Topic: Switch 2 Lite incoming. Thoughts?

@skywake It's just annoying when it goes on for three years and happens immediately after the new console comes out. I've had my fill of the whole "Switch Pro" debacle, and now we're being thrust back into it soon after that came to an end. Especially over what's more likely to just be a limited edition SKU. Especially since a brand new Pokemon game is around the corner, and they're probably going to try to make a themed console for it.

If this actually happens I just want to say, I totally predicted this would happen about a month ago. If you're reading this in the future and it doesn't come out in 2026, I definitely wasn't betting hard money on it.

@VoidofLight
They don't have different product codes for special editions. It's new hardware. But also stuff like Alarmo also has a different product code so yeah, people should temper their expectations a bit

But it's definitely a thing and we don't know what

Speculation is fine. . . as long as its understood to be speculation. The problem is when "speculation" is camouflaged as fast, wish-fulfillment disguised as reason. Which is exactly what the Switch Pro was, and exactly what this theoretical new SKU already is turning into. Especially since no one seems to want to stop and ask the really really obvious question: "How exactly would Nintendo even be supposed to make a cheaper, smaller, more power efficient Switch 2 in the first place, not even a year after launch?"

@metaphysician
… everybody IS asking those questions lol

It’s incredible how much we all project without even realizing it.

@metaphysician
You're confusing the discussion on forums such as this with the YouTube clickbait nonsense. I was big into the Switch 2 speculation threads, I was always asking these questions then. I am also asking these questions now

Also I would argue people making posts such as yours back in the Switch 2 speculation days were often incorrect and far too cautious. I distinctly remember being on here talking exactly about what the Switch 2 almost surely was in late 2024 and being told it wasn't happening, that Switch 2 wasn't 2025, that it would have someother trick, that it couldn't be that capable. And then we got exactly what the leaks said

I think this is probably a revision. Companies make revisions to their hardware quite often to increase manufacturing efficiency and reduce costs. I do think the first 'new' model we'll get is the Lite, I don't think an OLED is viable right now, a 120hz OLED screen would be quite expensive.

I think Nintendo did this to TROLL haters to keep Nintendo Switch2 alive and they are doing a good job of it for Nintendo. Keep going TROLLs your just helping Nintendo...And if there is a Switch2 Lite the better sure no TV out but then again that's what it was made for? You all think they will drop Switch2 price? Go get a second job if your that emotional hurt.

@Fizzle002 Nintendo don't usually change the three letter code for a silent revision. E.g. the Switch went from HAC-001 to HAC-001(-01) for the 2019 version with the more power-efficient SoC. There were bunch of other minor revisions where they didn't even change the code at all.

I'd still think it most likely that it's a placeholder for something that would be coming next year, at the earliest.

Knowing what they've been doing lately it's probably an interactive Navi figurine that says "Hey! listen!" at 2AM for an authentic OoT experience

Are we certain that this code doesn't belong to the Talking Flower?

Nobody's certain of anything, but the speculation that it's a model of Switch 2 is down to it being linked to an image of a Switch 2 on Nintendo's account portal. If it was a Talking Flower, Alarmo, Game & Watch, etc. it should probably have a picture of one of those things instead.

Maybe it's just a placeholder that'll eventually be updated to something else but, so long as it looks like a Switch 2, the speculation will continue.

@skywake
Back in 2023 I insisted Switch 2 would come in 2025, not 2024 like everyone believed. I was a lone voice, written off. Also said it would have DLSS and be on par with PS4. Everyone told me nope, DLSS is a pipe dream and it'll be lucky to match an Xbox One.

Then I said it would use micro SD express back before anyone here even knew what that was. And was ignored, as per usual.

Not to say I haven't also been wrong about a fair share of things. But I'll say this- a Switch 2 Lite will require a die shrink. And I'm certain a new model wouldn't release until 2027 at the very earliest.

As for what this model number refers to, your guess is as good as mine. I haven't the slightest.

@JaxonH
I will concede that I wasn't at all convinced of the 2025 release of Switch 2. It seemed to drag on way longer than I expected. But I'm pretty sure I was on the same page as you for the rest of those points. I think the one I always got pushback on was 4K output when docked and 120Hz combined with VRR and HDR

You certainly weren't alone in being more bullish than most. And ultimately correct on most counts

@JaxonH, not super related to the thread topic, but what do you know, I was also a member of the "not until 2025 at the earliest" club, because games like TotK and Mario Wonder were just coming out at the time. Personally, I was kind of hoping that the Switch 1 console generation would last even longer simply so more amazing games could come out on the console that I already have 🤣. Though I didn't start commenting on here and all that until last summer, so whether you believe me or not is up to you 😅.

It's literally in their username 😄 True to their username, their posts are frequently void of light. I appreciated the transparency, but I didn't appreciate the near-constant negging posts, so on my list they went (nothing personal, but I can do without things that are consistently void of light).

On topic: I'm finding the size difference very noticeable when I pick up my Switch 1 - it feels so light in comparison. I keep a Lite in a drawer somewhere, barely used, but I need to dig that out and juggle my 2 with my Lite to really blow my mind. There's got to be a Lite2 within the next 18 months, surely.

@gcunit
Dang. That was stone cold lol

A new Switch 2 Lite doesn't have to be the same size as the Switch Lite it could actually be Switch size and only have a 720p 40/60Hz screen. If you reduce the panel size and resolution and limit the T239 clock speed to slighter lower figures and possibly increase battery capacity just a little you can have a portable that has a minimum run time of 3 hours. Also a huge saving from not having a dock and removable joy cons too. It could ship with just a usb charging cable. The cooling system could be reduced in size because there is no high power docked mode and this could free up some space for a slightly larger battery. Also of course with slightly lower clocks due to up to 720p only that helps reduce heat generation.

Lets not forget the T239 chipset was designed back in 2019-2020 and maybe with the aborted Switch Pro model they built up some inventory of mainly 8/10Nm Samsung fabricated chips anyway, lets say 4 million and Samsung continued making those for the launch model but maybe Nintendo has already coughed up for a revised chipset on a 7Nm or 6Nm fabrication process. Basically they didn't want to waste those 4 million chips but always planned to move on from the 8/10Nm fabrication process quickly. I don't think this is likely but is possible.

Looking online it appears Japan is not that keen on the Switch 2 size but a Switch size Switch 2 Lite would seem to be a good size especially for Japan. Yes Switch 2 1080p games won't look quite as good downscaled to 720p on a smaller screen but original Switch games will look better with a perfect pixel match. Many Switch 2 games are internally rendered at 960x540 so DLSS would have to do a smaller upscale on Switch 2 Lite and of course many performance mode games are rendered at 640x360p which is a perfect easy upscale to a 720p screen with DLSS.

In summary I think a Switch 2 Lite is possible with the same T239 chipset as fitted to the launch Switch 2 without huge investment. Just a repackaging of existing components. It could even have less memory like 8GB and it likely will only have 128GB storage. The reason I think 8GB is possible is it will be limited to 720p and there will be no gamechat. The Switch 2 Lite I assume would just disable one CPU core permanently and the OS could be simplified too because it can't switch, it doesn't have to toggle between 2 resolutions instantly. Lots of reasons why this console would need significantly less memory. Reducing memory to 8GB and storage to 128GB would be the biggest cost savings of all.

AI Quote:

Japanese consumers have mixed feelings about the Switch 2's size, with many appreciating the larger screen for gameplay but some finding the overall device too big for portability, especially for train commutes, leading to calls for smaller or "Lite" versions, though the console remains incredibly popular, selling millions in Japan. The bigger size offers better visuals and performance, but some users feel it sacrifices the original's easy portability, with discussions on forums highlighting these pros and cons, alongside strong demand for a cheaper Japanese-only model.

Wouldn't a 720p screen require a patch for every Switch 2 game released before this supposed new console, so that they can accomodate for a lower resolution than what they were programmed for? Or is there a way to mechanically downscale a 1080p resolution into 720p without it looking like crap?

Yes a true 720p patch would be better but simply downscaling 1080p to 720p as an automatic feature of the Switch 2 Lite would be extremely easy to do. Many devices are capable of taking a higher resolution signal than they can output. Definitely some games would be less clear and could have some text difficult to read but most should be fine. I love my Switch Lite but some games are difficult to read text for sure simply because the screen is smaller, I suspect a downscaled 1080p image on original Switch size 720p screen would be easier to read. There are certain games not ideal for the original lite model. I think such a model would be great for running original Switch games with dynamic scaling keeping to higher resolutions mainly but I realise that depends on how the game is programmed. Lets not forget 720p resolution Switch 1 games don't look great on the Switch 2 at 1080p because it means a pixel mismatch. 1920 isn't a perfect fit into 1280 and 1080 isn't a perfect fit into 720 so a 720p Switch 2 Lite will result in some games looking clearer and some games looking worse.