Nintendo Switch 2 is around the corner, and the leaks suggest it will be significantly more powerful than its predecessor.
The Nintendo Switch, released in 2017, has taken the gaming world by storm, allowing players to seamlessly transition from playing on their TV to playing on the go. It is arguably the best gaming handheld out there.
Now, rumours are swirling about the release of its successor, the Nintendo Switch 2. While details are currently scarce, we'll do our best to give you an idea of what to expect.
Nintendo Switch 2 Leaked Specs
- CPU: Custom Nvidia ARM SoC “DRAKE” (T239)
- GPU: Nvidia Ampere architecture
- CUDA cores: 1280
- Tensor Cores: 48
- Ray-Tracing Cores: 12
- Display: 8-inch LCD
- RAM: 12GB LPDDR5
- Storage: 256 GB
Nintendo Switch 2 reportedly comes equipped with 12GB of RAM, which is triple the size of the original model. This memory is split into two 6GB LPDDR5 modules, each operating at a speed of 7500 MT/s.
For storage, the Nintendo Switch 2 is rumoured to include 256GB of built-in storage using UFS 3.1 technology. This contradicts earlier rumours that suggested the console might include 512 GB of storage.
Reuters sources confirm that the Nintendo Switch 2 will operate on a custom Nvidia chip. This Nvidia SoC, named the T239, is an ARM-based chip featuring 1280 Ampere CUDA cores.
The GPU in the Switch 2 is based on Nvidia's Ampere architecture, enabling access to advanced rendering techniques such as DLSS 2 super-resolution and DLSS 3.5 ray reconstruction.
Nintendo Switch 2 Rumoured Release Date
The Nintendo Switch 2 release date is almost certain, it seems. While there haven't been any official announcements about the release date, recent reports suggest that Nintendo Switch 2 is set for early 2025 release.
Nintendo Switch 2 Price Speculation
The original Nintendo Switch retails for $259.99 / £259.99, while the newer Nintendo Switch OLED costs $349.99 / £309.99.
As the Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to feature significantly improved hardware, a better display, and longer battery life, it will likely be a substantially more expensive handheld.
The prices of its competitors can impact the price of the new Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo Switch's competitors PS5 and Xbox Series X sell for $499.99 / £479.99 and $499 / £449 respectively.
So we speculate that the asking price for the Nintendo Switch 2 will be around $399.99 / £399.99.
Will the Nintendo Switch 2 Have Backwards Compatibility?
While there's no confirmed details on whether the console will feature backwards compatibility, it's very likely that the Nintendo Switch 2 will let you play the previous console's games.
Firstly, leaker tvPH on YouTube shared the fact that the console will feature backwards compatibility, both physically and digitally. Additionally, it's rumored that Nintendo believe it's the "next model", instead of a full sequel or new console entirely.
Considering Nintendo has made backwards compatibility within console families fairly accessible, like the DS handhelds, we imagine the same will happen with the Nintendo Switch 2.
Nintendo Switch 2 Expandable Storage
Additionally, this isn't confirmed yet, but we speculate that the Nintendo Switch 2 will use MicroSD cards to expand the storage, much like other handhelds, including the original Switch.
Other handhelds like the Steam Deck and the ASUS ROG Ally feature MicroSD slots as a way of expanding storage easily, despite the fact they come with SSDs and a way of upgrading the internal storage. We doubt that Nintendo would opt against MicroSD in the Switch 2, especially after marketing the Nintendo Switch-specific MicroSD cards with SanDisk.
Nintendo Switch 2 Speculations Recap
- Nintendo Switch 2 predicted release date: 2025
- Nintendo Switch 2 specs: 12GB RAM | DLSS Support | 256 GB of storage | 8-inch LCD display
- Nintendo Switch 2 speculated price: approximately $399.99 / £399.99
And that covers everything about the potential Nintendo Switch 2. We will update you with the exact Nintendo Switch 2 release date once we have it. In the meantime, check out the news on other handheld consoles such as Steam Deck 2 and ASUS Rog Ally.