Nintendo Switch 2 is rumored to have a T239 SoC and Samsung 8NM process node with prices ranging from $399 to $499.
Naturally, speculation surrounding the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 console grows as the original Switch variant nears its seventh birthday in March 2024. And rumors about the Nintendo Switch 2, speculated to be launching in 2025, have recently surfaced, and there are concerns that the rumored specifications could pose a challenge for Nintendo, especially with the rise of competitors like the Steam Deck and potential new handheld consoles entering the market.
The rumors about the T239 custom Nvidia SoC (System on Chip) and an NVIDIA Ampere GPU with 1280 cores for Switch 2 have been corroborated by YouTuber and analyst Moore’s Law Is Dead (MLID) in a recent video. According to MLID, these specifications align with information from sources at NVIDIA, indicating that the rumored Samsung 8NM process node would be an ideal match for the Switch 2.
While not claiming to be intimately involved in the project, one purported NVIDIA source allegedly says, “I’m not that close to the project, but I can say that Samsung 8nm is a perfect match for Nintendo. It’s the lowest cost/transistor node on the market, and it’s not expected to be as competitive for capacity as more modern nodes over the next few years. Also, remember that with 128-bit LPDDR5, Nintendo could realistically choose 8GB, 12GB, or 16GB capacities for the SOC we designed for them.”
MLID further supported the leaked Nintendo Switch 2 specs featured in Digital Foundry’s recent report, originally leaked by technology insider kopite7kimi. According to these reports, the Switch 2 will incorporate an ARM-based chip known as the T329, housing a custom Nvidia chip with 30-series Ampere architecture.
Regarding the potential price of the Nintendo Switch 2, ‘Moore’s Law is Dead’ suggested that Nintendo may not finalize the pricing until close to the launch. However, based on a comparison of the Switch 2’s suspected hardware with a similar laptop that sports an NVIDIA RTX 2050 mobile graphics chip, it is anticipated that the Switch 2 will retail for between $399 and $499. But, considering Nintendo’s aggressive pricing strategy, the YouTuber states that “they [Nintendo] could probably price this thing at $349 and still have a slight profit, but I think $399 to $499 is what is most likely.”
Interestingly, it’s reported that the Switch 2’s hardware has been ready for several years, with Nintendo purportedly waiting for the current Switch models to clear from shelves before launching it. A comment from the alleged NVIDIA source reads, “As far as I am aware, there’s nothing wrong with the Switch 2, an NVIDIA course close to the YouTuber is said to have said. “In fact, the hardware and software has been done for a very long time, and the ball has been entirely in their court for years now regarding when they want to launch…”.
However, the potential arrival of competitors like the Steam Deck and Windows OS-based handheld devices, such as the ROG Ally, raises concerns for Nintendo, says MLID. Moreover, the possibility of Sony’s entry into the handheld market with hardware supporting their first-party AAA titles adds another layer of uncertainty. If Nintendo chooses a similar approach to the Switch 2, not incorporating the latest components for enhanced performance, they might face challenges in the increasingly competitive handheld gaming market.
Well, according to recent reports, Nintendo is targeting a March 2025 release for the Switch 2, as the original late 2024 window seems to have shifted. However, official confirmation from Nintendo is still pending. But if so, we might have to wait quite a bit to know if the rumored specs of Nintendo Switch 2 are correct or not.
For constant updates, keep following Gamevro.
