The Nintendo Switch 2 is closer than you think. Recent leaks from Korean Business insiders reveal that Samsung is manufacturing the majority of the Switch 2’s components, from the screen to the storage and even the new Tegra chip. As rumors suggest, a potential release could occur in the second half of 2024, aligning with a summer reveal.
Expect faster storage and cartridges using Samsung’s fifth-generation V-NAND. While maintaining backwards compatibility for older Switch games, the Switch 2 won’t support games from previous generations. The Joy-Cons are also expected to increase in size to accommodate the larger 8-inch Full HD display, utilizing a Magnetic Locking System. However, don’t discard your old Joy-Cons; they’ll still work via Bluetooth.
Nintendo has officially announced that a successor to the Nintendo Switch will be unveiled “within the fiscal year,” meaning we’ll see it before March 31, 2025. However, the wait is on now that we have this announcement window. Despite the excitement, there’s still very little concrete information about the console itself.
The last hardware refresh for the Nintendo Switch was the launch of the Nintendo Switch OLED on October 8, 2021. While the OLED display, additional internal storage, and improved speakers enhanced the Switch OLED, there were no significant upgrades to the console’s power. This is a bit concerning, as while most of the best Nintendo Switch games run smoothly, the Switch is still powered by a modest Nvidia Tegra X1 chip and only 4GB of RAM.
Recent third-party releases like Kingdom Come: Deliverance and Biomutant have pushed the Nintendo Switch’s hardware to its limits, resulting in unstable frame rates and compromised visuals. Even in ideal conditions, the console can only play games in 720p in handheld mode and 1080p in docked mode. Considering the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, which can play games at smooth 60 fps and high-fidelity 4K resolution, and the imminent arrival of the PlayStation 5 Pro, it makes sense for Nintendo to revisit its hardware and enhance it to better compete.
Nintendo Switch 2: The Next Generation
- What is it? The successor to the Nintendo Switch console.
- How much will it cost? TBA.
- When will it release? TBA, but an announcement has been confirmed for before the end of next year.
What will its upgrades be? More powerful hardware with improved RAM, CPU power, and GPU speed is almost guaranteed. Based on recent leaks, we should expect redesigned Joy-Con controllers as well.
The Nintendo Switch launched for $259.99 / £259.99 / AUD$435, with the newer Nintendo Switch OLED available for $349.99 / £309.99 / AU$539.95. Considering the Nintendo Switch 2’s likely improved hardware compared to both models, the asking price is likely to be higher than those figures.
For additional perspective, the PS5 and Xbox Series X are priced at $499.99 / £479.99 / AU$799.95 and $499 / £449 / AU$749, respectively. The more powerful PS5 Pro costs a whopping $699.99 / £699.99 / AU$1,200.
Nintendo often undercuts its competition by offering lower-spec hardware at a more affordable price. Considering this, we wouldn’t be surprised if the Nintendo Switch 2 is priced around $399.99 / £399.99 / AU$699.95 or even slightly lower to maintain its competitive edge.
In short, expect a more affordable console than the PS5 and Xbox Series X, but more powerful than the current Nintendo Switch. However, it’s important to note that this is purely speculative at this point.
The most recent rumors about potential Nintendo Switch 2 specs come from a spec sheet created by the YouTube content creator Paul Eccleston, also known as “RedGamingTech.” As explained by Tom’s Hardware, Eccleston allegedly compiled the spec sheet using information from his own sources and a report by the Korean United Daily News.
The spec sheet suggests that the Nintendo Switch 2 will feature an eight-core Cortex-A78AE processor, 8GB of RAM, and 64GB of internal eMMC storage. While this may not be particularly impressive compared to the PS5 or Xbox Series X, it would still represent an improvement over the current Nintendo Switch models.
That same source also suggests that the Nintendo Switch 2 could offer significantly improved battery life, in addition to a 120 Hz refresh rate and a 7-inch OLED display. In terms of overall design, Ecclestone predicts that it will likely resemble the Nintendo Switch OLED.
Interestingly, this contradicts earlier rumors that indicated the possibility of a mini-LED display for the screen. According to a report by Taiwan’s Economic Daily News, a Nintendo Switch successor could feature mini-LED screens supplied by Innolux.
Going even further back, Wccftech reported that a data miner named “SciresM” claimed to have discovered a reference to a new Nintendo Switch model within the Nintendo Switch’s latest firmware update, codenamed ‘Aula’. However, this source argues that the hardware improvement might not be within the Nintendo Switch itself but rather inside a new dock. They do note, however, that “there’s no way to tell from the firmware code yet.”
We’ve also seen some Nintendo Switch Pro rumors thanks to a leaked Nvidia email that suggested the existence of the Tegra239 SoC (system on a chip). Reportedly, this was being specifically designed for an upcoming Nintendo Switch model, which could very well mean the Nintendo Switch 2.
