Reports indicate the Nintendo Switch 2 will boast enhanced docked and handheld modes, competing with Steam Deck's performance.

Nintendo Switch 2 Features Power-Efficient Design

There have been reports going around that the Nintendo Switch 2 will have an improved docked mode and more power in handheld mode compared to its predecessor.

In a recent video, Moore's Law is Dead addressed a fan query by discussing the power efficiency and predicted performance of the system, drawing a comparison to the popular Steam Deck.

This new Switch, according to the YouTuber, has improved battery life in handheld mode and can boost more than the original Switch. The console has a fanless cooling system that runs at 5 watts while held in the hand and an adequate cooling solution that runs between 15 and 30 watts when docked.

Per WCCFTECH, to give an idea of scale, the YouTuber brought up the fact that the Nintendo Switch 2 CPU was competitively efficient when compared to comparable 5nm chips from AMD, mainly due to its design prioritizing power economy.

Performance Feedback from Moore's Law is Dead

As previously stated, Moore's Law is Dead also provided feedback on the Nintendo Switch 2's performance, stating that, with a few key exceptions, the device should be able to run any games that run on Steam Deck.

Since the Steam Deck's cores are supposedly more powerful than Nintendo's console cores, it's safe to assume that the system won't be able to run games as smoothly as Valve's.

For instance, VRR will likely reduce frame rates from 90 FPS on Steam Deck to 60 FPS on the Switch 2, whilst a 60 FPS game on Valve's system will likely operate at 40 or 45 FPS on Nintendo's platform. However, the Nintendo system is expected to run them at greater resolution and possibly with ray tracing as well, thanks to the console's GPU and NVIDIA DLSS compatibility, compared to Steam Deck.

Significant Upgrade Over Steam Deck

Even while this may come as a letdown to those hoping for a performance boost from the Nintendo Switch 2, all present Nintendo Switch owners will agree that it's a huge upgrade over the Steam Deck.