori Piranha
Plant Camera for Nintendo Switch 2: design

When it comes to looks, these two cameras really couldnt be any more
different! The official Switch 2 camera assumes a slim, sleek build, with the webcam itself sitting atop a flower-like stem, which is attached to a
circular metal base.

Its not the most interesting or exciting design, but its understated
all-black appearance complements the Switch 2 console nicely.

Meanwhile, the Hori Piranha Plant camera has a real fun-factor and goes all
out on charm. Of course, its shaped just like the classic Super Mario baddie, with an eye-catching red head, attachable leaves, and a plant pot to really seal the deal.

It comes with a poseable stem that can be molded to angle the webcam, and the Piranha Plants mouth that can be opened or closed to reveal or conceal the camera. It should be noted that the official camera also has a privacy
shutter, which is quick and easy to activate or deactivate.

Something else that really sets these cameras apart in the design department
is their flexibility or lack thereof. The Piranha Plant can be used in TV
mode by connecting a USB-C cable from its port to your console. But the lil Plant can also be removed from its pot, and directly plugged into your Switch
2 consoles USB-C port. Thats ideal if youre using GameChat while playing in handheld mode, and ensures seamless connectivity, however you play.

Theres also a clip-mount on the plant pot, so if you want to attach the
camera to the top of your TV or monitor, you can do so. It wont fit every screen, but it will undoubtedly be handy for a lot of users.

Unfortunately, Nintendos official camera takes a more rigid approach. Theres
no mount on this one, and it cant be taken off its stand. So, if youre
playing in handheld mode, youll need a surface nearby to place the cameras stand on and then youll also have to connect the cam to your console with a USB-C cable. That felt a tad clunky to me.

As much as I appreciate the build quality and neat appearance of Nintendos official camera, the sheer flexibility (and adorability) of Horis Piranha
Plant camera sees it take the cake in this category.

Nintendo Switch 2 Camera vs Hori Piranha Plant Camera for Nintendo Switch 2: performance

Unfortunately, this is an area where Horis Piranha Plant begins to wilt.
Look, as much as I love its design, performance-wise, its pretty
disappointing.

Whats so bad about it? I hear you cry. Well, the Piranha Plants issue is its low resolution, which is just 480p. This is very restrictive indeed and is actually the same quality available on the Nintendo DSi, which came out in 2008. It's also a lot lower than the solid 1080p on offer from Nintendos official camera.

Just to see the difference for myself, I decided to hook both cameras up to
my Switch 2 and compare the results, and unsurprisingly, the results were as
I expected.

Now, dont get me wrong, the official camera didnt look stellar or anything.
We mentioned in our full review how surroundings can look a tad fuzzy, and in my testing, I also felt that some details like stubble on my face didnt
look as defined as I would have liked. Still, though, I looked clear
on-screen and my face wasnt blurred or obscured at any stage.

Moving on to the Piranha Plant, and the restrictions of 480p became all too obvious. My hair blended into one brown blob, with individual strands harder
to make out, and details on my clothing were trickier to discern. I was
wearing a purple sweater on a bright day, and the Piranha Plant made it
appear devoid of saturation, with my face also looking too blurry.

The Piranha Plant cam also really struggled when I was sitting a decent distance from my TV. As I mentioned in my review, it sometimes looked as if
my face was melting when sitting a meter away or more. The official camera coped much better in this regard.

It's also worth noting that the official camera has a better field of view about 110 degrees, compared to the Plants 85 degrees. That additional scope
is useful for party games, say, where you may want to capture a bunch of players sitting in the same room while playing with GameChat.

Both cameras run at 30fps, and motion seemed consistent on each model. But there can only be one winner when it comes to performance, and that is, of course, Nintendos official Switch 2 camera.

Nintendo Switch 2 Camera vs Hori Piranha Plant Camera for Nintendo Switch 2: value

And so we come to the final category: value. This ones interesting, as
although both cameras are intended to serve the same purpose, theyre
different in just about every meaningful way.

First, Horis Piranha Plant camera. This ones not going to be a good value buy if youre looking for good performance during GameChat. The archaic 480p resolution and smaller field of view make it impossible to recommend performance-wise.

Having said that, it is a versatile option, especially as it can be plugged directly into your console in handheld mode. It's also got a seriously eye-catching design, and some Mario fans may want to buy it for that alone I have to say, it looks pretty neat alongside my extensive amiibo collection!

Its price has seemingly been reduced for good in the US and UK, now standing
at $39.99 / 24.99 / AU$64.95. So, if you need a camera that simply functions, and youre a fan of the design on offer, it could be worth considering.

Nintendos official camera is pricier, but for good reason its picture
quality is actually pretty decent, with the wide field of view and strong
build quality making it feel more premium.

At $54.99 / 49.99 / AU$69.95, it may feel a little too expensive for many,
but you are getting that official branding and quality guarantee. The lack of versatility is disappointing to me, but if I were going to recommend a camera for performance, this would be it.

Another interesting question would be: is it worth buying a Switch 2 camera
at all? Well, if youre not going to be using GameChat or any of the games
that support camera capabilities like Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree
TV , then perhaps not. There arent a ton of titles that make use of the
camera at least not yet, which makes a camera feel non-essential.

It's also worth flagging that if you have a PC webcam laying around, it may work with the Switch 2 via USB-A or USB-C just make sure to try for
yourself, as some models are incompatible with the console.

For those looking to get the most out of online multi-player, a Switch 2
camera certainly enhances the experience. If youre playing Mario Kart World online and want to see your friends real-time reaction as you red shell em
and overtake on the finish line, then go for it! Youll also need one to
access certain minigames in the aforementioned Switch 2 edition of Super
Mario Party Jamboree and content in a small handful of other games.

Ultimately, if you do decide to invest in a Switch 2 camera, I think you get
a little more bang for your buck with the official camera, mainly due to its far superior resolution. But the undeniable charm and lower cost of the
Piranha Plant ensures its not a total write-off.

Nintendo Switch 2 Camera vs Hori Piranha Plant Camera for Nintendo Switch 2: verdict

So, it may not be a huge surprise if youve got this far, but theres a pretty clear winner in this showdown the official Nintendo Switch 2 camera.

Dont get me wrong, I love the look of Horis Piranha Plant cam. It has an original, fun design, and its ability to be used seamlessly in TV and
handheld mode is a big bonus. As a huge Nintendo fan, the aesthetic alone
makes it a cool camera to own.

But performance-wise, it doesn't hold up well. 480p in 2025 (and beyond)
simply isnt good enough if Hori had even made this 720p, it mightve been a closer fight. But the official Switch 2 camera has solid 1080p picture
quality, an attractive, sleek look, and can capture everyone on your sofa
with a wide field of view.

I wish it was a little more flexible, and Id recommend buying it on sale
rather than full price, but if you want a camera for your new console, its
the better overall choice. ======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/gaming/gaming-accessories/nintendo-switch-2-camera-v s-hori-piranha-plant-camera-for-nintendo-switch-2
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* Origin: Capitol City Online (42:17/1)