Last week’s presentation of the Nintendo Switch 2 cleared up many questions surrounding the second generation of the world’s best-selling handheld console. However, it didn’t win over everyone. Several aspects — including the hardware, performance, and especially the price — sparked mixed reactions.
One of the most criticized decisions was the use of an LCD screen, which many consider a step backward compared to the OLED model from the previous generation. Although Nintendo claims the new display looks great thanks to HDR support, that’s not enough for many users. Another point of contention is that the joysticks don’t use Hall effect technology (which relies on magnets instead of physical contact), meaning the dreaded stick drift could still be an issue — despite Nintendo’s assurances to the contrary. And regarding the price — €469 — there’s already been plenty of commentary.
During the reveal, Nintendo showcased the graphical improvements offered by the new console. However, players will have to pay again to enjoy those upgrades if they already own the game on the original Switch. So, where do these improvements come from? As rumored, the Switch 2 is powered by a processor developed by NVIDIA, specifically the T239 model.
According to Digital Foundry, which revealed this information, it’s a custom chip based on the NVIDIA T234 — originally designed for autonomous vehicles. However, the Switch 2’s version features reduced specs and is nearly half the size.
The NVIDIA T239 processor includes eight ARM Cortex A78C cores running up to 1.1 GHz. Its GPU is based on the Ampere architecture (the same used in the RTX 30 series) and features 1,536 CUDA cores. The system also includes 12 GB of LPDDR5 RAM at 6,400 MHz, using a 128-bit interface and offering up to 102 GB/s of bandwidth.
By comparison, the original T234 chip comes with 12 ARM Cortex A78AE cores at 1.43 GHz, 2,048 CUDA cores, 256-bit LPDDR5 memory, and up to 204 GB/s of bandwidth.
One striking detail is that the Switch 2’s chip is manufactured using an 8 nm process — a technology that, in 2025, is considered outdated due to its age and performance limitations. For context, the Steam Deck’s processor is built using a 7 nm process — the same used for the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 chips released back in 2020.
Ultimately, what truly matters to players is that games are well-optimized for the Switch 2, with fast loading times and a consistent 60 FPS for smooth gameplay.
Time will tell whether the shortcomings mentioned earlier will affect sales of this second-generation console — especially considering that historically, Nintendo hasn’t had as much success with follow-up versions as with its original models.
Lastly, it’s worth remembering that the original Switch, released in 2017, also featured an NVIDIA chip: the Tegra X1. This processor included 8 cores (4 Cortex-A57 at 1 GHz and 4 Cortex-A53 at 1.3 GHz), a Maxwell-based GPU, and LPDDR4 RAM with a bandwidth of 12.8 GB/s.
