Nintendo Switch 2 May Struggle to Match Xbox Series S Performance, Leak Suggests

Much has been said about the performance level anticipated for the Nintendo Switch 2 console, but a prominent leak suggests that the console will have difficulty matching the Xbox Series S.

Leaker Casts Doubt on Nintendo Switch 2 Matching Xbox Series S Performance

Well-known AMD leaker Kepler discussed the performance level of the console's T239 chip on X/Twitter. He stated that it is inconceivable that the console could match the Xbox Series S, the less powerful system of the current iteration. The Xbox Series S would maintain its lead regardless of ray tracing capability. However, the rumored support for Ray Reconstruction could improve the Nintendo Switch 2's ray tracing performance compared to the Series S.

Further expounded, the leaker, who demonstrated a wealth of hardware knowledge, is confident that the Xbox Series S would still prevail over the Nintendo Switch 2 T239 processor, even if it were a desktop SoC featuring a 50W TDP. Once more, NVIDIA DLSS support could even things out, given that the leaker is unambiguously referring to base performance without scaling.

With the Nintendo Switch 2 rumored to be released early next year, more information regarding the console and its capabilities will likely not become available for some time. Rumors have it that the system has been prepared to be released for some time; this lends credence to the notion that the delay was due to insufficient inventory, as was the case with the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, both of which remained unobtainable in retail outlets for several months following their initial releases.

Nintendo Switch 2 Price Predictions Surface Amid Speculation on Specs and Release

The price range for the Nintendo Switch 2 is anticipated to be between $399 and $499, although Nintendo could theoretically set the price as low as $349.

Much has been said and written about the rumored Nintendo Switch successor, presently known as the Nintendo Switch 2, even though Nintendo has yet to confirm the platform's official existence. Last year, WCCFTech reported on the purported specifications of the platform, which included an NVIDIA Ampere GPU with 1280 cores and the NVIDIA T239 SOC.

The YouTuber "Moore's Law is Dead" presents a recent video wherein these particulars are affirmed as the most rational. The renowned YouTuber displayed information purportedly obtained from NVIDIA sources in the video, which stated that the alleged Samsung 8NM process node would be an ideal fit for the Switch 2.

"I'm not that close to the project, but I can say that Samsung 8nm is a perfect match for Nintendo," the alleged testimonial from one of the NVIDIA sources reads. "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."

Digital Foundry's Insights Align Closely with Rumored Nintendo Switch 2 Specs

According to an additional NVIDIA source, Digital Foundry's article from the previous year concerning potential Switch 2 hardware is "virtually an exact synopsis of the truth regarding the silicon in the Switch 2." Interestingly, this source also states that AMD ultimately lost the contest to NVIDIA to design the Switch successor's architecture.

The hardware for the Switch 2 has reportedly been completed for several years; however, Nintendo is awaiting the release of the current Switch models before introducing it. "As far as I am aware, the Switch 2 is functioning properly," allegedly stated an NVIDIA course associate near the YouTuber. "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..."

According to "Moore's Law is Dead," Nintendo will likely decide pricing for the platform close to its release. However, a comparison between the rumored Switch 2 hardware and a comparable laptop featuring an NVIDIA RTX 2050 mobile graphics chip indicates that Nintendo will likely price the Nintendo Switch 2 between $399 and $499.

Photo: Kelly Sikkema/Unsplash